Page 24 of For Puck’s Sake (Seattle Vipers #2)

TWENTY-THREE

brEA

I n every minute, in every kiss,

It’s you and me, baby, in endless bliss.

No matter what the world may throw,

Together we rise, together we grow.

My head tips back as I sing out the bridge of the song. Every word, poignant and meaningful, hitting me even harder when I witness the tears falling down Ridley’s face. My big ole hockey playing man, crying without a care for who sees. It only makes me love him more.

Finishing the chorus once more, I round out the end of the song with an upbeat guitar solo, letting Bessie do her thing. Hitting the last note, the applause, the cheers, the vibrations of joyous energy, I can feel it flowing straight to my heart. This is what happiness feels like. Uninhibited jubilation.

“Thank you,” I say. I try to fight back my own tears as I begin to play another song. Chancing a quick glance off stage, I’m not surprised to see my parents are gone. Good, no need for false pretenses, then. It’s for the best. Dean is there though, giving me a quick thumbs up. He holds up two fingers letting me know I have enough time for two more songs before I need to wrap it up.

Giving him an imperceptible nod, I swing myself back around and immediately start singing one of my songs already familiar to most of the people down below. They sing right along with me, and at one point, I stop singing all together, playing along as they serenade me. I don’t care how many times I say this, but there is nothing like this feeling.

“You all sound lovely,” I say as I start to sing again, joining in on the chorus. My eyes lock with Ridley’s beautiful blues shining back at me with so much love my heart aches. I can physically feel my chest tighten, but in a good way. I hate that I have to leave him like this. I wanted the time we had left, and it hurts even more that we were apart all day. He doesn’t know I’m leaving after this, and I don’t want to see the disappointment on his face when he realizes this is the last time we will see each other for a while. I didn’t want to tell him over the phone, or through text. I thought I would have time before I had to be on stage, but of course, that wasn’t the case. I only hope I can spend a few minutes with him to explain, to say a proper goodbye. I won’t leave him again without it.

Before long, I’m strumming the last chords of the final song. I will the sadness off my face as I lean into the mic and say a final goodbye to my hometown.

“You’ve been amazing Lark Bay. Being here this summer, amongst my friends has meant everything. Until next time,” I bow as the cheers ring out all around me. Waving to as many people as I can, I spot Red, Dulce, Tasha and Charlie, who are all jumping up and down waving frantically at me. I pause and blow my girls the biggest kiss, then I turn and make my way off stage, my heart breaking with every step I take.

I thought coming back to Lark Bay this summer was a bad idea. Little did I know, coming back not only helped me heal, but it brought me back to Ridley. It brought me back to my friends, and it helped me find the strength to finally let go of my parents’ toxic expectations. I might be leaving now, but I will no longer be a stranger. Lark Bay, despite my parents, is home.

Walking down the steps, I hand Bessie off to Dean who holds my guitar case in his hands. Things between us have been a lot better. I don’t know if he finally accepted Ridley isn’t going anywhere or if it’s more to do with Charlie capturing his full attention. Whatever the reason, I’m glad to see the Dean I knew before we hooked-up. I pause and let my eyes climb up and over Dean’s back. I look at Dean, who is busying himself with putting away equipment, and then back to the two massive men in tailored black suits in front of me.

Dean stands shoulder to shoulder with me then shrugs. “I’m just as surprised as you.”

“Ah . . . what?—"

“It seems you need bodyguards now. They are here to escort us to the airport.” He holds his hands up in surrender when I open my mouth to protest. “I had nothing to do with this, B. This was all Damien. I knew you would eventually be assigned some, but not this soon. I wasn’t even told about the abrupt change in schedule until this morning,” Dean says sincerely. I guess he doesn’t know about Damien’s conversation with me earlier today. I’m glad, because if he had, if he encouraged this, it would have been the final straw between us.

One of my new bodyguards clears his throat loud enough for me to hear over the cacophony of noise around us. They are both taller than Dean, who’s six-two easily, no, these guys are more Ridley’s height of six-four, maybe five. I’m not sure but the man in front of me is so buff I feel for the suit he’s wearing. Muscles on top of muscles, dark brown skin, a shiny bald head, dark brown eyes, and the thickest neck I’ve ever seen. Pair it with the brightest, friendliest smile I’ve ever seen, and we’ve got ourselves a walking contradiction.

