He looks at me before giving her a stern look, knowing I’m right. “Fine.” He walks away, forcing a rugged smile at Emilia and Quincy.
“Sonny,” I hiss, pulling her towards the window draped with copper curtains. “You should’ve asked him first.”
“I wanted to, but he didn’t come home and he wasn’t answering his phone! I thought you deserved it, and that he would at least support it.” She rolls her eyes.
“I understand, but you know John is far from spontaneous, so next time you do something like this make sure you ask him.” I press my hands together in prayer mode. “Please?” I beg.
She nods, lifting her hand to salute me. “Will do!” Lowering her arm, she grabs mine and leads the way to the center of the room. “Guys! If I can have your attention please!” she calls, releasing my hand and stepping on top of the coffee table.
The murmurs and laughter come to a hush as all eyes point to Sonny. She grins, surprised it works. “Hi,” she squeaks, cheeks burning. But we all know Sonny is far from a timid, shy girl. “So, most of you are closer to Shannon than you are to me, but if you hang with Shannon then you probably have heard her complain about her crazy, dramatic, baby sister before.”
Everyone laughs, including John who stands in the corner, sipping on a glass of red wine and nodding his head with way too much enthusiasm.
“Anyway, I just want to say that I’m so glad my sister is home. If you know Shanny, you know she’s a fighter and has been her whole life. She’s never given up on me, never given up on herself, and although she could give up right now, she hasn’t. She inspires me. She pushes me to become a better person because… well… because I know I have to cherish each moment now more than ever.”
Her eyes land on mine, damp and red. Mine line with thick tears, hot and so badly wanting to fight the fall. “Tonight is for you, Shanny!” She smiles hard, clasping her hands together. The tears I’m trying so hard to fight finally escape me.
“I love you Shanny. To death. You’re an amazing person with an amazing heart and I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to live this life with you.” Sonny steps down from her soapbox, walking straight into my open arms.
Everyone in the room ‘awws’ at us, actually making Sonny embarrassed. I laugh as she hides her red face on my shoulder. “I love you, sis.”
“I love you more.”
I enjoy her embrace. After all, I know to cherish every waking moment now. I don’t have many days left, nor do I know when the time will come, but nothing will stop me from living it up. Being home is just the start. There’s so much more I’d love to do.
“Okay,” Quincy says, walking forward and breaking us apart. He swipes at his eyes, laughing as he goes for the stereo. “I can’t handle these crocodile tears and Shannon is home, right!? Let’s turn up the fucking music and have a little fun.” Quincy steps towards me and cups my face. “I know you can’t have alcohol so I made some Shirley Temples for you. They’re in the fridge whenever you want them. I didn’t add the grenadine, though. Sonny told me not to add too much sugar.”
“Thank you, Q.” I hold his face and kiss his cheek. After letting him go and chatting with a few old friends that worked at Capri and my former roommate Emilia, who can to this day still crack me up, I politely excuse myself from the gathering.
Entering the kitchen, I open the fridge and take out one of the virgin drinks. “Here’s to nothing,” I whisper to myself, bringing the drink to my lips and sipping it. It’s been a while since I’ve had something so full of flavor. Although the grenadine would’ve perfected it, I know I don’t need it.
Footsteps sound a short distance away and John walks into the kitchen. I force a smile at him. He notices, walking to my side. “You okay? You tired?”
For the first time, I don’t put the feeling off. I’m a little lightheaded and weary. Rest is needed. I can’t afford to pass out in front of my friends, ruin the night for the ones I love most, so I go with the flow.
Without hesitation, John holds my hand and takes the other exit, the one that leads to the den. We walk through the den, and from there he picks me up in his arms, walking up the staircase. Pressing my ear to his chest I listen to his steady heartbeat, feeling the warmth of him radiate through me.
“Let’s get you some rest,” he whispers as we make it to the bedroom. The way this happens puts my mind at ease. I know John won’t go back downstairs to argue with Sonny when everyone is gone.
