Happily Ever After: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set

by Piper Rayne

  I looked back down at my comic book. “Yeah, it was my dad’s.”

  “Tell him he needs a new one.” He smiled as he rummaged around in his bag for something.

  I stared at him a moment—ridiculous hair, dimpled cheeks. I can see why the girls drooled over him. I didn’t. As far as I was concerned, he was just like the rest of them. He looked up at me and I immediately felt myself blush as I looked back down at my comic book for a moment before responding to his statement. “He’s dead.” The smile he had instantly dropped.

  “Shit. I’m sorry, I didn’t know—”

  “You wouldn’t have,” I interrupted him, focusing back on my comic. From then on, it was awkward. No other words were said because that’s what I do. I make it awkward, even when I didn’t mean to.

  That’s how it was for the next two weeks. Him sitting right next to me in the library, neither of us saying a word to each other. Granted, I had no idea why. He spent the last three years ignoring my entire existence and the only time he ever said anything to me was a simple ‘thanks’ when I picked up everyone’s dirty towels and jockstraps off the floor in the locker room, which was part of my job as the equipment manager, apparently.

  8

  Perrie

  The more I lived with Ash, the more I remembered why I disliked him, but more so, why I liked him. He didn’t seem to recall that brief connection we had. He didn’t seem to know that we hung out… a lot by the time we got to the university. Of course, he wouldn’t remember me, I was just the one-night stand that night in Vegas, not the shy emo wannabe kid from high school.

  Don’t get me wrong, he’s a nice guy, not so bad for a roommate. It’s mostly because he was a manwhore. Every night I came home from work and there was a different whore in the common area. We barely talked—mostly because of my working hours—but there were times I came home and he and the whore of the night were in the living room practically dry humping each other.

  With Ash being occupied every damn night, it made me decide to finally begin a casual fling with Felix. He was good-looking, a huge flirt, seemed to care about his family, was a complete dumbfuck, and he liked bees, which was odd since he was allergic to honey.

  Three more months, I kept telling myself. If there was anything I was looking forward to, it was the upcoming garden show. I waited all year for this, and sure it was mostly middle-aged people, but I didn’t care. Gardening was how I found my comfort zone and helped me ease stress.

  I got home extra early from work and got changed. I got out my best pair of gardening gloves and tools then went to prune the garden again. Ash was already out there smoking and his eyes widened when he saw me before looking down at the direction I was going. I too looked down at my little garden and practically stopped breathing.

  They were ruined. All of the flowers were ruined. I started to think about what could’ve happened. What could have destroyed them? Did something in the air destroy them? Did I accidentally use bleach instead of water? Even I knew that was impossible.

  “Yeah... about that...” Ash came up to me, looking sheepish. The expression on his face said it all.

  “I asked for one fucking thing, and you couldn’t even do that!” I bent down assessing the damage of my now ruined garden. I looked up into the unconcerned eyes of Ash, who was a complete piece of shit, and hugely uncaring about what he did... again. He lit up another cigarette and took a moment to blow smoke before finally acknowledging me. He shrugged. That was it. A shrug.

  I stood up, hands balled ready to rub that disgusting cigarette into his probably bleached asshole. I took a few deep breaths, before trying to act rationally. There weren’t many things I enjoyed or cared about in life, but gardening and my almost-ready van were the top of the list. “You know how much this meant to me.” I found myself whispering because if I said it out loud then the tears would come and he would probably enjoy that. He took a step toward me and I immediately stepped back. “Just don’t, you’ve done enough.”

  I finished picking up the rest of the now shit garden and threw them in the trash before going inside and slamming the door. I went straight to my room, making sure to slam that door even harder. I stood against the door for a few moments before sliding down and before I knew it, I started crying. I know what you’re thinking, who cries over a garden?

  9

  Ash

  Who cries over a garden? I asked myself as she went inside and slammed the door. I too went inside and slammed the door as well, because fuck her, that’s why. After a moment, the guilt set in. I backed my bike over them by accident. I didn’t mean to destroy her garden—at least that type of garden. What can I say, I’m a guy with a dick? I went up to my room and was just about to turn on the light when the glow from her room caught my attention. Our apartment layout was U-shaped, which meant our bedrooms faced each other as did our balconies. I left the light off as I stepped closer to the window and watched her. Crying.

  She was crying. Fuuuuuck.

  I grabbed my keys off the nightstand and headed out. It was almost midnight so I doubt any place would be open but I had to at least try.

  An hour later I was standing outside her bedroom door, holding... something as I knocked on her door and waited. It was damn near one in the morning so I didn’t even expect her to be up. I was about to leave the item at her door when it suddenly opened and she looked at me wide-eyed. She was in a silk robe, skin flushed like I just disturbed her. Wait, was someone else here? That would be shocking. I never saw her with anyone and only occasionally saw the so-called boyfriend. I stared at her, not saying anything.

  “What?”

  I blinked a few times before realizing why I was standing there and held out the potted plant. She stared at it as if it was completely foreign to her. “It’s a…” I paused trying to remember what the card said. “Crouton.”

