“And if you thought you could just stroll back in here and ask for it all to be taken away, you’re insane.”
Her sobs became audible and tears streamed down her face. “Whatever you think you can say to try to hurt me, assume I’ve thought worse. You don’t think I’ve blamed myself every day for the last six months? You think I look down and don’t see his blood on my hands? But it was your father’s fault too. I was just a silly college kid who had a crush on a boy, and then was emotionally tortured for two straight years because of it. I fought back to protect myself. But he pulled the trigger, Teddy. Not me. And I thought if anyone were to understand that, it would’ve been you.”
I had nothing left to say to her. Had I been in my right mind, I would’ve told her exactly what happened the night my father killed himself. That it was, in fact, me who he was angry with, me who finally stood up to him, me who showed him he was powerless. I too looked down every day and saw his blood on my hands.
But she was right. He pulled the trigger. I had to stop blaming myself.
And I definitely had no right to blame her.
Angry with myself, I turned around and headed for the door. I needed to get out of there. I needed to get away from her. I didn’t want her to see me this way. I didn’t want my drunken state to be the reason that I screwed up something I had thought I wanted for so long, just to prove a point.
“Teddy, where are you going?”
“For a drive.”
“You’ve been drinking for hours.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
“Don’t you dare tell me what to do!” I screamed at her before I shut the door in her face with her still inside.
I fumbled with my keys, finding the one to bring the engine to life. As I sped down the driveway, I saw Ashley running barefoot behind me, screaming and waving her arms. But I wasn’t turning back. I needed to clear my head.
I turned right out of the driveway, barely missing the mailbox with my mirror. I blinked quickly, attempting to rapidly sober up, when I saw something move in the middle of the road up ahead.
What was it? My blurry eyes tried to focus. A girl. It was a girl. She had a short, blonde bob, and was wearing a white, flowing dress. It was the girl of my dreams. It was Ashley.
It was a memory of Ashley. The memory of the first time I saw her… the one I wished I could see again. There, as I drove away from her, I was given my wish.
But it didn’t register soon enough. I twisted the wheel out of instinct. I felt the tire blow, the car flip, and I saw the tree coming straight toward me. It was the old oak tree where I had first met Ashley seven years earlier. The memory I had so wished to relive was now the reason I was about to die.
I braced myself, both in the car and watching the scene, for what was about to happen. Would I have to experience the pain again? Or would I simply be taken away and it would all be over?
If only I had told her that it wasn’t her fault.
If only I had told her that she was the reason I finally stood up to my father.
If only I had told her that I was proud of her for following her dreams.
If only I had told her that I would’ve waited forever.
If only I had told her that I couldn’t imagine my life without her.
If only I had told her that I still love her.
If only I didn’t turn straight into that old oak tree.
I closed my eyes. I couldn’t watch.
“Teddy!” I heard her voice. “Teddy!” Again, her voice… then a warming tingle in my hand.
Ashley? Where was she? Ashley?
“Please, Teddy, don’t leave me. I still believe in you. I love you.”
I felt a jolt. And then extreme pain.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Teddy
“Heart rate seventy-two.”
“Blood pressure one-ten over eighty.”
I blinked my eyes open. Was I dead?
A doctor with a mustache.
A doctor with blue eyes.
A nurse with a tattoo.
A nurse with red lipstick.
My mom.
Ashley. It was Ashley. It was always Ashley.
I was alive. I didn’t die. They had brought me back right before I saw my final flash. Or rather, she had brought me back.
“He’s stable.”
“Mr. Stoneguard, we’re going to remove the breathing apparatus. Hold still.”
Shit. That wasn’t at all pleasant. I coughed, but the pain from my throat was nowhere near the pain I felt all over my broken body. None of it mattered though. Ashley was by my side.
There was a reason for my flashes. There was a reason they were all about her. She was the reason to not give in to the pain. She was my reason to keep on living.
I moved my hands slowly, carefully, around hers and swallowed hard, preparing myself to speak.
“It wasn’t your fault. You need to know that. My father killing himself… it wasn’t you. And it wasn’t me. It was all him. And because of you, I finally stood up to him. Because you believed in me, I found the strength to stand up for myself. And I am so proud of you for following your dreams. I would’ve waited for you forever. I can’t and even refuse to imagine my life without you. Ashley Leigh, I still and will always love you.”
“You didn’t need to tell me that all now. I’m not going anywhere.”
“But I did, Ash. Because life is too short. When I was dying, those were the things I wished I had gotten to say to you. So I wanted to make sure I said them. Because you can’t always count on tomorrow.” I squeezed her hand. “So as soon as I get out of here, I’m buying a ukulele.”
She smiled, and leaned closer to me, planting her lips softly on mine. It hurt, but I loved it. The pain just reminded me that it was all real.
“I knew this long before, but seeing you here, like this, it definitely made me realize… it was never about the money or the security. It was always just you.”
I smiled up at her. “That’s good. Because of you, I lost a hell of a lot of money.”
She bit her lip. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not a billionaire anymore.”
“I can live with that.”
“I’m just a sad multi-millionaire.”
“Shut up!” She went to slap me, but thought better of that when seeing the fear in my eyes.
“I love you, Ashley.”
“And I love you, Teddy.”
She held my hand as I stared up at my dream girl.
“Can I ask a question?” She whispered.
“The monkeys were real. The circus lent them to me. They all made it back safely.”
“Not about the parade. A different question.”
“Anything.”
“Why me? Why did you decide to share your goodness with me?”
I looked at the ceiling and gently chuckled to myself. “You know, I think it had something to do with your baby otter laugh.”
She promised me she’d slap me when I was feeling better.
But I was already feeling better. I was alive.
Because of Ashley Leigh, I was alive.
This is most likely the last you’ll hear of me. I’ve learned my lesson. I desire nothing but to wake up next to my beautiful Ashley, replace the blankets on our sleeping children, and drink my coffee before heading off to work. Because Ashley was daring enough to fall in love with me, that’s the guy I have decided to be: a good guy.
And, as I’ve said before, no one writes stories about the good guy.
EPILOGUE
HUNTINGTON HERALD
We are so very pleased to announce the marriage of Ashley Elizabeth Leigh to Theodore Vincent Stoneguard IV. The two met seven years ago because of an article Ashley was tasked with writing for this very paper. While Ashley was employed at the Herald, she wrote thirty-seven articles on her now husband. Her thirty-sixth article, as most of you would remember, was a plea for prayers, as Mr. Stoneguard was in criti
cal condition due to a car accident. In that article, Ashley told us what we all had known for so long: she was in love with Teddy.
Her thirty-seventh was to tell us that our prayers had been answered.
Over the years, the two have spent a great deal of time in the limelight, which is why we were shocked to hear of their exceptionally discreet wedding! With just a handful of guests, our two lovebirds quietly tied the knot on the beach below the Stoneguard mansion. Mr. Stoneguard even built the altar himself, from a fallen oak tree found on his property.
They wish to thank their family and friends for their love and support, and the town of Huntington for its continued interest in their little fairy tale. The two were married in the evening, this past Tuesday, at six.
THE END
Also From Sophia Kenzie:
Blood of Cupids (The Blood of Cupids MC 1) by Sophia Kenzie
Betrayal of Cupids (The Blood of Cupids MC 2) by Sophia Kenzie
Death of Cupids (The Blood of Cupids MC 3) by Sophia Kenzie
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