Weightless

by Gia Riley

  HEARING KIPTON RETELL THE FIGHT in the treehouse makes me nauseous. If he wasn’t a trained wrestler, or if one of his movements was even a second delayed, he might not be sitting here holding me in his arms. Sadly, the peace the treehouse once brought me will forever be tainted with the reminder of Blaine and how he could have killed Kipton.

  “You ready to go home?”

  “Yes,” I tell him. “This place gives me the creeps.”

  After Kipton answers his last question, the officers let us leave. We find Drew in the parking lot waiting for us to come out of the building. Cara hurries into the front seat, leaving Kipton and I to share the back. Kipton pulls me close, holding me in his arms.

  “I’ll build you a new one,” he says only loud enough for me to hear.

  “A new one?”

  “I saw how devastated you were when I told the officer what happened in the treehouse.”

  He’s missing the point. “I wasn’t upset because of the treehouse, Kipton. I was upset because Blaine could have killed you.” I get worked up all over again talking about it.

  “Hey,” Kipton rubs my knee soothingly. “I’m okay.”

  Thank God. “We are too, right?” I rest my head on his shoulder, relishing in the fact that we’re getting another chance to get it right. While I wait for Kipton’s response, my eyes lazily open and close as the hum of the engine lulls me to sleep. But I’m wide awake when Kipton slides my diamond ring on my finger. With it back where it always belonged, I’m more whole than I’ve ever been in my life. His promise is wrapped around me like a glove again.

  “Does that answer your question, Sophie?”

  I stare at my hand, relieved to have my ring back. “You had it with you all this time?”

  “I’ve never taken it out of my pocket.” He closes the velvet box and sets it on my lap. “But I wasn’t going to make us official again inside the station. I don’t want you remembering that place.”

  He knows how important it is for me to keep him separate from Blaine. “Thank you.”

  “Sophie, I jacked up the first proposal. I’ll probably screw up a million more times, but I’ll wait as long as it takes to marry you. When you’re ready, I’ll give you the wedding of your dreams.”

  After tonight’s events, I know more than ever that he’s all I need in this lifetime to be truly happy, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get the happily ever after I deserve. No regrets. “I’m going to check out other options for schools. It doesn’t matter where I finish, just that I do. And I’m ready to see the house you found for us. I want to get married as soon as we can.”

  Kipton shakes his head. “No, baby. I can’t let you do that because of me.”

  “You can, and you will,” I tell him with confidence.

  “I’m not going back to my job, Sophie. I already planned on quitting when I came here to get you back. It was wrong of me to determine where we start our life together without ever asking you. It’s as much your choice as it is mine.”

  He’s making himself sound so selfish when I know he’s not. Kipton has sacrificed more for me than anyone in my life ever has. And he’s about to do it all over again because he’s so selfless. “Where you are is where I’ll be. Always.”

  Kipton unbuckles my seatbelt, pulling me onto his lap. Softly, he kisses the tip of my nose. “We can see the house, but I want you happy, Sophie. I promise I can love you from any town in this country.”

  “So you wouldn’t hate me if I stayed here to finish school?”

  “Not at all. I’d love you even more for following your dreams.”

  “And we can stay engaged? We can start planning the wedding?”

  “Absolutely. We can set a date.” He kisses me one more time before opening the car door. “Lets go inside, beautiful.”

  He helps me out of the car, and leads us inside to my room where he runs his finger over the unattached wood surrounding the door frame. “I’ll pay for this. I lost my shit when you didn’t open the door. All I pictured was you passed out on the floor. Where were you anyway?”

  Twisting my hands together, I slip by him and set my purse on my desk. “I was here the whole time, but I never heard you.”

  He looks puzzled as he tries to figure out where I might have been. “But your room was empty. I was in here with Cara.”

  I feel like a failure admitting this to him, but I have to. “I was in there,” I say, as I point to the closet door beside me.

  “The closet?”

  I nod my head. “I fell asleep inside. I was feeling really low after I saw you with Alisa. It was my escape for a little while.”

