Bad Intentions (35 page)

“Tisk-tisk. No clothes tonight. I don’t want anything between us anymore.”

We move around the kitchen like we know every step to our own personal, synchronized dance. It makes me wonder if things can truly be this good, or if at any given moment one of us is going to become self-conscious and bring up the past.

I’m surprised at how comfortable we feel around the other. We cook, eat dinner and gorge on dessert, which consists of melted white chocolate on strawberries. I don’t know if he thought he was going to get lucky tonight, but he was sure to stock up on enough chocolate to feed a small village. It is an aphrodisiac though. Maybe he was smart to think ahead.

After dinner, we wash the dishes together and put them away. Ryle then leads me to a dimly lit bedroom, claiming that I’m too beautiful to be sprawled across the floor. Later, we fall asleep in each other’s arms. It’s the most peaceful slumber I’ve ever had, and when I awake, there is a permanent smile on my face.

“And why are you so happy this morning?” He nudges my arm with his.

“Because I’m lying next to my other half.” I watch as Ryle closes his eyes and inhales deeply, letting my words resonate within him.

“My heart was black before you came into my life. It was tainted by a past that taught me far too much about life in a short period of time, but you changed it back to a vibrant red.” He grabs my hand and places it over his chest. “This beats for you, and you only. No more secrets, no more pain.”

I scoot closer to him and lay my head on his chest. With each breath that he takes, I let more of the hurt go. “No more secrets, no more pain.” I repeat, knowing that I have only the best intentions of following through.

Ryle knows that Adaley unlocked his heart and threw away the key, and he knows that he is hers now and forever. Whatever mistakes that had been made—by both parties— were now in the past, and that’s where they belong. He spends the rest of the morning sharing stories with her about their childhoods, then showering, and making sweet love again and again. But, as much as Ryle enjoys the solitude of the cabin, thoughts of going back to school, and to reality, invade his mind.

“Let’s go before the storm comes,” Ryle says as he rushes Adaley out the door of the cabin. Unable to keep his hands off her even when in a hurry, he slides his palm around her waist.

“This weather is insane. It was cold yesterday, and now the sky looks like it’s about to puke rain.”

“That’s Mississippi for you, baby. It’s one hell of a confused bitch.”

Adaley takes one last look at the cabin before she climbs into the passenger seat of his car.

“We can come back any time you want. This place holds memories for us now, too,” Ryle says as he puts the key into the ignition and pulls onto the road. He has to admit that he’s eager to get home and see what the future holds for them.

This time, their drive isn’t full of anguish and what if’s. It’s full of laughter and stolen kisses as the pavement under them narrows to one lane. Ryle slows the car down to a complete stop and places it in park on a narrow embankment just large enough for the vehicle.

“What are we doing?”

“I want to dance with you,” he says bluntly, like dancing in the rain is the most normal thing in the world. “It’s romantic, come on,” he pouts while offering her his hand.

“It’s raining. You’re crazy.” Adaley shakes her head and opens her car door when she realizes he’s not relenting. “It’s freezing!”

Ryle grabs her hand and leads her to a tall pine. Ducking under the branches, he whispers, “I’ll keep you warm.” He pulls her close, his other hand cupping the back of her neck.

Adaley raises her eyes to find Ryle watching her intently. “You’re sweeter than any Prince Charming I’ve ever met.”

There’s a trace of laughter in his voice as he says, “That’s because I’m your one and only.” Pulling her close, he plants a kiss on the tip of her nose.

There’s no music and no dance floor— only two souls that have been mended and fused together under a sky full of clouds. Rain beats down against the pine spurs as the couple beneath them sway back and forth. Ryle places tiny kisses along her jawline, and whispers how beautiful she is against the crook of her neck. Last night, he’d learned that drives her wild. He’ll be doing that often. Lost in his love for her, the pair dance and sway for what seems like eternity.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

A car comes out of nowhere, tires squealing and skidding against the pavement as the driver lays on the horn.

Adaley jumps into Ryle’s side. “Okay I’ve had enough. It’s too wet, and someone might hit us.” She begs him to go back to the car.

“No one’s going to hit us. I got you. But I agree—let’s go, before it gets worse out here.” A thunderous rumble in the distance makes Ryle jump as he slams the door shut and buckles his seatbelt. “That was too close for comfort. I don’t want to lose you when I just got you back.”

