by DL Gallie
“Why?” he asks.
“Why what?” I reply in confusion.
“Why do you always get her? For as long as I can remember, she chooses you every-single-fucking-time. Why?”
“Probably cause you’re a douche. You think of no one but yourself. You don’t care who you trample, who your hurt, and that’s why you always miss out.” I pause. “Billy, when we were kids, you and I were friends, best friends, and just like in every life, over time you change and become this ass that no one likes. Most people tolerate you because of who your family is. Me, I don’t giving a flying fuck about who your family is, and I think that’s what pisses you off the most. Not that Bailey chooses me every time, but the fact that I don’t bow to your feet. Maybe, just maybe, if you adjust your attitude, you too will be happy one of these days.”
“You are full of shit, Winters.”
“And your reply there proves my point.”
“If we were still docked, I’d kick you off this boat. Stay away from my staff, especially Bailey.” He turns away and stalks back to the bar. He stops and says something to Bai, her eyes snap to me before she looks back at Billy and says something in reply. Whatever she says pisses him off because he yells, “That’s bullshit and you know it!” The entire boat goes quiet; all eyes flick to Bailey and Billy. He storms off, leaving Bailey standing by herself. She looks upset, so I walk over to her. “You okay, Bai?”
She nods her heads and swallows, “Yeah, nah, I’m fine. I’ll um, ahh, get you two more beers.”
Reaching out for Bailey, I grab her elbow and I when I touch her, a spark jolts us both. She spins around and looks at me, “Nate, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being here. I was lost and lonely. Drifting through life and in,” she looks at her watch, “just over an hour, I feel more alive than I ever have. I know without a doubt it’s because of you. I want nothing more than to get off this damn boat and start my life with you…again.”
My face breaks out into the biggest smile. “And I want nothing more than to do that with you. Now, get back to work and as soon as we dock, we will ride off into the moonlight together.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She leans forward, places her lips against my cheek, and when she pulls back, my cheek is tingling. I zone out and I’m snapped back to reality when Bailey hands me two more beers. Before I can say anything, she gets back to work. From behind her I see William, and as usual, he’s glaring at me. Raising one of the beers, I salute him with it before turning around and heading back to Jason.
“Do I even want to know?” he asks.
Shaking my head I say, “Nope. Let’s just enjoy this cruise and then get back on dry land. I have a date.”
Jason shakes his head at me but I don’t care. I have a date with the most amazing girl in the world when we get back, and I could not be happier…I just hope this boat doesn’t sink before I get to spend some time with my girl.
After what feels like an eternity, the boat finally docks. I walk over to Bailey and tell her that I’ll wait for her. Billy, once again, glares at me. Jason teases me as we exit the boat. He hails a taxi and heads home. Resting my arms on the gangway railing, I eagerly await Bailey.
As each minute ticks by, I start to get nervous. My mind flits with question after question. What if she doesn’t like me? What if she isn’t really my Bailey? All different ‘what-if’ scenarios run through my mind, when all of a sudden, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I’ve felt this before and without an ounce of doubt, I know that she is ‘my’ Bailey. No one else on this planet could invoke this feeling, and when I look up, I see her standing in the doorway. With the light from the boat behind her illuminating her beauty, she smiles at me and it radiates deep within me, and any remaining fears float away.
I’m about to step toward her when I notice Billy is standing behind her. He grabs Bailey by the elbow, halting her. He leans toward her, his eyes are locked on me and he says, loud enough for me to hear, “Are you sure you want to go with him?” He emphasizes the word him.
Bailey’s eyes are locked on me, she nods her head and whispers, “Yes, it will always be yes when it comes to Nate.” She spins toward Billy. “Billy, I can’t explain it, but Nate is my everything. I don’t exist without him, he’s my other half. He always has been and he always will be.” She steps toward him, kisses his cheek, when she pulls back, she adds, “Billy, I really hope you find your other half one of these days.” He shakes his head, turns around, and storms back aboard the boat.
Bailey stares at the empty doorway for a few moments. I notice her shoulders hunch in sadness, but then she turns around. Her eyes lock on mine and she smiles. She reaches for the gangway railing and starts walking to me. And as usual with Bailey, I’m compelled to come to her, and I put one foot in front of the other and walk toward her.
We stand facing one another, both of us breathing deeply. We stare at one another and she smiles at me. Reaching up, she cups my cheek and whispers, “It really is you.”
Lifting my hand, I cup her cheek and my thumb gently strokes her silky soft skin. “And it’s really you,” I softly murmur back.
A force beyond my control overtakes me and I slide my hand behind her head and pull her to me. I grip her cheeks in my palms, and I slam my lips to hers, for our millionth first kiss. My tongue seeks access to her mouth and this kiss is just like I remember. It’s full of passion, heat, and desire. It’s Bailey and me from my dreams, from our past.