  He closes his eyes, and locks his hands behind his head. The torment is written all over his face. “No more, Sophie. I know it’s been your safe spot, but I don’t want you hiding. Okay?”

  I nod my head. “You’re not mad?”

  “Baby, I’ll never be mad about that. Sad, yes. But never mad.”

  All doubt about my actions washes away with his acceptance. I need him, so I lift my shirt over my head and toss it onto the floor. Sliding my jeans down my legs, I carefully step out of the denim. Left with only a black bra, and matching panties, Kipton stares at me like he’s about to devour me.

  “What are you doing, baby?”

  “Getting ready for bed,” I say casually.

  I slip my hands under his shirt and help him pull it over his head. With my hands on his chest, I push him backwards until his shoulders hit the mattress. He kicks his shoes off while I work on his belt buckle.

  “Lift up,” I tell him when I pat his hips to pull his jeans down. His boxers follow closely behind until he’s completely naked in front of me. Climbing on top of him, I straddle him. The smooth satin of my panties brushes against his most sensitive spots.

  “Tell me what you want, Sophie.”

  “Shhh,” I tell him as I press my fingers to his lips. “I’m playing.”

  “You better hurry before I flip you over and take care of you.”

  “Patience,” I whisper, as I slowly slide off his lap to remove my panties. His head lifts off the bed as he props himself up on his elbows far enough to watch what I’m doing. “Jesus, baby,” he groans.

  “Do you want me to stop?” I tease.

  “Don’t you even try it.”

  I straddle him again and another satisfied groan passes through his lips. He’s completely lost in the sensations. Although he warned me not to stop, I do anyway.

  “Sophie, the only reason you’re not in trouble right now is because you look sexy as fuck doing what you’re doing.”

  “I’ll keep going if you can agree to something.”

  “What do I need to agree to?” He asks as he pulls me down far enough to kiss and suck his way around my chest. This time it’s my turn to get lost in the sensations. “Tell me what I have to agree to,” He repeats when I don’t answer him.

  Focus, Sophie.

  “Don’t quit your job.”

  He stops what he’s doing and looks me in the eye. “I thought we already went over this.” Maybe we did, but I can’t let him give up his dream job. In the end he would regret it, and I would be a lousy fiancée for allowing him to throw it all away.

  I shrug my shoulders. “Not entirely.”

  “What are you thinking about in that pretty little head of yours?”

  “I’ll show you if you promise me you won’t quit.”

  “Okay,” he agrees.

  That was too easy. “I mean it, Kipton. Promise me.”

  “Okay, I promise.”

  I smile when I see the truth in his eyes. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now show me before I lose my mind.”

  I do my best to show him everything I promised, but considering the last thing I remember is screaming his name before passing out, he’s the one who ended up showing me a thing or two.

  THE NEXT MORNING, KIPTON SLIPS out of bed to shower at some ungodly early hour. I fall back to sleep, and only wake up again w
hen his lips kiss me good-bye. Thankful that I didn’t have to argue to get him to go back to work today, I’m excited when the day begins like any other. Only it isn’t at all. We’re an engaged couple, and we’re announcing it to his parents over dinner tomorrow night.

  “Baby, I have to go.”

  When I glance at the clock on my bedside table, it’s still just before five in the morning. With his first class starting at seven, he’ll have to hurry home to make it in time. “Be careful. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” I’m positive the promise of dinner is the only reason he’s okay with leaving me this morning.

  “I’ll be home by six. Practice should be over by five thirty.”

  “Okay, I love you.”

  He leans closer to press another kiss to my lips. I reach behind him and hold onto his neck. “Beautiful,” he mumbles when I refuse to stop kissing him. Instead, I pull him on top of me. “You’re going to make me late,” he argues but his words are meaningless when he makes no attempt to get out of bed or to stop kissing me.

  We stay like this for another minute or two before I pull away. Tracing the outline of his mouth with the tip of my fingernail, I ask, “Why are you still here? You’re going to be late.”

  Smiling, he climbs off the bed, careful not to crush me as he untangles our bodies. “You’re trouble.”

