Climb on My Stepfather (Ashley and Alex)

Chapter 86

18: Stella.

I sit huddled in the embrace of the cove, the wind carrying droplets of salt water and stinging my cheeks. The moonlight keeps the beach from being totally dark, but that didn't stop me from stumbling and falling twice in the forest on my way down the path. I have blood on my knees and the heels of my hands, but I don't care. I'm numb. I'm shaking. I can't move. It took all of my strength to get here and now I'm a statue on the sand. A monument to being gullible.

A sob breaks from my lips and I draw my knees up to my chest, rocking, tears coasting down my cheeks and over my mouth, dropping off my chin.

Stupid. How incredible stupid can I be?

I don't have a chance to answer that for myself, because I'm distracted by the roar of an engine. Once the hum cuts out, I sit, immobile, staring at the clearing, positive some drunk students are going to come stumbling out onto the beach any moment, searching for privacy in which to make out. I never expect Gage to come striding out of the woods, bare chested in football pants. "Stella," he chokes out, slowing to a stop and doubling over. "Oh thank God. Thank God you're okay. I found you."

Even now, when I know the awful truth, my heart still clamors at the sight of him. "You should be celebrating," I murmur, dazed. Exhausted. Devastated.

"I don't want to be anywhere but with you." He approaches me slowly. Almost cautiously. But his eyes...his eyes are wild. Bloodshot. When he glimpses the blood on my hands and knees, he turns as pale as a ghost. "You're hurt. You'

re fucking hurt."

"No, I'm not. I'm fine."

He tears at his hair. "You shouldn't have come here in the dark-"

"Stop." I cover my eyes. "Just stop." Quit acting like you care. It hurts.

A beat passes. "Stella, I can see you've closed yourself off to me. The way you're looking at me is different and I can't fucking stand it, honey. Please don't do this. Please don't believe what that idiot told you." He falls to his knees in front of me and it's impossible not to acknowledge how gorgeous he is. How chiseled. A God draped in moonlight, fresh from victory. "I lied. I lied to them." He takes me by the shoulders, shaking me gently, the breath rattling in and out of his chest. "You showed up at practice and they...they were all lusting after you and it's arrogant, God, I know it sounds arrogant, but the fact that you locked me down piqued their interest. No one has ever even turned my head. And they want to know why you did. They wanted to sample my treasure. And I couldn't allow it. I'd go fucking mad if someone laid a finger on you. So I tried to...1 told them I was only using you to repair my image, so they would fuck off and stop wanting what's mine. I messed up. I knew right away I'd messed up and I was going to fix it tonight. I was too late."

A tear escapes my eye and he howls brokenly, throwing his head down into my lap and wrapping his sinewy arms around my waist "Don't cry. Oh God, please don't cry. I'm sorry."

I play back his explanation in my mind. I play it back twice and I find...

I believe him.

There was a part of me that didn't believe the receiver. There is no way to fake the kind of passion Gage and I brew together. But the hurt of that initial sting went too deep and I don't know how to repair myself. I've been wounded too severely by the lies to stop the bleeding.

"It's better this way," I say, not recognizing the dead quality of my voice. "We'

re nothing alike. I'm not the girl who dates the quarterback—"

"Yes, you fucking are! You're marrying him."

"No."

"No?"

Bloodshot eyes lift to mine, swirling with insanity. My breath hitches. I'm right, aren't I? He would be better off with someone who didn't grow up alone.

Someone who has experience with being in the public eye. Someone who would look more appropriate at his side-

very still. "Are you saying you're not going to

home, despite the fact that I know it's wrong. That letting him go is for the best, right? No way I can be what everyone expects the wife of a

says, the light going out of him.

stands up, turns, and

into the water. First, his hips vanish beneath the inky black surface. And then his huge shoulders. Gone. Followed by his

seconds pass and he doesn't come up.

and rocks digging into my injured skin,

The shockingly cold temperature of the water barely registers, because my insides are much colder. I'm a block of ice and chattering teeth cutting through the water, screaming his name, trying to keep my eyes

been foolish. Utterly silly. I love this man and I know he loves me. These are truths beyond a shadow of a doubt. His explanation about what happened with his teammates

me. And it turns out, he was sort of right to do so. Didn't that receiver hit on me within a minute of making my

What have I done?

let my hurt feelings own me. I

Could he die because of

solid body in the water. I take huge breaths and dive as deep as possible, unable to see anything

him with all of my might toward the

stop this,” I demand through shattering teeth. "I'm sorry I doubted you. I love you and

he seems to realize I'm in the ocean, shaking, my skin turning blue and he makes an anguished sound,

not long before he is able to touch the bottom with his feet. He crushes me into his arms, leaping over waves until we hit dry sand. And then he begins to run, his breath loud in my ears. All I can dois cling to him and issue mental prayers of gratitude

all at once and I start crying. Loud, pitiful sobs into the crook of his neck. I cling to him

so much, he wanted to

How?

steps grow uneven. "No. No crying.

tears

I hear the

tinkle of metal and

enough to start the engine at the front of the truck and crank the heat. In a flash, I'm being gathered back into his

okay." Not very reassuring when I

to strip you down. Body heat will help.

His hands are shaking violently as he

his arms wrapped

close as he's able, my jean skirt riding up around my waist, dripping with ocean

there

still down there, Stella. I'll be down there forever.

in his lap,

No, you haven't." pressOur foreheads together. I'm sorry. Didn't you hear me? I'm sorry for running away and not waiting for an explanation. B-back on the beach, I believed you, but I was still hurting and feeling vulnerable,

isn't breathing now. "You...you're mine again? You're

down my face. "Of course I

chest begins to heave. "You'll be

"Yes. Yes."

when his mouth locks onto mine.

heavy, consuming and frenzied. I can feel both of us realizing how differently tonight might have turned out and we rejoice in finding our way back to