Finding Me Again (6 page)

Fifteen

Hadley

Tripp’s words stun me
, and I don’t know how to react. My hands tremble in his and I stare out at the street trying to get my emotions in check. Only it’s a losing battle, and before I know it the tears start flowing. I look into Tripp’s eyes. Seeing the sincerity in them breaks me further.

“Oh, Tripp, you have no idea how many times I’ve dreamt of this moment since we broke up. I’ve never stopped loving you either. And even though I’m so mad at you for hurting me like you did, I guess I sort of understand it. You’ve always wanted to protect me. It’s one of the things I used to love so much about you.” I take a step forward until our faces are mere inches apart. “A part of me wants to stay angry with you, to make you pay for what you did. But I won’t do that. I won’t take any more time away from us. We belong together, Tripp. We always have.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “So, is that a yes?”

“It’s a yes. A definite yes.”

“Hadley,” he says my name like a prayer. Then he leans forward and presses his lips to mine. They are soft and warm. I release his hands and bring my arms up around his waist. His hands run up the length of my arms and rest around my face. His tongue darts out of his mouth and gently pries my lips open. I part my lips eagerly allowing him to enter. His breath smells like mint and tastes sweet. A moan sounds at the back of my throat as I thrust my own tongue into his mouth. His fingers stroke my cheek and tangle in my hair. I grip his waist tighter as the kiss deepens.

“God, that was amazing,” Tripp says between labored breaths when we part.

“It always has been with us,” I agree.

“So where do we go from here?”

I shrug. “Forward, I guess.”

His face grows serious. “Hadley, are you sure this is what you want? I’m not the same guy I was. My disease has changed me.”

“Tripp, I haven’t been around you that much since you’ve been back, but I can tell you’re still the same guy.” I press my hand to his heart. “In here.”

He places his own hand over mine.

“And that’s all that matters,” I tell him. “We can sort through all the other stuff.”

“I just don’t want you to have to take on all my health stuff. It’s the thing I’ve been trying to avoid. My mom’s been bearing the burden
, and that’s hard enough for me.”

“That’s just it, Tripp. You’re not a burden. Allowing those who love you the opportunity to help you is a blessing, not a curse. I hate the fact that I wasn’t with you when you were going through all your medical testing. And it kills me that I wasn’t there when you got the diagnosis. I love you, Tripp, and I would’ve helped you through it. In fact, it would’ve been an honor to help you through it.”

“Really?” Tripp looks stunned. “I never thought of it that way.”

“You took that from me, and as upset as that makes me, I forgive you. But don’t ever do it to me again, okay?”

“I promise.”

“I want to be here for you.”

Tripp looks stricken for a moment. “But you have to finish school.”

“I will. As long as you promise that you’ll be waiting for me when I get back.”

“With anticipation.”

“I can’t believe this is real,” I say. “Are we really doing this?”

“We really are.” Tripp curves his hand around my neck and pulls me forward. “And I’m enjoying every second.” With that he covers my mouth with his once again.

Tripp and I have been inseparable since we got back together a couple of months ago. It’s been just like in high school. In fact, Paige and Colt tease us about it endlessly. They can’t believe we just seamlessly picked up where we left off. But I guess that’s how it happens when you are reunited with your soul mate. And I’m convinced that Tripp is my soul mate. I’ve loved him since I was sixteen, and I know I’ll love him forever. His condition causes some challenges, but for the most part I don’t notice it at all. To me he’s still the same boy I fell in love with years ago.

“So, what do you want to do now?” Tripp threads his fingers through mine as we leave the restaurant.

I shrug. “What do you have in mind?”

He throws me a devilish smile. Then takes me in his arms, swinging me around for all the world to see. “A swim might be fun.”

“You just want to see me in my bathing suit again.”

“Am I that obvious?” He chuckles, stealing a kiss on my neck.

“A little.” I circle my arms around his neck.

“I can’t help it if my girlfriend has the sexiest body on the planet. And that little red bikini shows it off perfectly.”
He leans in close, his breath feathering over my skin. “You’re just lucky I don’t tear it off when we’re swimming.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” I say, but a shiver runs down my spine at the thought.

“Don’t tempt me.” He kisses me softly on the cheek, then peppers kisses all the way to my mouth until his lips hover mine.

“Maybe I like to tempt you,” I speak against his mouth.

His lips curl upward. “You are evil, you know that?”

I pull back, feigning innocence. “Me? No, I’m an angel.”

“You’re my angel.” He draws back, grabbing my hand once again. “C’mon, let’s go.”

