I’m such a bitch. None of this has crossed my mind, and I’m ashamed of not being supportive. I nod and curl up on him, trying to tamper the need in my body.
“You’ll do great tomorrow, and I’ll be there cheering for you. Do you want to talk about anything specific?”
“No, I just want to fall asleep with my girl on me and dream about the beach next week.”
“I love you so much.”
“That’s what I’m counting on, Devon. Forever.”
If my mom cries one more time, I’m going to scream. Since meeting at lunch and seeing the guys in their uniforms, she has been a wet mess. Even Quinn told her to get a grip. Dean arrived, and I apologized for my parents’ odd behavior. If this is how they act for Nate, I’m thinking of skipping my own graduation—maybe both of them.
We’re already late, and I’m worried about getting a seat together. Bryce has been stoic all day, and if I don’t get a good seat, I’m scared he’ll blow. He joked around a little with Nate at lunch, but otherwise, he’s been quiet.
The auditorium is packed when we finally walk in, and I swear we’re the last ones here. I rush my parents forward and make sure Quinn is sitting next to me. Since we’re so late, there are only a few programs left, and I flip through to see the order of the service. Bryce speaks right in the middle.
When the music starts and the men file in, my eyes fill with tears. A hand lands on my shoulder, and I look back to see Sheila crying openly. Quinn even sniffs a few times. Dean puts his arms around her shoulder for comfort.
The ceremony itself is quite spectacular. It’s a homage to not only the Military but also the men and women’s accomplishments in college.
Bryce’s speech is flawless, and he locks eyes with me several times, which sends a chill through my body. When he and Nate actually are recognized, our group cheers so loudly they give us the hand signal to calm down.
When it’s all over and the students are dismissed, the room erupts. People file down to the floor of the small auditorium to find their loved ones. We bustle through the crowd, and I get to Nate first. He picks me up, and I scream into his shoulder how proud I am. Tomorrow may actually be his college graduation, but today is what means the most. It defines his future.
My mom pushes me out of the way when he sets me down, and I look around for Bryce. Sheila and Dave have him in an embrace, and my breath hitches at the sight. He looks around, and when his eyes lock with mine, he lets them go and stalks to me. I leap into his arms and let him spin me, holding on tight. When he sets me down, his eyes are determined and heated. He kisses me lightly and surprises me by dropping down to one knee.
The instant he hits the ground, several men around us do the same. The women in uniform stiffen and gain stance. I look around, and my family surrounds me as Sheila and Dave flank Bryce’s back. Everyone stares between the two of us.
“Devon Marie Harris, I asked you a few months ago to give me a chance. To come back to me, the girl I once knew. I hurt you deeply, and I’ll never be able to take that away, but I vow to always let you know how much you mean to me. The girl I learned to love as a boy has turned into the woman I love as a man. My days are brighter because you’re in my life. Will you promise to love me forever and marry me?”
Somehow, through my tears, I see him pull a box out of his pocket. There’s a glare that cascades with the light streaming in the windows. My knees go weak, but tiny hands hold my waist. Quinn.
“Yes,” I say meekly and then gain my voice. “Yes! OH MY GOD, YES!”
Cheers explode around us, and Bryce sinks into my waist, squeezing me so hard I may have bruises. My mom screams behind me, and my dad whistles. I look slightly to the side and see Nate on his knees with wet eyes. I cry even harder.
“Jesus Christ, I’m a lucky bastard,” Bryce whispers in my ears and takes my lips softly. I get wrapped up in the kiss until I feel the metal on my finger.
I break away and look at the antique ring I admired for years on Sheila’s hand.
“Is this?”
“Yeah, it’s my grandma’s ring,” he confirms, and I have a fresh set of waterworks. It’s an antique dinner ring with a diamond set in rubies, which is Bryce’s birthstone.
Quinn pulls me away and hugs me tightly, crying with me into my shoulder. When our eyes meet, she doesn’t look surprised.
“You knew?” I question.
“Absolutely. Do you think he was brave enough to do this without talking to me?”
I look around and everyone has the same expression. “You all knew?”
Heads nod and smiles break out on their faces. Everyone swamps me in hugs, and I lean into my dad the longest. When he steps back, Nate takes his place.
“I had to make sure it was okay, babe. You are only nineteen.” Bryce kisses my hair and pulls me away.
“Almost twenty, but still, how did you get my dad to approve?”
“I promised him we’d wait to actually get married after you graduate. Just didn’t mention which graduation.” He smiles slyly.
“I can’t believe this. We’re getting married. Me and you.”
“Always.” He lifts me up again but doesn’t kiss me. Instead, he braces me over his head, and my hands rest on his shoulders. Flashes go off around us, and I lose myself in the moment.
My fairytale may just come through.
Epilogue
“Again.” Bryce demands as he glides in and out of me. I feel every inch of him hitting my sensitive flesh since he just gave me an earth-shattering orgasm two minutes ago.
