Twist of Fate (29 page)

I spit in his face, watching my saliva as it slipped down his nose. His fists slammed into the wall behind me blocking me in. It was then that I saw the first shadow step out from behind the couch. "If you put one finger on her, you son of a bitch, it'll be the last thing you do," Ben growled, with sheer hate ringing through his voice.

Carson looked sideways over his arms, grinning from ear to ear, like he expected this. "You think you're gonna be able to stop me this time, pretty boy?" Carson turned back to me, grinning wickedly, then I felt the wetness of his tongue licking my face, as I stood barricaded grimacing between his arms. Ben sprang from behind the couch toward us, while Carson gave one last glance to Ben, then slammed me back against the wall, screaming, "I hate you, you bitch!"

"Paige!" Ben and Tommy yelled in unison.

Suddenly, Ben had him in his grip, shoving him toward the front door. All ten guys came out of their hiding places, bats tapping against their hands or the floor. Tommy was on the floor with me, as we both watched Ben crash into Carson, knocking him back. Ben's hand hauled him off the floor, and then he held onto Carson's shirt in a tight grip. Carson looked around at all the guys. "How? I was watching." He asked, terror reflecting in his expression. I grabbed Tommy's hand, pleading with my eyes to help Ben, but Tommy didn't move from my side. He just sat there, twirling the bat at his hand, like he was waiting for further instruction.

But, Ben saw the panic in Carson's eye's too. And, Carson must have suspected he was out of time. "I'll get you for this."

I didn't have time to answer, other then scream as he rammed his head into Ben's.

Ben's head snapped back, but he still had him in his grip. Blood trickled down his face, but Ben just rolled his head back, laughing. "Is that all you got?" He taunted.

Ben spun him around, holding Carson by the back of his head, slamming his head over and over into the wall. "How do you like it? Huh? How do you like it?" Carson cried out in pain, pleading for him to stop as blood pooled down to the floor. When Ben asked him again, it was quiet.
 

"Ben, that's enough. He's not moving," I screamed in fear for Ben. I couldn't care less about Carson and how much pain he must be in, but fear for Ben to get in trouble with the cops made me yell out.

When Carson didn't answer, Ben spun him around to face him pulling his knee into Carson's face. Blood oozed from Carson's nose, spilling onto the carpet. I nervously looked around, the rest of the guys were cheering Ben on to finish him off. Ben rammed his fist into his face, letting Carson drop to the floor. Carson's lifeless body slumped over a second later. Ben kicked him in the ribs, clenching and unclenching his fists, pacing around him. Rage and craziness written all over his face. Ben looked to Tommy. "Tie his ass up."

I stepped closer to my room, hitting the panic button just inside the doorframe. Ben walked over to the fridge, wrapping a few ice cubes in a towel, then came next to me. "Here," he said softly holding it to the back of my head. "Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded. Even though my head was killing me.

"I'm so sorry that I didn't get to him before he pushed you. I never thought he would with me standing there."

"I'm fine, but you're hands are bleeding and your nose."

He shook me off. "It's mostly his blood, not mine."

The comforting sound of the police getting closer, brought me to my knees. It was over. It was finally over. Ben rushed down beside me, pulling me to him. "You did it, Paige. I'm so proud of you." He lifted my hand delicately in his, kissing the tips of my knuckles. "I'm so sorry."

I slipped my hand out of his, caressing the side of his face. "I'm not. It's all over. We get the happy ending."

He grinned. "I love you, you know that?"

"You'd better otherwise you moving in here is a really bad idea."

He sat there staring at me. "I'm moving in." He said more as a statement than a question.

Then he smiled at me with one his big grins. "You realize this is going to change everything?"

I kissed him softly, trying not to pay attention to everyone in the room. "I know it does, and I couldn't be happier."

EPILOGUE

Three years later

"So this it. You're finally graduating," Ben said, grinning at me as he watched me from our bed getting ready.

I smiled into the mirror, while clasping the necklace he had gotten me lat Christmas. I had just about finished getting myself together to walk down the aisle to receive my B.S. in Social Sciences. Finally!

I dabbed on some lipgloss quickly before placing it down on the dresser, before walking
 
over to him. "Yeah, and I can't believe you stayed in Tucson with me the whole time." I bent down to kiss him quickly.

"Are you kidding? It's been the best few years of my life. And, there was no way I was letting you out of my sight."

I started to sit down next to him, but he pulled me onto his lap. His hands pushed my hair over my shoulder, then he peppered my neck with little kisses. "I have something I want to ask you? We haven't talked in a while about this, but I've been doing some major thinking and a lot of research."