I know because he knows I need this. I need to be surrounded by friends. I need to be home. And home is not just a place…it’s the people that come with it.
John closes and locks the door, giving me complete assurance that he won’t be downstairs again. After helping me undress and put on some pajamas, he lifts the sheets, tucks me beneath them along with a blanket, and then walks to his side of the bed.
He tugs his shirt over his head, revealing six rows of abs I haven’t seen in months, and then slipping out of his jeans. Several moments later he’s in bed as well, sighing with his hands relaxed behind his head.
“It’s been a long day, huh?” I ask, putting on a smile.
He looks toward me, his eyes tired. “It has.” Moving closer, he pulls me into him and I lie on his chest. “You’re okay, though, right?”
“I’m okay, honey.”
“Your breathing?”
“Okay,” I whisper. “Dr. David said I should be able to last until morning since I took that bag of OPX. It’s actually starting to make me feel better.”
“Yeah? That’s good. I’m glad.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ll stay in here tonight. Keep an eye on you.”
“Totally unnecessary,” I tease.
He chuckles. “You can sleep.”
“When will the stuff be here?”
“It’ll be here in about an hour or so but until then, rest.”
I nod, curling into him, holding on tight. “John?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“Thank you for doing this for me. And for not getting too upset with Sonny. You know she means well.”
He’s quiet for a moment. His breathing changes. It’s lighter. Calmer.
His entire body has relaxed and I’m glad because I hate when he’s so uptight. So stressed. “This is what you want,” he murmurs. “I want to be able to do whatever it takes to keep you happy. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He strokes my hair, the affection and nuzzling bringing back feelings I’ve truly missed. I missed lying in bed with my husband, holding him. Kissing him. Molding with his sculpted body. I missed all of John Streeter. Everything.
Before I know it, through the stroking of my hair and gentle kisses on my cheek, I’m asleep. And to my surprise I’m not woken up. I’m allowed to sleep peacefully through the night, most likely on John’s orders.
It’s the best sleep I’ve had in weeks. My comfortable side of the bed. My fucking bed. Oh, how I’ve missed it.
This, I know, is the start of bliss. The start of my limited days. I have to make the most of them. I have to do what’s best for me, no matter the feelings that may get hurt in the process.
Shannon Hales can no longer be restrained. She has to soar like a bird. Fly like a plane. She has to build strength and live. She has to remember that each day is a gift waiting to be unwrapped. She has to remember that life is what you make it, and right now life is telling her not to hold back.
To keep going.
To keep fighting.
To hold on for as long as she can.
Life… life is waiting.
And life shall be lived.
Chapter Thirteen
Past
2 ½ Years Ago - John and I
It was late the night I met John Streeter. Like, two hours away from midnight late. The kind of late when a twenty-three-year-old woman shouldn’t have been out alone.
I’d blown a tire coming off the freeway ramp. The rain poured down, thunder clapping, lightning striking the sky, the silve
r streaks frightening. It was bad timing.
I was late for work. I hated being late. That night I was tending bar by myself. Eugene was going to kill and fire my ass this time.
I whipped out my phone, dialing Max. He didn’t answer. I wasn’t surprised. We’d had it rough. I had a spare tire and I remembered my father showing me how to change one once, but as I sat inside my beat up Punch-Buggy, I had no clue where to start.
Instead of sitting around waiting for Emilia, Quincy, or even Max to answer, I hopped out of the car and rushed to the trunk, clutching the neck of my jacket.
Popping the trunk, I bent down to take a look inside. I had a lug wrench, a spare tire… but I wasn’t sure what the hell else I needed. Some kind of bolts, right? Lug nuts.
I stepped back, watching as cars zoomed right by me, the helpless girl stuck in the rain, cold and fucking pissed. I tried Emilia once more. No answer. I knew she was asleep. It was after ten. She was an early bird, plus she’d been stressed and overloaded with studying and finals.
