Waylaid (19 page)

I returned the kiss and then pulled away. “Why don’t you open the glove box?”

“What? Why?” She frowned. “Is there something in there that… Oh, wait, do you have some… protection in there?” Addy’s face reddened.

“Not exactly. Go ahead. Open it.”

“If you say so…” She glanced at me uncertainly but leaned over and opened the latch. The glove compartment opened with a squeak and the little light that went on inside illuminated the small green plastic bag. She tilted her head. “What is it?”

“Bring it out and let’s see.”

“Graham, what are you up to?”

“Surprising you. Hopefully in a good way.”

Addy reached in and got the bag. She peeked inside. “What could it be?”

I took the bag from her and removed the tiny box. She blinked and stared at it, but didn’t appear to have registered yet what it might be.

My hands were shaking as I snapped open the lid. I held it out to her, the light from the glove box giving just enough light to reflect off of the diamond.

She gasped. “Graham?”

I set the box on her lap and took her hand. “Addy, I love you. I don’t know how it happened so fast, but it did. The day I met you was the best day of my life. No, I take that back. Every day with you is the best, and they keep getting better. I—”

Addy kissed me. “Graham… is that a…”

I swallowed. “An engagement ring.” I waited, as my words hung in the air, waiting to be embraced by Addy or refused and crushed into a million pieces along with my heart.

“So you’re asking me…?” She reached down and touched one finger to the solitaire diamond. It wasn’t a huge stone, but I hoped she would like it just the same. I’d spent part of my savings on it and needed the rest for classes at college.

“Yeah. I’m asking you. To marry me. Spend the rest of your life with me. Love me with all your heart like I love you.” I waited again. Why wasn’t she answering?

“Oh Graham…” She flung her arms around me and cried.
Cried! Oh no… no.

Addy mumbled something into my neck.

“Didn’t quite catch that, sweetheart.”

She raised her head. “I said yes.”

Yes!
I pulled her so tight I’m surprised she could breathe. “Oh Addy… I love you so much.”

She smiled. “I love you with my mind, heart, and soul, Graham. I can’t wait to be your wife.” Addy removed the ring from the box and held it out to me. I slipped it on her finger. A perfect fit. She wiped a tear from her cheek. “Although, I guess it will be a few years, right? Since I have school and all.”

“About that…”

“Graham, you surprised me big. No need to try to make it seem like more. I’m blown away.”

“I’m glad it was a good surprise but there is something else.”

Her smile fell and she widened her eyes. “Oh no… we
have
to get married don’t we? Are you
pregnant?”

I stared at her, stunned, until she burst into giggles. I tickled her to make her laugh even harder. “You are a wicked, wicked, girl, Addy.”

“Just when you thought you knew me.” She calmed down and laid her hand on my chest. “So… what else is there? I can’t imagine a bigger surprise than this.” She gazed down at her left hand, the diamond sparkling in the dim light.

“I asked you to marry me, but I don’t want to wait.”

“What do you mean? How can we—?”

“I’ve decided I’m going to go back to college. I want to be where you are. I don’t want to spend the next several years having to drive two hours to see you and only being with you for a little while at a time.”

“Are you serious? That would be awesome! So you’d go to school and we’d be engaged?”

I shook my head. “Maybe I’m not explaining this very well. Yes, I’m going to school, but we won’t be engaged all those years.”

She held up her left hand. “But—”

I took both of her hands in mine. “Addy. I want to get married. Soon. As in very,
very
soon.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

“How do you feel about that?”

She let out a long sigh. “It would be a dream come true, Graham.”

“You mean it?”

“Of course I mean it. Did you ever doubt I would want to be with you?”

I gave a one-shouldered shrug.

Addy leaned forward and kissed my neck. “You, my good man, are stuck with me. From now until forever. Got that?”

I leaned down. “Oh yeah, I got it.” I leaned her back on the seat and kissed her hard.

Addy

I still couldn’t
believe what had happened on Saturday night. I’d been engaged for a day and a half and it still hadn’t sunk in. The thought that Graham and I might be getting married in the next few months was like a dream. I was so relieved that my parents said they liked him. I couldn’t imagine them agreeing to me getting married at my age to Jud.

Not that
that
was ever a serious possibility. Especially since I met Graham. I put aside my calculus homework, realizing I couldn’t concentrate with thought of my fiancé floating through my head.
Fiancé!

My phone beeped, telling me I had a text. I hurried to grab my phone from my purse on the bed. Graham must be on a break from work. I tapped on the screen. It was a photo. But not of Graham.

Oh, no. Why couldn’t Ali take no for an answer and stop texting me?

The picture showed him standing in front of a building. Wait… I squinted at the tiny photo. The stupid prince was standing in front of my dorm! I pitched the phone back on the bed as if it were on fire. What should I do?

I knew one thing. I did not want that creepy man in my room. With me. Alone. I grabbed the phone and my room key, slamming my door as I stomped toward the elevator. The nerve of that man. What did he not understand about me saying no? Multiple times. And then when Graham had told him to leave me alone, I’d thought — hoped anyway — that Ali would be intimidated enough to take the hint.

