Twist of Fate (28 page)

"You're so beautiful, Paige. I still can't believe you're next to me sometimes." It was true, every since she walked into my frat house, I'd had to do a double take to make sure I wasn't losing it. This girl owned me from that very moment, and I think I knew it, I was just afraid of it. I leaned over her, smoothing her hair back off her face, studying her for one more second. "I want this to be something you'll never forget."

She shot me a devilish grin. "I promise I won't forget"

I leaned back a little. "I'm serious, Paige. This night is for you. Don't worry about me."

She wrapped her hands around my neck, yanking me toward her. "I think we can both be taken care of," she said with a sparkle in her eye.

"You first, okay? I've been dying to do this since you told me."

"Give it your best shot," she teased.

I grinned. "Oh, I plan to. You're going to be begging for mercy before I'm through."

It was just after eight in the morning. I'd been watching Paige sleep for over two hours.
 
It didn't matter that I was tired I, I woke up panicked that she was gone around six in the morning, and it had made me restless. So, I stayed up to watch her. She was still sleeping on her stomach, her arms tucked under the pillow, the blanket barely covering her perfect ass. I'd replayed the night over in my head so many times that I'd lost count. Because that smile on her face before we went to bed, and Paige letting go of everything, was a feeling l couldn't describe. I could still picture her sweaty body, taste the salt on my tongue when I kissed her neck, hear her cry out my name. It took everything for me to hold out, and even lying here next to her, I had no idea how I managed it. But, knowing that I was the one that gave her something she never had was the ultimate experience. It was hard, almost painful not to wake her, just looking at her naked body, remembering the best night of my life. I wanted a repeat badly.

My phone vibrated, pulling me from the memories of last night. I'd been with a lot of girls since Freshman year, but never did I really understand them. Even with Simone, back in high school it was never like this. Paige rocked my world in more ways than one. As I gazed one last time at the contours of her body, I knew she was worth everything that I offered. The whole shebang; moving in, marriage, kids, anything that meant the two of us staying together forever.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand, struggling to focus on the text. I read it ten times just to be sure it said what I thought it did. I flipped on my back, furiously rubbing my hands through my hair. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not after everything. I leaned over Paige, gliding my fingers down her back, kissing the tip of her shoulder. She stirred, smiling at me when she woke. "Is it time to go already?"

"No, not yet. I'm gonna run down and grab two coffees from Konos okay? Go back to sleep."

I gave her one last kiss, before slipping into clothes and out the door. Frantic, I dialed Tommy back when I knew I was a good block away. "What do you mean you think he's there?"

"Thank god you called. It's Caroline. She says she saw that guy Drew, and who she thinks is Carson, walking around campus. She described him, man. It fits the description."

"Well, call the cops. He's breaking the restraining order."

"Yeah, we thought about that, but we don't know where he is."

I hadn't been able to breathe since I heard his voice and how panicked he sounded. I looked back up the block at the hotel, staring up to our balcony. It was empty. "Can you keep Paige at Mission?"

"I don't know. She thinks we're leaving within the hour. What the hell am I supposed to say?"

"I don't know, Ben. Just think of something. We're setting up a trap."
"What kind of fucking trap?"

He sighed heavily into the phone. "Well, you know how Caroline is the same size, and is blonde like Paige?"

"Don't do it. It's too dangerous."
"That's what we told her. She wants to. She's going to put on some of Paige's clothes, throw her hair up in a cap or something. She'll take her time opening the door, and when he comes in, he won't know what hit him. I've got ten guys that are gonna be in place. Caroline will hit the panic button by the door when she gets in, and we'll kick his ass until the police get there."

My head was shaking as I listened to his words. "This isn't smart, Tommy. I don't like it."

"Just keep her there until I tell you. I'll text you the next steps."

"Okay," I hesitated. "Tommy be careful, man."

"I will."

Fuck! Part of me wanted to run home to be there and take this prick down, the other part was freaking the fuck out on whether I should tell Paige or not. While waiting in line for coffee, I decided against it. She didn't need to worry about everyone. There were ten guys, it should be no problem to take one out. And even if the other asshole showed up, it should still be no problem, right? I couldn't believe I agreed to this. I took a huge breath when I saw Paige appear on the balcony looking for me. She waved from the top, blowing me a kiss.
 
Here went nothing.

Chapter 35

"What do you mean you want to stay? We need to get back." Her suitcase was sprawled out on the bed, and most of her stuff was already inside.
 

"Well, I got to thinking about something you mentioned when we were kids."
She yanked mine down from the closet shelf. "What's that?"

"La Jolla! You used to talk about this great place for pancakes. We could walk around, grab some breakfast. It would fun. They even have that cool alcove to snorkel." I grabbed the bag to place it back in the closet. "Have you ever snorkeled, P?"

She was quiet, so I spun around to see her right behind me. She leaned over my shoulder, tugging my bag back down. "We can go have breakfast, but then we need to get back. I took back my old yoga class to teach tomorrow."

Damn! "Well, what about L.A. I know you've never been and wanted to go. We could pop in the car and take a scenic drive up there?"

She stepped back, crossing her arms, eyeing me suspiciously. "What are you doing?"

I shrugged, pulling her into my arms, giving her a quick peck on her lips. "What's wrong with wanting to spend alone time with my girl?"

"Nothing. I'll go to La Jolla, but I'm not driving three more hours away from campus." She smiled, kissing the tip of my nose.
 

I let out a gasp of air. At least it bought me a few more hours to work on her.

