back to you. part 13. [previous: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12]

Note: After I posted part 12 last week, I made a few minor changes. Part 12 has been updated. Not enough changed to warrant another read unless you are so inclined. Just thought I’d come clean on the edit.

Now part 13…

As he kicked pebbles off the dock into the water, Adam rehearsed his words – the words he would speak to Dani. Going to her would be intense and scary. And selfish. But he knew it was right. There would be no stepping aside and letting her go. There could be no living the rest of his life without her – at least not without trying.

Anxiously, he sighed. But a little smile appeared on his face when he thought of holding Dani in his arms. He was desperate to touch her. He remembered the soft, sweetness of her skin. And he could almost feel her warm, beautiful lips on his. Resting his hand over his heart, he let out a long slow breath.

He tore himself out of his little fantasy and turned away from the water. He had to get to Dani and tell her everything. He had to spill his heart to her. He needed to see her eyes when he told her that she was the one… that he didn’t want to imagine his life without her. And he had to hurry. He had finally stopped wondering if he should go after her, and he hated that he was so far away.

~
As Adam neared the edge of town, his heart raced. He was anxious. And excited. I’m doing this. I’m going to her. God, I am crazy… but… Adam’s thoughts were derailed when he rounded the next corner. He was distracted by the car on the other side of the road heading out of town. The long, shiny white limousine. It has to be a sign. I’m supposed to go after her…

When Adam reached Dani’s parents’ house, it was deserted. Oh God… she’s at the church. He started to panic. And as he turned and sped away toward the church, he mumbled to himself. The same words, over and over… It can’t be too late. It can’t.

~
Adam stopped the car across the street from the church. A limo was parked mere yards away from where he sat, and he saw guests walking up the steps heading inside. He wasn’t too late. And he was going to talk to Dani. And it was going to happen now. In the church.

With a deep breath and a hand covering his heart, Adam got out of the car and headed across the street. As he began ascending the stairs, he saw Ava step outside the church doors. And a moment later, Ava saw him.

“Where the hell have you been?!” Ava’s half-whispered words were filled with frustration.

“I kind of freaked out. But…” Ava tried to interrupt but he wouldn’t let her. “Ava… I have to stop this wedding.”

“Adam… it’s already…”

“What? My god, I’m not too late, am I?” Adam started to panic.

“No. Adam… Dani disappeared. We don’t know where she is. She left a note… for Finn. I just gave it to him and he is… not good.”

“What did it say?” Adam wanted to know.

“I didn’t read it!” Ava had a pretty good idea what was in that note but she couldn’t be sure. “But Dani’s not here… so…”

Adam looked down and sighed. “She stopped the wedding,” he mumbled. And then he said it again. And he had to catch his breath. She stopped the wedding. His expression held the hint of a smile. “Ava… she stopped the wedding.” He couldn’t stop saying it.

“I know.”

Before either of them spoke another word, someone approached and slipped right between them.

Finn.

He grabbed Adam by his jacket and shook him. “What the hell did you do to her?” A stunned Adam took a step back but Finn didn’t let him go. “Tell me! What did you do?” Hearing Finn angry and upset, a small curious crowd began gathering.

“Let go of me!” Adam grabbed Finn’s wrist and pulled his arm away until Finn released his jacket. “I did nothing!” Finn didn’t believe him. He didn’t say that, but everyone listening knew because without hesitation, Finn took a swing and knocked Adam across the jaw. Finn’s friends grabbed him to stop him from swinging again. And Ava clutched Adam’s arm to stop him from hitting back.

Finn was fighting his friends, trying to get another shot at Adam, but they wouldn’t release him. “What did you say to her?” Finn yelled at Adam again.

Adam tried to shake his arm free from Ava but she wouldn’t let him go. She knew it would only make things worse. “Adam! Don’t!” He didn’t take his eyes off Finn, but Ava tried again. “Adam… He’s upset. Please…”

Adam relaxed and Ava let him go. And he turned to Finn.

“No one can make Dani do anything. You should know that.” Finn was going to marry her. He should know exactly how Dani thinks.

Finn was still angry. Upset. Mad as hell. “She’s not here! She’s gone… she wouldn’t do this!”

Adam took a deep breath, hoping to stop himself from losing control. He really wanted to tell Finn what he thought. And he really wanted to hit him. But mostly, he wanted to tell Finn that Dani wasn’t there because she didn’t want to be. But Adam didn’t want to make things worse. He knew how Finn felt because it was the way he felt mere hours ago. So Adam said nothing… and he did nothing.

As Finn’s friends continued trying to calm him down, Ava started to pull Adam away. But after about two steps, Adam froze. The light inside him came on. The screaming voice in his head finally got through.

“Adam… come on…”

“Ava…” He spoke her name but still didn’t move.

“What?”

“I know where she is.” He knew his smile was coming. He couldn’t stop it. But Finn could still see him. And hear him.

“I knew it! Where is she?!” Finn still insisted that all of this was Adam’s fault.

“If you don’t know where she is,” Adam said, taking a few more steps back, “you’re not the one meant to find her.”

©2017 what sandra thinks