  “Pfft.” I wave my hand in the air, dismissing him playfully. “Be gone.”

  “You’re gonna get it tomorrow night.”

  “I hope that’s a promise,” I tease. “Oh, and shut the door when you leave.”

  He pauses, staring at the mangled door frame. “Very funny. See ya soon.”

  With Kipton on his way back home, I try to rest for the next hour, but I know I have too much I need to get done. Not wanting to wake up Cara and Drew, I start packing up my room as quietly as possible. Although I only moved in a semester ago, I’ve never had a chance to enjoy the apartment the way I had hoped. Living on my own was a big step for me, but ever since the return of Blaine, I’ve spent more time looking over my shoulder than experiencing my senior year of college the way I deserved.

  Because of all the challenges I’ve faced, I’ve had a lot of time to think about what’s important to me, and for the first time in my life, I believe everything happens for a reason. Even the attack and my purging. Though I’m still healing from both, I’ll always be scarred by my past in one way or another despite being stronger than I’ve ever been. Even a slip up with a night spent in the closet doesn’t have the power to destroy me anymore. Now that I’ve come so far, I see my life as the blessing that it is instead of the mistake I thought it always was.

  Having a near death experience of my own, I know how important it is to live each day like it’s your last. I’m never guaranteed tomorrow, and for that reason alone, I realize I’m more alive than ever. I’m vulnerable yet still able to put myself out there to experience the joys and the let downs life has to offer. Even a happy life has disappointments, and though I’ve hit rock bottom more than once, I won’t ever allow my spirit to sink so low again.

  Kipton pulled me out of the darkness, offering me his heart when I was positive I was unlovable. Though he’s made many sacrifices for my happiness, he’s never asked for anything in return which is why I’m so excited to give him a gift of his own. When I leave here today, I’ll begin forever. I’ll give Kipton every ounce of my spirit—the one he’s put back together when I couldn’t do it on my own.

  No more good-bye’s. No more waiting.

  When I have all my clothes packed in my suitcase, I work on cleaning off the shelves. I’ve never had fancy things, but the framed photographs of my friends and family mean more to me than anything I could buy from a store.

  “Sophie? What are you doing?”

  I turn toward the door to find Cara and her messy bed head standing in the doorway. Her hair is so wild it could be the new roommate. “Did I wake you?”

  She glances at my luggage as well as my empty desk. “Where are you going?”

  I stand up from the floor where I’m organizing my pictures. I have no idea how she’ll react to my news, but it’s now or never. I want her to be happy for me. “I’m moving back to your parent’s house with Kipton until we decide on a house of our own.”

  Cara sits on my bed, her face not giving away a single clue about how she’s feeling. Upsetting her was the one thing I was dreading about my decision. “Sophie, you’re like a sister to me, but you’re making a huge mistake.”

  This is what I was afraid of—having to explain myself for finally living a life I’ve only ever dreamed of. “Marrying your brother is a mistake?”

  “No, not that. I’m happy about that. In fact, I was really pissed at you when you gave him the ring back.”

  “Then what’s wrong?” I can’t figure her out. She’s happy for us, yet I’m making a huge mistake.

  Finally, she stops chipping away at her nail polish long enough to tell me her concerns. “I have a problem with you quitting school. Why would you do that when you’re only months away from graduating?”

  I smile, happy that this is why she’s upset. I can deal with this. “I’m not quitting at all. I’ll be commuting back and forth to my classes. I have a few breaks in my schedule each day, but I was hoping it would be okay to spend time here, even if I don’t technically live here anymore.”

  Her eyes brighten the smallest bit. It’s enough to clue me in that she’s okay with my decision. “So you’re telling me you’ll still be here for classes, I’ll still see you most of the day, but you’re going to be sleeping at my parent’s house instead?”

  “Yup. That’s what I’m saying. As long as you’re okay with me being here so much.” My plan ensures my college dream stays intact, while my relationship with Kipton can progress. And if I’m being honest, I don’t want to be away from him anymore. Especially not after I almost lost him last night.

