“But, hey,” Rich said, turning to Alex, “If you don’t have any plans, Alex, you should take my place.”
Alex looked at him, her mouth slightly open for a minute, before she turned to Jason, “I don’t have any plans.”
As the realization of what Rich had just maneuvered set in, Jason’s face got flushed. He shot a look at Rich, but turned to Alex and asked, “Would you like to have a drink with me?”
Alex’s face bloomed, causing Jason to smile broadly back at her.
“I would love to.”
Rich shook his head and smiled as he watched them walk out. Funny how it was so obvious to him that they liked each other, but they were both utterly clueless.
Rich finished putting away the equipment, making sure everything was perfect before turning off the lights and closing up the gym. He was almost to his room when Roni appeared before him in the hallway.
He stopped and looked at her for a moment, eager to soak in her beauty and commit every bit of her to memory. He worried for a moment that she’d come to tell him that she’d thought things through and still wanted to end it. Rich wasn’t sure he could take that. The last couple weeks of not being able to hold her and talk to her intimately, had only strengthened his feelings, and proven to him that she was the right woman for him.
He could only hope their time apart had the same effect on Roni.
“Hey,” she said quietly, a small smile on her lips.
“Hi,” Rich responded. They’d seen each other in passing, and he’d looked in on a couple of her classes, but this was the first time they’d spoken. It felt good to hear her voice.
“Are you busy?” Roni asked and her voice quivered with nerves.
“No. I just finished up with the kids, and was going to grab a salad out of the fridge and have a beer,” Rich responded. “You want one?”
“No, I’m okay,” Roni responded. “But I don’t want to keep you from your dinner.”
“It’s fine, Roni,” Rich said a bit desperately, afraid she’d take any opportunity to turn around and leave. “We can go talk. I’ll eat later.”
They walked back to his room and sat down.
“I really need to get some furniture in here or something,” Rich said with a laugh. He turned to look at Roni. He love the way she looked with her hair swept back in a ponytail and no makeup on.
“It’s okay,” Roni said, fidgeting a bit with her hands, as if unsure of how to start. “First I want to thank you for giving me some time to think these last few weeks. I needed the time alone to figure out what my next step needed to be, and I really appreciate you understanding that.”
“I’ll give you anything you need, Roni. All you have to do is ask.”
She smiled at his words, then took a deep breath and kept talking, “I also want to make sure you know that I know that you’re nothing like Hank.”
Rich took her hand in his and squeezed it slightly.
“When I broke down, it was from a culmination of memories, and the fear I had of commitment. I never thought you were going to hurt me, I’d just been holding everything in for so long, that I freaked out. I know you’re a good man… A great man, really, and I want to make sure you know that.”
“Thank you,” Rich said sincerely, bringing her hand briefly to his lips, before placing it back in her lap.
“I’ve been to see a counselor,” Roni told him. “I’ve had a couple sessions now, and I think she’s really going to help me a lot. She already has. I told her about Hank, and I told her about you. She helped me realize that what happened with my parents and with Hank is not my fault, and that I do deserve to be happy. I have to be strong and confident in myself, before I can allow myself to truly be happy with someone else.”
Rich felt his stomach drop. Did that mean she was telling him she needed to be alone?
He gave her a moment to compose her thoughts, hopeful that there was still a chance.
Roni stood before him and placed her hands on his cheeks, looking into his eyes as she continued, “I know that I want to be with you. You are everything that I have always dreamed a man could be, and I have to believe that I deserve the happiness that I know we will bring each other.”
Rich couldn’t help himself, he had to kiss her. He stood up swiftly and crushed her to him. He brought his lips to hers and entered her mouth eagerly, when she opened it for him. Their tongues danced and Roni moaned lightly, before he pulled back to look down at her face. He caressed her face with his hands, smiling at her as he said, “Sorry, I know you weren’t done talking, but I couldn’t stand not holding you for another second.”
Roni leaned her forehead against him briefly, happy to be back in his arms again.
“It may take some time for me to get to the place I need to be, but I would be humbled and grateful if you would be there with me for the duration.”
Rich held her close, kissed the side of her neck and promised, “I’ll be here, for as long as you need, and however you need me. I want you to feel comfortable talking to me and know that you can lean on me whenever you need to. I plan to be with you for the rest of my life, Roni, and I want to make sure you know that I love you and you can always trust in me.”