“So you were serious, huh? We’re really going swimming?” I say following him down the sidewalk.

“After all that flirty talk you can’t back down now.” He tugs my hand.

We pass a large fountain, water spilling down and foaming at the bottom. “I could just push you in here,” I tease. “Cool you off a bit.”

“Very funny,” he says.

“You think I’m joking?” I
tug on his arm, pulling him toward the fountain.

“It won’t work anyway.” He moves close to me, touching my face. “When I’m with you there’s no cooling down. You burn me up.”

I sigh, savoring his words.
How does he always know the right thing to say?

“I love you, Hadley.”

“I love you too.”

His hand slides up my cheek, resting by my ear. Then he slowly lowers his lips to mine. They rub over mine slowly, gently in the softest of caresses. As the kiss deepens, I grab a hold of him. I cling to him, knowing that I will never again let go.

Epilogue

Tripp

I stand at the front of the church in my tux, watching the most beautiful woman in the world making her way toward me. She walks slowly down the aisle, white lace and fabric swirling around her. In her hands she holds a large bouquet of white flowers, and her hair is curled around her face. Her
brown eyes meet mine, and I smile. The grin she flashes me makes my heart flip in my chest. I can hardly believe she’s going to become my wife today.

For years I thought I’d lost her, but now she’s here and she’s going to be mine forever. I don’t hear the music playing or see the people watching in the audience. My focus is solely on Hadley, the woman I love more than life itself.

She’s been so amazing since we got back together. It makes me realize what a huge mistake I made in not allowing her to share in my illness initially. She’s gone with me to doctor’s appointments and helped me find new ways to improve my life. She even did a whole bunch of research on natural alternatives and has started to implement them. Some work better than others, but the fact that she’s taken an interest has meant so much to me. Hadley has never shied away from any part of my disease, and it’s clear that she’s strong enough to handle it.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Paige across from me watching Hadley with the same love in her eyes that I have in mine. She wipes a tear from her eyes, and I find it comical. Paige is not the crying type, but I know she’s so happy for Hadley. I know because Hadley bawled all through Paige’s wedding. The reminder of the day causes me to glance back at my groomsmen. My brother throws me a wink, and behind him Colt flashes me a thumbs up. When I turn back around, my mom smiles at me from the front row. Her eyes are filled with tears as well. She and Hadley are so close. She’s thought of Hadley as her daughter for years. This will just make it official. My heart bursts with joy as I return my attention to my beautiful bride.

When her dad hands Hadley over to me, I take her hand in mine. It’s cold and clammy to the touch.

“We’re really doing this,” she whispers as we stand next to each other in front of the minister.

“Are you nervous?” I whisper back.

“Not even a little bit. I’m ready to spend the rest of my life with you, Tripp Bauer.”

“That’s good, because I’m never letting you go again,” I tell her.

The minister starts addressing the crowd, but Hadley and I just stare at each othe
r smiling. She squeezes my hand, and I squeeze hers back. And in this moment, I know that Hadley and I will get through whatever life throws our way. Together we are so much stronger than we are apart.

To find out how Tripp and Hadley’s romance began turn the page and read the first two chapters of TRIPPING ME UP…

One

Hadley

I am invisible as I walk to class wedged between the other students all laughing and chatting with their friends. I keep my head down, my eyes trained on my tennis shoes as I take deliberate steps forward. Sometimes I like to think of myself as the ghost that roams the campus of Gold Rush High. Not that I’m complaining, exactly. It sure beats the alternative. There was a time when I sought out popularity, but now I realize that being unnoticed is better than being bullied, so I welcome the anonymity.

As I near my next class, I glance up just in time to spot something white hurtling in my direction. Before I can move out of the way it smacks me right under the eye. It doesn’t really hurt, and when I glance down I see that it is just a wadded up piece of binder paper. But my pride stings and I feel my face heat up. Giggles and whispers swirl around me. I feel millions of eyes on me, searing into me, burning my skin. Lowering my gaze, I draw my hair forward using it as a curtain to hide my face. This is the last thing I want. Being noticed is precisely the thing I try to avoid at all costs.

“I’m so sorry,” a boy’s voice bellows.

My skin prickles and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.  Without even looking I know that it's Tripp Bauer. I’d recognize his voice anywhere. For years, Tripp was the focal point of all my fantasies. However, recently I'd given up on that dream, realizing that a fantasy is all it will ever be. It’s not like I’m the only girl attracted to him. Almost every girl in school crushes on him.

“I didn’t mean to hit you.” His shadow casts over me, but I still can’t bring myself to look up. I hide behind my hair the same way the wizard hid behind his curtain in the
Wizard of Oz
. “It was an accident. I was actually trying to hit Mav, but he moved out of the way.”