The sound of another car skidding around the curve of the wet road pulls Ryle’s attention away from Adaley. He glances out the driver’s side window just in time to see the bright lights of another vehicle careening toward them. As if the world around them has slowed to a sluggish pace, his flight or fight instincts kick in. Ryle moves to cover Adaley’s body with his own, and gets a glimpse of the driver, her face frozen in place behind her white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. A monstrous bang rings in his ears and his seat belt digs into his flesh as metal collides with metal.

“I love you,” he calls to Adaley, before agonizing pain takes his consciousness.

In the blink of eye—a life much too young—is stolen much too early.

F
ate is a fucking bitch.

I now know it with certainty.

I stand side-by-side with Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Zoe, Tank and Naomi in a crowded gymnasium at the University. Ryle might not have realized how loved he truly was, but the outpouring of support to his family, and to me, is a testament to how much he touched this community.

I’m numb from the inside out, as I stand motionless in a sea of people. I’ve been this way from the moment I woke up in the hospital. The doctors told me that a guardian angel had to have been looking over me, because I’d escaped utterly unscathed other than a broken arm, rib and a few cuts here and there. They were amazed that my condition wasn’t worse.

I remember the stale taste of blood in my mouth, and the mud that stained my fingernails from being ejected from the car. The pain never dulls. It lingers on like a bad joke, although this isn’t some prank, or even a nightmare that I’m ever going to wake from.

This is my life.

This is my hell.

He’s gone, and he’s never coming back.

A lone tear falls from my eye and slowly slides down my cheek. He said he never wanted to be the reason I cried again. But yet, here I am weeping for the love of my life.

I feel the faint squeeze of my hand and for a moment, I imagine that it’s Ryle’s hand holding mine. Squeezing strength into my pores.

“Adaley,” Richie whispers my name. “They’re calling for you.”

I nod, squeeze his little hand, and then walk toward the podium in the center of the room. I mutter a prayer under my breath before I walk onto the small stage.

Lord, please give me strength to get through this. Please, I beg you. Allow me to bid him the best farewell that I can.

“Hello, everyone.” I fight the sob in my chest from escaping. “I’m Adaley Knight and I’m… I was Ryle Benson’s girlfriend. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benson and myself truly appreciate you for coming here today to say goodbye to someone who we all loved very dearly. I cannot,” I pause and bring my fist to my lips in attempts to pull myself together. “I cannot begin to tell you how strong and merciful Ryle was during his time here. Not only did he graciously donate to Braxton, but he was also a permanent fixture at the center downtown. The things that he did to better the lives of those children will never, ever be forgotten. Neither will his memory. I stand here today not only to cherish the life of my friend,
our
friend, but to also show these kids,” I wave my hand around the gymnasium full of children from the center. “That dreams come true. That if you work hard, and aspire to reach the clouds, you just might. Ryle Benson,” I fight back another sob. “Received notice that he was going to be drafted. He was so close to reaching
his
dream. Please if there is one thing that we all can take from his death, it’s that dreams are obtainable. I know, because he was mine.”

The memory of his touch brands my heart with remorse. It’s the remembrance of his courage to get through such adversity that pushes me to finish. “What feels like the end of our journey is often the beginning, and due to the many contributions of our community and on behalf of Braxton University, I’m proud to dedicate the baseball field in his honor. The Ryle A. Benson Memorial Field will long live for decades, just like our love for our lost friend.”

The end for now…

I
know you’re either cursing my name right now or have already chucked your eReader/book at a wall. Rest assured that I understand the devastating loss that you’re experiencing. I too experienced the same heart stopping ending that you just did. I’m hoping to redeem myself with an explanation as to why I did what I did.

There are four things that we’re guaranteed to feel in our lifetime: love, joy, agony and tragedy. I think that they all go hand in hand. I’m an avid believer in Happily Ever After’s and I’ve cursed a few authors myself for killing major characters (this hint is for you Molly McAdams) but guess what? Those same stories that made me weep while hot tears and snot mixed and ran down my face are some of my all-time favorite books.

Please understand that the memory of Ryle Benson will live on, and every time you open this book, he’ll be there to comfort you. Until that time, remember that you all have helped turn my black heart into a vibrant red.

Thank you for reading.