***

We finally got to La Jolla after I managed to stall for an hour in the bathroom before we checked out of the hotel. I felt like a jackass telling her I had stomach issues, but I couldn't think of anything else short of holding her hostage.
 

The waiter at The Cottages led us to a small table outside under a big yellow umbrella. La Jolla was one of my favorite places to visit when we were in town. The streets, the stores, the clear blue ocean, the marine life, all of it. You could smell the scent of fresh oranges as the juice was being pressed, and the aroma of cinnamon waifed through the open screened door to the outside.

"This is a nice. I've never been here before."

Her eyes rolled back. "Mmm. Wait until you try their homemade scones and jelly. Oh, and the pancakes. They're made of buckwheat."

I smiled, and laugh lightheartedly. "I doubt anything is going to taste better than you."

She looked all around, blushing. "Stop it, Ben."

I reached across the table, grabbing her hand. "Nobody heard."

After we talked about school, our future, and completely stuffed ourselves with pancakes, scones, coffee, and orange juice, I paid the bill.

"I'll be right back, P. I gotta hit the head."

She crinkled up her nose. "Nice."

When I got back to the table, I grabbed my baseball cap, keys, and phone. Paige was gone. I looked all around the front of the restaurant then spotted her sitting in the Jeep. It was a little windy so her hair was blowing all around her.
 
I jogged over, hopping inside. "Here we come seals," I yelled out. Paige was staring out the side of the car, looking away from me. "What? No seals? I thought you liked to go down there? We could take some pictures."

"How could you?" She asked quietly, without turning to face me.

"How could I what?" I asked cautiously.

"I think you know, Ben."

I touched her shoulder, but she flinched. "Paige, what's wrong?"

She glared in my direction and I could see she was crying. "Baby, please why are you crying?"

She grunted. "Tommy texted you while you were 'hitting the head'."

"Paige you need to listen to me. This is serious."
"You think I don't know that?" She screamed.

I shifted to turn toward her. "I tried to talk him out of it this morning. I just found out before I went to get coffee, I promise you."

"I know that, Ben. But how could you keep me here, when I need to be there. What if someone gets hurt? I'll never forgive myself." As each word slipped off her tongue, more tears continued to slide down her cheeks.
 

I opened my arms wide. "Come here," I pleaded.

She crashed into them, sobbing uncontrollably, while I smoothed her hair down a few times.

I talked to her softly, my mouth nuzzling up in the nape of her neck. "What do you want to do? I'll do anything you want, Paige. But, I will not put you in danger. You can't ask me to do that. I just got you. I can't lose you now."

She pulled back, wiping a few lingering tears. "We need to go back."

I shut my eyes. I couldn't do this. "Why, Paige? Why does it have to be you?"

Her fingers grazed the corner of my chin, lifting it to her. "Do you remember when I told you I didn't want you?"

I nodded. It was the worst night of my life. How the hell could I forget?

"You told me not to let him win, and that's what I'm doing by staying here." She paused, leaning her cheek against the dashboard, with this sad, but undaunted look. "I need to face him."

I was shaking my head like a madman. "No way! No way, Paige. That's not what I meant when I said that to you."

"I know, but I heard what you said, and you were right. I'm so tired of worrying. I need to do this to get rid of him. To be with you a hundred percent without worry. I want to be the one to put that bastard behind bars."

I was still shaking my head, furious at her, at Tommy, at that asshole. How could she expect me to feed her to that shark? My body started trembling, my hands, forehead, everything was sweating thinking about Paige getting hurt. I felt like I couldn't breathe, imagining his hands all over her. Hurting her again. "I can't do it, Paige."

She grabbed my face with both of her hands. "I understand. I don't think I could put you in danger either, but I will go," she dropped her hands. "With or without you."

My hands gripped the wheel tightly, my knuckles going white, as I thought about what she was asking of me. I couldn't let her go alone.
 
I grabbed a hold of her, pressing my lips down forcefully for a quick kiss. "If we do this, we do it together. I can't let you out of my sight. And, I won't take no for an answer, Paige."

"Ben," she said warily.

My hand slammed back down on the wheel, then I faced her. And, I knew she could see the all the pain and the fear that was running through me right now. "No, Paige. It's us or nothing."

She glanced up at a passerby, then blew her hair out of her face. She sighed one last time before she scanned my face, scrutinizing the look on mine. "Okay, Ben. We'll do it your way. But if something happens to you, I'll never be able to forgive myself."

"Yeah, well, the feelings mutual." I glanced at her one last time before sticking the key in the ignition. I tossed her the phone. "Read me the text, then call Tommy and tell him we're coming home."

PAIGE

Chapter 36

I breathed in, then I breathed out at least twenty times. I knew that I was safe. I knew Ben, and Tommy and several others were already placed inside my apartment, but it didn't stop the terror that ripped through me as I approached the front door. The sun was beginning to fall behind the mountain, as I forced my feet to carry me up the flight of stairs toward our apartment. I couldn't help but think that this night was meant to be different, Ben was supposed to be moving in when we got back. This should be a happy time for me. For us.
 

The key to the door was trembling in my hand as I anticipated Carson's next move, if he would even attempt it. Apparently, Tommy and a few of his buddies had had a full blown stake out, and knew for a fact Carson had been watching, waiting for me for the last twenty-four hours. The key slipped in easily, my hand turning it clockwise, when I heard his boots scuff the cement.
 
His arms grabbed me from behind, shoving me inside. Trembling in terror, I tried to shake him off to hit the panic button, but his grip was too tight.
Where the hell was everyone?

"How did you find me?"

His fingers slid down the side of my face, as he grinned wickedly at me. "That pretty little friend of yours. She told Drew everything."