The Rocky Road Pact

Chapter 37: Just Like Heaven

So, everything I'd been worried about and fussing about and planning just...happened. And it was better than I ever thought it could be. 

Tommy coming to my door was an absolute miracle. Once I realized he was mostly OK (gave him a few tablets I had in my purse for period pain that fixed him right up), I grilled him to find out what happened that night with Bobby. What a snake that guy was. I'd had no idea. I once again thanked my lucky stars and Tommy for getting me away from him that night I got stupid drunk. He was one of those creepy guys who weren't just a pest — they were dangerous. Over my lifetime, it wouldn't be the first time I'd hear something through the 'whisper network.' All through my career, as I climbed the ladder, there were discreet warnings not to take a meeting alone with 'that guy' or to make sure never to go to the CEO's hotel if he wanted you to deliver documents. That whisper network kept me safe and sane over the course of my lifetime, but made me sad that we had to construct such safety nets ourselves, us women just trying to make it through life minding our business, trying not to get hurt. 

Bobby tried to hurt Tommy and I — badly. With Tommy's record, Bobby's allegation could have sent him to adult jail for a very long time. And his life would have turned out much differently. 

That night, I was just so glad to see Tommy and that he was OK, it was everything. The food came and we ate like kids, talking and laughing. 

He asked me to go away with him. Really away, like out of the country. "Do you have an id? That's all you need to go to the states."

I had my driver's license, a few dollars in my purse and the clothes on my back. That was it. Could I really head out into the night with this stranger, throw my plan in the garbage and just 'wing it' for the first time in my life? 

Yes, I realized. Yes I could.

"Are you really coming with me," he said. The way he was looking into my eyes mesmerized me, and in that moment I would have followed him into the pits of hell. "Yes. I have some money from my grandparents stashed away, about two thousand dollars. That's enough for an American adventure, isn't it? 

"More than enough. Plus, I have money. You won't have to worry about a thing." 

I looked at him sideways. "You have money?"

He opened his backpack and showed me. Must have been thousands. "Tommy, where did you get that?" Once again, I was back to thinking he was some kind of criminal but he just laughed.

"I suppose the secret's out. I'm a trust fund kid. I get in trouble, my parents throw a lot of cash at me to make it go away."

It took me a minute to absorb this. "Wait. Your parents are rich. They have homes in what — Florida and where else?"

"New York and the south of France," he said, shrugging. "They're always travelling."

"Why aren't you with them?" I couldn't believe it. If I was rich, the last thing I would want to do is spend any time in this one-horse town. "Why did you  come back here?"

"I came here for you," he said, searching my eyes. My stomach felt like a forest of butterflies just descended. "The little girl who was so nice to me in grade six, who made my Christmas special when no one else did."

"You could have gone anywhere in the world, but you came back to Coldspring for your senior year for me?"

"Kinda stupid when you think about it. You were so wrapped up with that Brandon jerk and your multi-stage life plan involving teen marriage and a houseful of babies, most likely. When you really should be in law school."

"I— how did you know that?"

"Because you told me in grade six that your big dream was to go into corporate law. I was impressed. I barely knew what that was," he said, grinning. 

"Huh." I was lost in thought when he said "Can I kiss you now?"

We kissed, taking our time. There was no rush; no one pounding at the door, no chance of anyone walking in. All my worrying about losing my virginity and when it happened, it was as natural and beautiful as settling into a warm bath at the end of a long day. We each gave and took what we needed from each other, and it was just as wonderful as a thousand romance novels. No one could have told me how special and right it was when it was with the right person. 

"We better go," he said the next morning, kissing me on the forehead. I admired him from the bed as he tugged on his jeans and t-shirt. He came back to bed and picked up my hand, kissing it. "Are you absolutely sure? You don't have to do this you know."

"Oh, I absolutely have to. You're stuck with me now, Slade," I said, ready for the next adventure. "Let's go."