Saved By You (20 page)

I bit my lip, wanting to trust what he said, but still uncertain. Finally, I gave him a resigned nod, and dropped the subject.

“How are things going with your her, anyway?” he asked, after a time. “She was much more… vibrant… than I expected.”

“Not that great, actually,” I said. His eyes narrowed. “That’s the whole reason she came home—because she’s not doing great.”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand.” I blew out a soft sigh, and gave him a look. It took a few seconds, but recognition finally washed over his face. “You mean…?”

I nodded. My eyes stung as tears surfaced to them. I turned my face away, hoping he wouldn’t see.

“She doesn’t have much longer,” I said, softly.

Haden put his arm around me and pulled me into him. We stopped there, on the side of the small dirt road, in the middle of nowhere, and he held me. Tears didn’t flow as freely as they had before—maybe I was all cried out. Or maybe it was because I was with Haden. Things always seemed easier with him around, didn’t they?

He held me in his arms for a long time. I never wanted to pull away. I just wanted to stand there with him until all of my problems were gone. I pressed my face into his chest, trying to blot out the bright Texas sun. Haden kissed me lightly on the forehead, but it didn’t make things much better.

“We’re going to get through this,” he said, softly.

Images of Mom and Kyle mixed together in my head. I buried a cringe into his chest, hoping he wouldn’t feel my body tense along with it.

“I hope so,” I said.

Haden and I walked along the dirt road for a while before we came on a dirt trail that led us off into the forest. I was hesitant at first, but Haden assured me that he knew exactly what he was doing. He gave me a smile, and held out his hand. I trusted him, and took it.

We walked along that little trail for about ten minutes. The trees rustled as wind blew through them, and there was a general peace that the forest held over us. I wondered if it was some kind of enchanted forest like you’d find in the fairy tales—but then I reminded myself that fairy tales were for kids, and I had to be an adult.

“Where are we going?” I asked, again. “There’s nothing out here.”

He grinned. “We’re almost there,” he said. He looked around, as though searching for something. “I think.”

“You
think
?” I said, loudly.

He flashed the same grin at me, his eyes burning. “I’m just teasing you, again,” he said with a wink.

I quirked my mouth and tugged at his arm until he fell into me. His kiss was strong and assuring. We lingered there, arm in arm, lip on lip for a few seconds before continuing on.

We walked another five minutes before there was a gentle shift in something. I wasn’t quite sure what it was at first, but before long, I realized that I was hearing something I hadn’t heard before. The rustling in the trees turned to something else—a sound that was more familiar.

“Is that water?” I said, recognition dawning on me.

Haden grinned at me. “Maybe,” he said.

We walked a bit further until the trees gave way to a gentle, downward slope. Water rushed below us, not unlike it had done when we were at the river in Green Falls.

“Is this the same river that runs through town?” I asked.

Haden nodded.

I gave him a confused look.

“But, why bring me all the way out here?” I asked.

He gave me a wink.

“Just trust me, would you?” he said.

I nodded, again, assuring him I would.

As we got closer to the river, I saw that it had a soft tint to it. The color wasn’t noticeable when we were closer to town, but it stood out here. It was a muted shade of forest green.

“Wow,” I said, studying it. “What’s making that color?”

Haden grinned at me. “I’m not sure. Maybe algae or something.”

I looked at it for a few more seconds, and considered dipping my toe into the water.

“It’s beautiful,” I said.

His smile widened, and we pressed on along the river. The river was rushing by us at an incredible rate, and we were following its path. Up ahead, the water swelled and gushed—then disappeared. I stared off in the distance for a long while, confirming what I was seeing. The water just vanished, as though it had never been there to start with.

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing ahead of us.

“
That
is where the town gets its name,” Haden said.

I frowned at him, and mouthed the name
Green Falls
, and then it hit me.

“It’s a waterfall?” I exclaimed.

His smile widened, and he gave me a nod.

“Oh my god, I want to see it,” I said.

