Prequel #2
The only times I’d been greeted by a handshake—well, those hands had belonged to my parent’s friends at political parties.
I kept my eyes on her slender fingers. On the one freckle off to the side of her pinky.
She started to pull her hand away, and I grumbled something—I can’t remember what—and rushed for her hand as if the offer to touch her may never come my way again.
Yeah, that was how everything started for us. And I also had no idea how it’d end. And full disclosure—maybe I didn’t want it to ever end.
***
ADRIANA
Books. Movies. TV. Everything I read or watched was so much more exciting than my life. More romantic. Just more, in general.
But this moment was heaven, and I wanted to live in it forever.
We talked. He laughed at my lame jokes. He even rested his hand atop my knee. Then he pulled back as if guilty of touching me without my permission, and I grabbed his hand and placed it right where it belonged.
And when I told him about my crush on Patrick Swayze, along with every prince in all versions of Cinderella, as well as my devoted love of sexy vampires with souls—he’d stared at me as if I were the most beautiful woman on the planet instead of some recluse teenager with a diary full of hearts and no life.
And when he smiled—like one of those I-want-you-but-I’m-holding-back smiles . . . I think I may have died just a little bit at that moment.
How was the most popular boy in school staring at me like he wanted to kiss me?
And when he literally said it—said the words—but followed them with “You’re too young” I about fell off the bench inside the gazebo we’d been sharing for two hours.
I’d stood. Given him my back. And then I’d channeled every ounce of strength inside of me and finally faced him, only for the quick movement to cause a collision of his muscular frame with my body.
“Why me?” I had asked, the question a whispered breath in the air that took a few seconds to reach him.
Then his brows had pulled together as if surprised by my question, and I’d wondered if I read him wrong, until he’d replied, “I guess I have a thing for Cinderella-vampire-Swayze-loving girls with the most gorgeous green eyes I’ve ever seen.”
He did kiss me after that. But what happened next, I never would’ve predicted.
What started as a handshake led to a night I’d never forget.
But it also didn’t turn into a fairy tale.
Not even close.
No, it ended in death.
***
ATLANTA (2005) - CHARLIE
“Hey,” I said, a bit breathless from speeding to her dad’s house. I probably would’ve gotten a ticket had everyone in the city not been gorging themselves on Thanksgiving dinner to notice my Porsche racing down the streets.
Adriana pulled me inside and locked up behind us. “Sorry we didn’t make it to dinner. I meant to text you but I just got Dad to bed.”
My stomach dropped. Her dad must’ve fallen off the wagon. Holidays were always more difficult for him, which meant Addy had to pick up the pieces and help sober him up.
“He okay?” I leaned my back against the door, nearly forgetting why I’d hauled ass over there to begin with. Her unhappiness would become mine. I’d own it, too, and do everything in my power to make things right.
“Maybe I should move back home? Find a campus closer so I can take better care of him.”
I shoved away from the door and gathered her into my arms. She cried into my chest, and I rubbed my hands up and down her back in an attempt to soothe her. “I’m so sorry.” I kissed her forehead. “But you leaving school to take care of him—he’d never want that. He’d hate himself more for that.”
She swiped away the last of her tears and motioned for me to enter her living room.
Her dad probably should’ve downsized at the loss of his wife, but he couldn’t handle leaving the only home they’d ever shared—too many memories.
An anonymous donor from the police force paid off their mortgage and set aside money for college tuition and taxes on the home for the next twenty years. Adriana only just found out last year—by accident—that I had asked my father to be that anonymous donor.
And now, I was about to reject the money and everything that came with being a Bennett.
But could I leave Adriana? We already lived in two different states because of college, but if I joined the Navy, we could end up in two countries.
My shoulders sagged, and I faced the wall, worried she’d see the torn look on my face, and I knew her—she would never let me sacrifice my wants out of concern for her.
“You rushed here to tell me something, what is it?” Her hand touched my back. “Did you finally decide? Are you dropping out of med school?”
I nodded but didn’t turn.
“You did it?” A near squeal surprised me enough to finally spin around. “Ah! I’m so proud of you!” She hooked her arms around my neck. “You’re going to make one hell of a sailor, Charlie Bennett.”
I kept her in place, unable to move with my hands on her waist and her arms around my neck. I could barely think a straight thought with her gaze pinned to mine. Pride shimmering in her eyes despite the reality of what my decision meant.
I swallowed, the sudden desire to press my mouth to hers overwhelming, but I chalked it up to excitement. She’d become my best friend the night her mom died, and I couldn’t lose her friendship—meeting her had become the most incredible thing that’d ever happened to me.
“But I’ll . . . we may not see each other as much as I’d like. And who will keep an eye on you?”
She stepped back only so she could lightly swat my chest.
“This is serious.” I’d stepped in for her dad. I’d kept an eye on her when he couldn’t. I’d made sure she called me after every date to ensure she was back at her dorm safe, and then I was the one who’d flown in to interrogate any guys who she’d decided to date long-term.
“I want you to join.”
I considered her words and fought back. “If I do, you can’t leave school.”
She frowned.
But I was right.
She couldn’t give up her dreams.
“Fine.”
“Handshake?” I stepped back to extend my palm.
“You hate handshakes.” A smile touched her lips, and my chest tightened at the sight. Her smile still got to me. No amount of her dating, or me dating, would change the effect this woman had on me.
There were more reasons than ever as to why I couldn’t turn the clock back and try and recapture what we almost had the night we met.
The brush of her lips would forever remain on my mind, though.
But maybe someday we could try again.
She perked a brow, her eyes on my lips as if the memory of our kiss was on her mind this very minute.
Her gaze dragged to my eyes, and my heart almost busted out of my chest.
Maybe someday should be now. I wished it could be, at least.
But I was joining the Navy, and she had college to finish—so no, someday would have to wait.