by Gia Riley
“But that’s what he would want you to do.”
“No. He’ll quit his job and come here to babysit me.”
“You’re being ridiculous, Sophie. He loves you.”
“And that’s exactly why he can’t know Blaine called. Drop it.”
“You’re making a huge mistake.”
It’s my mistake to make. “I’m protecting him. Not hurting him.”
“Pfft. Good luck convincing him of that.”
I’M ONLY THIRTY MILES DOWN the road when the nagging voice in the back of my mind won’t shut up. It urges me to turn around because without someone to protect Sophie, she’s at Blaine’s mercy. But it’s not that simple. If I ever want to make us official by proposing to her, I can’t quit my job like I wish I could. I need to be able to give her a real home once we move out.
Until she came to stay with my family, she never knew what it was like to live in a place where she was loved unconditionally. From that moment on, I made a promise to myself that I’d give her the world for the rest of her life. That won’t happen if I have no income to even put a roof over her head.
Life was so much easier when all I had to worry about was getting good grades, and working enough hours to cover my car payments. I already miss the late summer nights when I got to spend my days having fun with Sophie, and my nights holding her. Each night she opened up a little more to me, and by the end of the summer, we were on a different level as a couple. I’m still amazed she’s able to submit her body to me the way she does despite the hell she’s been through. It’s how I know she’s mine in every way possible.
To know she trusts me to make her feel good, and to take care of her, blows me away. With her past, she fought hard to push me away—but now that she’s let me in, I don’t have to worry about her being honest with me. She knows I’m hers no matter how bumpy the road gets.
I remember the time she thought she was the only one getting anything out of our relationship. Little did she know that after Alisa, I completely gave up on love. But I was wrong—and I’m man enough to admit it. Thanks to Sophie, I figured out love wasn’t how much money I had in my bank account. It had nothing to do with how many nice things I could afford to give her. And it definitely wasn’t defined by country clubs or golf games. None of that mattered to Sophie. All she wanted was us. So if anyone hit the relationship jackpot, it was me.
She’s the easiest love I’ve lived, and I won’t ever let her slip through my fingers. The black cloud that has tried so many times to consume her won’t have the final say as long as we’re together. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure the life she’s started to build doesn’t crumble—even if that means fast forwarding our future.
If I was wavering on my decision before, it’s only been solidified by the miles that are separating me and Sophie. I know what I need to do—what I need to make happen. I’ll own every single second of my promise to her.
I won’t risk her life. I’ll show her the world.
Finishing the rest of the drive on autopilot, I pull onto my street with little memory of how I got there. Right away, I notice the police cruiser on the opposite side of the street. Though I don’t recognize the officer from any of the hospital visits, it’s a relief to have someone watching the house. As unpredictable as Blaine is being, nobody is safe. Not even my parents.
Inside, the house is quiet except for the television in the family room. I take a seat on the ottoman in front of the couch. I have so many ideas—so many thoughts I want to express perfectly. Only I have no idea how to go about telling them without freaking them out?
“Kipton what’s wrong?” Mom asks first.
My foot bounces nervously as my parents wait for me to speak. Dad reaches forward and lowers the volume on the TV with the remote. This all seemed so simple on the drive home. Now that I’m about to do it, I’m at a loss for words. I’m not an impulsive person, and I worry that’s what they’ll think this is—a rash decision made on a whim.
Dad sets his bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. “Kipton, what happened? Is Sophie okay?”
“She’s okay, but I shouldn’t have left her.”
Mom wearily reaches for my hand. There’s no mistaking the worry in her eyes. Sophie is like a daughter to her, and she doesn’t want anything to happen to her either. Not being able to protect Sophie is killing me. So I stop wasting time and blurt it out. “I have to get Sophie out of that town.”
“But she has school, Kipton.”
“Your mother’s right. Sophie’s very close to graduating.”
He would know how close she is because he helped her get the loans to cover her tuition after she gave up her scholarship. But it’s not enough to stop me. “Then we find her a school here or she can finish online. I’m not asking her to quit.”
“What are you asking then, Kipton? She’ll lose the credits for this semester.”
I throw my arms in the air. They don’t get it. This isn’t about school or a degree. It’s about her life. “What good will those credits be if Blaine kills her? You saw what he did to Sophie. What if next time it’s worse?”
Mom glances at Dad when she realizes I have a solid point she can’t argue with. That doesn’t mean she won’t try. And she does when she says, “Blaine could be long gone by now.”
“But that’s just it. Nobody knows that for sure. I can’t live with the possibility of him turning up to finish what he started, and I shouldn’t have to.”
Mom rubs my back like I’m a little boy who just fell off his bike. There aren’t Band-Aid’s big enough to cover the damage Blaine’s done to Sophie. He doesn’t get a say in the rest of my life. “I know you’ll try to stop me, but I’ve been thinking about it constantly. I want to ask Sophie to marry me.”
I blurt out my intentions with more confidence than I started this conversation with. I was prepared to argue my way through my logic, but with or without their approval, I have to do the right thing. To me, the right thing is getting her off campus.
