Copyright © 2013 by Kelly Elliott
All rights reserved.
Cover Designer: Angie Fields, i love it design studio
Editor and Interior Designer: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Visit my website at http://www.authorkellyelliott.blogspot.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-9887074-6-7
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Epilogue
Thank You
Faithful Playlist
High School
“Heather?”
I heard Ari say my name, but I was so numb that I couldn’t even turn around.
They left me.
I felt a hand on my shoulder as I closed my eyes. Why did I ever tell Ari about my secret place? It was the only spot I could escape to when I needed time to think.
“Heather, Ells and I are really worried, sweets. Please come back to my house with me. You can’t be all alone tonight.”
I felt a chill run through my whole body. How am I going to sleep in that house, knowing they’ll never come back?
I tried to talk, but nothing would come out. I looked up toward Ari as tears ran down my face.
Ari dropped to her knees and grabbed my hands. She put her head on my lap as she started to cry. “I’m so sorry, sweets. God, you know I would do anything to bring back your parents. Anything. Just please tell me what to do, Heather. What can I do to help you?”
I smiled as I looked down at her beautiful dark brown hair. Ari was filled with so much spit and fire but also with so much love. I knew there wasn’t a damn thing she wouldn’t do for any one of us.
“Will y’all stay with me tonight? I can’t leave the house, but…I can’t stay there alone either,” I said as I began to stroke Ari’s hair.
She sat up and smiled at me. “A slumber party?”
I let out a small giggle. “Yeah, a slumber party. You, me, Amanda, and Ells.”
Ari stood up and reached out her hand for mine.
“Will you give me just two more minutes?” I asked as I glanced back to the water.
“Sure, sweets. I’ll be waiting in my Jeep. I’ll go ahead and call Amanda and Ells, too,” Ari said as she rubbed my back before leaving me to my thoughts.
I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath, and held it for a few seconds. I would never forget the first time Daddy brought me to this gazebo. I’d felt like such a princess. He’d told me that this was our special place—a place where we could always come and feel each other’s presence, a place to feel safe when we were scared, lost, or lonely.
“Daddy…it isn’t working. I feel so lost…so completely and utterly lonely without you and Mom. I can’t do this. I can’t do this by myself.”
A warm feeling captured my whole body as I thought of my father’s last words to me.
“Princess, you’ll never find anyone who will love you like your mother and I do. Remember to guard your heart, and don’t let just anyone in. To love strongly is a great thing. To be loved just as strongly in return…well, that is a miracle in itself.”
I would never love anyone again like I loved my parents. No, I’ll guard my heart and never let anyone in, so I’ll never be hurt again.
I stood up and took one last look at the river. Closing my eyes, I decided right then that I wouldn’t cry anymore. It did no good. They were gone, and they were never coming back.
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m sorry I couldn’t get there in time to be with you and Mommy one last time. I love you both. Good-bye.”
I slowly turned and started to walk toward Ari’s Jeep.
All because I wanted to go on a stupid date. If I’d just gone with my parents to Marble Falls instead of insisting on meeting them there the next day, I would’ve been driving, and they would be alive today.
This is all my fault.
Sophomore Year of College
“Dude, how many times do I have to tell you? You’re gonna get in trouble,” Jeff said as we walked onto the football field for practice.
I let out a laugh. “Jeff, I’m careful. I’m not going to get a girl pregnant. Besides, I’m too damn young to settle down with just one girl. I wanna have fun.”
Jeff rolled his eyes as he looked over at Gunner, who was talking to Smitty.
“Gunner agrees. You have to take it easy, Josh. You’re a fucking manwhore.”
When my eyes darted toward the bleachers, I saw Victoria sitting there. Shit. I let out a sigh as I threw my stuff down on the ground.
Jeff glanced over to where I was looking.
“Your latest? She’s cute. What’s her name?” Jeff asked as he turned back to me, raising his eyebrows.
“Fuck off, dude. I actually liked this one, but she’s so damn clingy. Gonna have to break it off.”
“Yeah, they tend to get that way after you sleep with them. You’ll have to forgive them, Josh. Most girls don’t put out for just a one-night stand.”
I smiled at Jeff, shaking my head. “Most of the girls I meet have no problem with a one-night stand.”
“You ain’t all there.” Jeff pushed my shoulder back and started running off toward Gunner.
When I glanced over at Victoria again, I decided to just get it over with. As I walked toward her, I noticed her beautiful, long dark brown hair. She had it down today, and the thoughts running through my head were making my dick rock-hard. I’d hooked up with her more than any other girl, and she knew it. Something was missing though. I just wasn’t feeling it with her.