Good Vibrations (Welcome to Paradise) (27 page)

Hugging me, he says, “Thank you, Mallory. And don’t worry about a thing. I’m there for you, just you.”

Chapter 28

Mallory

I push my skirt down in a sad attempt to straighten the wrinkles for the third time since I
’ve exited the car.
Why did I agree to this again?
I try to think back to when I stopped listening to my intuition.
Oh, that’s right—the moment I met Evan.
I giggle, but then my stomach flips again. “I feel sick.” Grabbing a hold of Evan’s arm, I stop him.

He turns back to me, and says,
“Baby, if you don’t feel comfortable, we’ll leave. It’s that simple. We’re a team, remember? You and me.” He leans over and kisses me on the neck, which weakens my knees. His sweet, innocent kiss turns wet with more suction as he attempts to distract both of us from what has to be an awaiting disaster.

I push him off of me. “Do not give me a hickey right now,” I whisper in a stern tone. His mother would really love if I showed up with a fresh hickey courtesy of her horny son.

He chuckles and takes my hand, not bothering to comment. I think he’s learned when it’s best to acquiesce. And on that note, we continue down the path, passing the wall that now holds one of the best memories of my life. The thought lightens my mood in time for us to round the corner and see the gang already gathered. My eyes scan the area and I exhale a breath of relief when I don’t see his mom outside. I relax and we continue over to the other side of the pool where a large wooden table has Kate, Murphy, Zach, and Sunny sitting, enjoying cocktails.

“Hey there, guys,” Kate greets us, getting up to hug me. “Mallory, how are you doing?” Her tone is concerned while she searches my eyes for some hidden truth.

“I’m good… kind of. Okay, I feel like I might puke.”

Evan squeezes my hand as Kate wraps her arms around me, bringing me into her again. She whispers, “We’re here for you. She’s decent once you get to know her.”

“Ahh, it’s getting to that point that worries me,” I reply, reaching for Sunny’s drink.

Sunny slaps my hand. “Go get your own, Mal. They’re right inside on the bar.”

“I’ll get you a drink,” Evan offers.

My nerves kick in again at the thought of encountering his mother on my own, but feel I should probably be brave and try to do this to show Evan I’m making an effort. I also want to make an effort for my own sake. Trying not to think about the first time I met his mom, I answer, “Thanks, but I need to use the restroom anyway. I’ll get the drinks.”

When I start walking, the party suddenly goes silent. I look back over my shoulder and five pairs of eyes watch me head for the door. “The show is over people. Carry on talking amongst yourselves.” I roll my eyes right before I enter the kitchen.

“Hi, you must be Mallory,” A welcoming woman says, making her way around the marble counter to shake my hand.

“Yes,” I nod, not knowing who this is.

“I’m Gail—”

“Ms. Chart, I’d like you to keep the formalities of the house with our guests, whether they’re welcome or not,” Evan’s mother says, curt in her tone. She walks toward me from a large sitting room that is impeccable and too formal in décor, considering we’re in Hawaii.

My stomach flips inside out and I’m rendered speechless. She walks straight up to me, and says, “You’re Evan’s friend from the other night?”

I nod, completely incapable of using my voice. From out of nowhere, Kate is behind me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Mother, this is Evan’s
girl
friend, Mallory.”

“Oh,” she responds, placing her hand on her chest as if in shock.

Finally, remembering how to speak, I say, “I’m Mallory.”
Gulp.
“Wray. It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Ashford.”

She tilts her head as if critiquing my every move. I watch her, waiting for her to say something else, anything else. I’m on guard, but know I need her approval and don’t want to be disrespectful.

Kate walks around me, filling the awkward silence. “Would you like a Mai Tai, Mallory? Evan wants a beer. I’ll get the drinks and you can use the bathroom.”

“Uh, yeah, that sounds good. Thank you.” She’ll never know how much I appreciate the chance to escape this uncomfortable situation.

“Ms. Chart will show you the way. Kate, may I speak with you for a moment,” Mrs. Ashford calmly directs.

Ms. Chart waves me over to follow. “Right this way, Mallory.” As soon as we turn the corner and enter a long corridor, she says, “It’s the third door down on the right.”

I look at her a second, taking in her rounded features and kindness, and I smile. “Thank you.”

Her smile is filled with warmth and makes me feel like we’re already family.

When I finish in the restroom, I walk back down the corridor and notice the last door on the left is open.

“Mallory, do you have a minute?” Ms. Chart is sitting on a bed welcoming me inside. I nod and walk in, sitting down next to her. Her words are soft, comforting as she speaks. “I just want you to know that I’m really glad to finally meet you. Evan has told me so many wonderful things about you.”

“He’s talked about you also, but I had no idea he told anyone about me.”

“You’re very special. Not only because he talks about you and he never talks about girls, but because, if I may be so blunt,” she lowers her voice, “you’ve brought my Evan back. The Evan he used to be. I hope you don’t mind me sharing this with you. I already feel close to you, like I know you. Evan would call me a sentimental fool.”

“Well, there is nothing wrong with that and I feel the same about you.” I feel at ease considering I just met her. Even her calling Evan ‘My Evan’ doesn’t bother me because I know exactly what she means. “I like that you’re honest. I’ll be honest, too. It’s not been easy and meeting his family, well, other than Kate, is quite nerve-wracking.” I look down at my hands. “To say the least.”

