Breaking Away Read online

  She dropped the mic to her side and then Claire came running on the stage, taking it as she flashed a wide smile before running back off stage. The light came on as Reese moved her body in position. When the music started to something slow, he didn’t recognize the song, but it didn’t stop him from listening and watching as Reese moved across the stage effortlessly. The song talked about needing your love, about having fear and dreaming about having the person she loved. He could have thought he had heard a techno version of the song, but this one was slow, acoustic maybe, and so beautiful, but not as beautiful as her. When she turned for what seemed like hours, she stopped, her eyes locked on his as she ran her hands roughly down her body before she kicked her leg up, grabbing it and falling into a split, before rolling around until she was on her back, arching it.

  When she stood, tears started to fall down her face and she turned quickly, giving her back to the stage as she continued to move. He knew she was hiding her tears and he wasn’t sure anyone else had seen them, but he had. Standing, he went to the side of the stage and pulled himself up on it, walking towards her as she continued to dance slowly to the music. When she turned, she stopped, her brown eyes drowning in her tears and he reached out, taking her hand in his. He slowly spun her in and then back out before stepping close to her. Her eyes were locked on his, her lip wobbling, as he placed his hands on her hips, lifting her slowly into the air. She let out a sob and then wrapped all her limbs around him, crying into his neck.

  He hated when she cried. Holding her close, he said, “Hey, I’m trying to channel my inner Johnny Castle here.”

  She laughed against his neck before pulling back to look down at him. “I can’t believe I am saying this, since Dirty Dancing is my favorite movie, but I don’t want Johnny, I want Phillip.”

  He grinned up at her, his eyes bright as he said, “You have me. Always have.”

  Her lip wobbled again and then she sucked in a breath before whispering, “I’m so sorry.”

  He shook his head. “I’m over that phrase, Reese. Tell me something I don’t know.”

  She slowly bit into her lip, her tears rushing down her cheeks as she held onto him like he was a life preserver. “I fucked up. I was wrong and you were right, don’t get used to me saying that either cause it probably will never happen again.”

  He scoffed, wrapping his arms tighter around her waist. “We will see about that.”

  She leaned her head against his and took in a deep breath. “You’re right, we will, because I’m not letting you go, I’m not pushing you away, because I can’t. I need you. I need us. I need Claire. I know I’m hardheaded as hell and apparently, I hide pieces of myself from not only the world but even myself. I might be horrible with words when it comes to telling you how I feel and there is a good chance that I may not be the best for you, but I’m the best when I’m with you. I promise I’ll never walk away as long as you promise too because, if we are apart, I’ll never be the best I can be. I love you, Phillip, and I want to build a life with you. I want to try.”

  He closed his eyes as his heart lurched in his chest. He wanted to laugh because she might think she wasn’t good with words, but she just said everything he needed to hear. His hands were shaking at her sides, and he had to be careful or he was going to lose it in front of the many eyes that were watching him. Moving his nose against hers, he said, “I want all that and then some.”

  She went to say something but he clamped his mouth onto her, tangling his hands in her hair as he drank from her lips like she was a cup of water and he was a thirsty man in the desert. When they parted, she held a finger up and said, “About this some. I don’t want to get married or anything like that. I just want to build—”

  “Shut up,” he said with a shake of his head and kissed her again. She tried to get away, but soon she realized that he wasn’t done and melted into him. Pulling away from her lips, he smiled as he said, “I want your forever, Reese. I know that makes you nervous, but we can go on your time. I don’t care because as long as I have you, what else do I need?”

  “Kids?”

  He laughed. “We have Claire, and we are young. If down the road you want to pop one out, baby I’m there, and you better believe we are going to do a lot of practicing for that baby.”

  She closed her eyes as she let out a gut-busting laugh. He laughed along with her until he couldn’t take it anymore and then crashed his mouth to her again, needing to feel her lips on his. When they parted, not only because this was getting too hot, but because they were standing in front of hundreds of people, Phillip backed up and then dropped to one knee. The look that came across her face was priceless, and he had to hold in his laughter as he said, “Reese Allen, I love you.”

  “What the hell are you doing, get up,” she whispered in a demanding way, but he ignored her and her family, who was gasping and basically losing their shit. He was pretty sure Mrs. Allen was on the her knees thanking God, while Harper and Piper hugged tightly, tears welling up in their eyes.

  Holding in his laughter, he said, “And I would love the chance to date you, so what do you say?”

  Her shoulders relax as she scoffed. “Are you serious?”

  “Heck yeah, it’s baby steps with you.”

  She laughed as she rolled her eyes and then pulled him up off his knee. When she nodded her head, everyone lost it as she said, “Yes, of course. I sort of love you.”

  “Good,” he said, mushing his nose against her. “Cause I love you too.”

  She gave him a quick peck and he turned, holding up her hand and said, “She said yes!”

  When she pulled back, punching him in the arm, he laughed, scooping her up in his arms and kissing her loudly on the lips. “I’m gonna kick your ass for that!”

  “I look forward to it, sweetheart.”

  “They think we are getting married!” she said, her lips still in a frown.

  “Yeah, but we will, one day.”

  “Like in years!” she exclaimed, still shocked he had did that, but he liked that. He wanted to keep her on her toes. She sure as hell kept him on his.

  With a content smile, he said, “That’s fine with me, as long as I get to spend every single second, minute, and hour with you.”

  “And me!” Claire chimed in.

  He smiled as he put Reese back on her feet before saying, “Of course you. I couldn’t live a single second without you either.”

  “Good! So we are like a family now, right?”

  Reese smiled as she met his gaze, and then she slowly nodded. “Yeah.”

  The look that came over Claire’s face stunned him as she wrapped her arms around Reese, hugging her tightly. When they parted, he wrapped his arm around Claire’s neck, hugging her in close, before he reached for Reese, holding her in the nook of his arm, kissing her temple. He watched as Reese shared a smile with Claire before snuggling close into him, closing her eyes as a blissful look came over her beautiful face. Holding them felt so perfect, so right, and he knew that it wouldn’t be easy loving these two. They were going to drive him nuts, piss him off, and gang up on him, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He needed them. He was theirs for the rest of his life. When Reese looked up at him and gave him a sneaky grin, he wondered if she felt the same way he did…

  Complete.

  Two years later…

  “WANNA GO for a quickie in the bathroom?” Phillip whispered in her ear, and she waved him off.

  “Shh, we are singing,” Reese scolded as everyone sang together.

  “Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Dimitri, happy birthday to you!”

  Everyone cheered as Dimitri blew out the candles of his cake before dropping his face into the icing for a big mouthful. Piper and Erik laughed as they pulled him up, wiping and licking the icing off his cute little face before posing for a picture. Reese stood with her arms wrapped around Phillip’s waist, a satisfied grin on her face as she watched the festivities happen before her eyes.