They got to Phoenix at around 3:00 pm.
Margo flew out of the station’s entrance before they could even park. They got out to greet her, and she hugged them both hard.
Abi felt bad as she looked her friend over. Poor Margo looked completely drained as if she’d been through a lifetime of wandering around in the wilderness.
“You guys are the best!” she said, crying. “Thank you so much for coming to get me.”
Scott hugged her and kissed the top of her forehead. “No thanks needed.”
Abi sat in the backseat while Margo rode in the front. It would have been kind of weird if it was the reverse because, according to everyone, Abi and Scott weren’t together, and there was no way on God’s green earth that anyone would guess the sort of wild time they were having.
The whole journey back to San Francisco, they listened to Margo tell her tale of her encounters at the bus station. She was always a big talker, and never bored you because of the excitable way in which she spoke. She was one of those people who could see the funny side to a bad situation. Like now, she was laughing at how foolish she’d been for running away the way she had and turning back, then falling asleep and getting robbed. She joked about how it was only her that something so bizarre could happen to.
She told them how she spoke to some Buddhist monks for an hour while they waited for their bus and how she learned how to truly meditate. Then, Margo being Margo, had to elaborate on the technique, and she told them how to do it, too. She continued to tell them how she learned a little bit of sign language so she could communicate with two deaf children and that she’d seen a dog with three legs, and an African grey parrot. She told them all sorts of things, and Abi had to wonder how all of that could have happened in the time that she was at the station. If it had been Abi, she was certain she would have found something to read and kept to herself.
The talking made the journey go fast. It was weird being so close to Scott, yet not being close. From time to time, she’d catch him looking at her in the rearview mirror. Seeing him gave her that tingle and warmed her cheeks. At one point, the look he gave her was so obvious and sexual that she could almost read his thoughts.
She couldn’t wait to get back and go to his room.
By the time they got to San Francisco, it was just after midnight. The journey had taken a little bit less time than they had thought because the roads were quite clear, unlike yesterday. That was brilliant for Margo because the wedding was in fourteen hours and she had a lot to sort out.
As late as it was, they could see Gale waiting in the foyer for Margo. Margo didn’t really elaborate on what she told Gale, but Scott and Abi hung back in the corridor to avoid any suspicion. As far as everyone knew, Margo was still just delayed at the hospital.
When Gale saw Margo walk in, he rushed straight over and hugged her, picking her up and spinning around with her.
The two hugged each other as if they hadn’t seen the other in years, and love emanated from them, filling the room, filling the entire surroundings with its force.
Abi took a moment to appreciate the sight.
“Gale, I’m so sorry,” Margo was saying into Gale’s thick mass of dark hair.
“Don’t. Don’t. I’m so glad you’re here, Margo.”
Abi focused on him and was in awe of the love she saw in his eyes for her friend. At the same time, she could feel Scott’s eyes on her. The pull of his stare was so compelling that she turned to face him.
He was looking at her indeed, his eyes speaking a million things. But there was one thing that stood out -- a hint of sadness sparked in his eyes. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing as her, the thing she’d been putting off thinking about since this morning: t
hat time was catching up with them. Catching up and slipping away, and all they really had was one more night together.
He placed his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. She rested her head on his chest as they turned around to head to his room.
Scott opened the door and watched her as she walked inside.
She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the large garden. When she turned around, she saw that he was still watching her, but it was the way he looked at her that held her attention.
His eyes were filled with adoration. No one had ever looked at her like that before. No one. The stare undressed her right down to her soul. There was something different about the atmosphere around them.
It was not because they were back here, in a different room and in San Francisco.
No, it was something else, something she couldn’t quite describe. Whatever it was, it enhanced the mood, the passion, and the desire that rippled in waves around them.
She continued to watch him as he moved towards her, her eyes traveling over the powerful build of his muscular body.
They didn’t speak. He just kissed her, and she fell into the sweetness of him, savoring the moment, savoring the time that they had. There was a dreamy intimacy to their kiss and to the way he touched her now.
He touched her as if he wanted to store the memory of how she felt in his arms.
He undressed her and scooped her up so he could settle her down on the bed. Desire burned inside her as she watched him undress, too. She wanted to remember him, the way he looked, the gorgeous masterpiece he was that rivaled the Greek gods, and the firm, thick, length of his hard cock. The soft moonlight mingled with the amber glow that filled the room, bathing him in it.
When he slid into her, a shock wave coursed through her entire body, tantalizing her with soldering heat. But there was something else that amplified it which she hadn’t been able to describe. She knew what it was now, and it almost terrified her.
It was love.
This was supposed to be fun, but she’d opened the door and let love out -- the love she’d worked so hard to rid from her system for all those years. It washed over her, but it wasn’t just her. Scott touched her in a way he never had before. It was like his hands were all over her, and he couldn’t get enough -- like he couldn’t touch her enough. Was she imagining it?
