Top Love: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (Young Adult Stepbrother and Billionaire Romance Stories) (51 page)

Jimmy

              It’s a new morning and today, I am dropping Gage off with my parents.  I have told them everything about what I plan to do in asking Krystal to allow us to begin again.  It is said that when you love someone, you let them go.  If they don’t come back, they were never yours to begin with.  I cannot say that I agree with that.  I know what I feel for the mother of my son, and it’s so much more than the fact she’s the mother of my son.  It is the same feeling I had for her when I asked her to prom back in high school.  No, I cannot say that it is.  It’s truly deeper than that.  What I have for Krystal is what my parents and grandparents had in their marriages.  It’s that forever kind of love that never stops.  Though the flames of passion may die down, the embers still burn strong, never fading into nothingness if you only stir up the hot coals once in a while.  That was where I went wrong.  I never stirred the hot coals and allowed her to think my love had grown cold.  I know that it is not considered ‘manly’ of me to be so expressive, but dammit, I don’t care if I have to come out looking like the biggest sissy on earth.  I am going to do what it takes to win her heart.  I will spend every day winning her heart all over again. 

              Before I get to her house, I decide to stop by the local Hallmark Card Gift Shop.  I need to do this right.  I go in.

              “Can I help you, sir?” said the clerk.

              “Yeah, I am looking for the perfect card and a bouquet of gardenias with a single red rose in the middle.  Oh, and the red rose needs to be fake, but the gardenias real.  Can you do that?”

              “That will be no problem at all, sir.  If you’ll step this way, I will have Clara help you in the flower department.  You say you are looking for the perfect card.  I gather this is for a young lady?”

              “Yes, ma’am.  You see, I have been foolish and I let my wife divorce me.  She left because I was an idiot and did not tell her often enough what she means to me.  So, I am taking this first step in fixing it.”

              “Aw, that is so sweet.  Well, I tell you what.  You wait here and take care of the flowers.  I think I know just the card for you.”

              “Okay.”  I was a little taken aback at the cashier at first, but I thought it’d be interesting to see what she picked out.  Then again, how advantageous that the person helping me was female.  At least I had some first-hand guidance in this stuff.  I never understood why girls were so mushy, but whatever.  When you love one, you would do anything—be anything for her to make her happy. 

I strolled over and did as told.  I requested eleven gardenias and one plastic rose in the center be made into a bouquet.  I waited for what seemed like forever until finally the cashier returned with a very antique looking card. 

“Before you say a word, just read it, please,” the cashier said smiling.  I took it from her and stared at it for a while. 

The outside of the card was an off-white, crème colored textured exterior with white rose flower petals pressed into the paper.  In calligraphy style writing, it simply read:  For My Love…

As I opened it, it was even more beautiful.  On the left side, there was a tree made from red rose petals with tiny pieces of petals used for the leaves being blown from the branches. 

On the right, there was a very impressive poem.

They say that love is like a red, red rose

They claim to have been sprung in June,

              But nothing compares to the love I have

Not even a thought, not a poem, not a tune.

They say that beauty fades

And you should see a person’s heart

But my love that couldn’t be further from the truth

My soul from yours shall never part

They say that love is like a melody,

The notes so sweet and kind

But my love for you, my dear love

Is like nothing no one can ever find.  

              I knew instantly that Krystal was going to love this card.  She was always into sappy stuff like this. 

              “I could kiss you!” I exclaimed.

              “Sir, I wouldn’t.  The person you are obviously begging forgiveness from might not like it.”

              I smiled.  So, instead of a kiss, I hugged the poor girl.  She had no clue.  I know I am a pretty large guy.  I am over six feet tall and built like a linebacker—at least that is what my mom always tells me.  And here I was squeezing the stuffing out of this tiny woman who might have barely made five feet tall if you gave her a brick to stand on.  I paid for my purchases and left.  Krystal was going to be so excited. 