I dare a peek up at him. His dark eyes stare into mine, and I find it difficult to draw breath. He looks sincere enough as he runs a hand through his short hair, his toned biceps bulging with the motion. Only it’s at that moment that my gaze sweeps the hallway. I see Tripp’s friends, Maverick Jones, Jack Winston, and Toby Kenneth laughing at me from just feet away. They aren’t even trying to mask how funny they think this is. Humiliation descends on me. As I glance around, I realize that they aren’t the only ones gawking. It makes me angry, and narrow my eyes at Tripp.

“Are you okay?” Tripp asks, his brows furrowed in a look of concern. He sure is laying it on thick. If I didn’t know better I would say the guy is genuinely sorry.

“I’m fine. It was just a piece of paper. No biggie.” I shrug, skirting around him.

“I really am sorry.” His hand lights on my shoulder, and I freeze.

“Whatever.” I shake his hand off.  “It doesn’t matter. Just leave me alone.” Without a backward glance, I stalk off as quickly as possible with my heart hammering in my ears. I’m so grateful when I reach the science classroom. I slip inside and hurry to my desk in the back row. After dropping my backpack on the floor, I unzip it and pull out my notebook and pen. I hunch over my desk just as the bell blasts through the room. Mrs. Tennant’s heels click on the linoleum floor as she moves out from behind her desk. While her voice drones on in the background, I take deep breaths and will my heart rate to slow. Just when I think I’ve got it back to its normal cadence, my cell vibrates in my pocket, jumpstarting it again. With quivering fingers, I snatch the phone out and hold it under my desk so Mrs. Tennant won’t see it.

It’s from Paige, my best friend.

Paige:
What happened with you and Tripp? Spill.

My face flames.

Me: How did you hear about that?

Paige:
I was across the quad and saw u talking.

I exhale, grateful that she hadn’t heard about it through the rumor mill.

Me: It was nothing. Tell u about it after school.

Paige:
Ok.

I shove my phone back into my pocket before getting caught with it. The last thing I need is any more attention brought to me today. However, I’m not surprised that Paige texted me the minute she saw Tripp and I together. I’m sure she was shocked. Paige knows all about what happened to me freshman year. In fact, it was right after I lost all my friends and was shunned from my old group that I met Paige. She was new to the school and found it hard to fit in. She’d always lived in this area, but had gone to private school. What I’ve always loved most about Paige is that she doesn’t really care what people think of her. She has her own style and way of doing things. I think that’s why the popular girls hate her so much – because she doesn’t even try to fit in. She’s confident in who she is. The truth is that I wish I was more like her. As hard as I try, I do care what people think of me. I guess that’s why I spend so much time hiding.

The minute the final bell rings, I bolt out of my seat and head toward the parking lot to meet Paige since she’s giving me a ride home. I turned sixteen over the summer and immediately got my license in hopes that it would buy me freedom. Only I was wrong. My mom and I share a car, so I only get it on the days she doesn’t need it.

“Hey, Hadley, wait up!”

I stop in my tracks, shocked that a guy is hollering out my name. That never happens. Slowly, I pivot on my heels.

Tripp approaches me wearing the most amazing smile. My stomach flips, despite my best efforts to stay calm. He’s wearing a t-shirt and jeans that hug him in all the right places.

“You look surprised,” he says.

“Yeah, surprised you knew my name.”

“C’mon, we’ve gone to school together for years. Of course I know you.”

“And yet you’ve never spoken to me before,” I point out, a smug smile on my face.

“Ouch. I guess I deserve that.” He runs a hand over his hair, looking agitated. “I just feel bad about earlier and want to make sure you’re okay.”

“It was just a piece of paper. I’m fine.”
Why does he care so much?
“Look, you don’t have to worry. I’m not going to tell on you or try to get you back or whatever it is you’re worried about me doing.”

“No, it’s not that. You just seemed upset earlier and I was concerned, that’s all.”

I almost laugh out loud. This must be some kind of joke. Glancing around, I notice other students staring in our direction. Clearly they are just as stunned by this as I am. “Well, don’t be.”

“You’re still mad at me, aren’t you?”

Exasperated, I whirl away from him. “I’m not mad. I just want you to leave me alone, okay?”

“Okay,” he says softly from over my shoulder.

His voice is so dejected, I almost turn around. Then I remember that this is Tripp and I keep walking. No way is Tripp concerned about me. He’s playing some sort of game, and I’m not going to be the dumb girl that falls for it.