Catching Fox Page 12

  She didn’t bring her phone or anything with her when she left her mother’s car. She had no way to know how much time had passed. Adalynne couldn’t bring herself to stand, she wasn’t ready to go home and face her family. Even when she was completely surrounded by the darkness of night, she refused to move.

  Adalynne closed her eyes tightly when she heard her name called. Fox was looking for her. It felt almost like a dream. It was so long ago that he had come to see her at their camp, Adalynne thought she was imagining it. It wasn’t until the door swung open and his tall form entered she knew that he was really with her. “Bee, there you are,” Fox said, relieved. He leaned down next to her in the darkness. His hand barely brushed her knee. The concern in his voice made the tears well in her eyes again.

  “How did you know I was here?” Her words felt strange in her mouth as she spoke.

  “When I heard about your father, I tried to call your cell. Your mother answered and was upset you left without telling anyone where you were going. She’s worried about you.” Fox sat down next to her and leaned against the wall beside her.

  “I wasn’t there…when it happened. I had left for a lunch date. How pathetic is that? I wasn’t with my father when he died because I was on a stupid date.” Adalynne wiped her eyes. “What is wrong with me? I am a horrible daughter. He deserved better than that.”

  “Your father knew you loved him, Bee. Don’t ever doubt that. Grief does horrible things to people.” Fox spoke from experience. He had dealt with the loss of his mother at a young age and she knew it had taken a toll on him.

  “Does it ever stop hurting?” Adalynne asked, turning toward him to look at the outline of his dark figure beside her. The only light was the dim moonlight and it did little to penetrate the darkness that swallowed the inside of the camp.

  “No…but I promise you it will get easier.” Fox stood up and rummaged around. It was too dark for Adalynne to know what he was doing.

  “You still have my cell phone number?” Her voice was shaky. His words finally registered about trying to call her.

  “Of course.” He lit a match, shedding light in the darkness. She watched the light dance off the contours of his face. He was so handsome it was almost painful to watch him. He lit a candle sitting on the floor…it was gingerbread scented. Adalynne remembered bringing it to the camp because she knew how much he loved gingerbread. It seemed like so long ago now but as the smell enveloped the small space it was soothing, and she couldn’t help but relax her tense shoulders.

  Fox sat down facing her but didn’t say a word. She watched him sitting as still as she was, staring back at her. His features were shadowed in darkness as the candlelight danced along his back. Everything about him drew her in, the way he moved his tall muscular body, the way his high cheekbones and masculine jaw gave the perfect canvas for his handsome features and endless green eyes. The way he smelled, the way he smiled. She loved everything about him except the fact he didn’t love her. She couldn’t help but think how cruel fate was, her father was taken away from her and Fox didn’t want her…she wasn’t allowed to have the two men she loved most in the entire world.

  “I wish you could have known my father. He was a great man.” She couldn’t manage much more than a whisper with her unsteady voice. For a moment it looked as if he wanted to say something but he remained quiet. Fox got up, opened a box, and grabbed a sleeping bag from inside, laying it out on the ground, and retrieved a folded blanket, spreading that out as well.

  “Come here.” He reached his hand out for Adalynne but when she didn’t move, he leaned down and scooped her up effortlessly, pressing her against his chest. The feel of being held against his body was the most comforting feeling she had ever felt. His heat was wrapped around her; she wanted to stay like that forever because she felt protected. It was like she finally released the breath she was holding since the news of her father shocked her. She ran her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck as he sat down on the blankets.

  “Tell me what I can do,” Fox whispered in her ear. Her body heated with his lips so close. Being so close to him made her forget the pain that made it hard for her to breathe. She wanted to hold on to the contentment of being in Fox’s arms and forget about what awaited her.

  Adalynne leaned up, placing her hands on either side of his face. She could feel him hold his breath in anticipation of what she was doing. Adalynne leaned close to his lips. She closed her eyes, breathing in his addictive scent fueling the fire erupting inside of her. Leaning in to his neck, she grazed her lips along his skin. She could feel him tremble beneath her touch.

  “Give me tonight,” she whispered in his ear as she pressed her body into his. She could feel his grip tighten on her shirt with her words and his body tensed under hers. “I don’t want to think. I’m tired of thinking.”

  “I can’t say no,” he breathed painfully.

  “Good.” Adalynne smiled as she brought her lips to his. His response was gentle at first as she encouraged him, holding back for a reason Adalynne didn’t let herself think about. She wanted to be lost in him and every touch and caress he gave her halted her thoughts and roused her body. She refused to let any words pass her lips in fear that he would leave her if she expressed her love for him, like he had done so many times before. Adalynne just let her body speak for her as she ran her fingers through his wavy hair. He smelled tantalizing. She kissed his neck as she felt the goose bumps rise on his skin under her lips. Adalynne pulled off his shirt, exposing his hard flesh that enticed her fingers. She felt every line of his muscles that etched his skin. Fox was her favorite place to be, wrapped in his strong arms and teased by his soft lips.

