All That Remains Read online

  As a kid, playing pee wee football all the way into middle school, Jules recalls how gifted West was. Everyone wanted him on their team and everyone said he’d be the next big thing. Jules can’t help the tears of pride that fill her eyes as she listens for West’s strong voice to shout out the play call. As he hands off the ball for the first snap, she holds her breath and cheers as the receiver rushes for seven yards.

  She blinks swiftly to clear the teary haze as Mindy leans close to her. “Think you can handle being the star quarterback’s girl?”

  “Five years.” Jules shakes her head numbly as she watches another play. “He didn’t play for five years and he walked right into the starting QB spot. I…”

  “He had motivation.” The tone of Mindy’s voice pulls Jules' focus from the field. “He had two goals coming out of Crestdale - win you back and prove to you he was worth another shot.”

  Jules shakes her head. “He’s worth it with or without football.”

  “I know that and you know that, but I don’t think he did.”

  The thought tugs at Jules' emotions as she settles in to watch this side of the man she loves. Her eyes stayed glued to West throughout the game. She feels every sack he takes as if it were her getting run over. Every scramble and forced throw catches her breath until the game is done. Four hours later she’s running down the stadium steps as the clock winds down and West is coming off the field after another brilliant touchdown throw.

  “Hey, Rutledge!” she shouts to his back as he stands and goofs off with a few players while the extra point is kicked.

  He looks around before he turns and sees her. His face is red, his hair is a sweaty mess, but he has never looked sexier to her than at this moment. Every movement he made on the field today was filled with confidence and strength. It’s something she’s never seen in him before. The smile on his face and the way his eyes light up as he winks at her and holds his wrist up to point out the time all work towards confirming her suspicions. He is in his element; this is what he loves and she wants to cry with happiness at seeing him living out one of his dreams. He isn’t playing ball because he thought it would get her back. He’s playing because it’s part of who he is.

  She waits at the fence as the final seconds tick off and West disappears into the melee of players, coaches, and press. The rivals shake hands and speak to each other while another group of players kneel and say a prayer. As the band plays the fight song behind her, and the crowd cheers, she sees West giving an interview one reporter after another as he tries to move. Finally, he is free and he locks his eyes on Jules as he makes his way to the fence, fist bumping and patting the butts of players who approach him.

  “You lied to me!” she accuses when he’s almost to her and his brows rise. “You said you’d get to take ‘some’ snaps. You’re the freaking starter, West Rutledge, and your brother filled me in on how you’re on track to break records.”

  He ignores her and reaches over the fence, pulling her face to his as he bends down and presses a kiss to her lips.

  “And you are gorgeous.”

  “West?”

  “It’s what I do. I play football. That’s nothing.”

  “It’s amazing!” She can see the hesitance to accept her accolades so she tones it down and switches to teasing him instead. “I’m very impressed and you should know it’s extremely sexy.”

  “It is, huh? I might have showed off a little for a certain girl I knew would be watching.”

  “So what you’re saying is I should come to every game so you can cream the puny opponents?”

  “It would help,” he agrees, kissing her again. “By the way, it’s not fair for you to text me things like that when I can’t see you, it kills me. If we’re going with boat analogies, though, I will respond with you are my moon. You are the gravity that pulls me wherever you go.”

  “You do know the moon isn’t part of a boat, right?”

  “Stickler for details, are we? Fine,” West tilts his head toward the sky, his face the picture of concentration. “You, Buffy, are the waves in the ocean-”

  Jules bites her lip to keep from laughing and West gives her a sharp, yet playful, stare.

  “No? My rudder? My map? The wheel? All of these things guide me.”

  Full-blown laughter erupts from Jules as she tugs on West’s jersey, their faces only inches apart.

  “Damn, this is hard. You took the good ones. Can’t I just say that I would follow you forever if you let me?”

  Jules sobers. “No. You’re not following me. We’re taking this journey side by side this time.”

  “Hell, that’s what I should have said,” West whispers. They are standing in the midst of a still crowded stadium, a fence between them, and yet they are all alone. Two people deeply in love and not afraid anymore.

  Twenty-Six

  Jules

  The next day, West shows up at Jules dorm at 9:30 with an armful of roses, a duffle bag, and a smile. Jules is still in her tank top and baggy pajama bottoms when she answers the door with her hair in a mass of tangles and a frown on her face.

  “I’m pretty sure when you dropped me off after midnight last night we didn’t make plans for anything before noon.” She yawns and steps back to let him in.

  “Hi to you, too.”

  “Hi,” she replies, leaving him to shut the door himself and crawling back into bed. She pulls her pillow over her face when the mattress sinks below her hip as West sits down.

  “I wanted the whole day with my girl,” West tells her sweetly as he plucks the pillow from her hands. “You’re still not a morning person, huh?”

  Jules groans and rolls to her back, looking up at West’s smile. “Do you have coffee in that bag of yours?”

  “No.”

  “Then, no. I am still not a morning person.”

  West laughs at her as she closes her eyes. “Come on, gorgeous, get up and get dressed and we’ll go get you some coffee.” He tugs on her arm and Jules sits forward reluctantly. She leans against his back and rests her head on his shoulder.

