The Game Has Changed (26 page)

“No?”

“No.”

She watched with wonder as he reached into his
inside jacket pocket She chewed her lower lip and brushed her long
blonde hair back as it blew into her face. He pulled a small box
out of his pocket and held it within his palm before her. She
stared into his eyes with wonder.

“This is my promise to you,” he
whispered.

The moment was so romantic, more romantic than
she’d ever imagined within her entire life. More so, than all of
the chick flick movies she’d ever daydreamed over. A small cry
burst from her lips as he opened the box to reveal a pure gold
necklace and heart pendant.

“Wear this necklace every day and it will
remind you that someday . . . someday, I will be back for
you.”

Amazement and delight was written across the
contours of her face. She began to tremble with incredulity. “Oh my
God!” she gasped, frozen into place. “Oh my God!”

Evan pulled the necklace out of its box and
opened up the heart locket before her. Inside was a delicate
cursive inscription that read, “I'll love you for all
eternity.”

When she read those words, she was quite sure
she would indeed pass out from the emotions that were now
enveloping her. Her hyperventilation caused her to clutch her chest
with both hands. Once Evan affixed the necklace around her neck,
she threw herself against him and hugged him tight.

“And you said you weren't a romantic!” she
tearfully whispered into his ear as they held each other within a
tight embrace for a very long time. Deep inside, Jaime couldn’t
help but wish that they could remain that way forever.

CHAPTER 35

They spent the night beneath the park’s
inviting darkness and lay upon the cold, bare ground together,
gazing up at the sky above them. Holding hands tightly and lying so
close that their hips were touching, they saw what they never would
have seen within the polluted skies of their respective cities.
Every star, every constellation, even the wondrous Milky Way was
spread out above for their eyes to see.

Jaime was in awe, but more so by the love she
felt emanating from the man lying so close to her. She no longer
doubted that he was in love with her. She knew it for a fact within
every bone of her body. So much so, that her heart was ready to
burst with happiness. She turned onto her side and scooted closer
to him to lay her head upon his chest.

It couldn't end! It couldn't! She would rather
die than live another day without him now.

“Can we stay here forever?” she whispered
mournfully.

“Here? Lying on the ground? It'll snow in a
couple months,” he said playfully.

She giggled with delight. “And it can just bury
us! As long as we're still together!”

He gently caressed her cheek, enjoying the
feeling of deep contentment and peace within him. It was an alien
sensation for him. His life had always been frenetically paced for
as long as he could remember. Very rarely had he slowed down and
paid attention to his surroundings, to the people around him, or to
his own emotions.

If only he could get through this in one piece.
Perhaps he would be ready for that life Jaime had alluded to so
early into their relationship. He could somehow picture himself
settling down into marriage and having children. If he could
envision the other side of the incarcerated years ahead of him, he
could finally see himself in that role, that life.

“You know,” he whispered thoughtfully as he
continued his content caress of her. “We're not really on a
timetable.”

Jaime sighed with excitement, refusing to move
as she lay there pressed against him.

“I didn't make an appointment for my arrest,
after all,” he continued lazily.

She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
She nodded, enjoying the feel of his hand upon her skin. “Does that
mean we can stay?”

“
Maybe one more day.”

“Thank you, my love,” she said and squeezed him
tightly to her.

After midnight, they drove out of the park and
took up residence within a motel room just outside the park's
entrance. Neither of them was plagued by the worries of the
previous night. They wanted to savor each other's company for as
long as they were able. They knew their time together was now
limited and extremely precious.

As they had done in Oklahoma, they petted
heavily, touching, kissing, and caressing one another. Once again,
Evan was careful with her. She didn't care, though. She loved him
completely. Most of all, she could feel the reciprocal love he felt
for her.

CHAPTER 36

“How will it happen?” Jaime prodded miserably
as they sat close together in a booth at the motel’s restaurant the
next morning.

Evan had his arm wrapped around her shoulders
as he sipped at his coffee. Her fingers were loosely intertwined
with said hand. Her free hand clutched her promise pendant tightly.
It was now her most precious possession, more precious than her
lost box of postcards from her father.

“
I honestly don’t know. If they
know who I am now, they could be staking out my house,” he replied,
deep in thought.

Jaime shuddered visibly. “Evan . .
.”

He smiled softly, knowing exactly what she was
thinking. “No, you can’t,” he said.

“I want to be there for you! I don’t want to
see you taken away, but I have to be there for you.”

“This is one time that you have to listen to
me.” He gently tapped the tip of her nose in hopes of cheering her
up. “You’re not getting your way this time, my love.”

She gave him a sad smile and nodded with
reluctance.

“I have to make sure you’re taken care of
before I go. I have to know in my heart that you’re on your way to
a safe place. That you’re on your way home.”

A shaky sigh escaped her. “I figure I should
give you my address now,” she said, remembering how she’d vowed to
never give it to him in the beginning.

“You better, cuz I figure . . .” he continued,
mimicking her tone of voice, “that I will turn up on your doorstep,
sooner or later.”

An excited shiver rushed through her. “I hope
it’s sooner, then, because I don’t know how I’m gonna last a day
without you.” Her voice cracked with emotion.

“You will,” he assured her tenderly, “because
you’re strong. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever come
across in all of my hundred conquests. And the funny thing is . .
.” He cocked his head to the side as he ran his finger down along
the length of her nose and smiled. “You’re not even a fully grown
woman yet, but you’re a force to be reckoned with, my love. An
amazing force. You won the game, my sweet.”

