Rival Dreams (Rival Love #3) (21 page)

“I’m not watching them,” she says.

But then we both stop as soon as we look at the stage. Skylar is sitting on a chair toward the back; Malcolm is closer to the front and sitting on a stool. He starts playing his guitar first. Skylar joins in.

I sit just as Malcolm spots Lidia and smiles. He leans toward the microphone and sings, “I can’t seem to get you out of my head. Just like all those times before. Only it seems worse.”

Skylar softly chimes in with him, “All the roads lead me to you. I hate it. I love it. I’m stuck, on this road to you.”

“Baby this is the last time I come running. This is the last time I’ll keep the door open. Come here. Let’s make this forever.”

Skylar gets off her chair and walks over to the mic while Malcolm takes her spot in the back. “Here you are just like all those times before. Beg for me some more. I can’t hear over the breaking of my heart. You say you’re sorry, but I’ve watched you leave time and again.”

Malcolm joins in and sings the chorus. “All the roads led me to you. I won’t hurt you anymore. I’m stuck on the road to you. Baby, this is the last time I come running. This is the last time I’ll keep the door open. Come here. Let’s make this forever.”

They meet in the middle of the stage, singing into the one microphone. “Oh, you’re my road. You’re my home. Don’t go. I can’t do this anymore. You’re my road. You’re my life. Please don’t make me say it twice. Baby, this is the last time I come running. This is the last time I’ll keep the door open. Come here. Let’s make this forever.”

Then they stop playing at the same time. The crowd stands up and claps. Lidia has tears in her eyes, and I’m … in shock.

Skylar pushes through a small crowd and takes a seat next to me. “Hi.”

“Hi,” I say back. “Why are you here?”

“I’m going to go talk to Malcolm. Sky you did really … good,” Lidia sobs and leaves the table.

Sky watches her sister leave and then returns her stare to me. “I love you, Caleb. I am here because of you. I need you to know that I love you. I wasn’t out on a date. Brie was being stupid and told you that because she’s still pissed you punched her boyfriend at that party.”

“Really? That was, like, ages ago.”

She shrugs. “She holds grudges. Plus, you never apologized.”

“Is this it?”

She laughs. “No. I just … Caleb, I want to be with you. I know you got drafted to the Jets, and that’s awesome.”

I smile. “Thanks.”

“I’m not going to Duke next year.”

“What?” My jaw hits the floor.

She shakes her head. “Close your mouth.” I do and she smiles. “I’m going to Columbia.”

“But you hate that school.”

“No. I didn’t want to go there just because my Dad works there. I wanted to go to a school of my choosing. Now, it’s my choosing.”

“But … your captain position.”

“I can swim at Columbia, and with hard work I can earn the captain spot again. I’ll only be a junior. Besides, they have a great medical program there. It’s really a win for me. Plus, everything will be paid for, so, that means more money for an apartment.”

She nudges me. “So, what do you think?”

“I think … I need to be somewhere in less than ten minutes. But I’ll come see you later. Promise.” I get up, kiss her forehead and walk out of the café. Don’t call me an idiot just yet. When I said I needed to be somewhere, I meant it.

She deserves forever, and forever is what I’m going to give her.

***

I approach Robert the next morning. He’s still in a robe and slippers, picking up a paper from his front stoop. I wave and run up the steps.

He looks me up and down and says, “Caleb, it’s barely six thirty in the morning. I don’t think Skylar is ready yet.”

“I haven’t come to see Skylar. Well, I have, but I wanted to see you first.”

He shakes his head and opens the door. “Okay. Come on in. But please keep it down. We’re the only ones up.”

I nod and follow him into the kitchen. He sets his paper on the island and makes his way to the coffee pot near the sink. “Would you like a cup?” he asks as he begins to pour.

I shake my head. “Thanks, though.”

Robert takes a seat next to me at the island. I’m so nervous, I might vomit all over him if I open my mouth to speak.
Get a grip
, I chide myself. This is for Skylar.

I take a deep breath and say, really fast,

“Idlikeyourpermissiontoaskyourdaughtertomarryme.”

“Caleb, it’s really early in the morning. I can’t understand what you’re mumbling about.”