“Ah, Miss Brookes, I’m Travis and this is Jasper. We are here to protect you and get you to your destination safely.” He holds out his hand and I shake it firmly. Turning to Jasper, he nods, extending his hand for me to shake as well. He’s smaller than Travis but what he lacks in size, he makes up with a permanent mean mug. Short blond hair, sharp angular face, with slate gray eyes, tattooed olive skin peeks out from his unbuttoned shirt, making him even more menacing. It’s only when I shake his hand in return does he grace me with a fraction of a smile, and it lights up his entire face. Oh, so we have the whole good cop, bad cop thing going on between them. Jasper’s smile falls, returning to resting bitch face as soon as he releases my hand, and I have to fight back a laugh. They both seem friendly enough, a little on the scary side, but I guess you have to be in their line of work.

“This is definitely a surprise, but it’s nice to meet you both,” I say finally.

“We need to leave now if you want to make your flight on time,” Jasper says, checking his watch and the people around us at the same time.

I hold up my hand to stop them as Travis holds out his arm to beckon me forward. “I need a few minutes. I need to find Ridley first,” I say, trying not to make it sound like a plea, but my voice cracks slightly giving away my desperation.

Dean clears his throat and points behind Jasper. “It looks like he found you, B.”

“Brea,” Ridley calls my name, and my feet are moving with a mind of their own. I don’t make it far unfortunately, when I’m halted by a barricade of muscle.

Ridley approaches with a protective fierceness, eyes narrowing, fists clenched at his sides, nostrils flaring as he stands to his full height in front of Travis. His eyes travel down to where they are holding me back and then back up to meet the eyes of both my new bodyguards.

“There’s no way in hell I’m going to let you keep me from my woman. If you know who I am, then you know I have no problem throwing down to get to her. So, please”—he forces a smile—“Drop your arms and let me speak to her.”

“Miss Brookes is on a tight schedule. We were instructed to?—"

Dean sighs. “Guys, give Brea fifteen minutes please, or we are going to have half the starting lineup of the Seattle Vipers pressing down on the two of you. I mean, I’m sure you can handle yourselves, but Devan Scott and Tor Bailey are somewhere around here, and I don’t think you want to go there. Bad press and all that jazz,” Dean says. He gives my back a little shove, pressing me into the rock-hard arms of my new protectors.

I glance back at Dean, surprised he’s trying to help me. I’ll add this to my making amends pile and give him a smile. But damn, Dean’s right. We don’t need a brawl on our hands, Damien would really give me shit if I sent his bodyguards back broken. Then it will only add to whatever animosity he has toward me being in a relationship with a hockey player.

For a moment, I don’t think Travis and Jasper are going to let me go to him. The tension in the air is so thick, I can see Ridley gearing up to spring into action. But the arms drop, and I’m allowed to walk past the two them.

“Fifteen minutes, Miss Brookes,” Travis says as he and Jasper step away from me to give us some privacy. I don’t look back as I close the distance between Ridley and I, jumping eagerly into his strong outstretched arms. He catches me easily, large hands cradle my thighs, as I wrap myself around him.

Holding his face in between my hands, I press my forehead to his and breath him in. “Hi, baby,” is all I manage to say before our lips collide in an earth-shattering kiss. It’s messy, sweet, tender, hard and passionate at the same time. The kiss says, I love you, I miss you, I don’t ever want to be apart from you and so much more. It’s hungry, igniting a fire low in my belly that makes me squirm in his arms, but we aren’t in a place to do anything about it. Then I remember, the clock is ticking, and I have so much I need to say.

Pulling away, I get straight to it, but keep my head close to his, keeping my words between the two of us.

“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?” he asks before I can utter a word. My control snaps and all the pent-up emotions I’ve been holding back tonight spill down my cheeks.

All I can manage is a tight nod of my head, my throat is tight with the need to sob, rendering me speechless. I drop my head away from his, trying and failing to pull myself together. My shoulders shake as I wrap myself tightly around him.

