The Love Series Complete Box Set (28 page)

“What’s that, babe?”

“We’ll go out to celebrate you graduating and starting your internship. I’m so proud of you, baby.”

My face nearly splits in two at her praise. It’s been so long since someone was genuinely proud of anything I’ve done.

“We’ll celebrate both, then. Let’s get some sleep now. I’m sure we’ll need our energy for later.”

I feel her smile against my chest, and in a few short minutes her breathing has evened out and her hand has stopped tracing patterns lightly in my chest hair.

I fall asleep knowing that when I wake up, my pain won’t be gone, but it will be bearable; it will be less. Life can’t be painful when the most beautiful thing in the world is curled into your side, keeping you warm and safe and protected from the ghosts of your past.

When I wake up from my nap, Reid isn’t at my side, but there’s a note.

Hey, baby,

I had to run a few errands, and yes, they involve a surprise for you. I got you some lunch from the deli down the road. It’s in the mini-fridge. I’ll be back at five to pick you up for our date. See you soon.

I love you xx

I eat lunch out on the balcony and enjoy the fresh air and the scenery. I get lost in my book, one that I haven’t been able to read lately because I was so preoccupied with finals, and before I realize it, I need to get in the shower and get ready for our date.

After my shower, I dry my hair so that it curls in soft waves around my face. Keeping my makeup clean and simple, I feel sexy and beautiful.

As I walk toward the bedroom to get dressed, I realize that I have no clue what is in the suitcase. I’m sure that Reid told Mel what to pack, but Mel’s fashion sense tends to lean more toward the “less is sexy” mantra.

When I open the closet and find a gorgeous black dress hanging before me, my breath catches in my throat. There’s a note pinned to the hanger.

I can’t wait to see you in this—and out of this.

I love you xx

I slide the silky fabric over my head, and of course it fits like a glove. It’s not so short that it’s slutty; it hits me just a few inches above the knee. The asymmetrical top shows off my cleavage nicely, but in a classy, sophisticated way—not a “hey, come look at my boobs” way. The most interesting feature is that it’s one-sleeved. One arm is completely bare, while the other is covered to the wrist in a light, billowing organza fabric. There are shoes, too, of course. My amazing boyfriend thinks of everything. I’m a little afraid to open the box of Jimmy Choos, but my inner shoe goddess is jumping up and down with glee. I’ve always wanted to a pair of these but could never afford them. They’re silver, sparkly, strappy stiletto peep-toes. I am in love with them.

I check myself in the mirror once more before applying a final touch of nude lip gloss. Grabbing the silver clutch that Reid also left for me, I head to the door, feeling much like Cinderella waiting to meet her Prince Charming.

When the elevator door opens, Reid is right there waiting for me, single red rose in hand. He scans me from head to toe, and he looks pleased. He should; he did pick everything out, after all.

“Hey, beautiful.” He pulls me to his side and kisses me softly.

“Hey, yourself. Look at you! You clean up real nice.” I’m not used to seeing him in more than jeans and a T-shirt or his workout clothes, but tonight he looks like he could be on the cover of
GQ.
The light blue button-down shirt makes his eyes glow almost unnaturally. The shirt stretches tight across his broad, strong chest and back. I can see the bulges of his biceps when he moves, and it makes my mouth water. His strong, thick legs and fantastic ass are covered in freshly pressed black dress pants. I didn’t think he owned anything other than sneakers, so I’m pretty sure that the shiny black dress shoes are new. I can’t help but smile at how utterly beautiful he is.

“Ready to go?” I am anxious to leave, to be occupied with us, to not be focused on what I have to tell him over dinner.

“Sure. I just need to do one more thing.” He pulls a long, sleek black velvet box from his back pocket, and I’m speechless.

I’m choking back tears, mostly happy tears—some of guilt. “Reid, you didn’t have to do this. You’ve already done so much for me, spent so much on me. And now this? I can’t accept this.”

“You’re the only woman I know who doesn’t like getting presents. Please let me give this to you. I love you, and I want you to have it.” He cracks open the box and what rests inside is absolutely breathtaking. It’s unlike any necklace I’ve ever seen—not a regular chain and pendant. There are two separate chains intertwined, except they each look like small ropes encrusted in hundreds of small diamonds. One rope is covered with black diamonds, and the other is white. They are braided together, mingling with one another in a simple yet stunning pattern that sparkles and reflects every spot of light in the room.

“Reid, this is too much. I . . .”

He doesn’t let me finish my sentence. Taking the necklace from the box, he steps behind me and sweeps my hair to one side. When the chain is clasped at my nape, he kisses me softly right below me ear and whispers, “I love you.”

He moves in front of me and adjusts the necklace. “When I saw this, I had to get it. It is the perfect symbol for us. I saw the black and white, and immediately thought of our past and all the crap we’ve both had to deal with, and the white made me think of all of the good things we’ve shared together. How they link together and rest on one another made me think of how, without you,” he kisses the tip of my nose before finishing his speech, “I wouldn’t have the strength to move on from everything. You’ve made me realize that life can be good again and that not everything has to be sad. So believe me when I say that when I saw this, I just knew you had to have it, because it was us.”

“That is the sweetest, most romantic thing I have ever heard in my life. Thank you so much, and not just for the necklace—which, by the way, is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned. But for bringing out the happiness in me, when all I felt was pain. I love you so much.”