“Damn it!” I shouted, and as if things couldn’t have gotten any worse, a large gush of water hit my face, soaking the entire front half of my body.
I gasped, helpless, as I stood on the side of the road, dumbfounded. I watched the white Mercedes Benz keep driving.
I would never forget that snazzy car. One I could never afford. It sped up the ramp and I cursed after it, yelling every bad name in the book as if the person could hear me. I was sure they had no clue I was even there.
To my surprise, after my ranting and waving a fist in the Mercedes’s direction, I saw brake lights through damp eyelashes. When the car came to a stop, my eyes expanded.
Soon, the reverse lights came on and the car zoomed back, swerving to the right and stopping a few yards in front my car.
I stood in place, slowly reaching for the wrench in my trunk. I couldn’t make out the person, but they were tall and sporting a black coat. The person was mysterious and walked with a slow stride… the stride of a killer, I was convinced.
The closer he got, however, the more I realized how absolutely beautiful he was. Raindrops coated his long eyelashes, dampened his messy mop of auburn hair. Beautiful blue eyes narrowed as he came closer, stepping around the passenger side of my car, his hands in the air, proving he wasn’t coming to harm me.
“Hey!” he called over the noise of the passing cars and rain. “You all right!?”
I nodded, taking a step back, tightening my grip around the metal. “Fine!”
He noticed my anaconda grip on the wrench and his eyes squinted with doubt. “Do you need some help?”
“No.” I shook my head, shooing him away. “I’m fine, sir. Please, just go back to your fancy car and soak another person standing on the side of the road.”
He laughed, scanning me with his eyes.
I pressed my lips, slightly insecure of his glare.
“I sincerely apologize.” He stepped forward. I stepped back. He stopped in his tracks. “I’m not here to hurt you. Here—” he lurched forward, reaching for the wrench in my hands.
Defensive, I held it up, warding him off. “I told you I’m fine! I have friends coming to help me!” What a lie. All of my friends were clearly too busy ignoring my calls. His hands shot up to the air quickly as he backed away, stunned. But in a matter of seconds, he was shaking his head and walking away, back towards his Mercedes. “Yeah,” I called after him. “Just go!”
Only, he didn’t go. He popped his trunk, dug some items out, and then rushed back. I gasped, my heart racing, the rain making my flushed face feel like it was sizzling.
In that moment, I thought I was going to die. I figured he had anger issues. Or maybe he hated rejection. Either way I’d just gotten on his bad side and was bound for a terrible death.
I wouldn’t have been able to make it far if I tried to run, and he seemed fit enough to catch me if I chanced it. Open roads with fast cars surrounded me and I’d seen enough horror movies to know that going for the woods was a definite no. I stood still, stuck in my tracks as he met up to my car again.
I watched as he dropped the objects and bent down on one knee. I was shocked. He wasn’t coming back with a gun or a knife. He had his own lug wrench, a jack, and extra lug nuts. Once he cranked the car up a few levels with the jack, he took the wheel off with the wrench and then stood, digging in my trunk for the tire.
He glanced at me as he took it out, shaking his head before returning to the job. In a matter of minutes he was finished, collecting his tools and making his way to his car again.
Flabbergasted, I walked around my car, watching as he dropped his tools in his trunk and then slammed it closed.
“Hey!” I called, rushing after him.
He stopped before getting inside the car, looking back in my direction. The rain had transitioned to a light drizzle.
When I finally met up to him, I cleared my throat and drew in a breath. “Umm… thank you. For that back there.” I jabbed a thumb over my shoulder, pointing back at my car.
Rain trickled down his chiseled face, making the stubble around his mouth sparkle. It looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. Up close he looked different. Still hot, still beautiful, but different.
There was sadness in his eyes—a sadness I assumed was unexplainable. It seemed to have been buried deep in them for years.
“I wasn’t going to hurt you,” he informs me.
“I… well, you never know with people these days. This world is crazy, ya know?”
“That, I know.” He put on a boyish smile.