“Yours, forever,” I repeat for the hundredth time since he proposed.
He takes his time building me up, and I allow myself to feel the beauty of him. We got rid of the condom on the first night in Destin. He knew I was on birth control but still insisted on condoms for extra protection. Once we hit the door to our cottage, he took me hard and fast, and we both never looked back.
He picks up speed, driving into me with purpose, and we moan at the same time. His mouth claims mine as he swivels his hips until I turn my head away gasping. When our eyes meet, I push up into him and he lets go, taking me with him as we both yell out. His sweaty, hot body falls on top of me, and I hold him close.
The surf crashes against the sand in the background, and I see the light starting to peak through the windows. Seagulls fly through the air squawking, and the sea breeze flies in the open windows of our room.
The two days we have been in Destin have been spent mostly in bed, reconnecting and celebrating. We’ve only left the room for showers, food, or bathroom breaks. I’m not sure we’ll even make it to the beach today.
It was a whirlwind of activity after we got engaged. My mom arranged for food to be delivered to Bryce and Nate’s apartment, and we all celebrated the entire night. That evening, all the secrets came out. According to Bryce, once he knew I was truly back to myself and let the darkness go from what happened, he started making plans. He talked to his parents first, then Nate. My brother told Quinn she needed to be at graduation but gave her very few details until my parents knew what was going on. She suspected but promised to be quiet.
Bryce planned the elaborate proposal with the help of his ROTC class and then told my parents everything. My mom jumped for joy. My dad was harder to convince. Once Bryce promised to wait until I graduate, he relented.
Even though we are young, no one gave Bryce any flack because they all know. We are perfect together. He makes me happy.
Once we finally jumped our hurdles, he held my heart forever.
I also learned it wasn’t his ROTC speech he was nervous about our first night together after six long weeks. It was his proposal speech and the elaborate display by his classmates. Apparently, all the guys dropping to their knees was a sign of respect for him. This is not really a common practice, but one of the guys told him about it happening before in a similar situation, and they decided to copy it.
He and Nate’s actual graduation was boring, as suspected, but my mom
and Sheila still cried. Quinn opted to skip it and stay locked away in a hotel with Dean, which I was jealous of. They came out to dinner to celebrate but didn’t hang out afterwards. Dean fits into our group well; he' was hilarious. Maybe it was my euphoric endorphins, but I could see he and Quinn with a future.
I’m not going to lie; the highlight of my day on Bryce’s actual graduation was when Holli showed her pathetic face. She zoned in on Sheila and Dave and hugged them tightly. They hugged her back uncomfortably. When she saw me, I didn’t move, but when she saw the sparkling diamonds and ring, her face paled and she stuttered her congratulations. I didn’t flaunt it at all, but a sense of satisfaction overwhelmed me.
“Baby, if you’re thinking again, I obviously didn’t do that right.” Bryce interrupts my thoughts, and I bite softly on his shoulder.
“I was thinking, but it was all good. You think we might actually see the beach today?”
“Yeah, babe. Let’s shower and eat. Then I’ll take my gorgeous fiancée to the beach.”
“I love the sound of that.”
He stays silent.
“Don’t you?”
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure I’ll like the sound of ‘my gorgeous wife’ better.”
We get out of bed and head to the shower, and my phone starts ringing. I ignore Quinn’s tone and walk into the hot water with Bryce, rubbing my body against his.
The shower takes longer than expected, and when we finally get our suits on and are ready for the beach, I have five missed calls and a slew of text messages. I decide to check the texts first.
Quinn: Bitch! Check your email. We were both accepted to the summer program. You have to call me soon!
Me: I just got out of shower. BRB
Quinn: You may want to lay Bryce down. This isn’t good, but it’s amazing for our futures.
My stomach drops, and I sit on the arm of the sofa.
Me: Tell me!
Quinn: No—open the email.
I scroll through my email and find the message I’m looking for.
The opening is pretty generic, congratulating me on acceptance and telling me the details, including the financials and credits received. It’s not until I get to the location that my heart stops. The description of the project is outlined, and my enthusiasm starts to rise. I see myself in this environment and bringing the stories for my future projects.
No one is going to support this. My parents are going to have a fit, and Nate will forbid. But I don’t care. My enthusiasm tampers down any anxiety.
I text Quinn immediately.
Me: I’m in! You?
Quinn: No doubt. But only with you. Talk to your fiancé first. Not confirming until you have his approval.
Me: I’ll be fine!
“Are you done yet?” Bryce nips my neck and stands in front of me in his swimsuit and nothing else. His chiseled chest makes me lick my lips, and I almost forget my news.
“I got accepted to the programs I applied for.” I wave my phone, and he takes it.
As he scrolls through the message, his expression goes from excited to shocked when he finishes and hands my phone back.
His stance gets solid, and he crosses his arms over his chest. “No way! Absolutely not. You are not going to Israel! You think I’m going to let my fiancée travel to a country in absolute chaos?”