The tenderness of his words moved her.
“Really?”

“Yeah,” he said softly, removing the tip of his
finger from her nose so that he could touch his nose to hers. “You
won my heart.”

Happiness warmed every inch of her. “So all
along that was the real game?”

He pressed gentle kisses against her lips.
“Yeah, to see if you could break me.” He rubbed his thumb
affectionately along her bottom lip.

The sadness of their impending separation
shrouded her as she stared at him. “Are you sure there's nothing we
can do?”

He pulled back from her slightly as he placed
his hand against her thigh and sought to find the right words to
say what he needed to say, then and there. “It would be better for
the both of us in the long run if I turn myself in. But . . . It's
strange,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

“I was so afraid that day, so terrified of the
huge mistake I’d made because of the drug deal and my running from
the law. But now I realize that it really wasn't a mistake at all.
It was fate sending me on a journey to find you.

“Of course, I'll have to pay the price, but I
know it will be worth it. I don't know the legal recourse at all
yet, but I think if I plead guilty then maybe I can plea bargain
for a lighter sentence.”

A fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks.
She realized just how much she’d cried during her time with him,
more so than she’d done in the aftermath of her father's death. The
emotions she experienced were so deep and profound, unlike anything
she’d felt before.

“Please let me be there with you,” she pleaded.
“I need to be with you.”

“I’ve already told you. I know you feel the
need to stand by me, but I need to make sure you're safe,” he
gently reprimanded. “I won't argue with you about this
anymore.”

She relented and let the matter drop. In her
heart, she knew it wasn't over yet. He hadn't won that game yet.
She kept herself from mentioning things for the rest of the day.
She wanted the day to be special for the two of them. Most of all,
she wanted it to be a relaxing one for him.

The reality of their precarious situation was
still there, looming over them. It would be their last day
together, his last full day of freedom. It was something neither
could ignore.

Never-the-less, they relished their time
together and spent the day hiking, eating, and enjoying the
scenery, the wildlife, and the powerful allure of Mother Nature.
They took a swim in the motel's pool in their skivvies around
midnight. The moment was a grand finale, full of tenderness and
affection for one another that went on throughout the
night.

***

The next morning found them tucked into her
car, a melancholy air surrounding them as they drove through the
deserts of California. Throughout the entire journey, Jaime’s hand
was pressed tightly against Evan's thigh.

It was almost six o'clock that night when they
arrived near LAX. She could sense Evan's anxiety as he drove closer
to the airport. She trembled in her seat beside him, glancing at
him often. His nervousness increased as they neared the airport's
entrance.

A vehicle checkpoint lay ahead. Most of the
cars were waved through without their needing to stop. She prayed
that they wouldn't be pulled over, allowing her to have a little
more time with him. He had explained to her earlier how they would
accomplish their current task, hopefully without incident. He’d
beseeched her to follow the plan to the letter. She’d promised she
would, but as their time to part ways drew closer, her heart beat
erratically within her chest.

They held their breaths as they neared the
checkpoint. Two police officers stood beside their cruisers on
either side of the road. Jaime bit her lip. Evan took a deep
breath. They released a deep sigh of relief as they were waved
forward. Evan pulled into the large parking garage that was housed
in the center of LAX. Once safely parked, he stared at her
intently.

Tears overwhelmed her once more. “I love you so
much, Evan,” she gasped as if she feared it would be the last time
she would be able to say it to him, the last time she would see
him.

“I love you, Jaime,” he whispered.

Amazement and happiness tumbled through her.
She realized that it was the first time he had actually said the
words. Her heartbeat quickened with both excitement and heavy
sorrow.

“I love you,” he repeated.

He pulled her within his arms in a tight
embrace as she began to sob. He broke down in tears, too. His
weeping only made hers more intense. She held onto him, refusing to
let go.

“I can't do it!” she cried. “I can't leave
you!”

“You have to! You promised me!”

She pulled away momentarily, tears streaming
down her cheeks. With defeat, she nodded. “I promised you . .
.”

“Come on, then,” he said with fortitude and
opened his car door.

Yet she wasn’t quite ready to step outside of
the car. She was so overwhelmed with misery that she found she
couldn't move. He hurried about the car to yank her door open. He
held his hand out to her, yet she was unable to take it. Instead,
she clasped her hands against her mouth and cried.

He leaned forward and gently urged her out of
the car. “Jaime, come on,” Evan said with as much patience as he
could muster. “We'll just walk very calmly and quietly into the
terminal now, just like we planned. Come on.”

Her weeping intensified. Evan grabbed a hold of
her arm and pulled her limp body out of the car.

“I can't do it!” she sniffled. “I can't do it!
Let's just drive away, Evan. Let's just run away!”

“I’ve already explained this to you,” he
whispered as he leaned close, his lips brushing against her
ear.

Impatience threaded his words as he tightened
his hold upon her upper arm. He found that he had to drag her away
from the car. She allowed him to pull her along, unable to fight
him. She felt helpless, her sobs increasing as they moved toward
the airport.

“You’ve already promised me!” he reminded her
sharply.

Little did she know, her agitated state was
arousing extreme suspicion amongst those they came across as he
guided her through the parking garage.