I tapped my fingernail on the wall of the elevator. “Come on, hurry.” I had to get rid of the smarmy vermin before he caused trouble for me.

The moment the elevator doors had opened just enough for me to squeeze out, I rushed to the front doors of the building. I stopped and peered through the glass. Sure enough there was Ali. Doing something with his phone. Mine buzzed again. I ignored it. What I had to do needed to be done face to face.

I put the phone and key in my pocket and pushed the door open. Before I could say anything, Ali glanced up.

“Ah, there she is. My prin—”

I stuck my hand out, palm facing him. “Do
not
call me your princess.”

“But my darling—”

“Don’t call me that, either!”

He put his phone in his pants pocket and pointed behind me. “I’ve come all this way again to see you, Adelaide.”

I turned to see a large, shiny limousine parked in the loading zone.

The heat of anger engulfed me until I thought my head would explode. “I did not invite you here. I do not want you here. I’ve told you over and over that I do not want to marry you, Ali.”

A group of girls walked past us, staring as they went into the building. At that point I didn’t even care. I needed to get rid of Ali. Now.

I pointed to a bench that sat off of the sidewalk, in the recently mown grass. “Let’s sit down over here.”

Ali’s face lit up, his leer showing all of his large, white teeth. “Splendid.”

I sat down, but moved over some more when he practically sat in my lap. “No. Not splendid. How can I make you understand that I will never, ever marry you?”

He took my hand, but I slid it out of his grasp. “Adelaide. I am a powerful man. I am a wealthy man. You will never do better in this world than to marry me. You are a very fortunate young woman to have taken my eye.”

I gritted my teeth together. “I don’t care. I still won’t marry you, Ali. Ever.”

He bristled. “You must remember to call me
Prince
Ali.”

“Oh, there are a lot of things I’d call you, but that isn’t one of them.”

“Ah, do you have some pet names for me then? What might those be?”

My tongue itched to tell him. But if I yelled them out in public I might be put on suspension. He wasn’t worth it, as much as I wanted to. I sighed. “You need to leave here. Right now. And never come back. Do I make myself clear?”

“You’re just a nervous bride, my darling. When we get to my country—”

“I’m not going to your country.”

“Well I won’t be living
here
.”

“Good! Then we agree on something.” I stood and faced him. “Please go home. And do not, ever, for any reason contact me in any way again.” I whipped away from him and hurried inside the building.

The elevator, as usual, was taking its time arriving. I glanced out the front door. Ali was watching me.
Hurry up, you stupid elevator!
I stomped my foot, hoping that might get my point across to the giant metal box that finally dinged, signaling it was about to open its doors.

I jumped inside, glad to be alone. Away from Ali. I punched the button to close the door over and over but it wasn’t working. Why wasn’t it closing?

Finally, with a screech of old gears, the doors began to slide shut. I yelped when a well-manicured man’s hand appeared in between the doors, halting them.

No! Why couldn’t he just go away and find some girl who really did want to be a princess?

Ali stepped inside and the doors closed, encasing me in a very small space with the one man I’d come to loathe.

I pushed the open door button while he held his finger on the one that kept the doors closed.

Stalemate. Who would win? All I knew was, I wanted out of the elevator.
Now
.

Ali’s leer resembled a wolf that had just cornered his prey. I backed up, but could only go so far.

I held out my hand toward him, palm toward me. “See? Here’s a very good reason why I can’t, and won’t marry you.” The bright light inside the elevator reflected from my shiny, new diamond.

Ali glanced down. “What’s this?”

Ah, the sweet taste of victory. “
This
is an engagement ring.”

“Who dared give you such a thing?”

“You met him. Remember Graham?”

Ali gave another glare at my hand and then shrugged. “That tiny ring is a mere trinket. It’s nothing compared to what I will shower upon you.”

I yelled in frustration, “You aren’t getting it! I am going to marry Graham. Period. End of story. So it’s time for you to go home. Now.” I huffed out a long breath and crossed my arms over my chest. I turned my head so I wouldn’t have to look at Ali any more, but the space was so small, I could still see him in my peripheral vision.

A series of metallic clicks and a loud thud came from above us.
Uh-oh
. That didn’t sound good.

Ali glanced up too. “Your inferior American elevator is on its last breath, so it seems.”

The elevator could die a thousand deaths as far as I was concerned. But not with me in it stranded with Ali. I banged on the door. “Help! Let me out!”

Ali stepped toward me, placing his hands on my shoulders. I couldn’t help but see his face since it was inches from mine and we were nearly the same height. “Ali? What do you think you’re doing?”

He winked. Did he think he was flirting? “Ah, my precious gem, perhaps it’s time to show you the depth of what I’m feeling for you.” He leaned toward me, lips pursed.

Ugh! No!
He was going to kiss me. I pushed against his chest, but for a small man, his grip was surprisingly strong.

