The Only Way

Chapter 1

7 years later
Allie
The pavement feels slick under my feet as I sprint from my apartment building. I frequently have bad dreams, but after this last one, I couldn't fall back asleep. I decided a run might tire me out. It's worth a shot since nothing else has helped. It's just after three in the morning, and the cold January air feels good cooling off my damp skin.
    My favorite rock band is blaring in my ears and my muscles are welcoming the burn. I pull my arms up and set my watch. "Shit!" I yelp, as I almost trip over something. I look back at an upgrown tree root taking over the sidewalk. Well that could have been...
    "Ouch!" My body slams into something hard, knocking me straight back onto my ass and jostling loose a headphone. After a moment, I shake my head and look up, and see someone in a black hoodie.
    "Are you okay?" His deep voice vibrates through me as he takes out his AirPods and pulls down his hood. The street lamp above us illuminates the most beautiful dark blue eyes I have ever seen.
    Another moment passes and I've determined I lost my voice. Answer him you idiot. Still, words aren't forming in my brain, so I nod as he reaches out with his hand to help me up.
    I grab it and the warmth from my run, or his, sizzles straight from our hands through my entire body. I slightly jump at the contact, but his face remains unreadable as I get back up on to my feet. I assure myself it's probably just a mixture of embarrassment and adrenaline. I pull on my other headphone cord, silencing Shinedown, and force my brain to finally use words.
    "Thank you." I say, releasing his hand. Even then, the buzz from the contact is lingering.
    He continues to stare at me and my mind starts to wonder if this is where I get kidnapped and murdered. "You really shouldn't be running out here this late by yourself." He scolds.
    Though I'm slightly annoyed with his tone, his voice is like velvet making goosebumps appear on my skin. I try to get a good look at him, but it's too dark. I can tell he's well built, muscular and tall, and the sharpness of his jaw is enough to make him model worthy. But even in the dim light his eyes shine bright and I feel like they're piercing straight through me.
    "This late or this early?" I joke, but he doesn't find it funny so I continue, "You're not wrong. I couldn't sleep. I was trying to tire myself out." I ramble, feeling embarrassed and judged under his intense stare.
    His annoyance seems to lighten slightly, and if I'm not mistaken, he looks slightly nervous. He rubs the back of his neck and asks, "Do you want me to escort you home? I know we don't know each other, but there are some bad people in this area. I'd feel a lot better, especially after knocking you down."
    My brain should be warning stranger danger, but instead my instincts are telling me he'll keep me safe.  I'm not one to play a damsel in distress in need of rescuing, but something about this man makes me not quite ready to depart from his presence. "Sure. I'm not far."
    We turn and start walking back towards my apartment in silence. I can see him out of the corner of my eye, keeping a respectful distance, clearly trying not to make my feel uncomfortable. I want to ask him his name, but what's the point? I'll never see this stranger again. A shiver runs over me and I wrap my arms around myself. "Here, take my sweatshirt," he offers. But before I can decline, he's already pulling it up and over his head. I catch a small glimpse of skin above his sweats and instant heat rushes straight to my core. I don't argue with him as he hands it over and I put it on. I'm instantly engulfed in a masculine scent mixed with what I assume is laundry soap. Hmm it smells so good. The hoodie is quite big on me, but comfortable. We don't speak again until we reach my building.
    "This is me." He nods, and like the doofus I am, I reach my hand out to shake his. He looks down and smirks. Oh my. Under the security light I can finally see his flawless face. He is fucking gorgeous. "Thanks!" I offer nervously in higher pitched tone then nessecary. The contact of his hand in mine again brings back that initial spark igniting my body on fire. God Allie, get it together.
    I release his hand and go to pull off his sweatshirt. "Keep it." He suggests with that same sexy smirk. His eyes burn into mine and feel myself swallow hard. Without another word, I hurry through the main entrance, sprint up the stairs, and rush to unlock my door. I go straight to the bathroom to take a cold shower to try and settle my inflamed body. What is wrong with me? Surely, it is just adrenaline that has me so...worked up.
    I finally crawl into bed, after putting back on the strangers sweatshirt, and stare up at the ceiling fan. There's just something comforting about the smell. Creepy much? I think to myself. Why am I such a coward? I spoke what? Maybe five words to him. I couldn't even be brave enough to ask him his name. I deal with all types of men all the time. And I mean true, slime of the earth, men at work. But when we touched... God I'm making shit up in my head. I turn over in bed, punch my pillow a few times, and force my eyes closed. It is just the collision that has me all disheveled. The whole incident is replaying on a continual loop when sleep finally comes. But instead of my usual nightmares, they are replaced with dreams of being stalked by a man in a hoodie with beautiful dark blue eyes.