Coming in May 2013
The Friends & Lovers Trilogy Box set
With Bonus Endings for Each Couple
Keep reading for an excerpt from my upcoming Contemporary Fantasy
Nissa: a contemporary fairy tale
Available April 23, 2013
1
I’m only 900 years old, which is relatively young for a Fairy Godmother, equivalent to an eighteen year old human.
My clan is considered small amongst the fairies of our woods. I’ve ten brothers and sisters and am the baby of the bunch. Normally, woodland fairies cannot be godmothers or godfathers, but our mother was a fairy godmother before she partnered with my father, so it’s in our bloodline.
My mother is a descendant of the Huldafolk. They’re known for their kindness and generous spirit, which makes them ideal godparents for humans.
My father is a Feeorin, a capricious lot, with a love of singing and dancing.
We got our red hair from our father and pale skin from our mother, although I often wished for the green complexion of my father’s family.
Despite the differences in their clans, my parents knew immediately that they were meant to be. My mother had returned from a mission and my father was singing at the Midsummer’s Eve feast. It was love at first sight.
When fairies find the person they’re fated for, we love each other for all eternity. Our bodies give us signs to help us realize that we have found the one.
My parents were lucky to have found each other when they had reached their mature forms and were old enough to be bound.
Once they met, fell in love, and The Fates determined they could be partnered; my mother was able to forgo her fairy godmother status and stay permanently in the woods with my father. She could, however, pass her status on to one of her children.
Our parents love to tell us the story of how they met and fell in love and how The Fates help us all find love.
When you come in to contact with a fae that you have a strong connection with, your heart pounds like a drum, your right hand begins to tingle to the point of itching, and your eyes will momentarily turn the pink of your yearning heart.
When all of those things occur, you may appeal to The Fates for a blessing of your union. If The Fates do not agree that the union is everlasting, you will not be allowed to see each other again in this lifetime. If they agree that you are meant, your life together will begin in that moment and will not end until the passing of both beings.
“What happens if you never feel the signs, Mama?” my younger sister, Ella often asked our mother.
“Don’t worry, sweet girl,” Mother always assured her. “It’s in our nature to live lives full of love.”
We all love to hear the stories and can’t wait to feel the stirrings of fate. I a
lways dreamed of finding my fate, but I also wished to follow my mother’s path and be a godparent. The thought of helping humans reach their potential or overcome a hardship, really called to me. I wanted to make a difference and be a part of something grander than the woods of my youth.
My brothers and sisters have no interest whatsoever in being a godparent. They’re content to rule the woods and live a happy and carefree life.
We all look alike, with our fair skin and bright red hair; our wings are the feature that separates us. Each pair is unique, a reflection of our personalities.
When it comes to personality, I’m the odd one of the bunch. Don’t get me wrong, I love to frolic and dance as much as my siblings, and I’m always ready to join them on a merry chase, but they often joke that if I can’t be found, listen for signs of the injured or brokenhearted, I’ll be there trying to fix the situation.
The day I finally gathered the courage to talk to my parents about my desire to follow my mother’s path, I came upon them sitting outside our dwelling, enjoying the glow of a lightening bug.
My mother looked up at me, her pleasure at my approach evident, but I noticed the concern on her face, as if she had been awaiting my arrival and knew the outcome of our conversation.
“What’s it sweet girl? We know something has been bothering you,” my mother began as I walked nearer, my wings fluttering gently in the breeze of the cool morning. She held my father’s hand in hers, as if it were an extension of her own.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but I haven’t known how to tell you until now,” I said softly, staring down at the ground. “I want to help people, as you did, Mama. I want to train to become a godmother.”
They looked at each other, smiled, then looked back at me.
“Of course you do, honey,” my father said with a quiet voice.
“You already knew?” I looked out over the pond outside our home relieved that they weren’t upset.
“Nissa, of all of our children, you are the most like your mother: kind hearted, giving, and sensitive. Your siblings are content with life here and will be happy as they are, but we knew that you would be the one to choose this path.”
They weren’t sad about my decision, sad that it meant I would have to leave the woods. Knowing that this would make me happy and fulfill my destiny made it easier for them to accept.
In between “projects” I was free to come home and visit my family for a while before I took on a new mission.