I raised my eyebrows, but wrapped my hands around his neck. "What kind of thinking?"

"I got a job offer last week, and before you freak out and say no, I want you to know it's a really good opportunity for me. For us."

Ben had three interviews over the last few months. All of them back in Phoenix. So, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why he seemed so nervous. I was ready to go start my life with him there. Which made me suspect he interviewed for some crazy job far away overseas or something.

"Okay, well that's great. Why would I freak out? Which one did you take?"

"Well, that's the thing it would require a move. A big move, but Paige I want you to come with me."

I let a smile break free, praying he was asking me to come along. Because as soon as I heard the word move, I started to panic a little inside. Before I could respond Ben shifted me off his lap, then knelt down in front of me with a little blue box. "Paige, I have something I've been dying need to ask you for over two years?"

I bit down on my lip trying to control myself from jumping up and down. Ben had moved in with Tommy and I, but once Tommy graduated, he moved back to Scottsdale, leaving Ben and I to place house alone.
 

"You're the only one for me, Paige. I think I knew it as soon as I saw you that first night three years ago. I want to spend rest of my life with you, have little Paige's running around someday. I can't begin to imagine doing the rest of my life without you." Ben reached out, pulling the unopened box from my hand. Tears started to slip down my cheeks, as he pulled the white ribbon off. "So, Paige Pearce will you marry me?"

I nodded, letting him slide a solitaire diamond on my finger.
 
I couldn't contain my happiness anymore, so I jumped into his arms. Ben spun me around, kissing my neck. "I'll take this as a yes," He said, laughing.
 

I jumped back down, nervously. "Where's the job?"

"I want to do it, Paige. But, if you don't want to, I could keep looking. The job's in California, and before you say anything, I already found this great apartment in La Jolla overlooking the cove. It's so perfect, Paige. I gave the realtor a deposit, just in case. And, I've saved up enough for a full year's rent. The job pays really well, and you could teach yoga at one of the crazy amount of studios they have there, or apply to graduate school for social work, whatever you wanted to do. I just want to take care of you."

I smiled up at him, wiping the lingering tears from my face. "Really? California? I thought we were just kidding when we talked about that?"

He shook his head. "No. I would never kid about spending my life with you. I want it all, Paige. I want you, I want us, I want to give you the happy ending you deserve."

"Well, damn!"

He searched my face frantically trying to understand, but then smiled because he knew a second later.

"I'm gonna be late to my own graduation."

His face spread into a grin. "Get over here," he demanded, kissing my neck, knowing I wouldn't refuse him.
 
And, then he flopped me back on the bed, slinking down to my feet, pulling the straps to my shoes off. "You sure you want to take this ride with me? There's no turning back once you say yes in front of our families?"

I pulled his face down to mine, kissing him passionately, then paused at his lips. "I started this ride when I was twelve, why would I want to turn back now?"
 

No novel is ever written without me listening to music in the background. Here is a sample of what was being played:

The Boxer Rebellion-If you run

David Gray-This Year's Love

Secondhand Serenade-Fall for you

Boys like Girls-Be your everything

Maroon 5-Daylight

Death Cab for Cutie-I will possess your heart

Phantom Planet-California

Coldplay-The Scientist

Aqualung-Strange and Beautiful

Yellowcard-Always Summer, Keeper, Only You, Ocean Avenue

All American Rejects-I for You

Chris Daughtry-It's not over

The Fray-Look after You

Sum 41-With Me

Dave Matthews Band-Crush

Eve 6-Inside Out

The Script-Breakeven

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my family for their support. Especially, my husband who helps me in more ways than he knows. My friend, MarySue, who supports me by reading, or listening to me go on and on about my ideas. To Jenn Million for always answering my calls or emails when I need help with something. And, to Marty Syer, for his manly opinion.
 

As in any story that I write, there lies some truth behind the words. This started out as an idea that I got on a family vacation to Mission Beach. And, to the two cute kids who have no idea that watching their friendship during that trip, gave me the idea for this story.

As far as the abuse that takes place, I can only pray that the person I thought of while writing this, got the help she needed. It was a long time ago, when I was in college, and I waitressed at a diner. She was an older co-worker, who was afraid of her own shadow. I can't tell you how many times she came to work, with bruises, and tears in her eyes. I'll never forget the night she came in with his hand-prints around her neck. I begged her to get help, to leave him, but she refused in fear that he would kill her. That fall, I moved on, leaving the job to head back to school for the fall semester. I still have no idea if she ever escaped the wrath of her husband, or if she's even alive, but I truly hope she found her way out.