Epilogue
Hannah
3 Years Later
I woke up in a king size bed on the 32nd floor of the luxury hotel. I hardly had time to myself with the way things picked up for my acting career. Since Satin Sheets came out almost three years ago, I’d starred in two more movies and became one of the biggest new names in show business. I had to start turning down movie offers because there wasn’t enough time for me to shoot. My schedule was hectic, and because of that, I had only seen Ezra a few times in the past three months. Our careers were beginning to create a strain on our relationship, and at one point, I thought we were going to fall apart, but each time, we managed to reconnect and get back on the same page.
I felt his arms wrap around me from behind as I stood at the window, looking down at the streets in Dunedin, New Zealand. His lips pressed softly against my neck as I rested in his warm embrace. “It feels like it has been forever since we’ve been back here.”
“Forever?” I responded. “Yeah. It has only been three years, but the way we have been so busy, it can easily feel like 10.”
“Yeah, easily.”
I faced him as he stood in a bathrobe with nothing but his boxers on underneath. We were on vacation together, and we wanted to go to the place that we first visited together as a couple. Ezra had just wrapped up his filming of a blockbuster action movie called The Last Time. He had to cut his hair off for the role, but it wasn’t much different from how he normally wore it. He had a few tattoos on his forearms and one on his shoulder that just had the letter “H” inside of a heart. I joked with him about how simple it was.
“So, I guess that, ‘H’ will be easier to cover up if we don’t make it, huh?”
He laughed. “Cover up? No, I don’t plan on covering it up. Why would I need to? You’re going to be with me forever, and if you’re not, then I’m going to have to kill you and whoever that you leave me for. I already made that up in my mind.”
“Oh, really? Wait a minute. Can you say that again? I want to get my phone, so I can record the evidence.” I tried to get out of his arms to grab my phone, but he lifted me in the air and carried me to the mattress. He climbed on top of me, his muscles bulging as he held his body above mine, but he didn’t take it any further. “Why did you stop?”
He kissed me. “Because we have to go. I have plans for us today, and we need to get on the beach by,” he looked at his watch, “7 pm.”
He got off the bed and pulled some clothing out of his suitcase. “Baby? It is only 12! We have time! Get your ass back over here and give me some dick!”
“I will later, trust me. But right now, we have to get going. Come on. Get your dirty ass in the shower so we can go!”
I laughed out loud. “Whatever, Ezra. Ugh. I swear you better make up for this! I’m already wet! I don’t need a fucking shower!”
After we had got dressed, he took me out to eat, and we ended on the beach right at 7 pm. The grains of sand slithered through my toes as we walked along the sandy shore, hand in hand. The yellow sun shifted to a dark orange is it started to descend beyond the horizon. Seagulls flew past us, echoing their soothing chants each time they flapped their wings. “So, why did we have to come here by 7 pm? You got something planned?”
He smiled as we stopped right in front of a sand castle. It was built 3 feet high, and the water that brushed onto the shore stopped just feet from it. He kneeled and patted the castle as I looked out to the shore as far as my eyes could see. Once I glanced down again, Ezra had made a dent in the castle. “Ezra! Why are you messing up some kid’s sand castle! That is so rude!”
“I was trying to fix it. I guess I pressed it too hard. Can you help me?”
I kneeled beside him and grabbed sand from the side to reconstruct the small building. Suddenly, I saw a black case buried in the mound of sand that had crashed on the side of the castle. “Ezra, what is that?” I asked, leaning in closer to it.
“I don’t know. I didn’t see it there before.”
When I reached for it, I saw that it was a small, black box, and as I held it in my hand, my heart felt as if it had stopped beating. I looked at Ezra as he kneeled beside me. I shook my head as tears rushed to the bottom of my eyes and everything around me grew silent. “Hannah, baby, I’ve known from day one that you were the woman I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, and there wasn’t a time that I ever doubted it. You are my life, and I don’t know how I made it as far in my life as I did without you, but I don’t want to have to find out. You are a part of the puzzle that I’ve been missing and I–”
“Ezra, just ask me, damn it! I’ve been waiting three years for this!” I said as tears flowed from my eyes in rivers.
He smirked. “Will you... stop rushing me!”
“Ezra!”
“Baby, will you marry me?”
I lunged into his arms, then demanded him to put the ring on my finger. “What took you so long to ask me, Ezra? You make me sick!”
Get my never released free book Boarded for a limited time.
BLIND LOVE
By Naomi Niles and Erin Wes
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 Erin Wes
PART ONE
Chapter One
Dylan
“Why are these houses so far apart?”