  Adalynne could feel his hunger growing for her as he moved with her in a beautiful rhythm as they explored each other’s bodies. Adalynne leaned back and pulled her shirt off as his hands slid up her back to unclasp her bra. She had played this moment through her mind so many times as she desired to be with him but none of her imaginings came close to the intensity of this moment as they devoured each other with their ravenous hands. Adalynne kissed a moan that escaped his lips as she pressed her naked flesh against his.

  Fox positioned Adalynne on the blankets and leaned over her. He looked down at her exposed curves as the candlelight illuminated her body for him to see. Adalynne reached down and unbuttoned her pants and he aided her in sliding them down the length of her legs before discarding them on the floor. He was on his knees, looking down at her naked body.

  “You are so beautiful, Bee,” he whispered before leaning down to claim her mouth. Adalynne unbuckled his belt. His hand firmly clamped around hers. “Are you sure?” he whispered hesitantly. Adalynne nodded in response. “Bee?” He urged, looking into her eyes. “I don’t want you to regret this.”

  “I never would,” she whispered back breathlessly. With her words of reassurance, Fox shed his pants and leaned down against her body. Adalynne couldn’t help the moan of pleasure that escaped her lips at the feel of his strong naked body against hers.

  “That was the most beautiful sound I ever heard,” he said against her neck. His mouth explored her, trailing kisses over her entire body. Her breasts became heavy with desire, and her hips moved to the rhythm of their song as he teased and drew her pleasures from deep within. He treated her body like a treasure and soon she was swimming in a sea of pleasure.

  Adalynne gasped as he slid inside her but the tension soon melted away with his gentle touch, leaving her awash with overwhelming bliss at the beauty of what she was sharing with Fox. Fox allowed her to escape the torment that was tearing her soul and gave her a light within the darkness.

  Adalynne let herself fall asleep in Fox’s arms, spent from the intense emotions of the day. Though it did not take long to turn into a restless sleep, she found herself wrestling with painful thoughts that insisted on pulling at her consciousness. They tried to lure her awake to face the demons awaiting her. When she stirred, Fox would tighten his hold on her, wr
apping his arms around her to make her feel safe. She wasn’t ready to face the world, she wanted to stay here forever and sleep with the rhythm of Fox’s heart beating against hers.

  When the first light of morning crawled across the floor, Adalynne opened her eyes. Fox was asleep beside her, his arm around her waist as his breathing caused his chest to rise and fall, slow and steady. His thick dark lashes fanned out over his tanned cheeks. She wanted to kiss his full soft lips to say goodbye but she didn’t want to risk waking him. Thoughts of the beautiful night lingered in her mind, allowing a smile to cross her lips but she knew what they shared would not change anything.

  She would always be in love with Fox. She had been in one way or another for her entire life since he wandered into her backyard that fateful day. Her need for him was sewn into her very being and she could never escape it, just like she could not escape the fact that her father was now gone. A tear slipped down her cheek and Adalynne quickly wiped it away. She wished she could hide out in their camp forever and never have to face the truth that waited for her in the real world.

  Adalynne knew it was unhealthy for her to devote her life to someone who did not share her feelings. She knew in her heart she needed to distance herself from Fox and move on with her life. She couldn’t keep throwing herself into his arms only to be turned away time after time. A heart was only so strong and right now hers was far from the best. It felt torn and bloodied, struggling to continue beating when she felt so much loss.

  She hoped in time the pain of losing both the important men in her life would fade to the point where she could carry it without feeling like it would break her. She remembered what her father had said the last time she was with him—life was short and she needed to start living hers.

  Adalynne would always hold the memory of last night close, it was beautiful and perfect and it would always be in her heart, just like every memory of Fox. It was a moment of pure escape she needed to survive the very devastating day. She was so grateful he was there to help her through it.

  Adalynne picked up the notepad and pen that sat upon the small table in the corner. Scribbling quietly on the paper, she placed it on the floor next to Fox’s sleeping form.

  I will never forget.

  Goodbye, Fox.

  She knew he would know what it meant. Although she left the camp with sadness in her heart, it was without regret. She was walking back into her life to deal with the loss of her father. There was only so much pain she could handle and now the thought of being close to Fox and never being able to have him was worse than staying away from him. Her decision was made.

  This was the beginning of a new chapter in her life. She needed to accept the fact that she would no longer be able to throw herself into the arms of her father, for him to kiss her upon the head and tell her that everything would be all right.

  She also needed to accept the fact that Fox was not hers to love and she had to let him go to live the life he was meant to, a life without her. Adalynne would wade through the pain of loss and find herself on the other side, no matter how long it took.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Adalynne walked quietly into her house so as not to alert her aunt or her mother of her return. She climbed into her bed and fell to sleep as soon as her head met the pillow. Her body was exhausted and Adalynne felt like she would never be able to quench it even if she spent the remainder of her life in bed. The sensation weighed every part of her body down. Even the world around her seemed darker and colder despite the heat the rising sun promised. She was consumed with sorrow. Her moment of escape last night was over and the real world closed in around her as dark as night.

  Adalynne was not sure how long she slept, but when she awoke to stirring in the house, she saw something on her pillow. She wrapped her hand around the envelope Fox had tried to give her the other night, with the money he wanted to return to her. She ran her finger over Fox’s handwriting.