Mom gasps in surprise while dad crosses his arms over his chest. He’s trying to figure me out, but even I can’t do that. There’s nothing I can do to make Sophie’s past disappear, but I have a better shot at keeping her safe if I make her mine. We can find a house, and forget about it all.
“Kipton, that’s an extreme decision. You can’t marry her because you’re frustrated with living arrangements.”
“I’m not. We plan on getting married eventually. Why not now?”
“Because it’s in haste, Son.” Dad’s a practical guy. He sees things for what they are and that’s it. So I hear what he’s saying, but I don’t necessarily agree with his opinion of what I’m doing. Before I can argue, he continues. “You don’t get married to escape. You get married because you’re in love and ready to take the next step in life together.”
I’m ready to take the next step with her. Isn’t that what this is all about? Moving on? “We both want that.”
“Honey, please. Let’s talk this through,” Mom requests as she sips her iced tea. Her hands nervously wipe away the condensation trickling down the side of the glass.
“We’re good together, Mom. Even you and Dad said so. You let her live in your house, so how is this any different than that. We lived together all summer.”
“A girlfriend and a wife are two totally different things, Kipton. Your father and I don’t want you rushing into marriage. It’s a once in a lifetime decision. You’re both so young. You have all the time in the world.”
Do we have time? I’m already walking a fine line between two separate worlds. I’m tired of trying to compete with all the distractions that are trying to screw with our heads. Sophie should be here with me—it’s plain and simple. We wouldn’t have to rely on phone calls or computers to stay in touch, and I wouldn’t have to put her through any more painful good-byes.
“Mom, I’m tired of seeing her cry when I have to leave. I’m tired of worrying about Blaine getting to her, and I’m tired of missin
g her. I don’t know if anyone is ever totally ready for marriage, but I have a great job, and I can find us a place of our own. I’m not asking you to support us.”
Mom pulls a tissue out of the box on the coffee table. I haven’t seen her cry many times. She’s always been the supporter, the one who finds the bright side in every situation. So seeing her in tears over my decision isn’t easy for me to handle. “Please don’t cry. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Kipton. I will always support you,” she says through a series of sniffles. “All I ask is that you think this through before you propose. If you wake up in the morning and all you can think about is marrying Sophie, then you have your answer.”
It’s a huge weight lifted off my shoulders to hear her say that. Though I can’t get too excited until I figure out what the look on dad’s face means. He’s never been one to show a lot of emotion, but I can always tell when he’s proud of me. Right now, I’m getting that vibe, but I don’t want to take it for granted. His approval is equally as important to me. “Dad?”
He removes his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers. Finally, he opens his eyes, giving me a small smile. “You’re exactly like I was at your age. I knew I wanted to marry your mother when we were young—the same age as you are now. Times have changed since then, but the Keller men know when they have something good.”
Mom swats his arm, laughing at the arrogance lacing his words, but she doesn’t care. They have a marriage that is built on love, and built around trust—exactly the way it should be.
“If you’re positive you want the same for your future, then ask her to marry you, Kipton.”
“Yeah? You mean that, Dad?”
“Yes, I will support you.”
I sit in shock at how easy it was to get them on board with my plans. They’re reasonable parents, but marriage is huge. Especially considering our age—but age is only a number.
“Have you thought about a ring, honey? Mom asks.
Honestly, I hadn’t put much thought into it. I was too focused on making sure I brought my best argument to the table. In fact, I don’t even know what kind of ring she would want. “When I gave her the infinity ring, I promised her diamonds.”
Mom smiles, tears still pooling in her eyes. “Then I suggest we find her a diamond or two.”
“Yeah? I’m going back Wednesday. I want to ask her then. Do you think we can find something that fast?”
“She will love anything you give her. Sophie isn’t the kind of girl who gets caught up in dollar signs.”
She couldn’t be more right about that. I may not be able to afford much right now, but I have no doubt what I can give her will be enough.
“Sit tight for a minute, Kipton. There’s something I want to show you.”
“Okay.” Mom gets off the couch and jogs up the stairs. Knowing her she has a photo album she wants to break out from years ago. She saves everything, and always whips out embarrassing pictures whenever there’s a special occasion. Now seems like a pretty special one to me.
Mom returns to the living room with a small, black velvet box in her hand. Not at all what I was expecting. She hands it to me, and I take it from her cautiously. “What’s this?”
“Open it.”
I lift the lid to find an antique silver ring with a round center diamond, and a bunch of little ones around it. I’m sure there’s a name for the style and the cut, but all I know is it looks expensive. “Was this Grandma’s ring?”
“No, that was your great-grandmother’s ring. My Mom gave it to me when she passed. I want you to give it to Sophie.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This is the answer to my problem. “You mean when I propose?”
“Yes. I know you don’t have a lot of money right now, and it would make the perfect ring for my future daughter.”
“You would give this to her? Even though it’s a family heirloom?”
“Yes, Kipton. Sophie is family. In every sense of the word.”
“This is perfect, Mom. Thank you.” It’s bigger than any diamond I would be able to afford on a teacher’s salary.
“I only wish my grandmother was alive to see it for herself.”