I sighed. If I was going to find the right car to steal, I knew I had to find the right house. So far, no one had left the keys in the car. Maybe rich people never did that. Poor people did because they didn’t expect anyone to take their crappy cars.
Needing a new computer and with my mother getting fired once again, I knew that I had to take desperate measures. With a new computer, I could do my programming homework at home instead of school. The computers at school were crappy, and I could never get enough time on them in class.
I spied a Mercedes. That could get a good price. My cousin boosted cars and he’d shown me where I could sell it to get cash. That would be one sweet computer.
My stomach rumbled. Right. I hadn’t had dinner and the low income lunch had been hours ago. The night was turning chilly, and I needed to get this done. I hadn’t brought a jacket because I had no idea where it was. Knowing my mother, she sold it.
I looked around. No one on the street. Being twilight, everyone was probably having dinner. Something I might have to skip tonight – unless I found some ketchup packets in the refrigerator.
I sighed. This life sucks and with that computer, I can make a better one. I didn’t feel bad for stealing the car because they had insurance. They could buy another one.
I thanked my luck that the car was in the driveway instead of the garage. A silver Mercedes E-class. I’d bet it had all the bells and whistles. It would be a sweet ride to the chop shop. The porch light on the McMansion turned on, so I froze standing behind a tree. There was a light on in a front window, but I couldn’t see anyone in the room. No one came out of the house.
I stalked up to the car, then pulled on the handle to the driver’s side door. It was unlocked, but the dome light came on and the car dinged. The key was inside.
Sweet. I hopped in and slumped down. If anyone looked out, they wouldn’t see me. There was no movement, from what I could tell. I had just let out a breath I’d been holding, when the passenger door opened.
My heart raced, but I froze instead of jumping out of the car. A hand clamped onto my arm, which should have energized me, but it didn’t.
I looked up into the stern face of the man who probably owned the car.
“Son, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
My lips moved, but I could form no words. I’d been caught doing petty stuff. My life as a criminal had not been smooth. Ever. Auto theft was big deal – this was real jail time.
“Uh.”
“That’s all you got?” he said.
He’d probably already called the cops, so I’d better run, but the man had a strong grip and I couldn’t pull free. “I’m sorry.”
The man chuckled. He was laughing at me? It wasn’t a maniacal laugh, but it sent chills through me, anyway. “Oh, son. I’m guessing you’ve never done this before.”
I shook my head. Maybe the cops would be lenient on me since it was my first large offense. Never mind that I’d shoplifted and stuff like that.
“No, sir.”
“Sir, huh. Now you get manners? You try to boost my car and you call me sir? How old are you?”
“Eighteen, sir.”
He nodded. “You go to the local high school?”
“Yes, sir.”
The man must be waiting for the cops to arrive. My stomach took that moment to rumble. A loud and long sound that was unmistakable. The man’s face softened. “You hungry?”
“Yes, sir.”
Well, what was I supposed to say? My stomach had just sang a song if its people, so I couldn’t deny it. “What’s your name?”
“Dylan.”
“You got a last name?”
“Cabot.”
I licked my lips. I had no idea how I was getting out of this situation. Fuck. Shit. This had been stupid of me. If my mother was even awake, she was going to be pissed. I bet she’d let me stay in jail all night.
“Dylan Cabot who is hungry and trying to steal my car. Well, Dylan Cabot, it’s your lucky day. I haven’t called the cops and I won’t call the cops if you do me a favor.”
Shit, I’d do anything at this point. “Sure.”
“Let me take you home. I’m sure someone is worried about you.”
I shook my head. “No. No one.”
“We’ll get takeout on the way so you have something to eat. If I let go, are you going to run? Remember, I know your name, now.”
I shook my head, the lure of food pretty strong. If I had enough food, I’d eat all the time. “No.”
He let go of my hand and my better judgement prevailed because I didn’t run.
“Now, let’s switch places, and I’ll take you home,” the man said.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Rob Dean,” he said, holding out his hand.
I shook it then we both climbed out of the car. I looked at him for a moment, unsure if he was joking. I had tried to steal his car and now he was buying me dinner and driving me home. What bizarre world had I stepped into.
“Buckle up,” Mr. Dean said when I climbed back into the car.
I really expected Ashton Kutcher to jump out and tell me that I’ve been punked.
“It’s okay, son. You care what fast food we stop at?”
“Uh, no sir,” I said.
I’d eat garbage at this point, which was probably what would have happened. I’d have gone dumpster diving behind the burger joint. Now, I was actually getting food from it.