We pull apart and she whispers, “Wow, so much better in real life.”
We both laugh. And her laugh is just as I remember.
Lacing our fingers together, we walk along the jetty back up to dry land. “Bai, do you, ummm, errr, wa—”
“Yes, a thousand times yes,” she says.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter, I just want to be with you. Nate, I can’t explain it, but I just know that you and I are meant to be together. And I know that I don’t know you, but I do know you. If that makes sense.”
Nodding my head in agreement, I smile because I agree with her one hundred and fifty percent. “It makes perfect sense to me, Bailey. Come on, let’s go.”
Bailey and I hail a taxi and we head back to her place, since she lives by herself. This night started out with me alone, but it ends with the woman of my dreams, literally and figuratively, and I could not be happier.
EPILOGUE
Bailey and Nate are fated to meet in every life.
Their souls deeply entwined.
No hurdle to great to climb. No ocean too deep. No concert too wild.
Their destiny is written in the stars—the past, the present, and in the future.
No matter where they are or what they are doing, they will always find each other; their antecedent love.
THE END!!!!
BOOKS BY DL GALLIE
THE LIQUOR CABINET SERIES
Malt Me (Book 1)
Tequila Healing (Book 2)
Wine Not (Book 3)
The Final Shot (Book 4)
The Liquor Cabinet: Series box set
STAND ALONES
Oasis
Out of Nowhere
Seven Nights—COMING SOON
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Firstly I need to thank Leigh Stone for inviting me to participate in the Titanic anthology. I wasn’t sure I could write a story about the Titanic but once I sat down BAM, Bailey and Nate came to life. And then I extended their story and I fell in love with them and Woodstock.
Thank you to my hubby, Troy. You are my rock and my saving grace. Thank you for loving me and encouraging me daily. Our lil’ munchkins, Piper and Kade. You both are my greatest achievements and I’m lucky to have you both as my kids.
Cheers and thank you to Amy, Amanda, Beth, Crissy, Halle, Megan and Shez—my beta babes. You ladies take the time to read what I send and give me your honest opinions. I value the suppor
t and encouragement that you give me. Thank you, thank you for everything. Love you ladies, like I love wine; hard!
To my editor and friend, Karen Hrdlicka (Barren Acres Editing)—you have been with me since the beginning and with your help I have grown as an author, without your support I wouldn’t be where I am today. You are amazing at what you do and thank you for suggesting I extend the original story. I look forward to the day that we finally meet.
Thank you Müjde Özcaner from Way to Love Design, thank you for the stunning cover and teasers. It fits Bailey and Nate perfectly.
Stacey Blake from Champagne Book Design, you always make the inside pretty and put up with my OCD tendencies and I appreciate it, and you muchly. Thanks and cheers.
Thank you to Virginia Tesi Carey, you checked over my baby and you ensured that I dotted my I’s and crossed my T’s.
And finally, my readers. Thank you, once again for reading and supporting me throughout my authoring journey.
PLAYLIST
Dark and Stormy—Ash
Leave Out All The Rest—Linkin Park
Stay With Me—Sam Smith
Chasing Cars—Snow Patrol
Mirrors—Justin Timberlake
For The First Time—The Script
Underneath Your Clothes—Shakira
Nothing Really Matters—Mr. Probz
Say Something—A Great Big World
A Thousand Years—Christina Perri
Skinny Love—Birdy
Little Things—One Direction
How Long Will I Love You—Ellie Goulding
Love You Like A Love Song—Selena Gomez & The Scene
Waterfall—Stargate, Pink, Sia
Sober—Pink
Letters From The Sky—Civil Twilight
The Trick Is To Keep Breathing—Garbage
Unchained Melody—The Righteous Brothers
The Unforgiven III—Metallica
Purple Haze—Jimi Hendrix
Foxey Lady—Jimi Hendrix
Proud Mary—Creedence Clearwater Revival
Lover Her Madly—The Doors
Evil Ways—Santana
This playlist can be found on Spotify
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DL Gallie is from Queensland, Australia, but she’s lived in many different places all over the world. She currently resides in Gladstone with her husband and two kids. She and her husband have been together since she was sixteen, and although they drive each other crazy at times, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
Shortly after her son was born, DL began reading again. With encouragement from her husband, she picked up the pen and started writing, and now the voices in her head won’t shut up.
DL enjoys listening to music, drinking white wine in the summer, red wine in the winter, and beer all year round. She’s also never been known to turn down a cocktail, especially a margarita.
DL loves interacting with her readers. You can contact her at any, or all, of the following:
[email protected]
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