We rushed forward at a faster pace. Haden led me around the rocks and roots in the ground, and we had to venture away from the river for a bit to find a path that we could follow downward. The trail leading us to the bottom of the falls snaked back through the forest, and the growing density of the tree line blocked our view. But the sound of the rushing water was unmistakable. It crashed somewhere, nearby. I could hear the churning and sloshing it made.

My pulse quickened, not only because we were at a near run through the forest, but because of the thrill of being with Haden. We were off on some adventure—he had led me away from all of the troubles, and was indeed taking me somewhere magical—just like I’d wanted him to do.

The crashing of the water grew louder, and finally we broke clear of the trees. My jaw dropped as I looked high into the air.

“Oh my god,” I said, my eyes wide with delight. “It’s beautiful.”

We stared at the water pouring down from high above us. It collided with the river below. The water was fierce as it fell, but once it landed, it softened and slowed. We looked at each other, both of us with a crazed look in our eye. Then, without saying anything, our clothes began flying off.

Haden tossed the bag of towels to the side and pulled his shirt high over his head, revealing his glorious chest. I dropped my towel, and kicked off my sandals. My blouse and shorts were the next to go, and before I knew it, we were both down to nothing but our bathing suits.

We rushed into the water until it came up to our thighs, then we leapt forward, head first. The water was cold, at first, but the sun was high above.

“Oh my God, this is amazing,” I said.

We pushed out further into the river, until the water came up past our waists. Haden watched me with a big smile on his face.

“You really like it?” he asked.

I nodded, violently.

“I love it,” I said.

“Good.”

A mischievous look glinted in his eye. It froze me in place, the muscles in my legs tensing. I wanted him to come to me, I wanted him to crash into me like the water crashed from high above. He took a slow, deliberate step forward. He was in arms reach now, and my eyes fell down along his chest. I studied the tattoos snaking around his arms, up and around his shoulders. I wanted to climb into those arms. I wanted them wrapped around me, taking me right there in the river. My legs pushed me forward, just a breath’s length. I could almost feel the heat coming off his body.

Then, without warning, his hands swung out to the side, and crushed together, sharply. Water cascaded up and into me. It crashed all along my body and my face. It soaked straight through my hair, and left me feeling like a wet mess.

I stared at him, wide eyed. I could feel my makeup already sliding away. He laughed at the look on my face. Then, despite myself, a smile spread across my face, and my hands started splashing water right back at him.

We splashed each other for what felt like a lifetime of bliss. I didn’t want to stop splashing him. The pure happiness in his smile as we laughed together spurred me on. I never wanted the moment to end.

Haden stepped in even closer. We were both completely drenched. His hair hung wet in front of his face, and his muscles glistened with every crash of the water he sent my way. I reached back, ready to splash him again, but he stopped me.

His huge arms wrapped around mine. They got tangled together until I was pulled tight against his body. My eyes locked on his, and for that single moment in time, nothing else existed—not the river, not the waterfall, nothing. It was just us. Together.

His head dipped forward as his arms pulled me tight, and we kissed. Our lips parted, giving way to our tongues. They splashed together and swirled small little circles. Then, I was up in the air. Haden lifted me high, and my legs wrapped around him instinctively. They locked behind him as he held me close. But, our tongues never stopped their dance.

It felt like I was flying—weightless. Haden spun me in the air while I clung to him. Then, he lowered me. When my feet his the soft dirt at the bottom of the river, our kiss broke away. My eyes were clamped shut, and I didn’t want to open them for fear of waking from a dream. Nothing in my life had ever been so perfect as that moment with him in the river.

When I finally did open my eyes, I saw him staring down at me. The hint of a smile touched the corners of his lips.

“You’re perfect,” I said.

His eyes flashed their brilliant green.

“You make me that way,” he said.

My insides wanted to flutter away with him. I sunk against his chest, and he pulled me in close, again. I could feel the beating of his heart against my cheek. I closed my eyes and felt that steady rhythm as I listened to the water crashing nearby.

