His Only Savior | #Wattys2019

Chapter 1

I hopped down from my jeep, the heels of my ankle boots connecting with a thud on the hot surface below. Both doors slammed shut in unison before my closest friend Becca jogged around to stand beside me.

"You ready for this?" Her eyes gleamed as enthusiasm radiated from every inch of her being. She swept her long blonde hair back into a messy bun that sat weightlessly on top of her head.

"I guess. I really just wanted to go home but I have this overly needy friend who begged me to tag along," I teased.

"Oh, come on! Stop being such a drag Em! Your man is out with the boys tonight doing well whatever it is they do, the least you can do is enjoy yourself."

"I guess you're right." I shrugged as we headed towards the entrance of Max Terry's annual End of Summer Bonfire. We walked past several vehicles I knew, but it was the sight of the matte black Harley parked out front that stopped me in my tracks and sent my heart racing.

"Are you alright?" Becca glanced back before following my gaze to the bike. "Shit! Just come on, we can avoid him all night. Please don't bail on me, not again."

I swallowed the frog in my throat before meeting her worried eyes. "I'm fine, I'll be fine." My words were more to reassure myself than they were for her.

Isaac Holland, the owner of the stunning machine, was my best friend once upon a time but that all changed after his mother passed away. He never provided me with much of an explanation, he just simply cut me off and never looked back. I couldn't tell you how many nights I cried myself to sleep, there were times I still did.

He moved to town when we were both eight and we immediately felt a connection. He became my best friend. As time passed us by that connection only evolved into something more, something I was always scared of confessing. I wondered if I had only told him how I had felt if things would have been different, but it was too late. The damage had been done. We had become practically strangers.

I gathered my pride and held my head high as I looped my arm with Becca's. "Let's do this!"

"That's my girl," she shouted as she dragged me through the gate and into the raging party within. I scanned the crowd of people, many of which were already heavily intoxicated. I smiled at the sight. I usually didn't drink but I always found watching the ones who did quite entertaining. My stomach dropped when I spotted a set of cold blue eyes glued to mine. I snapped towards Becca trying to muster a smile. "Want something to drink?"

"Definitely! Are you going to drink with me tonight?"

"Absolutely not," I snorted. "Sorry love, but buzzed driving is drunk driving."

"God you sound like your dad such a buzz kill. No pun intended!" She laughed when she realized the irony in what she had said. "Follow me," her cold hand slid down my arm until her fingers laced with mine providing her with the leverage needed to drag me through the mass of people separating her from her delectable alcohol.

After she consumed a half dozen Jell-O shots, she snatched up two wine coolers and pulled me along until we found a nice spot near the fire pit. As we sat down, I spotted Isaac close by and immediately pulled my knees into my chest. I was forced to bite back the tears that wished to escape due to the pain sieging through my chest. Why did I still feel this way?

"You alright Em?"

"I'll be okay. Can I actually have one of those?" I gestured towards one of the glass bottles in her hands.

"What? No way, really? Of course!" If she had been standing, I knew she would have leapt with joy.

"Calm down, I'm only having one!" I laughed as she passed the bottle my way.