She couldn’t tell because her own feelings were getting in the way. What she did know, though, was that some force took over them, bounding their bodies together. When they came, it was as one, with a release that fueled her to new heights.
And, still, they didn’t talk. He just held her against him, as if she were his.
He made love to her all night. Each time, the feeling she felt was reaffirmed.
As the first hint of twilight broke through the sky before sunrise and the diffused pinkish light scattered across the scene that lay before her, a tear ran down her cheek.
She wiped it away but failed to keep the rest from falling. Reality was setting in full force with the truth of the situation. It struck out at her, striking her heart, and going deep into her soul.
She was nineteen when she first met Scott. She’d done everything with him.
Everything. He was the first man she ever slept with, the first person she gave her heart to, and these few short days showed her that he probably was the only person who would have it.
But she couldn’t be with him.
The horror of how she felt when they were last together filled her and made her anxious.
There was no use trying to sugarcoat how she felt. The truth of the matter was that she loved him. She had never stopped. All she had done over the last six years was suppress her feelings.
But he would never love her.
When she thought of his lifestyle, it made her feel worse. She could never hope for more because he was a famous football player, part of an extremely prestigious team, and, with that fame, came all the women.
Women in droves -- the fans and groupies she’d have to compete with.
Abi didn’t have the strength for it. Her heart didn’t have the energy, and if she allowed him to break he heart once more, she didn’t think she’d be able to repair it.
She l
ooked at him, still asleep. His arms were around her, holding her close to his heart. He was just as beautiful to look at asleep as awake, and that was all it would be with him -- physical.
Careful not to wake him, she slipped out of his arms and off the bed. She got dressed and left, making it to her room before the tears truly came.
Chapter 7
Scott reached for her, but his hands came away with nothing. The realization made him sit up quickly and look about the room.
What time is it?
Damn. He looked over to the silver clock on the wall and saw it was nearly eleven. Shit. How had he slept for so long?
“Babydoll!” He called out for her, hoping she was in the bathroom, but he was met with silence.
He was supposed to be ready for pre-wedding family photos in an hour. The wedding was at 2:00, but there was a lot planned before that.
Margo would be getting ready now.
Scott got up and walked through the suite looking for Abi. To his dismay, he saw that she’d left. He was hoping she would have stayed, but maybe she went to be with Margo. She was, after all, her maid of honor, so he had his fingers crossed that that was all it was.
He knew it was D-day for them but hadn’t acknowledged it as such.
Although he should have been getting dressed, he sat back on his bed to take a few minutes to think.
The last two days were supposed to have been just fun. The old him would have considered it as such, and he might have been persuaded to now if the woman of thought wasn’t her, his Babydoll.
Scott would be some kind of idiot to think of all that had happened as just fun. It wasn’t. He didn’t know at what point it stopped being about fun, but that point had already come, and they had already turned into something more.
He didn’t want this to be some kind of fling or some kind of hookup with his ex during his sister’s wedding. It was more than that. It was crazy to have even had that thought.
Last night was something else. It felt like some sort of energy and force had filled him as if all that he felt for her was gathered into one mass of emotion and that he couldn’t get it all out. That was the best way that he could describe it, and all he knew was that he wanted to be with her.
He’d been thinking about on the journey yesterday. There were three weeks before the summer camp. He was supposed to go rock climbing with the guys but he’d pass and spend those weeks in New York with Abi. The biggest chunk of his time for the rest of the year would be taken up by the camp, training and, of course, he’d be playing when the season kicked off.
During that time while she may not see him during the week he’d mapped out his weekend travel to New York. Depending on when he was playing he was sure he could fit time in to see her.
Whatever happened he would make sure things would be different this time if she gave him the chance. He knew he was going out on the limb, making an assumption that she wanted to be with him, but he also knew how he felt. Scott knew he couldn’t be without her. He didn’t even want to contemplate it and he hoped that she felt the same.
On that thought, he got up again and started getting ready.
Abi did a good job of disguising her puffy eyes with her Chanel concealer. She did that before arriving at the bridal room where she was getting ready with the rest of the bridal party.
The artist had done her makeup beautifully and, like the rest of the bridesmaids, she had her hair rolled into something Romanesque with loose tendrils caressing the edge of her cheeks and white lilies that matched her bouquet adorning the back. It was beautiful and complimented the peach-colored dress she wore. It made her feel like a princess.
The others looked amazing, too. There was Alana and Elizabeth -- who were Margo’s older cousins -- and Rachel -- one of Margo’s work friends.
Margo, however, was the very definition of beauty. The Vera Wang gown she wore was stunning, and she looked breathtaking.
It was hard not to cry -- harder because Abi had spent the morning crying over Scott.
At the thought of him, tears threatened to come again, but she held them back. She didn’t think the makeup artist would be too happy if she had to redo her makeup.
