Chapter 34

Riley

After I completed my registration for Michigan and sent in the needed paperwork to receive the scholarship money, I thought things would calm down. I even shredded the other college acceptance letters, but Reign was still wound tight. I just let him be, knowing he needed the control to feel reassured that our plan was really happening. Even when his mom came to visit us over the weekend and all she talked about was the apartment he had for this fall and what else he wanted it stocked with, Reign kept looking for reassurance. I knew in every detail what would be in our fridge on move-in weekend.

Now, prom is tonight and next week is our girls' state championship game. Michigan is settled. Things should be back to normal but new worries are plaguing me. I haven't made it to the doctor yet after Reign sliced my birth control out. And even when I asked him to pull out, he didn't, reasoning that it was kind of pointless. I should make him wear a condom. I should be pissed off and willing to take an oath of celibacy until further notice, but I'm not. I'm the crazy one this time because I get more turned on when he refuses not to come inside me. When he casually blows it off telling me he likes being inside me without a condom. I'm screwed. Metaphorically and not.

Instead, here I am, standing in my room, in my dress, the color and shade of Reign's eyes, a beautiful icy blue. My hair is curled and pulled partly up, showcasing my neck and teardrop earrings. Nerves are building my stomach and I repeatedly have to skate my hands over the sweetheart neckline, down the see-through corset style bodice, to the floor length skirt, in order to feel calm. I love this dress. Appliques adorn the bodice and fall like vines down the tulle skirt. The best feature though, I think, is the thigh-high slit in the front. With our proms on the same day, I was able to meet up with Sam and Emma to get our hair done, and we snapped a few pictures together before going our separate ways. I thought for sure they'd ask about the band-aid on my arm but it was never brought up.

My heart isn't ready when Reign shows up at my dorm to pick me up. Even though we discussed matching and what he would wear, I'm not prepared for how sexy he looks in the navy tux with a white shirt and bowtie that matches my dress. Reign's perfect smile lights up his face and he runs his hands over the bodice of my dress. With the mesh fabric I can feel the heat of his skin and shivers spread over my body.

"You look beautiful, Riles," he says before kissing the top of my head.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Thorn." I wink at him and hug my body to his. With our hands intertwined, we head down to the school's auditorium for the grand march.

Like everything else, prom at All Saints Academy is an over-the-top deal. The theme this year is Shooting Stars, and I don't even want to know how much money the planning committee spent to have thousands of little stars cover a midnight colored sky ceiling drape, in addition to holding the prom at the River's Edge, the nicest hotel in the area.

Carter and Leif join us with their dates and I actually don't mind talking with the other girls. They seem nice and totally out of both the guys' leagues. Like all other parties, everyone comes to Reign. We don't move much from our spot in the room all night except to dance. Reign dances with me. Fast, slow, line dance, he does it all. I'm smiling so much by the end of the night and it's all thanks to him. The last big moment of our school lives is made perfect because I get to share it with him.

"What are you thinking, Riles?" he asks me, bending to whisper in my ear while we slow dance our last dance for the night.

"That I enjoyed tonight more than I thought I ever would."

He chuckles. "You never looked forward to prom?"

I thought back to last year and going with my friends. It was fun, but this night holds an air of romance. "Thanks to someone, I was never asked to prom. This is my first time doing it right."

"I'm not even sorry, babe. Just the thought of another guy holding you like this, seeing you this dressed up for him, I would have killed him." Reign smirks, his hand coming up to cradle my face. Fucking psycho. But he's mine.

"What would you have done if I left after this year and we went our separate ways? We almost missed all of this, Reign." My breath shudders in my chest.

His eyes get a faraway look, and he holds my body tighter in his arms. "I don't know. I think I would have felt it the minute it happened. When you finally were out of my reach, I would have snapped and come back to find you. This time it would have been me tackling you to the ground."

A giggle escapes my lips. "The look on your face when I jumped you in the woods was priceless."

Reign's smile softens with the memory. "We were always meant to be, Riley. I feel it in every heartbeat and breath I take."

"Well, let's hope you feel that way still when I'm pregnant and in nine months when a baby is following us to college." I let sarcasm lace my tone.

"Think how cute she'll be though. Wearing a miniature jersey of mine with some pigtails. I bet her hair is the same color as her mommy's." Reign's eyes light up with mischievousness.

I scoff. "Yup. That it is. You are truly crazy. Monday I'm going in to get a new implant."

Reign's eyes become scarily dark, and he grabs my arm. "I'll cut out the next one too. If you put an implant in your cervix, I'll just get more creative about how I take it out."