“It’s okay, Luna. Tell me what’s going on, Angel, please,” he says calmly as his thumbs brush soothingly along the skin of my thighs.

I know I’m wasting time, so I pull myself together after a minute and wiggle in Ridley arms until he puts me back on my feet. I need distance if I’m going to do this.

He reaches for my face and gently brushes away my tears, but I’m a leaky faucet at this point as they continuously fall down my face. “They changed my schedule today. It’s why I missed the scrimmage and my class. I had to pack to leave. I’m on a plane to LA tonight. I have. . . I have to leave you.” I barely managed to get the words out before my throat fails me again.

“What, why? We had three more days, Brea,” he says, his face falling into a confused frown, looking from me to Dean to the bodyguards behind me.

“It’s the label’s decision. With all the press brewing between the two of us and now the breaking news about the baby, they decided to bring me to LA before I move on to Austin,” I say, wiping tears from eyes. I fortify myself and stand up straighter, I can break later, right now, I need to be strong.

Ridley places his hands on his hips, and he drops his head. “This is my fault, they are doing this because of me. But here’s the thing, Angel, Hazel discovered my fake baby momma is a crazy stalker.”

I step forward, sure I wasn’t hearing him right. “She’s a what?”

He looks up, throwing his hands up in frustration. “A stalker, and I’m not the only athlete she’s done it to. She’s an equal opportunity nut case, with multiple aliases. I just happened to be her next victim. See, Angel, I rushed over here to tell you, it’s over.” He finishes with a growing smile on his face.

I can’t hide my relief as my smile mirrors his and I’m in his arms once more. I would have seen him through it all, accepted whatever outcome if I needed to because walking away from him isn’t an option. He was right, and I believe him. I’m glad it’s over.

With his face buried in my locs, I barely hear his muffled plea. “Please, stay with me, Luna.”

Oh, how I wish I could. “I can’t, baby. I have a flight that leaves from SeaTac tonight. I have to be in LA for a meeting tomorrow.”

After a moment, he sighs, and I can sense his resignation as he pulls back and grips my face with his hands. “So, this is it, Angel. Our time is up,” he says before he lowers his lips to mine and kisses me softly, reverently, pouring everything he wants to say into the joining of our lips. I melt into his arms, wanting more time, but knowing there’s none.

When we break apart, I look up into sorrowful blue eyes and I offer him a watery smile. “This isn’t goodbye, Rid. We keep our promise to one another. We hold on to each other from afar. We communicate and we make time for each other. Remember?” I say reassuringly as I inject a bit of cheery resolve into my voice.

Pressing his forehead to mine again, squeezing me tighter, he says, “I will never forget, Luna.”

“I love you, Ridley Masters,” I say as a sob escapes my throat.

He brushes his lips against mine, then kisses my tears away. “I love you more, Angel.” Remember, there is nowhere you can go, where I can’t follow. I will find you in the dark, baby, you’re my moon?—"

“We just need to look up,” I say, repeating his words from this morning as we lay tangled together in each other’s arms. I can’t believe it was only a few hours ago after everything that’s happened today.

Jasper’s deep voice cuts through our moment, his tone slightly remorseful as he reminds me of the time. “It’s time, Miss Brookes.”

Ridley squeezes me harder, and I let him. I inhale his scent, burying my face in his shirt. Imprinting him on my senses, his touch, his scent, the feel of him in my arms before I finally pull away.

“I love you, Ridley Masters,” I say as I back away from his hold. Each step like a stab to the heart but I know it’s only temporary. I’m not running. No, this is how we both get what we want. The time apart is a sacrifice we are both willing to make for our future forever.

“I love you more, Brea Brookes,” he replies as he steps away reluctantly. He pauses, capturing one last look at me, then with a quick wave, he turns, and I watch him until he fades into the crowd.

Wiping away my tears, I roll my shoulders back and put one foot in front of the other as I’m escorted away from the festival, sandwiched between Jasper and Travis. I don’t look back, because this isn’t goodbye.

No, this is our journey to forever and the road will lead me back to him. No matter the distance, we will find each other, always.