I clear my throat and swallow. “I’d like your permission to ask for Skylar’s hand.”

He sets his coffee mug down, his eyebrows raised in a confused expression. He asks, “I thought you two weren’t seeing each other anymore?”

The man has a point. Technically Skylar and I are no longer together, but I want to change that. I want to bypass that and head straight to the lifetime commitment because I’m ready for forever with her.

I nod slowly. “Yes. This is true. But I want to change that today. With your permission, of course.”

He takes another sip of his coffee. And another, until I don’t think there is any more left to help him avoid this conversation. “Caleb, I can’t give my permission unless you make me a promise first.”

“What’s that?” I’ll do anything. I don’t say the last bit, but it’s true.

“Promise you will always love her. Never hurt her. Always protect her. And make sure she finishes what she started and doesn’t fall behind to go trailing after you. Can you promise me all that?”

I smile. “I certainly can. That’s why I left her in the first place, to keep from hurting her dreams. It’s not that I didn’t want her, because she’s all I’ll ever want. But I needed her to finish her studies. I thought that was at Duke, but it turns out she’s transferring to your school.”

He nods. “As long as your intentions are good, and you keep your promise, I’ll give you my blessing.”

I hug the man and rush out of the kitchen.

Chapter 37

Skylar

He left me again. I’d thought for sure my song would work on him. Turns out I was wrong. But it did help Lidia and Malcolm, so I’m not a complete and utter failure. Still, I wish it had worked for me too.

As I sit in my room wondering what else I can do, a knock comes at my door. I’m too deep in thought to get up and answer it so I bark, “It’s open.”

Caleb enters my room. My eyes go wide. I push aside the tissues surrounding me. Pulling a blanket tight over my chest, I ask, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. Are you sick?” His gaze lands on the tissues now littering the floor.

I shake my head. “No. I was reading something sad.” Total lie, by the way. I was crying over my failure, but he doesn’t need to know this. He already knows enough.

He nods and starts cleaning them up and tosses them in the wastebasket. “So, what if I was sick?” I ask.

He smiles. “I’d still pick them up. Then I’d ask you if I could get you anything.”

“You would?” I choke.

“Of course. So, are you willing to take a walk with me this morning?”

I nod. “I need to get dressed.”

“I’ll wait for you downstairs.” He leans in and kisses my forehead.

***

Caleb and I finally stop. We’ve been walking for a while. I look around where we’ve come to a halt and say, “This is where we …” I trail off when I notice he’s not beside me anymore. I look down and Caleb is on one knee.

“What are you doing?”

“Stop. I need to do this right.” I quit trying to help him up and take a step back. He laughs and reaches for one of my hands. “Skylar Olivia Fletcher, I solemnly swear to love and honor you for now and forever. Beyond death and beyond many lifetimes. You are the one person I can’t live without. Please say I may have you forever. Marry me?”

I stop breathing. My heart is pounding. I burst in tears, and shout, “Yes!” He smiles and lifts me off the ground. We kiss in exactly the same spot he kissed me for the first time in New York.

He sets me down and pulls out a ring. “It was my mom’s. Well, the diamonds were. I had the stones removed and set into a different band. And see this?” Inside the band is an engraving.
My heart forever and always
. Then he slips the band on my ring finger. It fits perfectly. It’s gorgeous and all mine. He’s really all mine!

Epilogue

Skylar

Three years later …

Thick satin wraps snugly across my chest and flows down to the floor. Small folds are bunched up and held together by rhinestone clips. I stare at myself in the full-length mirror and almost tear up at the sight of me.

“I’m a bride,” I whisper.

Kayla laughs. “Yes, you are. And a gorgeous one, at that.”

Lidia huffs as she stands on top a chair next to me. “Stop fidgeting. I’m trying to get this something blue stuck in your hair.”

My mom and Julie laugh as they enter the room. My mom stops and gushes, “Oh, Skylar, you look so lovely.”

I raise a brow. “Skylar? No Liv? Who are you and what have you done with my mom?” I muse.

She walks over and kisses my cheek. “You’ll always be my Liv. Today, though, you don’t look like my little girl. Today you look like a beautiful young woman, so it’s only fitting I call you by your first name.”