  She looked like she wanted to smile. Who knew she actually had a smile. “Croton,” she corrected me. She took the pot gently from me, and I stood awkwardly at her door as she placed it on a small table in her room.

  “I figured you could plant it. I mean, I know it won’t replace the ones ruined but…”

  She smiled again. “It’s more of an indoor plant but thank you. I appreciate the gesture.” I was going to say more but an impatient knock on the door stole my attention. Who the fuck is here this time of night? She looked at me nervously before she rushed over to the door and opened it. “I didn’t think you were coming,” she loudly whispered.

  “I had time,” someone drunkenly said. I watched the guy walk in and stroll past her, already taking off his shirt. The smell of cheap vodka wafted in with him. He didn’t so much as notice I was there before heading straight to her room. I’ve seen him here before, but he was never here for more than fifteen minutes, and I’m sure ten of those fifteen was him trying to find his own dick.

  “Thank you for the plant, it was really nice,” she muttered, looking almost embarrassed.

  “Not a problem.” I walked to the front door and gave her one final look before shutting the door behind me. I didn’t go inside my room, not yet. I went back outside and leaned against the side of the house and lit up a cigarette and breathed in the night air. I wasn’t even done with my smoke before the door that led outside opened, and out stumbled the same guy that was just up in her room, acting like he just gave her the best fuck of her life. A car pulled up, he got in and took off. I smirked. That was it?

  I finished my smoke before finally heading into my room. The light flowing from her bedroom easily distinguishable. I was about to climb into bed when I saw her and froze.

  She always kept the shades drawn, but this time they weren’t. She was in bed on her back, robe still on. I watched as she gently parted her lips as one hand moved inside her robe. I was transfixed as I watched her tease her nipples, her other hand making its way down her body as her legs parted. I stared.

  I know I shouldn’t have but I stared as I watched her get herself off, my own dick
hardening, but I didn’t dare touch it. This was about her need, the need she clearly didn’t get from splint-dick earlier. I watched as her breathing picked up, her hand between her legs making her moan. Then I watched as she arched her back, her skin practically glowing as her orgasm tore through her and the small whimpers—I’m sure she was making—escaped her lips. Her hand slowed and a small smile spread across her lips. She softly sighed before opening her eyes, where they met mine. Her eyes widened at the realization that I just watched her make herself come. Her emotions quickly went from shocked to mortified, to freak-out mode all within three seconds. She gasped as she jumped up, heading for the window to shut the blinds, but it was too late. I had already seen her, and now I wanted her.

  10

  Perrie

  I let the entire weekend go by before I got up the courage to leave my room and yet I was still absolutely mortified. Maybe it was all in my head. Maybe I imagined him being there, staring at me through the window. And yet, the thought of him watching me only turned me on over the weekend to the point where my batteries finally gave up on me.

  Stupid.

  Stupid.

  Stupid.

  I gave myself a mental high five for keeping snacks in my room, and for some damn reason, Ash decided to stay inside all weekend, which prevented me from leaving.

  I finished making my coffee before peeking out the doorway from the kitchen as I listened for any sign of him. I went to the window and noted his bike wasn’t in its usual place. Thank God, maybe I was in the clear after all. Grabbing my things, I rushed to the door with the intention of making a quick getaway when I was stopped short by the presence in front of me and screamed. The coffee I was very much looking forward to hit the ground and splattered everywhere.

  “Are you kidding me?” I shouted before I looked down at my now ruined blouse.

  “Sorry.” He bent down to pick up my now empty cup. I snatched it out of his hand as I stormed back into my room for a new shirt. When I came back out, I expected him to be in his room, but he wasn’t. He was wiping up the last of the coffee that was spilled on the floor.

  “I was going to do that.”

  He shrugged. “It’s not a problem. Besides, you dropped it because of me.” He threw the soiled napkins away and I again expected him to go to his room but he didn’t. In fact, he was helping himself to his own breakfast as he placed some bread in the toaster and poured himself some juice.

  “Excuse me?”

  He glanced at me as he took a sip of his juice. “Did you want some toast?”

  “No, I don’t want some toast! Did you need something, or were you just standing in front of the door?”

  The toaster popped, and I watched as he grabbed it and took a bite before answering me. “I wanted to see how Crouton was.”

  I stared at him a moment before I realized he was talking about the plant. “It’s fine,” I said through gritted teeth. He nodded as he drained the rest of his juice, that was really my juice. He placed the empty glass in the sink.

  “Great, well let me know if it needs anything.” He nodded as he headed out the door. It was the way he said it that bothered me, but in a good way. What the hell just happened? It didn’t matter. This was good. Maybe he’s acting like it didn’t happen because it actually didn’t happen. Maybe I imagined seeing him through the window staring at me. In fact, maybe he didn’t see anything at all and I’m overreacting.

  11

  Ash

  What the hell was wrong with me? I had seen plenty of girls get themselves off, but for some reason, Perrie’s pussy was all I thought about all weekend. Not once did she come out of her room. At some point, I thought maybe she put herself out of her misery. I smiled thinking of the memory of the look on her face when she saw me —it was epic.