“Adelaide, I’m thinking being trapped in this elevator is a good thing. Now we are alone and can show each other our true feelings.”

My
true feelings
wanted to knee him in the groin, but he stood so close I couldn’t manage it. I dug my fingernails into his neck.

He backed away and frowned. “That wasn’t very nice.”

“Good! I’m not trying to be nice.” I stomped on his foot, ready to then raise my knee to inflict some serious pain.

Ali moved like lightning, grabbing me and pulling me to him. “Now you have angered me, Adelaide. You shall pay.” He pinned me against the wall of the elevator. I couldn’t squirm away. What was he doing?

With his other hand, Ali reached down and fumbled with his pants zipper.

No!
He was going to rape me! I screamed as loud as I could. “Somebody help! Help! Please!”

As Ali finally managed to undo his zipper, a ding came from the elevator.

The doors slid open. I could barely see through thick tears pooling in my eyes. I shoved Ali away and darted out into the lobby. Straight into a wall.

Wait. Not a wall. Strong hands grasped my shoulders.

“Addy?
Addy!”

“Graham?” I collapsed into his arms, letting out sobs I couldn’t contain.

“What happened?”

He must have checked out the elevator because he tensed, his chest hard as granite, his heartbeat pounding beneath my cheek where he held me pressed against him.

I lifted my gaze to him. His face was a dark red, his breathing coming in quick gusts. “Graham.”

He glanced down. “Are you hurt? Did he… He didn’t—”

“No… No. I’m f-fine.” Fresh tears washed down my cheeks.

Graham kissed the top of my head and then gently pushed me behind him. “Stay here.”

“But—”

Graham peered over his shoulder at me. “
Please
, Addy.”

I nodded and pressed back against the lobby wall. What was Graham going to do?

Ali zipped up his pants, smoothed down his hair and stepped from the elevator as if he owned the building. He glared at Graham. “What are
you
doing here?”

“I’m here to see my fiancée.”

Ali sneered. “Ah yes, Adelaide showed me the tiny trinket you call a ring. How pathetic.”

Was Ali crazy? Didn’t Graham’s size and the way he was fisting his hands at his sides tell him he was in danger?

Graham took a step toward Ali. “You have been harassing Addy. She doesn’t want to marry you. When I told you to leave her house, I was content to leave it be. But now you’ve gone way too far. Do you know what happens to men who try to rape women on a college campus?”

Ali waved as if he wasn’t concerned. “I am a prince. Your feeble rules do not apply to me.”

Graham took another step closer, forcing Ali to step back. “Everything in me wants to punch your smug, obnoxious face right now. I’m giving you one last chance. Leave now. Don’t ever come back. Do it fast before I change my mind.”

Ali shook his head. “I’m not afraid of you. You’re worthless. A nothing. I’m royalty. You would never dare touch me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. And what happened in the elevator between me and Adelaide is none of your concern.”

Graham’s booted foot tapped rapidly on the carpet. “You have three seconds to leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere. You cannot tell a prince what to do.”

Graham harrumphed. “I don’t give a rat’s ass who you are. You were about to rape the woman I love.”

“She
wanted
it.”

“That does it!” Graham grabbed Ali by the collar and picked him up as easily as if he were a child. He flipped him over his shoulder like a sack of flour and stormed through the lobby and out the door. Two girls and three guys were just coming in, but when they saw Graham’s murderous expression, they jumped to the side.

Graham took long strides to the waiting limousine where the driver, holding open the door, stood with his mouth agape. I hurried after Graham, not sure what he would do.

Without hesitation, Graham dumped Ali on the back seat. “If you dare come back here, contact Addy, or even look in her direction ever again, I will not be able to contain my anger. Because what you just saw was nothing. If I choose to, I could crush you like a grape. Have no doubt.” Graham squeezed his own fist until his skin turned nearly white. Ali’s eyes grew large and then he turned his head away, mumbled something to the driver, and within a matter of seconds, the limousine was careening away from the building.

Graham’s shoulders relaxed and he opened his hands, fingers no longer fisted. He turned. “Addy.” And held his arms open.

I ran to him, pressing my face against his chest, feeling safe now that his arms were around me.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded, but tears still poured down my face. When would they stop? I couldn’t control them.

Graham kept one arm around my shoulders, but turned me around and led me back inside the building. A group of about a dozen students were staring out the window at us, but I didn’t even care. Let them stare.

As we stepped to the waiting elevator, doors wide open, I hesitated. “Maybe we shouldn’t—”

Graham tugged me closer. “If it gets stuck again, I’ll be with you. Don’t worry.”

I blinked and gazed up at him. He was right. There wasn’t anything to be afraid of now. If we were together, that’s all that mattered. I nodded and we stepped inside right before the doors closed. I flung my arms around Graham’s waist, not wanting to be more than a few inches from him. With my eyes closed, I pressed my face into his chest and breathed in his scent. I had such total trust in him, I didn’t even pay attention as we left the elevator and walked to my room. Graham was taking care of things, so I didn’t have to worry about anything.