I smile and shake my head. “Oh, Mom. You’re so weird. But I love you.”

I kiss her cheek and step off the stool I’ve been standing on. Yards of fabric trail behind me as I make my way over to the small bar.

My mother hisses, “Now, not too much. Just a nip!”

Nip. Pip. I’ll take two small bottles of vodka down the hatch if I want. It’s my wedding day. Not that I need two bottles, but I kind of want this over with. I’ve waited three years for this moment. Well, longer if I’m really honest with myself.

Why did I wait so long? Stress, school, graduation, more school, take your pick. This wedding stuff is stressful enough. Planning a wedding while in school is not a great idea. Not at all. So we decided to wait until after I graduated from Columbia. Which I did. I also was captain of the swim team. Then I applied for medical school. Caleb was happy when I got into Columbia’s program. I’m excited too.

Speaking of Caleb, how is my future almost husband doing? He’s doing great. He took the Jets to the Super Bowl this year and won. Yes, there are the occasional fans that seem not to take the hint that he’s taken and throw themselves at him. Ladies, this is unattractive. Don’t embarrass yourselves. And he’s mine. Do you hear me?

I tip back the bottle of vodka and Julie asks, “May I?”

I hand over a tray. “Pick your poison.”

She snatches a tequila bottle and I laugh. “Oh, that’s a good choice.”

“You look lovely, Skylar.” She lifts her bottle to mine. We clink. “To many years of happiness.”

“Thanks, Julie.” We tip back our bottles and I shake my head as I swallow down the burn. “Whoa! That’s the stuff.”

The door to my suite opens once more and Sam and Mikia enter with squeals. “Oh my God! Look at you!” they say in unison. They hug me and Lidia snaps her fingers.

“Ladies! You’re late. Get your asses in these chairs this minute. We only have twenty minutes to get you girls in wedding shape.”

Sam pouts. “Damn, Liddy. Laying the slap down, aren’t you?”

“I am. Now park it. And zip it.”

I laugh at my sister. She’s been the best maid of honor anyone could ever ask for.

***

Music fills the room. The traditional wedding march. All my girls march ahead, while one of Caleb’s teammate’s daughters throws red and white rose petals down the aisle. My father faces me and whispers, “Are you ready?”

I smile. “Never been more ready.”

He kisses my forehead and links his arm with mine. I take a deep breath and we march down the aisle. While the room might have been full of smiling and possibly tear-stained faces, my focus was set on one face.

Caleb’s hair is a mess of sexiness. His eyes are bright and pouring with love. And his smile, oh jeez, my knees are weak. But knowing this is all for me and no one else, that’s what makes my heart really soar. From this moment forward he’ll be mine forever.

As I reach him I giggle.

He thanks my father who tells the pastor that he blesses this union as he hands me off to Caleb. Caleb takes my hand and pulls me up to him. “There’s my beautiful bride. I’ve been missing you.” I smile and hold back a laugh. “I’d kiss you right here but I don’t think we’ve gotten to that part yet,” he whispers.

I shake my head. “We’re supposed to be paying attention.”

“Yes, dearest.”

I glance over at him and he is staring at me. We’re both smiling and I almost giggle at how happy and perfect this moment is. Finally Pastor Paul says, “The rings, if you will.”

Caleb looks back at Derrick, whose palm holds my wedding band. Caleb reaches for it but Derrick pulls his hand back. “Are you sure?” he jokes.

Caleb growls, “Give it to me before I deck you in front of all these people.”

I shake my head and mutter, “Boys.”

Lidia hands me Caleb’s ring and points a finger at Derrick. “Watch it, buddy.”

Derrick takes a step back and stands in position. He swallows and whispers, “She scares me.”

Pastor Paul probably thinks we’re all loony. We hand off our rings and then we begin our vows. We didn’t do the traditional thing. We didn’t really write our own. I performed my vows in a song. And Caleb had his entire team come, each handing me a rose and saying one thing Caleb promised. I laugh. Cry. And love him so much more. But when he hands me the last rose himself, he says, “I vow to always love you for every lifetime and then some.”

I kiss him. Yeah. I know we aren’t supposed to yet, but screw it. He deserves a kiss.