Eddie

              I flew in from Los Angeles, hoping to arrive just as she should have been getting home from work.  I paid for my rental car, and drove around town.  So much has changed here.  Yes, it’s only been three months.  However, when you are used to seeing the sights of a much larger city, you notice when there have been changes in the small town that seemed to have built you.  It seems they are building a Wal-Mart.  I never would have seen that coming.  It took four years for this small town to give the approval to build a Waffle House, a twenty four hour breakfast style diner.  I would have never imagine a corporate conglomerate like Wal-Mart would have been able to weasel its way into this little Mayberry-like town.  Then again, Wal-Mart had the money and well, money talks.  I have learned that lesson really well in the past few years.  Before my success, no one knew me or who I was or even treated me like I was a human being. 

              Now that I am the co-star of a sitcom, have had huge success in stand-up, and have been turning profits of which I never thought possible, people treat me better than just human.  I am treated like royalty.  Rather, I am treated like royalty from everyone except the one person I want in my life—Krystal.

              I cannot wait to see her—to hold her—again.  To smell her long, dark hair, take in her scent, and to know she is mine.  That would make me the happiest man on the face of the planet.  However, something doesn’t feel right.  I don’t know what it is, but maybe it’s just the food I ate on the plane.  Plane food always makes me queasy. 

              I drive by the old mechanic shop and see Jimmy’s truck there.  Well, I think it belongs to Jimmy—unless he sold it or something.  I doubt he would ever sell it.  That thing was more important to him than Krystal ever was. 

Jimmy

              The anticipation is killing me.  I know we have had our rough spots.  I was hoping that by not fighting her on the divorce, she’d realize that I am willing to give her everything her heart desires—no matter the cost—even if it meant my own happiness.  That’s what a good husband, in my opinion, does for his wife.  Even if we no longer have that piece of paper joining us, I consider her my wife.  She will always be my wife in my heart, even if I am not her husband to her.  One of my favorite songs is by the Beatles.  Let It Be is one of the most poignant songs, no matter the generation a person is from.  The second stanza speaks the loudest right now.  “When the broken-hearted people…” it begins.  The day she told me she wanted a divorce was the day I felt my heart break into a million pieces.  I know this sounds harsh, but Gage was not a huge concern for the divorce.  I knew she’d never be one of those moms who used the child as nothing more than a paycheck for child support.  She knew I’d never be one of those dads that showed up when it suited me.  We both had our heads on about that.  Gage was going to have both parents in his life whether we were in each other’s or not. 

              Still, nothing made it any easier to lose her.  I have been patient, trying to show her that I love her.  I have prayed.  I have cried when no one was around.  I have immersed myself in work and a life with my son. 

              Finally, I pull up to her house.  Her car isn’t there, but that’s okay.  I some time to gather my thoughts on this.  I am prepared to beg, if necessary, and cry.  If she wants to see me reduced to rubble to get my point across, that is fine with me.  I know this is probably the last chance I will ever get to try to win her over for good.  She’s been through so much turmoil on her own.  I went over my speech in my head repeatedly. 

              After sitting there on her porch swing for about half an hour, I heard a vehicle coming down the drive.  It was time.  So, I stood up and waited on the top step.  I wanted to be the first thing she saw.  When I looked down the path, I did not recognize the vehicle at all.  It must be someone who is lost, I thought to myself. Little did I know just how right I was. 

Eddie

              Finally, I cannot hold it in any longer.  I turn on to her drive way and head towards the home of the woman I love.  I am going to beg, borrow, and steal her heart.  I will bribe her if I have to.  However, I spot a vehicle in the yard. 

              “No,” I said aloud to myself.  “It can’t be!  I just passed him minutes ago.”  Yet, there he was.  That was Jimmy’s truck.  Then again, I realized that considering the type of people who lived in this town, a lot of people might have had a truck that looked like Jimmy’s.  And there he was standing on the front porch with a bouquet in his hands.  No matter.  After all, they say it’s on the inside that counts, right?  Well, what I have on the inside of her home will certainly outshine any pathetic attempt he may use to steal her from me.  She belongs to me, not him.  When will he learn that he can’t give her the things that I can?  When will he learn that he is not good enough?  When will he learn, period? 

              I eased off of the gas pedal.  He obviously didn’t recognize me.  He couldn’t have since the windows to the rental car are tinted.  I pulled up next to his truck and shut off the engine.  I got out.  His eyes widened with what I perceived as fear at the sight of me. 