"Reign—-"

"Don't push me, babe. I'll also do anything to keep you, Riley, so remember that. I want you. A future, college, marriage, babies. I don't care which order things happen in. You're mine and you always will be." His palm clasps the back of my neck and pulls me closer until his lips brush against my temple.

"I love you," I tell him, my hand cradling the side of his face. "I want all those things too, Reign. I'm just not ready yet. I'd at least like to experience college with you how you first talked to me about it. Us. Classes. Studying at that library that I now have saved to a Pinterest board. Our games, cheering each other on. Nights at the bar playing pool. Nights in the sweet-ass apartment your mom picked out. We have time. I want to spend it with you first before we bring your Reign clone on board."

He snorts and shakes his head, laughing. "How about a challenge, Conrad."

My brow quirks up. "What's the terms, Thorn?"

"The minute I get drafted, I get free reign to put a baby inside you."

"That shouldn't sound so good coming from your mouth." I groan in response and this time he laughs harder. "You're going to be a professional athlete. Shouldn't marriage and babies scare you?"

"Are you in or out?"

Our gazes lock and I see the hint of teasing in his eyes and the barest curve of a smile on his lips. "Fine, but don't think I won't have a favor up my sleeve when the time comes."

"I would be surprised if you didn't," he responds before kissing me.

I'm about to give him another talking to about babies and marriage and his order when my phone vibrates. I pull it out of my hidden skirt and Emma's name flashes on the screen.

EMMA: 911. Facetime needed now!

I show Reign the strange message. "I'm going to the bathroom where it's quieter. Hurrying off the dance floor, Reign follows me to the dark and empty hallway and waits while I barricade myself in the bathroom. Within a minute, the phone vibrates with an incoming call.

"What's going on?" I ask, taking in Emma's teary eyes and red cheeks.

"The ex is back," Sam answers for her and my mouth drops open.

"He took a date to your prom?"

Emma shakes her head. "He came here and waited outside to talk to me."

"In a suit!" Sam adds, her eyes big while she shakes her head. "I think he picked up manipulation notes from your man, Ril."

I laugh and the noise carries in the bathroom. "Oh my god. What are you going to do?"

"I ignored him. What do I do though if he tries again?" Her eyes move over my face.

"I guess see what he has to say. Maybe there's more to the story. Or maybe he's just a selfish ass and realized he lost a good thing. Either way, you owe it to yourself to find out. Then you can let it go for good before leaving for school next fall."

We're all going to Michigan and nothing makes me happier than knowing I'll be reunited with my best friends. Sam plans to take some time off from hockey, but Emma and I want to play.

"Yeah, okay. You're right." She sighs and rubs her temples.

"Now go have fun! You look beautiful, Em. I'm sure you broke his heart tonight just by breathing."

We exchange a few good stories of the night before quickly hanging up. The door to the bathroom opens and Reign pops his head in.

"Good?"

I nod. "All good." I notice the line of girls once I step out of the doors. "Reign."

He shrugs. "You needed privacy to help your friends. They're fine."

I keep my head down while I follow him back to the dance area. "Are you ready to leave soon?"

Reign stops in his tracks and exhales a sigh of relief. "I've been ready since we got here. But I also don't know if I want to go to the after party. I want you all to myself."

I smile and want to tell him I'm ready to leave right this second when my phone vibrates again. A local number flashes on my screen, one I don't recognize. It seems too late for a solicitor call. I frown and Reign takes the phone from my hands.

"Hello?" His face goes from pissed to turning pale. He eyes me with worry. "We're on our way."

"Reign?" I touch his arm, but he captures my hand in his. "That was the hospital. I'm sorry, Riley, your dad was admitted after a car crash."

"No." I shake my head, in denial, my heart feeling like its being shredded. I can't be alone. He has to be alright.

"Let's go, babe. I'll drive." Reign wraps his suit jacket around my shoulders and holds me to his side while we walk out the doors. "I got you."

I nod and let him lead. I let him strap me in his car. I don't blink and I don't cry the whole way there. Reign holds my hand in his, brushing the knuckles across his lips. "He's going to be okay. You're dad's a soldier, a fighter. They said he wasn't in the ICU so that's a good thing."

Reign reassures me the whole way there while I wallow in grief. My dad is all I have left of my family. It's been me and him for so many years. I should have been with him. I should have been saving this time with him until I had to leave for college. My frustration builds until I feel like a failure of a daughter. This whole year I've been living and barely taking the chances to come home. What if I never get to talk to him again? My heart shatters a little under the weight of my guilt. He has to be alright. My eyes slide to Reign and the pain builds. This might be the one thing that really tears us apart this time.