“Not that you didn’t look beautiful before, but that necklace makes your eyes sparkle.” He kisses the tip of my nose and says, “Come on. I’ve got much more planned for the night.” Lacing our fingers together, he leads me toward the doors where the valet is waiting with his car.

Dinner is simply amazing. He’s brought me to a small, intimate seafood restaurant. The candlelight flickers and dances across his face as he talks animatedly about his internship, which starts in a week. I love hearing him talk about helping kids. Shane’s suicide and how his parents treated him afterward really damaged Reid, and I know that being there to help others will help him deal with his demons. It might not chase them away completely, but I know that it will give him a purpose in his life; it will bring him peace, knowing that he’s comforting others . I think that’s why he treats me the ways he does. I can’t be mad that he spoils me, especially when it makes him this happy. But it makes me feel so guilty, because I know I don’t deserve it.

We share a piece of chocolate molten lava cake for dessert, and I am stuffed. “Ugh. I can’t fit in another bite. That was delicious.”

He slides a small gift bag across the table, and I roll my eyes.

“No! I will not accept another gift from you. The dress, shoes, and necklace are more than enough.” I’m practically yelling at him over giving me a gift.

He just shakes his head and laughs at me. “Maddy, just shut up and open the bag, which, by the way, is the only thing I paid for, so don’t get all in a tizzy over spending money on you.”

I roll my eyes at him, but I’m confused. I reach into the gift bag and pull out a small glass jar filled with sand. My brows knit in confusion, and I just stare blankly at him.

He responds to my silent question. “You said you wanted to be able to have a place where you can visit with your parents. We can’t be here all the time, so I thought I would give you a piece of the beach to bring home. Now you’ll always have them with you.”

I’m shocked into silence at his thoughtfulness. “Reid . . . I don’t know what to say.”

“No need to say anything. Come on. Do you want to take a walk on the boardwalk and let everything digest? You know, before the heavy activity?” He winks his baby blues at me seductively, hinting at the other part of his plan for the night.

“A starlit walk on the beach sounds amazing. A walk anywhere sounds amazing, as long as it’s with you.”

He finishes up signing the credit card slip, and he walks behind me to pull out my chair—always the gentleman.

When we get outside, it has gotten noticeably colder than it was before. The breeze that was cool and calm and warmed by the abundant sunlight earlier on an unseasonably warm fall day is now harsh and bone-chilling. We don’t last more than five minutes before we’re racing back to the car to get the heat on.

“I’m sorry, babe. I guess I’ll just have to bring you back here in the summer.” He reaches into his pocket to check his phone, which has just buzzed.

I’ve heard it a few times tonight, but since we were in the restaurant surrounded by other people, I didn’t say anything. It was just an excuse, really, but now that it’s just us here in his car, I know I have to tell him. I can’t let this go on any longer, because the guilt is eating me alive, especially after everything he’s done for me.

“Who is that, Reid?”

He simply dismisses me, saying, “No one.” He moves to shift the car into drive but stops when I keep talking.

“But I’ve seen you check your phone a few times tonight. Actually, I’ve seen you on your phone a lot recently.”

His face hardens, and there’s a palpable tension building in the car. Maybe starting off by accusing him wasn’t the best idea.

He’s trying to force back his anger, but I see it boiling just below the surface. I have to navigate this conversation carefully. He finally says, “I said it was no one—no one important, anyway. I don’t even know the number.”

I reach across the console, and grab his hand and squeeze to try to reassure him. He calms a little, but I know his outburst is inevitable.

“Reid, I have to tell you something. Please don’t be mad.” I register the look of shock on his beautiful face as he careful considers his next words.

“ Okay, I promise that I’ll try not to, but when you’re suspicious of me all of a sudden, it might not happen.”

I see glimpses of the Reid I knew when I first met him—cold, hard, mercurial. I inhale deeply and brace myself for the fallout.

“Back around Thanksgiving, I noticed that you were always checking your phone. One time while you were in the shower—well, it rang, and I picked it up.”

“You did what?” His eyes widen in shock, and I can hear the hurt in his voice. “Why would you do that? What did you expect to find out?” He’s baiting me and I know he knows the answer; he just wants to hear me say it.

“I . . . I don’t know why, but I just thought it was some girl you had on the side. I knew that you slept around a lot before me. I knew that you had needs, needs I hadn’t met until the night before, and I just figured you were keeping up with your old ways while you were waiting for me to come around.”

He recoils from my words as if I’ve physically slapped him. He roars back at me, “I can’t fucking believe that, Maddy! You’re really going to throw my past in my face like this? Haven’t I done everything in my power to make you realize how much I fucking love you? And one stupid little insignificant thing like a few calls—from a number that I don’t even know—and you automatically assume the worst of me? How could you fucking think that I’m cheating on you?” His voice is venomous and booming; it’s angry, and it’s laced with hurt. He’s clenching his fists at his side and I can see veins bulging in his neck as he’s trying to rein in his rightful anger.

“Baby, I’m . . .”

“Don’t fucking call me baby!” He’s yelling at me, and I can feel tears sting the backs of my eyes. His shoulders slump and he rests his head on the steering wheel. He looks defeated and pained. “I love you and I trusted you with everything, and you go and snoop on me. Tell me, Maddy, who was it? When you picked up the phone, who was it?”