  “How are you awake so early on a Sunday? And so…”

  “Functioning?” He chuckles. “I get one day a week with you, baby. I’m making the most of it.”

  Those words wake Jules up as effectively as a cold bucket of water. “One day?”

  “Hear me out?”

  “What do you mean one day?”

  “Jules?” West scoots back some to a more comfortable position and Jules can better see his face now. He doesn’t look happy about what he has to say and she begins to worry he’s going to backslide. He’s going to run, again.

  She shakes her head as she slides back against the wall and brings her knees to her chest. “West, I can’t do this back and forth thing. Don’t tell me you’re scared of screwing up again. I swear you will not like what happens if you pull that line with me.”

  He laughs and Jules wants to punch him for making light of her concern.

  “Buffy, no, baby. I… look, Carson and I were talking and he made me realize something the other night that I hadn’t thought of.” Jules considers punching Carson as West takes a deep breath.

  “A year ago we rushed into a relationship after the tornado and while it was as close to perfect as it could possibly be on the outside, we both know there were a lot of things wrong with it. Not the relationship, but us. I don’t want us to mess this up this time. I want to date you. To win you back the right way.”

  Jules relaxes a little. “You’ve already won me back.”

  “I have, but I haven’t. First of all, you ran to me. I’m thoroughly pissed at myself for not being to one to run to you. I have a lot to make up, love.”

  “I thought we agreed we were putting that in the past.”

  “Yeah? Kinda like you just did? The moment I hesitated and asked you to listen to me you jumped to the conclusion that I was scared.” West points out and Jules feels guilty.

  "Sometimes you can't quiet the monsters in your he
ad," she quotes and West grins, immediately recognizing the words from one of his letters.

  “No fair, using my own words against me.”

  “You’re right, though. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. We need to let the past go if we’re going to move forward.”

  “Our past will make us stronger, Jules. You and I, we’re going to be invincible.”

  She smiles at his sweet words and then frowns at a new thought. “Speaking of past, my dad and I need to have a conversation.” West doesn’t reply so she continues. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me the whole truth, West. They knew what your leaving did to me and they said nothing.”

  He stares thoughtfully at the wall opposite them, the painted cinder block is covered by a collage of pictures and Jules can almost see the wheels spinning in his head.

  “I had a lot of time to think about this when I was at Crestdale. Try not to be too hard on them. Your dad only did what he thought was best. He was protecting you.”

  “By hurting you? That’s not acceptable and he hurt me, too.”

  “Jules, I was mad at first. My own father practically had me committed to a loony bin.” Jules gasps in horror at the mental picture she receives at his words and West chuckles. “I’m kidding, babe. It wasn’t that bad, not really. My point is I needed help and if it wasn’t for your dad I don’t know if I would have gotten it. I’ll agree it was a little extreme of both of our fathers, but look at us now.”

  He picks her hand up from her lap and kisses her palm. “Like I said, we’re invincible.” He winks.

  Moving to her knees, she slides to West’s side and wraps him in a sideways hug. Everything he said warms her heart enough that she decides to drop any thought of calling her parents right now. She doesn’t want to ruin her reunion with West by fighting with her parents.

  “So, tell me your brilliant plan. How are we going to get to see each other with our busy schedules?”

  “Sundays and game days. I know it’s only thirty minutes, but that’s an hour back and forth for either of us and, with my practice schedule on top of school and whatever you have going on, that’s too much. You need to enjoy school and your friends, too.”

  “So we only get weekends?”

  “When we can, yes.” Jules groans and he squeezes her arm that’s wrapped around his waist. “We have a chance to start fresh, right? Let’s take it. I’m going to call you and text you and woo you for the next three weeks. That’s two away games and one home, and then playoffs, too. We’ll make plans for game days or Sundays and we’ll talk like teens the rest of the time.”

  “That kind of sucks.”

  “Yeah, it does, but it’s kinda cool too, don’t you think? Do you know how excited I was all day yesterday waiting to see you? I was a kid on Christmas morning and we’d only gone two days without seeing each other. A whole week is going to be-”

  “Miserable?” she points out with a pout.

  “Sweet misery, Buffy. I’m looking forward to the torture.”

  “Did you turn into a masochist while we were apart?”

  “Maybe,” he teases, wagging his dark brows.

  She presses a kiss to his shoulder before falling onto her back again with a groan. “Okay, three weeks, it can’t be that bad and then once the season is over we’ll have more time, right?”

  “Yep. And playoffs.”

  “And playoffs,” she repeats with a smile, knowing that will add two, maybe even three more weeks to their dating woes.

  Taking her by surprise, West jumps onto the bed and straddles her body underneath him. His hands situated on either side of her head as he stares into her eyes. “This is going to work, Juliet Marie. Starting today.”

  She laughs at the use of her full name and leans up onto her elbows so she can press a quick kiss to his lips as he towers over her.

  “So then what’s on the agenda today?” she asks, looking at his clothing as he sits back on his legs and she works her way out from under him. He’s wearing gym shorts and a football tee and Jules gets a little nervous.

