Chapter 32 Regrets
"I know it. But I've also grown up. Josie, have I done anything to hurt you the last few days? Have I teased you or flirted with anyone while in your presence?" He reasoned, wiping the tears from my face with his thumb.
"No, but-"
"Josie. You are mine! You always have been. You were meant to be my wife!" He practically shouts as he shakes my shoulders gently. "You were supposed to end up with me! And if it had been up to me, you wouldn't have even met James!"
"Huh?" I blink up at him in confusion. There is no way in hell he just said I was supposed to marry him. That doesn't even make any sense! What the hell is he talking about?
Rick grits his teeth and pushes his hair from his face once again. "That's why we were there in the first place. The night I met you. My parents and yours were going to sign a contract. But I guess my Dad backed out... I don't know why! You were meant to be mine! And now I want what was promised to me before my Dad told me you weren't good enough for me!"
I'm not sure what to think about this. My mind is spinning a million miles an hour trying to justify what he is saying to me. There was going to be a contract? And his dad backed out? Why? I don't remember any of this.
All those years of him picking on me... Of him telling me I was nothing... I... I don't understand. Why is he telling me this now? He's come to take back what was meant to be his?
"I... I can't deal with this right now, Rick. I already told James I'd give him another chance," I whisper. "I need to leave. I don't even know what you want from me! You never once showed any interest in me until now! How the hell am I supposed to deal with this?"
My mind is buzzing with so many things I just can't.... It's too much!
He was meant to be my husband? Richard Kingston? The son of a rock legend was meant to end up with me? But then he had been with all those other girls... just to hurt me. To make me feel small...
And then his dad backed out of the contract. Why didn't anyone tell me about this? Mom and Dad never mentioned a contract! Shouldn't I have had a say in this?
Mom and Dad never said anything about a contract! Was I too young? They died when I was 16. That should be old enough to have mentioned it once or twice! I was old enough to know what that means... And then tell them there was no way in hell I was going to marry Richard!
But I know Richard Kingston the adult. He's not as much as a playboy as he was in high school. At least that's the gossip I pick up here and there. But that doesn't mean he doesn't end up entangled in some scandal... but is picture is always out of the media.
"Josie, please. I can take care of you and your sisters. I don't even need to wait until we get married. I can bring you all home with me right now! You will be safe!" He claims, squeezing my shoulders gently.
I blink my eyes. "I'm sorry Rick. I can't. I promised James..."
"Little dancer, you are going to regret giving him a second chance. You know it! You belong with me," Rick argues. "I want you back! Give me that chance to prove to you I'm a better man than a confused teen who was told he wasn't allowed to want you!"
I shake my head sadly. I really don't know why I'm feeling so uneasy about all this, but I promised James. I still love James.
Rick... He tortured me until I turned 16! And then I never saw him ever again. I thought I was done with him. I was relieved.
"I can't Rick. I still love him. You never loved me... James he-"
"Josie, he's lying to you! You have to see that! Why won't you listen to me?" Rick growls out in frustration.
"Because the first time you saw me, you said, "You are not good enough to be friends with me,” and then you went to flirt with Olivia just to hurt me," I whisper.
"I'm sorry. I was 14! Josie, I've grown up. You belong to with me!" he pleads. "I'm different now. You are too! Don't do something you will grow to regret!"
I'm tired and cold, and there are just too many emotions running through my mind. At least I know why he knew everything he did, and maybe even why he was looking into my parents.
"Please let me go, Rick. I'm tired. I've had a helluva day. I just want to go to sleep," I sigh.
"I'll let you go, little dancer. But just know you are mine, and I'm not going to give up on you!" he assures.
A chill runs down my back as I walk away from Richard Kingston. I did the right thing, right?