Missing Pieces - Chapter 44
Tyler
Thursday
Hailey squeezed my hand so tightly that it almost hurt.
"I'm right here, nothing bad is going to happen to you."
She gave me an uneasy smile.
I wasn't sure if it was because at this time tomorrow I wouldn't be here with her, or because she was so nervous about being this high up, but it made me feel like shit either way.
Was I doing the right thing? I couldn't be there for her.
I'd be on the other side of the country.
If her dad didn't get better, she needed someone that could be there for her.
"Oh my God," she said and leaned her head against my shoulder.
It took me a second to realize she was actually admiring the view instead of being terrified of it.
"It's breathtaking."
I wrapped my arm behind her back as we stared out at the horizon.
The sun was setting, casting a beautiful spectrum of colors across the water.
If I listened closely I could even hear the waves splashing over the laughter of the people on the pier.
It really was amazing. And not just because of the view.
But because of the beautiful girl beside me that trusted me enough to face her fear of heights.
"This is the best sunset I've ever seen. "
"Mhm."
I glanced down at her and laughed. Her eyes were shut tight. "Open your eyes, Hails. You're missing it."
She shook her head.
I put my hand on the side of her face. "Open your eyes."
She shook her head again and squeezed her eyes shut even harder. "The most beautiful things in life aren't seen. They're felt by the heart."
Just like that, all my reservations were gone.
I was never letting go of this girl. It was like I was blind my whole life and suddenly I could see.
Hailey Shaw was it for me. Because she was right, and not just about this moment but about us.
This was more than just physical attraction or a crazy summer fling.
She healed my heart. She healed my soul.
She had touched my life in such a meaningful way. She saved me.
"I love you." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I even realized what I was saying.
Her eyes flew open.
It was too fast. It was too crazy. So why the hell did I not regret saying it?
She pressed her lips together as she looked up at me. It looked like she was about to cry.
"It's okay if you don't feel the same way. It doesn't change how I feel. And I wanted you to know." I meant it, but I could feel myself closing off.
"No, Tyler, that's not it. I just..." her voice trailed off.
She doesn't love me back. Of course she doesn't. What the hell is wrong with me?
It was just like it was with Penny. I wasn't enough.
Why the hell would Hailey want me? I was going to be gone for three years.
If there was one thing I had learned from Penny, it was to not be so transparent and optimistic about something I couldn't control.
I was repeating my mistakes. That was something I couldn't afford to do.
It felt like I couldn't breathe. I was such an idiot.
"I'm sorry, Tyler, but I'm scared to say it. I'm so scared of losing you."
I swallowed hard.
"A few hours ago I didn't think you wanted me back. But now that you do, it's suddenly hit me how dangerous what you're about to do is. And I'm terrified. I'm so worried that I'm never going to see you again."
"Nothing's going to happen to me." She had given me something to live for, something to fight for. I wasn't giving up anymore. I tightened my grip around her waist. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to come back to you."
She nodded.
"And it's okay if you're not ready to say it back. I don't want to pressure you into saying something you don't mean."
"I fell in love with you in Kansas, Tyler."
Kansas. I smiled. "Singing karaoke to our song?"
"And when you didn't kiss me back. I was a little surprised by how much it hurt. That's kind of when I realized it was more than just a little crush."
"I never meant to hurt you." I slid my hand to the back of her neck. "Hailey, I promise I'll never hurt you again. We can make this work. I know we can."
A smile spread across her face. "I'm pretty sure this is where you're supposed to kiss me."
She didn't have to tell me twice. My lips crashed down on hers and I kissed her like I'd never get a chance to kiss her again.
Everything about her was sweet. I was addicted to her taste.
And suddenly I needed more than this. This was the last night we had together for I didn't even know how long.
My hand slid into the back pocket of her jean shorts and she moaned into my mouth.
I leaned into her. I wanted her to know how badly I wanted her all the time.
How I could barely think straight when we were together.
If it wasn't for the Ferris wheel technician clearing his throat, I'm pretty sure I would have gone down on her in the middle of the ride.
She pushed my shoulder so I'd stop kissing her neck. Her cheeks were rosy when I pulled away.
I slowly slid my hand out of her pocket. I tried to hide my smile as I grabbed her hand and helped her out of the cart. "Sorry," I said to the technician as I tried to discretely shift my pants so that everyone on the boardwalk wouldn't see how hard I was. Not that I really cared.
"Can we maybe go somewhere that we can be alone?" she said breathlessly.
"It's still early," I teased. "Are you sure you don't want to do anything else first?"
"Actually," she said as she pulled me in the opposite direction of a hotel with a glowing vacancy sign. "Now that you mention it, I saw some people dancing earlier. That could be fun."
"I was kind of joking, Hails. I think being alone sounds perfect."
She briefly glanced down at the front of my shorts. "I'm pretty sure you're going to enjoy dancing too."
"It depends on the dancing." Fuck, I just wanted to be inside of her.
"Oh trust me. You're going to like this." She started to shake her hips as we got closer to the music.
She was probably right. I loved grabbing her hips. I just preferred it with our clothes off. She lifted my arm in the air and spun underneath of it as we entered the crowded open-air bar.
"This place is so packed!" she yelled over the music. "Maybe I can learn a few things for my dad's place."
"We're not here for work," I said and pulled her against my chest.
She laughed as she looked up at me. The music was fast paced, but we clung to each other like it was a slow song at a high school dance.
She had completely consumed all my senses.
I couldn't take my eyes off her. I could smell the faint scent of cinnamon as I nibbled the side of her neck.
I could feel the softness of her skin on her lower back where my fingers had pushed up her tank top.
"Give me one second," she said and lightly tapped my chest.
I reached out for her but she was already disappearing through the crowd of people. Without her, I felt unsteady, like I needed to hold on to something. She grounded me. I needed her to hold on to me too. It's partially what had fixed me, knowing that someone needed me. I could be her anchor too.
After a few minutes passed, I began to get antsy.
I pulled out my phone, but I remembered that I didn't even have her number.
I started pushing through the people dancing as I searched for her.
It didn't take me long to find her. She was standing next to the D.J.
I was surprised by how instantly jealous I was that she was whispering in his ear and had her hand on his arm.
It was silly. I knew it was just a habit from working at a bar for years.
It still made me want to punch the guy in the face, though.
But then she glanced over to me with a huge smile on her face. Our song immediately started pumping through the sound system. Our song. I smiled to myself.
She pointed at me. "Babe, I thought I was good before I met you." It looked like she was mouthing the words as she ran over to me. But when she got closer I realized she was singing at the top her lungs.
I laughed as she jumped into my arms. I held on to her thighs and kept her legs wrapped around me as she laughed too. She leaned forward wrapping her arms tightly behind my neck, as my hands slid to her ass.
"We're never getting older," she whispered in my ear. She pulled back and stared down into my eyes.
We stayed like that for the whole song. Silently staring into each others' eyes as the lyrics blared around us. She was good at stopping time. I didn't want to move. I didn't want tonight to end.
"I wasn't actually good before I met you," she said.
"Neither was I."
"I think we were meant to run into each other."
"I know that we were."
The smile she gave me made my knees feel weak.
"I love you, Tyler Stevens," she whispered as she pressed her forehead against mine.
I breathed in her exhales. "I love you. And I need you, Hails."
"You can have me whenever you want me. I'm yours."
God I loved the sound of that.