Finally, I looked up at him.

“I want to stand under it,” I said.

Haden glanced from me to the falls, and his smile sparkled. He nodded his head, and we both pushed our way through the water. The river grew choppier as we neared the waterfall, but we managed to push forward all the same.

The water roared loudly, spraying its mist into our eyes. I held a hand up so I could see, and we didn’t stop pushing forward until we were directly underneath it. I lifted my head high into the sky, and let it fall all over me. It was like the most glorious shower I’d ever taken, and I didn’t want to ever leave. The water was cool, and it nearly shadowed out the sun. I held either arm out wide, and began turning. Haden stood next to me, doing the same.

“This is so amazing,” I yelled, leaning out of the water so he could hear me.

“It’s all for you,” Haden said.

He was so close to me. But I wanted him closer.

“How’d you find this place?” I asked.

He took another step closer, shaking his head. The water sprayed down on us. His hair sagged under its weight, and he pushed it back out, out of his eyes.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said.

I bit my lip, trying not to seem too eager.

“What
does
matter?” I asked.

He grinned.

“You and me. Us. Here together,” he said.

Haden pressed himself in closer, and kissed me. I sunk forward into him, and let him catch me in his arms, again. My body wanted to go limp against him, wanted him to drag me away from there, wanted him to do whatever he wanted with me.

How was I supposed to push him away when I was so completely in love with him? I didn’t think I could do it. It just wasn’t going to happen.

I needed Haden in my life, and I was sure he needed me in his.

I felt like I was floating on cloud nine for the rest of the day. Haden and I sat on the bank of the river until the sun went down. We didn’t do anything but watch the water flow past us to wherever it was off to. As the sun began setting behind the tree tops, Haden and I began walking back along the trail toward the dirt road.

We held hands, and took our time. The wind blew my hair, and I didn’t have a care in the world. I wasn’t thinking about Kyle—wasn’t thinking about what I’d agreed to do. I didn’t want to think about anything right then. I just wanted to live in the moment. The moment with Haden.

“Where do you see this going?” I asked, as we strolled along.

Haden gave me a sideways look, curious.

“You mean, where do I see
us
going?” he asked. I grinned and nodded. He considered it for a second, then looked at me again. “That’s an interesting question,” he said.

“I thought so,” I said. “That’s why I asked.”

“What made you ask?” he said.

I frowned at him, wondering if he was intentionally avoiding an answer.

“Well, with everything going on with my Mom, and everything going on with you, things just seem like they’re kind of up in the air right now,” I said. “Just thought it would be nice if I knew what you were thinking.”

He nodded, thoughtfully.

“I hadn’t really thought about it,” he said.

“You should,” I said. “You can’t go on living at the Lodge forever.” My mouth quirked to the side, and I felt my fingers tingling with nerves. “Besides, you have Kyle and your band to think about, don’t you?”

He considered it for another minute while we walked. I could see the indecision in his eyes. Nerves curled even tighter in my stomach. I didn’t think it would be possible for me to push him away, but I also knew that if Haden had to leave—if he had to go on tour—I wouldn’t be able to stop him. I still knew what was best for him, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I held him back from that.

But, isn’t that what you’re doing already? If you don’t tell him to go—it’s the same as holding him back.

The thought made me cringe. Haden gave me another sideways look, as though he felt me tensing against him.

“I don’t know how that’s going to work out,” he said. He shrugged. “I guess it’s something I need to think about. Ever since I got to Green Falls I’ve been a bit… distracted.”

The air in my lungs felt like it was sucked out of me. Did I just made him realize everything he was risking for me?

“Did you mean what you said before?” I asked.

He grinned. “I’ve said a lot of things.”

I smiled. “A lot of very sweet things,” I said. The light was dim, but I imagined I could see a tint of red on his cheeks. “Did you mean it when you said you weren’t leaving Green Falls without me,” I said, my voice serious.

He gave me a hard look.

“Is that what you want?” he asked. “Do you want me to take you away from here?”