              “Jimmy,” I said coldly.  I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

Jimmy

              Son of a bitch, I thought to myself.  That cannot be who I think it is.  Suddenly, I was overtaken with an intense desire to rip him apart limb from limb.  My hands ached to close around his throat.  Normally, I’m a pacifist, but the things this idiot has put Krystal through—and he still thinks he can just walk in here anytime he wants—leaves absolutely no excuse for his presence here or his insistence on drawing breath.  However, the latter I could not stop for him as that would cause me to be incarcerated.  I’d be no use to my wife or son in prison. 

              “What are you doing here, Eddie?” I asked, trying to hold back my anger and hold my tongue. 

              “Just coming to see Krystal,” he replied. 

              “Well, she isn’t here, so you can skedaddle back to your little New York apartment or whatever bowel of Hell you came from.  We are all doing just fine in this town without you.  Your presence is no longer required or wanted.”

              “We can let Krystal be the judge of that.  And just so you know, I am living in Los Angeles right now.”

              “I could give two shits less where you live.  It isn’t here.  Whatever happened between the two of you a few months back has changed her, and not for the better.  Actually, the past month, she’s smiled a lot more, but it certainly wasn’t because of anything you did.  Besides, she isn’t here, dummy.  Are you blind AND dumb?  I mean, I always knew you were a little ‘touched in the head’, but I didn’t figure you for complete idiot.”

              “And what makes you think your presence is needed?  You’re about as useful as a football bat, there man.”

              “You know, just because you’re ‘special’ doesn’t mean you’re useful.  Whatever you did, you hurt her.  And what did I tell you would happen if you ever hurt her?”

              He took a few more steps, closing the gap between us.  The desire to just break his jaw intensified with the lack of space between us. 

              “Eddie!  Jimmy!  What are you doing here?” came a voice we both recognized.  It was Krystal. Neither one of us saw or heard her pull up. 

Krystal

              I pulled up to my house after shopping and see two vehicles in my yard.  One, I am familiar with.  It’s Jimmy’s truck.  The other, I have absolutely no clue who it is until I stop my car and get out. 

              “Eddie!  Jimmy!  What are you doing here?”   Both of their faces went white.  They both tried to talk at the same time.  “Hush, one at a time, guys.  Eddie?  What are you doing here?” I crossed my arms over my chest.  I could deal with seeing Jimmy right now, but not Eddie.  I wanted nothing to do with the man who tore my heart to shreds.  I can see that Jimmy wants to punch him, and I’m almost tempted on letting him do so, if not encouraging him to punch his lights out. 

              Eddie close the gap between us, grabbed my hand, and kissed the top of it.  “My dearest Krystal,” he began.  “I have been so lonely without you.  I know I screwed up.  Can you ever forgive me?  Before you answer, I’d like to go inside and talk to you.”

              I snatch my hand back from Eddie and wipe the sweat from his clammy hands off of mine.  Gross, I thought.  It feels like he peed on his hands.  I grab my keys, and unlock the door.  “Well,” I said.  “Obviously, if you’re both here, we all need to have a chat.  So, what do you say?  Let me put this stuff up and wait on the couch?  Oh, first one to spill blood pays for the damages.”

              When I open my door, I don’t think neither me nor Jimmy was ready for what we saw.  This had Eddie’s name written all over it.  I looked around at the balloons, the streamers, the giant bear, and the banner that read:  WILL YOU MARRY ME, KRYSTAL?  I turned around and saw Eddie on one knee holding open an emerald green velvet box with a huge diamond ring in the center. 

              That’s when Jimmy said, “Krystal, I think I know who has you.  Please accept these as a token of my congratulations.”  He hands the bouquet of flowers and the card to me.  Then, he turns to leave. 

              “Good riddance to bad rubbish,” Eddie says with a Cheshire cat grin on his face.  “Now, where were we, my love?  Oh, yes, you were about to say ‘yes’ to my proposal.  No phone calls.  No interruptions.  Just me, you, this ring, and your acceptance of my proposal is all that’s required.”  I look at the flowers.  They’re beautiful white gardenias, my favorite flower.  In the center, however, is a plastic red rose.  Jimmy did the same thing with a bouquet of roses for our senior prom.  He told me he would love me until the last rose died. 

I still have that rose in my hope chest upstairs.

I looked at the flowers and then again at Eddie. 

“Eddie, I…”

“Yes?”

“Eddie…”