******
    "Allie wake up!" My ears ring as I come to full consciousness. "Allieeeeeeeee!" Bang, bang, bang. I love my best friend Cassie. I really do. But I am not a morning person, and this knocking and yelling has to stop.
    "I'm uppppppppp," I groan, my voice still hoarse from sleep and pull the comforter covering me down to my chest.
    My bedroom is filled with light as the late morning sun shines through my windows. It's so damn bright in here. What time is it? I pick my phone up off the bedside table. 10:48 AM. Shit! I forgot to reset my alarm again. After waking early this morning, then litterally running into him, I must've finally passed out hard. I can't remember that last time I got this much sleep.
"Al, are you up yet?" Cassie asks again, jiggling my door handle then waiting a brief moment before continuing, "You better get your ass out of bed, and work done, so we have plenty of time to get ready for the party tonight!" She orders, with more obnoxious knocking on my door.
It's the beginning of the end, as spring semester at Boston University has just begun and it's the only thing between me and graduation. Cassie wants to kick off our last first week by going to a party. I am not the partying type. I've spent the last seven years focusing on one goal, graduating law school. All I've done is study, work, eat, sleep, work more, repeat, with an occasional friend hangout. I only agreed to go tonight because soon my best friend will be moving away, so my time with her is limited.
    Unwillingly, I force myself out of bed and unlock the door. A flash of red hair speeds passed me into my room. "I'm so glad you're up!" Cassie's cheers loudly, and I internally cringe.
If you didn't know her, you'd think Cassie was jacked up on caffeine or cocaine 24/7. She's always ready to go no matter what circumstance. "Are you sure you want to go out tonight Cass? We could just stay in and have a few friends over?" I ask hoping she'll change her mind. But Cassie's eyes are narrowed when they meet mine. "Allie Faith Adams. We are going and you are going to like it!" She declares, then laughs at my unenthused expression. "Wait, who's sweatshirt is that?" She turns serious, pointing a manicured finger at me.
    Cassie Richards is a force to be reckoned with. We met in undergrad and us becoming friends was all her doing. She has a strong, fiery personality, and at first, basically forced me to be her friend. I was busy and didn't really care to make friends. No close relationships is what I wanted. But thanks to her tenacity, she is now my closest friend. She knows everything about me. Even the dark parts. She's never given up on me and honestly I'd do anything for her. Even go to this stupid party.
   My cheeks heat and I break eye contact with her. "I found it in my closet." I lie. I move to gather some files on my desk and turn to her throwing my hands up in defeat. "I'll go to this party, but promise me you won't be mad if I leave early. Besides you'll have Tyler."
Tyler is Cassie's boyfriend and they have been together for almost three years. He is one of the sweetest guys I've ever met, and not once have I felt like an outsider being their constant third wheel.
"You can leave whenever you want Al, but we will make it fun!" She continues pacing around my room, letting my little fib go, "You need to get out and take a break from work! We're about to graduate and we have to take advantage of this time! We have less than four months together before I move." Cassie side hugs me as I sit at my white wooden desk, staring at my MacBook, and I sigh knowing she's right.
    I'll be here in Boston, and Cassie will be in New York. NYC is where Tyler has a job lined up and Cassie is going with him. She will be graduating from her Nurse Practitioner Masters Program and is sure she can find a position. It will be weird living apart, but we promised to visit each other as often as possible.
I hug Cassie back, "You're right. Now go. I overslept and need to actually get something done so I'm ready for you and your plans." I roll my eyes and shoo her out.
    She gives me a pleased nod and walks out of my room, leaving me alone with my work and sad thoughts of my best friend moving away.
******
As I'm finishing up practice bar exam questions, I'm thankful for my schedule this semester. Though I work most days, I do get almost every Friday off. No class and no internship. Oh yeah!
    I started college determined to earn a law degree, and here I am, goal almost complete. Allie Adams, J.D. It has a nice ring to it.
    I'm not going to lie, it's been a tough seven years, but I'm fortunate to have a position with a firm in Boston once I pass the bar exam next month. Livingston & Johnson LLP has hosted me for my internship over the past three years. It's corporate, but I'm hoping to one day open my own general practice. That was the dream my mom always had for me. Mom... I shake my head and clear my throat. The nightmare I had before my run last night flashes back in pieces. I shut it down immediately.
    Thus far, I'm proud of my hard work and goals I've achieved. No handouts, no favors, just me and my own doings. I didn't have connections to help get me here, only my determination and the promise I made to my mom before she passed.