“I’m not Mrs. Ashford. She has this idea of who Evan’s supposed to be and it’s suffocating him. Please don’t let her scare you away though. She can be very kind and generous once you get to know her.” Ms. Chart places her hand lovingly on my forearm while airing a more serious tone. “It might not be easy. I won’t lie to you, but he needs you and I can tell he cares for you very much.” She leans over and hugs me. Her embrace is sincere and caring. “Thank you, Mallory.”

“Don’t thank me. It’s all him. He’s special.”

She smiles warmly, and in that smile I see why Evan seems to bond with her in such a familial way. 

Standing up, I thank her before walking back through the kitchen. I hear my friends laughing outside as I head for the door.

“He’s not as good as you think he is. He has problems he hasn’t worked through yet.”

I look over my shoulder and see Evan’s mother sitting in a pale yellow club chair in the breakfast room. Taking the doorknob in hand, I turn around. I want to ignore her poisonous words, but I also can’t hide my thoughts on the matter. “He’s also not as bad as you think he is.” Opening the door, I exit the house and join my friends.

Evan is all smiles, and my heart soars just looking at him.
This is right. We are right.
I won’t let his mother ruin us.

After taking a seat next to Evan, I look around and watch as everyone starts to couple off, getting lost in their own worlds. Murphy is tending the barbeque pit while Kate leans against his back supervising, as if she needs to. It’s obvious she just wants to be touching him.

Sunny sits on Zach’s lap, whispering to him, making him giggle like they’re fifteen-year-olds. He rubs her arm, enchanted by her, which makes me smile.

“Hey there,” my surfer whispers in my ear, his voice laced with possibility. “Are you hungry? I noticed a
delicious
looking fruit salad on the buffet.”

I giggle at the insinuation, remembering how naughty he was with fruit on the beach just days earlier.

Looking at him, at my Evan—maybe it’s the star-filled night or all that we’ve been through, maybe it’s that I feel in control after giving his mom a small piece of my mind, but I’m not hungry. I’m happy and satisfied and full of love for him. Leaning my body against his, I rest my head on his chest, right over his heart and wrap my arms around him. “I’m wonderful.”

His arms gently work their way around me, and I snuggle even closer. “You sure? I’ll give you anything you want,” he says, both of us knowing he’s not talking about food. I nod not wanting to leave the warmth of his body. “Do you want to stay or would you rather leave? We can go to my place or for a walk on the beach?”

“Let’s go for a walk.”

We stroll a short distance in silence before he takes me in his arms again and kisses me—deep and meaningful, full of hope and a future.

When I pull back from the only place I really want to be, I confide, “Evan, I don’t want to leave you. I don’t want to lose you either.” My voice is a whisper in the wind, but loud enough for him to hear my plea.

He runs his hands on either side of my face then pushes the blowing strands behind my ears. As he holds me, his eyes search mine. With a most confident grin, he says, “Just because you have to go back to school doesn’t mean you’ll lose me. I’m yours. You marked my heart as yours the day I met you. So relax in the knowledge that I’ll be here, soulless, heartless, less of a man altogether until I see you again.” He pulls me against him, burying me in his possessive embrace and kisses my head. “I’ll visit you as much as you’ll let me.”

“How can I relax knowing you’re living life halfheartedly?” I laugh softly. “And I feel the same about you.”

“Does that mean if you have my heart and soul and I have your heart and soul then we are whole?”

“Yes, I feel complete knowing I’ll have a part of you with me.”

He lightly chuckles. “You’ll have the only parts that matter.”

With closed eyes, I press my ear against him and listen to the rhythm of
my heart
beating in his chest.

Taking his hand in mine, I guide him back down the beach to the stone steps that lead up to the house. I stop on the first step so that I’m eye level with him and wrap my arms around his neck, kissing the smooth skin behind his earlobe that always elicits a smile and laugh from my ticklish man. I whisper, “I love you. You don’t have to say it back. You’ve shown me time and time again how much you love me.”

Cupping my face in his large hands, he presses his forehead against mine. I hear him gulp as he closes his eyes, the words stuck in an undercurrent of emotion.

I close my eyes, shivering from the breeze that surrounds us and listening to the waves crashing nearby. “I meant what I said, Evan. This is enough.”

“Mallory,” he says, and I look up into his dark, deep blues. “I… one day, I’ll be what you deserve. I’ll be everything you ever wanted.”

“You’re everything I never knew I needed.”

Our lips meet, and under a full Hawaiian moon, that kiss tells me we were always meant to be more than a fling in paradise.

That summer, we became forever.

The End.

To be continued in book 2 of the Welcome to Paradise Series. For a sneak peak, keep reading.

Sneak Pee
k–
Book 2

Noah cups my face, forcing me to look at him. His words are urgent as he stares straight into my eyes. “I will never treat you like that. You mean more to me than that, Mallory.” He pulls me by the arm and as if I don’t have a say in the matter, I go stumbling behind him.

“Mallory!” Evan calls, and though I know better, my heart aches for him.

Looking over my shoulder, Murphy and Zach have him restrained. My eyes catch movement nearby, and I see his mom and Kelly smiling in their victory. I move forward, needing to be free from the hate of their contemptuous eyes, needing a minute away from everything to do with a future snuffed out. They planted the seed and let us destroy each other. A conversation that should have happened during more sober times, forced itself into our lives… and now we’ll pay the price for this devastation. Both of us walk away wounded in a battle over egos and lies, a battle that should have never been waged.

Just as I round the corner, a strangled cry halts my escape and every breath in my body.

“Don’t leave me, Baby! I love you!”

Coming September 2013