Margo came over to her and smiled the smile of a woman in love who was over-eager to get married to the man of her dreams.
“Hey, can we talk?” she asked Abi and motioned for them to go outside.
“Sure.” Abi nodded, putting on a brave face.
They walked out onto the patio and sat in the white wicker chairs that added to the ambiance of the scenery.
“Are you okay?” Margo asked, running her hands over her dark mane of hair.
“Yeah. I’m good. I’m so excited about today.” Abi probably sounded way too perky, like she was trying too hard. She’d have to tone it down a notch when she next spoke.
“It almost didn’t happen. Thank you for coming to get me, and for just being there.”
“You know I’ll always be there for you whenever you need me,” Abi assured her.
“Abi, If I know nothing else, I know that.” Her bright blue eyes sparkled with appreciation.
“How are you feeling? I know you’re excited, but are you and Gale okay with … you know, his revelation?” She had to ask and felt it was her duty to. As friends, they’d always promised each other to be real, and not step around a problem.
“After the last two days, I realize that sometimes you just have to let things go. Abi, the man treats me like a queen, and I know he would never hurt me. He’s it for me. Gale is it for me. To say I love him doesn’t quite seem enough, and I think that I panicked when he told me what happened.”
Wow. Margo’s words were full of strength and power, full of confidence in her decision.
“I won’t say that I wasn’t upset. I was livid and furious, but leaving made me see how much I love him, and when you love someone like that, they’re worth holding on to.”
Abi nodded in agreement, feeling so happy to hear that. She was truly happy for Margo and Gale, but, at the same time, she couldn’t hide the fact that she was sad for herself. The truth of the matter was she loved Scott but would never have the kind of love Margo spoke of with him.
If she continued this wild saga of theirs, even for another day, it would be to her detriment. Being with him would be like watching a movie you’d already seen before, knowing how it ends and wishing for it to change.
“That’s really great, Margo. I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Thank you. So, is there any chance of you telling me what’s wrong?” Margo raised an intuitive eyebrow.
Abi smiled. “I’m okay. Maybe just tired.”
“I saw you leaving last night with Scott.”
“Did you?” it was more of a statement than a question.
“Did you two get along on the journey?” The inquisitive look she now gave made Abi smile.
“We did.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Abi shook her head, and the tears threatened to fall again. She pulled in a breath of the clean, fresh air to clear her mind and keep the tears at bay.
“Maybe some other time.”
Margo looked concerned now. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. My God, woman, today is your wedding day!”
“But you’re sad, and when you’re sad, I’m sad too. How long have we been friends, Abi? You’re like a sister to me.”
Abi couldn’t stop the tear that traveled down her cheek. Sometimes she forgot that she was alone in the world. She had an uncle on her father’s side, but she’d never met him. That was it, though -- one living relative. Everyone else had died. Margo was the only real family she had.
“That means a lot to me. Thank you. You are my sister, too, and I want you to be happy today. You’ve been through enough over the last two days.”
Margo reached across and took her hand to give her a gentle squeeze.
“Hey, there.” The makeup artist came up to the door and stood there with a wa
rm smile. “Sorry to interrupt. I need to fit your veil,” she said to Margo.
“Oh, sure.” Margo stood up and beamed at her. Abi rose, too.
“I’m gonna go for a little walk in the garden,” Abi said.
A walk would help. They had about twenty minutes before they had to do pictures. She wanted to clear her head before that.
Margo gave her a little hug before she left, and Abi made her way through the boutique to get outside that way. There was a lake in the garden on this side. She wanted to go and sit by it.
She opened the door and proceeded to go but stopped on hearing her name being called.
It was Scott.
A bright smile lifted his handsome face. Wow, he looked really good.
The kind of good that should come with a warning label. He’d dressed casually the last few days, but now he was in a suit and looked even more like he’d stepped off the cover of GQ or Vogue.
“Babydoll...” He looked so happy to see her that she almost rethought this whole realization. He kissed her and didn’t seem to care who saw them.
“Hi.”
“I’m sorry I overslept. I wanted to spend time with you before we got busy with wedding stuff.”
“That’s okay.”
“Baby, you look beautiful -- really beautiful.”
“Thanks. You too. I mean, you look great, too.” She couldn’t think straight, and her head was ringing with the truth trying to flag itself to her, warning her away from the man she wanted to be with.
“What’s the matter?” he looked concerned.
“Nothing. I…”
She couldn’t. She couldn’t talk about this now. She didn’t want to talk about how she felt.
“Abi, if you’re worried about us, don’t. How would you feel about me going back to New York with you? When we leave here, I could go back to New York. We can have a road trip. I have a few weeks before camp, and I want to spend it with you. And not just those weeks. I’d try to be with you whenever I can. I want to be with you.”
She would have been thrilled to hear those words if not for the fear that overwhelmed her. The fear that took her back to years ago when she left him.
One Wild Night Page 8