    My mom died of cancer when I was sixteen. It was just me and my dad for a short time, but not long after, my dad remarried, and he had a new family to take care of. So, I silently worked my ass off and it's almost all paid off. Make mom proud.
I lean back in the chair stretching my arms up and stare at the old popcorn white ceiling.
    "Why did I agree to go?" I groan out loud, annoyed with myself for giving into Cassie's persistency. I hate people.
    With a sigh, I return my eyes to the screen to finish my practice questions, evading all thoughts of what Cassie might have planned for tonight. I inhale the neck of the sweatshirt I'm wearing again. Damn. I don't want to take it off.
******
    I'm staring in my small double racked closet already knowing there's nothing in here to wear to a party. My wardrobe consists of nothing but business casual and yoga pants.
    I stomp out of my bedroom frustrated and down the short hallway into Cassie's room. "Cass, I need an outfit unless you want me to look like I'm heading to a job interview."
Cassie's bedroom is much more homey than mine. She has the walls painted a soft lavender and dark oak furnishings fill her space. Pictures of family and friends line the tops of her dressers as well as certificates earned from her time in college.
    Cassie walks out of her bathroom already done with her hair and makeup. She looks stunning as usual. "Girl, you know I will never pass up picking you an outfit!" She smiles, clapping her hands together with excitement.
She walks into her walk-in closet, which is way bigger than mine, but I honestly don't care. She has a great sense of fashion and I secretly love borrowing her clothes. Becoming motherless as a teenager, I never had someone to teach me about hair and makeup. It wasn't until I met Cassie that I felt comfortable enough to asks questions. She was a great teacher, and to this day, still keeps me up to date with the lastest trends.
    Not a minute later, Cassie walks back out with two different choices. One is a black square neckline long sleeved body suit with black leather leggings and the other is an emerald green long sleeved V neck romper that looks like a dress, but has hidden built in shorts.
    "Hmm, you're wearing that?" I gesture to Cassie whose wearing a tight long sleeved red dress and black knee high heel boots. Her shoulder length curly red hair is tamed to one side and her makeup is perfect for her hazel eyes.
    "Yes. It's a party for Tyler's roommate, so it's mostly going to be people our age." She says matter of factly still eyeing the two outfits.
"Ok...I think I'm leaning towards the romper?" I ask more of a question than a statement.
"Yes! You're going to look hot in this! This green will go great with your eyes and blond hair." Cassie agrees walking back into her closet.
    I'm surprised in my decision to wear the romper, but it's so cute and I love green. "Here, wear these tan booties too." She adds returning.
    "Thanks. Give me twenty, and I'll be ready." I take the booties and romper back to my room to finish getting ready.
    Besides the deep V neck cleavage, I'm pleased with the outcome of my appearance. Thanks to my mom's genes, I've been blessed with a big bust and curvy hips, which are really being exploited in this romper. I curled my unruly blonde wavy hair into soft beach waves and my makeup is just heavy enough to make my green eyes pop. Unlike Cassie, I use very little foundation so the small amount freckles I do have can be seen.
The romper doesn't make me look pale for it being winter and the booties are comfortable. I know we won't be outside for long, so I don't feel bad about my legs being exposed. Thank you Cassie!
******
    As we are about to leave I drill Cassie for more details on tonights itinerary. "Where are we going again? Who will I know? Are you sure we aren't over dressed? If it's a birthday party shouldn't we have a gift?"
    A million frantic thoughts start running through my head, but Cassie calmly answers. "We are going to Tyler's roommate's birthday party. The house is just a couple blocks from here, so an easy walk if we have a few drinks. It's mostly people in Tyler's MBA program who live there, so I can't see it getting too wild. You will know me, Tyler, Rob, I think Kennedy and Nina are going too. No we are not overdressed. Hot twenty-five year olds like us should dress up, but if we are, then we will just be awarded best dressed!" She giggles and continues, "And no, we don't need gifts. I'm pretty sure Walker isn't the type."
She scrunches her nose at his name and moves towards the front door. I've heard that name before, but can't quite put a face with it. I'm a little relieved it's not some typical college party crawling with freshmen trying to get as drunk as possible.
    "Come here," Cassie demands digging through her purse. "Let me put this on you."
I look down at her hand and she's holding a tube of lipstick. It's a light shade of pink, I actually kind of like the color, so I decide not to fight her on it. After she finishes applying the lipstick, I glance in our hallway mirror. Wow! Did my lips just grow in size?
"Damn Al, we are looking hot A F! Let's get going!" I roll my eyes but laugh at her enthusiasm.
"Tyler texted we can park in the driveway." Cassie explains and winks.
    "Let's go have the time of our lives," I say sarcastically as we walk out the door.