  “I’m more than okay with that. But you might want to knock when you get here. I mean I know your schedule for the most part, but I can’t promise we won’t be naked.”

  “Who’s getting naked?” Drew asks as he peeks his head inside my room. “And where’s all your shit?”

  “Our little bird is leaving the nest, baby.” She covers her heart with her hands and bats her lashes like she’s trying to hold off tears. Dramatic as always. “I hope we raised her right.”

  “You’re nuts, Cara. Absolutely nuts, and I love you for it.”

  I keep packing as I listen to her fill Drew in on my plans. When she finishes, Drew stands up from my desk chair and gives me a hug just like a big brother would. “I’ll miss you, Sophie, but I’m proud of you. You aren’t the same girl I almost killed with a TV last year. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a good thing. A really good thing.”

  “Thank you.” Drew took me seriously from the moment we met. Though we’re the same age, he’s always felt like an older, slightly wiser, big brother to me. I’m thankful to have him as a friend.

  “Don’t leave without saying good-bye. I’m jumping in the shower.”

  “I won’t. I’ll put you to work first,” I joke. I can’t get all of my bags in my car by myself.

  “Do you need any help, baby?” Cara yells to Drew. He ducks his head back into the room. “You have until the water gets cold.”

  “Challenge accepted!” Cara stands up and kisses him in the doorway. “I’ll be back, Sophie.”

  I laugh at their playfulness. They’re going to have so much more fun once I move out of here. They’ve never made me feel like the third wheel, but I know how nice it is to have time alone with your guy. Which is why after I’m finished packing, I head into the kitchen to make them a big breakfast, leaving them to do whatever it is they do.

  After we finish eating, both Cara and Drew help me cram all my stuff into my car. Once again, the inside looks like a game of Jenga. Just like it did when I moved in, but Drew’s right, I’m not the same Sophie that moved into the dorms over a year ago. For that
reason alone, I’m thankful for the opportunities college has given me. I can even admit it might have saved me.

  “Is that everything?” Drew asks

  “Yes, the rest is furniture that can stay for now.”

  “Alright, kiddo. Go make us proud,” Cara says with a smile.

  “I have to go to class, and then I’m heading to Montgomery. So I guess this is good-bye for today.”

  “I’ll miss ya, hooker.”

  “You’ll be too busy with your sexcapades to even miss me,” I joke.

  I expect one of her smart ass comebacks, but she surprises me when she hugs me instead. “You’re my best friend, Sophie. Of course I’ll miss you.”

  And now I know I have to get to class before I completely lose it. “It’s not good-bye. It’s just an I’ll see you later.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you later then, Sophie.” She turns and walks back into the apartment with Drew’s arm around her shoulder. It’s enough to tip me over the edge. I drive to campus with emotion clogging my throat, but I also have a renewed sense of excitement. Knowing how surprised Kipton is going to be makes this all worth it.

  I’m pretty useless in my first class, but I make sure to take extra notes since there’s not a chance I’m going to retain much of what I heard today. Not with two more conversations, and a surprise on the tip of my tongue.

  My lunch break is spent on the phone with Lynn, and in Dad’s office. Again I’m nervous to tell my secret, but like I hoped, they didn’t see these changes as a total surprise. More than anything, they’re glad to see me living my life after I was held back for so long.

  Because of their support, I’m able to hop in my car after my last class of the day, one hundred percent happy with my decision. If all continues to go well with my plan, I should have about an hour before Kipton gets back from practice. It will give me just enough time to bring some of my stuff inside and hide my car.

  I want this to be a total surprise.

  IN TRUE KELLER FASHION, THE house smells like warm apple pie when I open the front door. “Sophie, is that you?” Lynn asks as I walk inside the house. She rounds the corner of the kitchen with a dish towel slung over her shoulder. As she spots me, her cheerful smile calms my nerves. The comfort of her arms wrapped around me is all I need to feel welcomed home. After spending the summer living here, I already have so many special memories in this house. This is where I feel my best—surrounded by people who love me. “It’s so good to have you home.”