  She knew I knew. She might pretend I didn’t, but I won’t. But she had a boyfriend, at least I thought she did if that’s what you wanted to call him. I grabbed my laptop and headed to the workspace center for today’s meetings.

  While I don’t have a ‘degree’, I do have requirements for those wanting to work with me. You tend to learn a lot when you’ve decided to basically prostitute yourself to pay for your dying sister’s cancer treatments. Turns out, it was a waste. She died anyway.

  I did maybe fifty percent fucking and fifty percent acting as a therapist to women of all ages and sizes. There were days when I didn’t even know if I was going to need my dick that day or if I was going to need chamomile tea to get them through their bitchfest.

  But, I learned. I learned what they wanted. I learned what they were asking for. I learned what they wanted to hear and before I knew it, I didn’t have to fuck any of them unless I honestly truly wanted to. That’s why I do what I do, and I’m damn good at it.

  12

  Ash

  “I just don’t know anymore. What do you think I should do?” I focused my attention back on the redhead in front of me. Unfortunately, I had no idea what she was asking because my attention was on the so-called boyfriend of Perrie, who walked in with his hand practically glued to some woman’s ass. Maybe he and Perrie were just fuck buddies? I mean, who didn’t have a few of those, right?

  I started to stand up and walk his way before I remembered Paloma was still in front of me, waiting patiently for an answer. I turned to her. “Paloma, what did I teach you on day one?” I didn’t wait for her to answer. “If it makes you happy, then go for it. If you have any hesitations, then don’t. If he’s pressuring you, then it sounds like he’s not the right guy for you. He’s not taking your needs into consideration.”

  She stared at her hands that were in her lap, and after a few seconds, she finally nodded. “You’re right.” No shit, I always am. “You’re absolutely right. I don’t need him.” She abruptly stood up and thanked me again before leaving. I turned back to my original mission. He was gone.

  Over the next few weeks, it was the same thing. Perrie’s boyfriend, or whatever the hell he was, would show up randomly, mostly after midnight, spend five minutes with her in their room then he left. I was beginning to wonder if he was paying her. He never did the job right of course. It was almost like she couldn’t wait for him to leave so she could play with her clit. She thought she was being quiet, but I still heard her. I practically envisioned her biting into her bottom lip to stay quiet as little whimpers escaped her lips. And each thought that consumed me, made me hard as fuck.

  13

  Perrie

  I took a deep breath before going up to the door to The Allis. The air alone wreaked of snooty rich pretentious people, who didn’t give a damn about anyone except themselves. To say I was nervous was an understatement. When Gerald reached out to me a few days ago, I was shocked. Why I agreed to a meeting, I had no idea, and yet here I was, about to do just that.

  As I was taken to my table, a few of the men smiled at me while their supposed wives faked a smile. Even though I was dressed nicely, it was like they still knew I didn’t belong. They knew I wasn’t one of them.

  “Thank you for coming.” He stood up, as the waiter pulled out my chair. He leaned over kissing me on both cheeks, which was awkward. I gingerly sat down as I looked at the two people in front of me. Gerald and Jacqueline. Two people, I haven’t seen in years. They each looked the same. Jacqueline, I’m sure had work done. Gerald, with his hair now fully grayed, was more or less the same.

  “How have you been? We heard you did well at the university. We’re both so proud of you.” What in the hell is going on here? ‘We’re both so proud of you?’ What kind of passive-aggressive statement is that? Like they were following my achievements since day one.

  “I always knew you would be extraordinary,” Gerald said as the waiter came and placed our Afternoon Tea in front of us along with the finger sandwiches and cakes. I looked this place up before I got here. People actually came here and paid over forty dollars a head for some damn tea and sandwiches that were half the size of a slider.

  I shakily picke
d up a spoon to stir my tea, scared to death I would drop it. “Thank you,” I whispered before taking a sip. After a few minutes of complete silence, Gerald finally spoke again.

  “I’m sure you have lots of questions about why we asked you here and our arrangement.” My head snapped to his. Those were the exact same words he said to me almost ten years ago once upon a time…

  * * *

  “Pssst.”

  I jumped when a balled-up piece of paper hit me in the head. I just took the ball and set it to the side. Surprisingly enough, I was used to this. It no longer mattered to respond, they only laughed and teased me harder.

  I hated high school. Things were to get better, at least that’s what my ‘parents’ told me. They weren’t.

  Why can’t you be more like Hailey?

  Why can’t you dress as Hailey did?

  Why can’t you just be more?

  Hailey never had problems making friends.

  Hailey.

  Hailey.

  Hailey.

  Every day I was reminded about my sister. She was the golden child; I was the disgraced child. Us standing side by side, you would never know we were sisters. She had the perfect blond hair and blue eyes. She was considered perfection. I, on the other hand, was the exact opposite, taking more of my father’s features, with dark hair, that made it clear humidity was not on my side, dark eyes, and was considered the outcast. Oh, and there’s that small tidbit that no one knew we were actually sisters.