“I think you need to calm down. I’ll be with a guided troupe, and we’ll be fine. It says in the email that we have designated families to interview.”
“I’m not letting the love of my life go willingly into the Middle East. No! Over my dead fucking body.”
My mind rages. There’s no way I’m giving up this opportunity. He may think he’s dealing with the sweet and sassy Devon, but he’s wrong. This is a chance that could shape my future. I may love this man with all my heart, but I’m going to Israel, with or without his support.
Game On…
Staying On Course
Adored. Cherished. Worshiped.
Bryce Randolph accomplished the impossible when he stormed back into my life. He repaired my shattered heart and promised to love me forever. My dreams now include a future with the man I’ve loved since I was twelve years old. He owns my soul, and a life without each other is not an option.
Sometimes, though, even the strongest bonds are tested.
How much am I willing to give up for the love of my life?
Ambition. Passion. Commitment.
As we chase our dreams, distance separates us, threatening to shake our foundation. Jealousy and insecurities unravel my confidence, but Bryce’s devotion never falters. When we’re faced with tough choices regarding our life together, I’m forced to rely on his unwavering strength.
Can we both have it all?
Then the unthinkable happens. Now, it’s my turn to fight for our happily ever after. Are we falling apart after finding our way, or are we…
Staying on Course
Staying on Course
Ahren Sanders
Collision Course Duet, Part 2
Copyright © 2015 by Ahren Sanders
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
Editing: Kendra Gaither at Kendra’s Editing and Book Services
Cover Design: Melissa @MG BookCovers and Designs
Formatting: Erik Gevers
Chapter 1
As soon as we drive into my parents’ neighborhood, I start to fidget. It’s been five days since we’ve spoken because I’ve purposely avoided their calls. Exactly like Bryce, they freaked out when I told them about the trip to Israel. And as expected, Nate called me within ten minutes of hanging up with them and went bat-shit crazy. His exact words were, ‘I absolutely, positively, fucking forbid you to participate in this summer program’.
I listened to all of them lecture me on the danger involved until I finally had enough. We agreed to drop the subject for the rest of my vacation, then I’d sit down and logically discuss the pros and cons of the program. This seemed to appease them because they thought I’d given in. But in reality, I’d only delayed the inevitable rip-roaring argument that was bound to happen.
I replay that morning in my mind and wonder again if I’m being selfish.
Bryce paced the room and alternated between running his hands through his short hair and shaking his head. After five minutes, he finally looked at me and my heart hurt. His eyes were glassy and his expression pained. He knew what photojournalism meant to me and, subsequently, the subject matter of social and cultural issues. And I knew in that moment, he was going to try to talk me out of it, but in the end, he’d support my decision.
“Bryce, can we put this aside for the rest of the week and enjoy the beach?” I asked softly.
He came to me and cupped my cheek. “Hear me out, and then we’ll drop it until we get back to Nashville.”
I nodded and stepped into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“I’m feeling every bit of fear and anxiety that your parents are. Even in a sanctioned environment, this is not a safe location right now. But, it’s more than that. I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you. It would absolutely kill me, Devon. I finally have you in my life in the way that was meant to be. We have a future, something I’ve dreamed about since you kissed me the night of my graduation. I’ve already told you how I felt the year and half we were apart. Now I have everything— I mean everything—coming together. If something happened to you, I wouldn’t survive.”
Tears pooled in my eyes as I looked up and felt his pain. “I’ll be safe, promise.”
“You’re going to go anyway, aren’t you?”
“Can we talk about it later? I’ll email my professor and tell him I need to think it through. Quinn will do the same. We can both give him our answers sometime next week. It’s an amazing experience to turn down. Don’t make me feel selfish for wanting this.”
There was an inner turmoil in his expression until he finally grinned and leaned down to kiss me briefly. “Wouldn’t want my fiancée to feel selfish. We’re officially dropping the subject until I have backup to talk some sense into you.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to argue about siding with my parents, but I decided to take the reprieve and save my logic for the whole firing squad. Most likely the same firing squad that would be waiting in my parents’ living room the minute we got home.
Bryce went to get our stuff ready for the beach, and I took advantage of the privacy to call Quinn. She wasn’t surprised at everyone’s reactions because she was receiving the same from her parents and Dean. We made a quick plan, which included her doing massive research while I frolicked on the beach with my fiancé. Her suggestion was to fuck his brains out until he was too tired to argue. I liked her idea.
Bryce reaches over and squeezes my knee before linking his fingers through mine. “You nervous?” His smooth voice breaks me out of my trance.
“Yes.”
“I can tell. Your hand is sweating. Relax, Devon. Things will be fine.”
My eyes grow wide as I stare at him in disbelief. I was prepared for him to pounce the minute we drove into the city. His relaxed attitude is throwing me off.
Finding Our Course: Collision Course Duet Page 12