“Well… Thank you, again. As you can probably tell, I’ve never changed a tire before.”
“Yeah.” He got a kick out of that one, grinning like a schoolboy. “I can definitely tell.”
It was then that I noticed he had stains on the white shirt underneath his jacket. It didn’t quite fit the car he drove, and neither did his food-stained black slacks and sneakers.
“Just getting off work?” I asked.
He looked down at his attire, sighing as he tugged on the hem of his shirt. “Oh, uh, yeah. I’m a chef. Explains the dirtiness, huh?” He gave me another goofy, crooked smile.
“Yes. A lot.” I giggled.
“Well, anyway you’re welcome. But I advise you to go online and learn how to change a tire. It’s not as hard as you think. There are tons of videos out there.”
I nodded, completely mesmerized by the way his lips moved, how straight and perfect his teeth were. He was tall and slender. He could’ve been a Hollister model. I couldn’t help but wonder what he held beneath that stained shirt.
“I will.”
He turned for his car, sliding in. “Have a good night, strange girl.”
My lips pressed as he started the car, shutting his door behind him. I turned around, walking back to mine and scooting in, starting the ignition.
The guy sat on the side of the road for a while, way too long for me to wait for him to pull off. My car was fixed and I was already late for work. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through my shift with wet clothes on but I had to make do.
I pulled off and went up the ramp, going down another freeway until I was uptown. It wasn’t until I parked in the back and gathered my things that I noticed that same white Mercedes parking a few spots away.
“What the fuck?” I breathed. Did he really just follow me? Now this guy was really creeping me the hell out.
What was it for him? Change a girl’s tire and then kill her whenever he was ready? No, it had to be: change the tire, pretend to be nice, follow her, and then slaughter her ass as soon as she thinks she’s safe. What a sick fuck.
I hurried for the back door of the club, but he called after me.
I stopped, but I opened the door, just to make it easier for me to escape if I needed to.
“Are you following me?” I asked, narrowing my brows at him.
He came closer, holding his hands out. The rain was gone, but it still drizzled, droplets collectin
g on his leather jacket.
“I… well, don’t laugh,” he said, laughing himself, “but I thought when I stopped on the highway to be a good Samaritan, that I would end up helping some feeble old lady…” He paused, eyes turning serious. “But when I saw you… I… well…” He hesitated several times and I looked at him, doing my best to contain laughter. Running his fingers through his wet hair, he said, “I just didn’t think you’d be this damn beautiful, is all.”
Wow.
Okay. So, I admit that although he was corny about it, it was the sweetest thing I’d heard in a very long time. He wasn’t too forward like Max, but he also wasn’t afraid of letting me know either.
“I know you think I’m crazy for following you here, but if I could just have your name it would really put my mind at ease. A name with your face will make my entire night, and then I swear I will leave you alone.” He held his hands up in an innocent plea before dropping them gradually.
Releasing the door, I walked forward with my arms crossed. “My name? You sure that’s all you want, crazy man?”
He nodded, smiling. “That’s all I want, strange girl.”
I bit into my bottom lip, taking a look around the parking lot before meeting his sparkling aqua irises again. “Alright. It’s Shannon.”
“Ehh,” his nose scrunched up, “I think I like Strange Girl better.”
I giggled, and it was natural and it felt amazing. I hadn’t laughed so naturally in so long. He was teasing me, joking around. It was cute. Still corny, but cute. “Take it or leave it, bucko.”
“Well, I’m John. Jonathan Streeter.” He extended his arm, his hand held out for me to shake.
I reached forward and shook it firmly. “It’s nice to know the name of the man that saved my Punch-Buggy. I don’t have a name for my car but maybe I’ll start calling it Streeter now.”
“That’s hilarious. You should try and get a new one… doesn’t seem like Streeter back there will last you much longer. Eventually it’ll be more than just a tire that needs fixing.”
“Yeah, well,” I sighed, raking my fingers through my hair, “I’m working on that.”
Infinity: Based on a True Story Page 9