I close the ring box, rubbing my fingers over the smooth velvet. Now that I have the ring in my hands, I want to ask her to marry me tonight. But she deserves a real proposal that she can tell our kids about someday. “I think I’ll go give Sophie a call.”
“Send our love.” Mom wipes a few stray tears from her cheeks. I lean over and hug her, more thankful than ever to have such supportive parents. Sophie is meant for me, and she’s about to become an official part of this family. No more playing house. For the first time, Sophie will have a place to call her own, and a complete family who loves her.
As soon as she says yes.
I set the ring box on my desk before pulling up messenger on my computer. When I see Sophie’s on, my heart rate picks up. I’m sitting on the biggest secret of my life. One I know will change her world for the better.
Kipton: Hey beautiful.
Sophie: Hey back.
Kipton: What are you doing?
Sophie: School stuff. It’s boring.
Kipton: You feel okay?
Sophie: I’m tired, but good.
Kipton: Do you have time to talk?
Sophie: Facetime?
Kipton: Yeah. I want to see you.
Sophie: Give me ten minutes.
I close the screen on my laptop, and take my shirt off. Each minute moves excruciatingly slow as I wait for her to call me. Just as I settle into bed, the screen on my phone lights up with her gorgeous face. It hits me like a sledgehammer. I’m going to marry her.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, yourself,” she says and right away I notice she covered her bruises with make-up. I can barely see the coloring left behind, but her stitches are still above her brow, slowly healing the cut that will leave a scar on her flawless face. It’ll always be a reminder of the night she was attacked. She’ll notice it every time she looks in the mirror, and I’ll see it every time I look into her eyes.
“Hey,” she says again, snapping me out of my funk. “You okay?”
“Sorry, what’s up?” The screen switches to a shot of her white ceiling when she sets the phone down. “Where’d you go?”
“Here I am,” she replies with a smile sexy enough to make me want to do all kinds of dirty things to her. “I’m just getting in bed so we can talk.” What I wouldn’t give to be in that bed right now—getting lost in her warmth.
Once she settles under the covers, all that sticks out is her little blonde head. “Gorgeous, pull the blanket down a little more.” She pokes her hand out from under the blanket and inches the comforter down far enough to reveal her neck. “A little more,” I encourage.
She lets me see her shoulders, then the top of her chest. It’s like unwrapping the best Christmas present known to man. And knowing it’s all mine, shit, that makes me want it even more. “Baby, do you have anything on?”
Pulling on her ribbon, her hair falls out of the ponytail, cascading around her shoulders and down her back. If she would shake her head the slightest bit, I’d be able to see her chest peeking out between the strands of her hair. Since it’s still hidden, I know she wants to play.
“Give me a little more, Sophie,” I encourage some more. I’m curious how long she’s going to tease me. When her entire chest is revealed, I have my answer. She’s naked. In her bed. Without me.
“Shit, Sophie. You look smoking hot.”
Finally she speaks, and when she does, it lights a fire inside of me. “After you left, I missed you. So I took another shower.”
“Yeah? Then what?”
“Well, I needed you again.” I follow her right hand as she reaches up to cup her breast. She squeezes it before sliding her nipple between her thumb and index finger. Ever so lightly, she pinches it, and her eyelashes flutter as she soaks up the pleasure.
&nb
sp; “But I wasn’t there.”
She sighs, sticking out her bottom lip in an adorable pout. “No, you weren’t. I had to pretend.” Her hand moves to her other breast where her fingers mimic the same movements.
“And how did that go?”
“Not very well. It wasn’t the same.” Thank fuck for that. I want her to need me, and I need her to want me.
“Do you want me to help you now?”
Her cheeks instantly redden from the invitation. She’s gotten so much bolder since we met, but she’s still shy when it comes to telling me exactly what to do to her. It’s a lot easier for her when I take the lead or she does it on her own without being asked.
“Is that a yes, beautiful?”
She nods her head. “I’m completely naked.”
“I know you are.”
“But I didn’t tell you.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Her mouth forms an exaggerated O. “If you were here right now, what would you do to me first?”
I need to be there because my dick is about to start begging for her. “I’d suck on those pretty pink nipples for starters.”
Her eyes go wide, my suggestion surprising her. I watch as her lips separate ever so slightly. As she remembers exactly what my mouth feels like on her, her breathing increases enough to know she’s into it. “I like when you do that,” she confesses.
“What else do you like, Sophie? Tell me what you want.”
She swallows while her hand slides across her chest again. The pale pink skin at the base of her neck starts to redden as she becomes more and more turned on. It’s the sexiest thing she’s ever done—touching herself while she talks to me. “I want all of you.”
“Damn, baby.” Wednesday can’t get here soon enough. “Maybe I’ll skip tomorrow and come get you early.”
“What do you mean get me? Are we going somewhere?”
As much as I want to haul ass to bring her back home, I can’t let her know what I have planned for us. “No. But we will when the time is right.”
“Okay, but you can’t skip the picnic or the clinic tomorrow.”
“I know, Sophie. I was just caught up in the moment.” Shit. I almost slipped. “Now where were we?”
