The night air was exceptionally warm for September, and I wanted to do something other than go home to an empty apartment. “Denny, could you please drive me to the beach?”
He looked up in the rearview mirror. “Sorry, Miss Lane, but my orders were to take you straight home.”
I politely smiled. “Denny, either you can drive me to the beach, or I will call a cab the minute you drop me off at home. Mr. Black doesn’t own me nor does he have the right to tell me what to do. I don’t care if he told you to take me home; I’m telling you otherwise. Now, please, drop me off at the beach.”
“Fine, Miss Lane, if you say so.” He sighed.
“I do say so, and if Mr. Black has a problem with it, then I will deal with him.”
***
I took off my shoes and carried them as my feet hit the soft, warm sand. The ocean looked beautiful at night with the moonlight shining down, illuminating each wave that pushed its way to the shore. I threw my shoes down and ran to the edge of the water. I laughed as the cold water stung my feet, making me feel alive and exhilarated. The peaceful sound of the waves lapping against the shore and the sweet smell of the salt water were enough to let me escape into a world of my own; a world I created. I was enjoying the serenity of my world when I heard, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I sighed, for I knew that angered voice all too well. I turned my head to see Connor standing a few feet away from me.
“What are you doing here, Connor? Don’t you have things to wrap up?” I considered the possibility that his wrapping something up involved sex and the tall, beautiful woman.
“I’m here because you didn’t make it home and forced my driver to disobey my orders.”
His voice sounded angry.
“Well, it was such a beautiful night, and I wanted to be here. It’s my favorite place to visit.”
“There’s a time and place for that, Ellery, and now is not the time.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, but I’m not done here yet, and I’m not leaving.”
He raised his voice. “Let’s go now, Ellery.”
Who the fuck did this man think he was? “Don’t be so grouchy, and if you want me to go, then you’ll have to catch me.” I laughed as I started running down the beach.
“For fuck sake, Elle, you’re pissing me off!” he yelled as he started chasing after me.
I turned my head and looked behind me as he was catching up. I swore I saw a small smile escape his lips. He was a good runner, but he had an advantage; he wasn’t wearing a long dress. I started to run out of breath and slowed down as he came up from behind me, picked me up, and put me over his shoulder. I kicked and screamed, “Put me down, Connor Black!”
“Not a chance! You’ll just run again, and I’m done playing games.”
I was out of breath. “I won’t, I promise. I’m out of breath anyway, if you couldn’t tell.”
He gently put me down, and I sat on the sand. He looked down at me, shaking his head as I held out my hand for him to sit next to me.
“I’m not sitting in the sand in this tuxedo.”
“Live a little, Connor. Life is too short,” I said as I stared out into the moonlit water. He sighed and sat down next to me.
We sat in silence for a moment, and I was feeling somewhat emotional—I’m blaming the wine—when I started to speak.
“It was my sixteenth birthday when I was diagnosed with cancer.” I felt him look at me as I just stared ahead, listening to the whispers of the ocean. “Hey, happy sweet sixteen! Guess what, you have cancer.” I felt the tears starting to sting my eyes.
Connor took my hand and whispered, “You don’t have to do this.” I wouldn’t look at him because if I stared into his beautiful green eyes, I would have lost it. I proceeded with my story.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of my father having to go through that torture and pain again like he did with my mother, so I decided I was going to spare him from having to.”
“Ellery,” he whispered as he leaned closer to me.
“He was going out on one of his drinking binges, and I knew he wouldn’t be home until the middle of the night, if at all, so that was my opportunity to put my plan into action. I filled the bathtub with hot water, lay back, and took a razor blade to both my wrists.” I heard him take in a sharp breath as he gently rubbed my scar with his thumb.
“Can you believe it was the one night he forgot his wallet and came back to the house? Talk about fate, right? He found me and called 911. I almost didn’t make it. I had lost so much blood.”
Connor didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. I could tell he was choked up.
“I guess God had other plans for me. I went through a year of chemo and went into remission. I was given a second chance at life, and for that, I’m grateful. Like I said yesterday, I was young and stupid, and I made a terrible mistake.”
Connor let go of my hand, put his arm around me, and pulled me into him. I rested my head on his shoulder. He was firm, and it felt good to be held.
“That’s why you have this overwhelming need to help others, isn’t it?” he asked as he lightly kissed the top of my head. “You’re a good person, Ellery Lane,” he whispered in my ear.
I smiled and closed my eyes. I felt his strong arms pick me up as he carried me across the sand and to his car, which wasn’t his limo; it was a Range Rover. He carefully laid me down on the front seat, and as I stirred, he whispered, “Sleep, angel.”
He pulled up to my apartment, opened my purse to find my keys, and then carried me to the door. My arms were tightly wrapped around his neck. He inserted the key into the lock and lightly kicked the door open with his foot. He carried me to the bedroom and laid me gently on the bed. I was somewhat aware of what he was doing, but I was too exhausted to move.
He covered me with a blanket and brought the back of his hand to my cheek as he softly rubbed it. “Sleep well, angel, and sweet dreams.”