  “Today, we get a little bit of everything.” He hops off the bed and picks up his bag on the floor producing a protein bar and bottled water. “Fuel up, babe. We’re going for a workout and then I thought we would spend the day at the lake.”

  “I’m excited by the lake part, but a workout?”

  “Yep. Austin told me he helped you with your workouts so I figured I would pick up his slack and keep you in shape.”

  “And this is what you call a win-Jules-back date?” she points out sarcastically.

  “No, Buffy, you said I’ve already won you. This is a take care of my girl date.”

  “Touche’.”

  * * *

  They spend the morning jogging and then competing with each other on the circuit equipment at a local park. West pushes her to be better and faster with every snarky comment he makes and Jules rises to the challenge. When they’re wiped out physically they head to the lake an hour away, eat street tacos from a food truck, and lay on the shore all afternoon. They agree, for today, to talk about good things. West tells her about football, his plans to start for A&M next year, and about Mindy and Carson’s New Year’s Eve wedding.

  “So, I’m asking you now. What are you doing New Year’s Eve?”

  She scrunches her face, trying to look thoughtful as she playfully responds, “Hmmm, let’s see. This is the 4th of October sooo, we have roughly three months and I don’t usually plan -” Her rambling is interrupted by West grabbing her waist and tickling her.

  “Gah!” She laughs and falls back on the blanket they’re using.

  West rolls over her and continues to dig his hand into the curve of her hip, right where she is most tender while he asks again, “What are you doing for New Year’s Eve, Buffy?”

  She bucks at him trying to fight him off, but he is too strong for her and all too soon she is giving in.

  “Okay, okay. I’m going to a wedding with you,” she cries, her breath coming in gasps as his tickle assault continues. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

  “Are you sure?” He asks slowly, his eyes narrowing, his lips fighting against the pull to smile.

  “Positive.” His hands still and she takes a deep breath, looking at his face above hers. “You can have all of my days, West. As long as you want them.”

  West’s brown eyes soften and he lowers his face inches from hers. ”How about forever?”

  “You can have it.”

  “Good answer,” he whispers into her mouth as their lips touch.

  * * *

  “One twelve hour day a week isn’t nearly enough time with you,” Jules complains as she’s talking to West two weeks later.

  She’s only been able to see him once in two weeks due to an away game this past Saturday that kept him out of town until late. Tomorrow’s game is away as well, meaning they will have one more day to be miserable. As much as they both wanted to sneak in a visit or two during the week, they’d had midterms to study for. So they kept to the plan he’d offered and spent last Sunday together all day, just as the one before and just like they plan to do this weekend.

  “I know, Buff. A few more weeks and then I’m all yours. All the time.”

  Jules can hear the exhaustion in his voice. He’s been working three times as hard as he was before, trying to prove to the coaches at A&M he’s ready.

  “All the time, huh? You mean until spring camp and then summer camp.”

  “Would you want me to quit?” he asks out of the blue.

  “No! How could you even think that?” she jumps at him immediately. “West, don’t you dare ever quit football again! You love it.”

  “I do, but I -”

  “Nope! Don’t even say it. I would never ask that of you. Football is part of who you are and I love it.”

  He doesn’t answer and she listens, hearing his deep even breathing. “West?” she asks. “West!” she says a little louder and he grunts.
<
br />   “Hmmm? Oh, babe, I’m sorry. I need to get to sleep. This week has been killer and the bus ride was crap.”

  “Nooo, I’m sorry. I should have let you go a long time ago. Get some sleep, Number Twelve. I’ll be checking in for updates, so you better bring your A game. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Night, gorgeous.”

  They hang up and Jules falls to her bed thinking of Sunday morning when West will show up at her door with some sort of amazing surprise date for her. She can’t wait to see him. Sunday’s have become the best day of the week.

  Twenty-Seven

  West

  There is nothing more appealing to West than the sight of Jules when she is laughing. He is standing in the large backyard of the Sigma fraternity house watching Jules as she plays volleyball with her friends, Jeff, and several others. He can’t help but smile. Two weeks ago he’d been trying to force himself to let her go and now here they are. It’s one a.m., he’s wiped out from a hard played game and a long, hot bus ride home, and yet here is he at a frat party because he couldn’t stand not seeing her for another seven hours.

  “You’re so whipped,” he mumbles to himself, shaking his head and heading towards the court.

  He navigates the groups of party goers with expert ease, dodging the groups he’s sure will try to stop and talk to him and giving others brief waves and nods. His internal GPS is set to Jules and nothing will detour him from that course. When the game is between serves, he sneaks to the back side of the pit, holding his hand up to wave off anyone from giving him away as he rushes Jules. Grabbing her by the waist, West picks her up and swings her around as she squeals.

  “Room for one more?” he asks, laughing as Jules recognizes him.

  “West!”

  Jules spins, jumping up and into his arms the moment he places her bare feet in the sand; her sand-covered hands grasp his neck and pull his lips to hers.

  “We’re in the middle of a game, Romeo. Take your girl off the court.”

  Recognizing Jeff’s voice, West lifts his hand and flips his best friend off as he tightens his grip on Jules to move them out of the way.