  Goodbye Bee.

  Tears started anew. She sat up and looked toward her window. It was closed tight and no sign of Fox. Adalynne lay back down and pulled the covers over her head and sank back into a restless sleep once the tears stopped flowing and she had nothing left.

  She awoke when her bedroom door opened and someone sat on the edge of her bed, shifting her mattress. She knew it was her mother but she didn’t acknowledge her entry. Her mother lay her hand gently on Adalynne’s back for a moment before getting up to leave and closing the door behind her. Adalynne drifted in and out of consciousness, unaware of the passage of time before her door opened again and her mother once again came to her side.

  “Adalynne?” Adalynne lowered the blankets but did not turn toward her mother. “We were so worried when you took off. The only reason we got any sleep last night was because your friend Damon sent me a message telling me you were fine and would be home soon.” Adalynne did not respond to her mother. “He’s a nice boy,” her mother said in a tight voice.

  “Don’t worry, Mother, it was over before it started,” she said without pleasantries. She could feel her mother’s relief without even turning to see her face. Her mother was so predictable. Adalynne knew when she mentioned Fox had called her she was trying to see how he would interfere with her plans for Adalynne and Matthew. Adalynne had never felt like her mother truly wanted what was best for her. It was more like what was best for the family and more specifically her image.

  “Come down soon and eat,” her mother said before she left the room. When her mother closed the door, Adalynne slid from her bed and locked her bedroom door. She didn’t want to do anything but be left alone and stay in bed. A few times through the day there were knocks at the door that pulled her from sleep but eventually they stopped and she drifted away again. Not even sure when she was awake or asleep anymore, reality blurred.

  “Abbie girl?” It was Carmen’s voice outside her door. “You need to eat, sweetheart.” Adalynne wasn’t sure how long Carmen stayed at the door but eventually, like her mother, the footsteps retreated when her efforts proved futile. Her body felt tired and her muscles rigid. She felt like she was slowly disappearing into the gray fog settling around her.

  “Katie keeps calling. You should really let her know how you’re doing,” her mother’s voice carried through the door.

  Soon darkness and quiet enveloped her as night fell over the house. The persistent knocks at her door ceased and she was left to her own misery of restless sleep in the still of the late hours. She knew she couldn’t hide in her bed forever but the thought of getting up and facing what awaited her seemed too hard to bear. The next morning made its appearance before she was ready for it and the knocking started again.

  “Addie? It’s Katie. I’m worried about you. Open up…I’m not going anywhere until you open this door.” Katie knocked again. “Addie? Fine, I can wait as long as I need to,” Katie said defiantly after many unsuccessful attempts to get Adalynne to open the door. She slid down the door and seated herself out in the hall before she started belting out every song she could think of.

  When Adalynne could bear it no longer, she slid out of bed and unlocked the door. Katie immediately stopped singing when she heard the lock give. The door opened and Adalynne crawled back in bed. Katie didn’t say anything as she walked into the room. She climbed in bed next to Adalynne, wrapping her arms tightly around her.

  “You’re supposed to be at school,” Adalynne said flatly with her face in her pillow.

  “It will be waiting for me when I get back but right now I’m needed elsewhere and that’s right here in bed with my un-showered best friend who I love very much.” Katie smiled warmly. Adalynne couldn’t bring herself to smile in return. Her face felt too tight.

  “I hope you don’t mind but I ordered some of Carmen’s yummy food to be sent up because I’m starving. Your mom called me first thing this morning so I drove straight here without eating anything. That’s how much I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “I’m not goi
ng to pretend I even know what you’re going through but I will promise I’ll be here for as long as you need me.” Katie tucked Adalynne’s hair behind her ear as she lay beside her.

  “But school?” Adalynne whispered.

  “Don’t even think about it.”

  Adalynne grabbed Katie’s hand and held it close. She was glad Katie was here. She didn’t realize how much she needed her until now. They stayed in bed until Carmen walked in with a tray of all Adalynne’s favorite treats. “Addie girl.” Her face was filled with concern when she looked at Adalynne’s exhausted form in bed curled up beside Katie.

  The smell of all the delicious things that Carmen made reminded Adalynne that her body required food to survive. She knew she couldn’t hide out forever. She wouldn’t let her father down. She was going to find a way to be happy again.

  Katie spent the next couple of days with Adalynne as she adjusted to resuming normal daily activities. Adalynne showed Katie family photos to shed light on the type of man her father was. It was painful and comforting at the same time. Things seemed so much more bearable with Katie by her side for support. There were even a few times that Adalynne forgot to be sad. Katie even insisted on doing Adalynne’s makeup to cheer her up, claiming that pampering always made her feel better.

  “Seriously, Katie?” Adalynne questioned her friend’s cosmetic abilities. “I look like I’m ready to do some pole dancing, with sparkly tassels hanging off my nipples.”

  “Okay, I guess it is a bit much,” Katie confessed before they broke into a fit of laughter. “But you would make a lot of money as a stripper, that’s for sure.” Adalynne ended up painting Katie’s face up as well before they headed down to meet her mother for supper. The look on her mother’s face was priceless when the girls walked into the kitchen.