But tomorrow I’d wake up hungry, so I might as well enjoy this meal now.
***
When we got closer to my house, I turned to Mr. Dean. “You can let me out here.”
“No, I’m taking you all of the way. I’m not going to tell your parents what you did.”
I clutched the bag of food he’d bought me while I searched for a way to get him to stop. He didn’t need to see the trailer I lived in. He didn’t need to see my mother in her bathrobe, assuming she was even awake. If she lost her job today, she would be drinking. Among other things.
I couldn’t have been more embarrassed. “No, really. I need to get out here. My driveway is rutted and it’ll do damage to your car.”
“No go, son. I take you all the way there or I take you to the police station.”
Shit. I frowned at him and didn’t say anything until we reached the driveway.
“See. It’s a mess. You don’t need to damage your car.”
Mr. Dean eyed the driveway then pulled off the road. “Then, we’ll walk the rest of the way.”
I looked at his nice pants and dress shoes. It had rained this morning. “You’re going to get muddy.”
“Everything is replaceable.”
Spoken like a man with a big paycheck. I climbed out of the car. At least, I could find a path that wouldn’t be so muddy.
The trailer I lived in was at the end of a long driveway. A rotted car sat to one side of the driveway. My mother said it had been hers, but it broke down and she couldn’t get it fixed. She’d been relying on rides from coworkers and several had let her down. That’s why she was fired. She hadn’t shown up for a few shifts this week.
I would have to apply for food stamps again, posing as her online, but I needed a computer for that. I had figured out how to get internet. A neighbor hadn’t secured their network and I could use it if I stayed at one end of the trailer.
“Is anyone home?”
“I only live here with my mother. She may already be asleep.”
“This early?”
“She works odd hours.”
Or in this case, doesn’t work. Mr. Dean nodded. “Okay, but I’d like to meet her.”
“I’ll see if I can wake her.”
I opened the front door. The smell hit me. She hadn’t cleaned. I hadn’t cleaned. In weeks. I tried to spend as little time here as possible, but I knew that sometimes my mother needed me to take care of her.
My mother was passed out on the couch when I turned on the light. Mr. Dean pulled out his phone. “Go check her. I’ll call an ambulance.”
He was barely inside the house and I could see he was wrinkling up his nose. I checked my mother. She was still breathing. “Mom.”
She didn’t stir. I blinked at her then shook her harder. “Mom.”
Mr. Dean put a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Dylan. The ambulance is on the way.”
The police arrived first, but there was nothing they could do. She wasn’t responding, but she was breathing. Then, the paramedics worked on her.
“Let’s go outside, Dylan,” Mr. Dean said.
He stood with me while the cops asked me questions. He kept his hand on my shoulder and for that moment, someone had my back. No had ever had my back. Not in my entire life.
“You came here and just found her like this?” the officer asked me.
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Does she drink?”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t look him in the eye. I could tell he was viewing me with pity. I didn’t want anyone’s pity. I wanted a hand out of this place, but that was never going to happen. I was eighteen – too old to be put into the system.
I was on my own having been dealt a shit hand.
“Does she do drugs?”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
Always nice to have one’s life laid out for strangers. I wanted to eat my burger and go to bed. Forget that this all happened. Or figure out another way to get a computer. Anything but stand here while these two men dissected his life.
“Okay. I need to talk to the paramedics. Do you know what drugs she does?”
“No sir. I never paid attention.”
My mother had taught me call all adult males sir. It was probably the only thing good thing she taught me. When I glanced up at him, the officer nodded, but he didn’t look as if he believed me.
I wanted to shout that I had bigger plans for myself than a trailer in the woods. Maybe I’d go into the military or to trade school. I just had to figure out how to get out of high school alive.
The paramedics took my mother out of the house. She still hadn’t woken up yet. If she died, I was going to have to quit school to make money. Otherwise, I’d have no place to live. Shit. Shit. Shit.
I wanted to punch something. Mr. Dean squeezed my shoulder. “Dylan will come home with me.”
“He’s eighteen, he can do what he wants,” the officer said.
The both stared at me. I still had the sack of burgers in my hand. I really just wanted to eat them.
“How about you eat your dinner, then you can decide. Hard to think on an empty stomach,” Mr. Dean suggested.
I nodded, then followed him in. I didn’t look at the couch. I just sat in the kitchen. I could hear Mr. Dean moving around in the living room. He finally sat down with me as I finished my food. I did feel better.
“You are free to do what you want, Dylan, but I suggest you come home with me. I have a bedroom for you and we can figure out what’s next.”
I nodded. It was the best offer I’d gotten in awhile.