After finally finishing the three years training, which consisted of classroom education, use of magic, and finally, hands on experience, I was about to embark on my first project without my trainer, Fairy Godfather Titus, who had been with me since my first day at Headquarters.
When I volunteered, and was accepted to be a Fairy Godmother, I received the initial welcome packet. Once I had completed all of the application documents, I reported to Headquarters to meet my trainer and begin my years of training. I was given a room, and was instructed to wait there for my trainer.
“You must be Nissa,” I was so nervous and unsure of my surroundings, that I hadn’t notice the tall, grey haired fairy enter my room, until the boom of his voice startled me.
“I’m Titus,” He said by way of introduction. “Follow me, so we can begin your training.”
The frown never left his face, and before I had a chance to reply, I was rushing after him down the hall.
That was how my training began, and pretty much set the tone for the next three years.
The magic portion of the training was my favorite part. I loved feeling of calmness that passed through me when I knew the magic was working. I enjoyed manipulating objects and feelings, and the pride that came with success.
Classroom was a necessary evil, but I dreaded the days I had to stay inside. It was interesting to learn about the history of Fairy Godparents, and to read about past projects, but I longed to be outside practicing magic.
Once the magic and classroom training were complete, and Titus deemed me ready, we began the practical training.
For the first project, Titus took the lead. The second one we completed together. For the third project, I was the lead, but Titus was there as back up.
Now that I had completed all facets of my training, I was finally a Fairy Godmother.
I knew Titus was happy that my training was complete, not that I was a bad pupil or anything, he got very frustrated with my approach. He wanted me to be stern and detached with the projects, but I preferred to treat them as I would my own friends and family. Being a godparent would be very lonely, in my opinion, if I didn’t make friends along the way.
Titus started in this business five thousand years ago and started as a trainer two thousand years ago. He only had one more fairy to train and then he could retire. Since fairies generally live anywhere from twelve to fourteen thousand years, he would have quite a few years left to enjoy his retirement.
He was more than ready to find a sweet little fae to settle down with and enjoy a quiet life, after dealing with young fairy pupils and the projects we took on.
As a thank you for the last few years, I decided to surprise Titus with a little gift.
Tomorrow he started training his new pupil and I began my new project. Once that happened, I would not see him again unless I was having problems, and he needed to come in and save me.
I really hoped that it wouldn’t come to that, so I needed to say goodbye today.
I was in the cafeteria of the training building, putting the finishing touches on the dew drop sweetcake I made for Titus. I made it with boysenberry, his favorite, and decorated it with his initials. It looked delicious and I hoped he liked it.
Titus walked in to get his morning cup of hot nectar; if he didn’t get his nectar you could forget about him acknowledging you. He was usually quite grumpy in the morning. I watched as he added a dash of bitter, to take some of the sweetness away, and took the first sip. He sat at his favorite table in the corner and opened the paper to read. Once he was settled in and sipping on his drink, I picked up the sweetcake and went over to join him.
Since the bells in my hair jingle as I walk, I saw him become alert at my approach.
“You are no longer my pupil, Nissa, so our morning meetings are no longer necessary,” Titus’s voice came out in a big boom, but I knew he was really a sweetheart underneath all of his bluster. His hair was naturally grey and stuck out in wild tufts framing his face. I always wanted to reach out and tame it, but I feared he would be embarrassed, so I left it alone.
I smiled broadly at him and replied, “Good morning, Titus. I made you this sweetcake, your favorite, to say thank you and goodbye. I hope your next pupil is a quick study and you get to retire as soon as possible.”
I set the sweetcake in front of him and saw him struggle to hide the delight that spread across his face. Without invitation, I sat across from him and grabbed one of his hands in mine.
“I mean it Titus. I’ll miss you.”
He looked into my eyes and said, “Nissa, you have the makings of a great godmother. You need to focus on the task you are given, not on the emotions of the project, and you will be fine.”
I felt myself grow warm and the blush run through my body. Once it reached my wings they slowly lit up and shimmered with delight. Sometimes being a fairy is so embarrassing.
“Thank you Titus, that means a lot to me. I’ll let you enjoy your morning ritual before the work day begins. Good luck with your new pupil. I hope you enjoy the sweetcake.” With that I stood to leave.
As I walked past him I stopped briefly to kiss his cheek. “Goodbye, “I whispered.
I walked out of the cafeteria and headed for my room to wait until my meeting with the mission specialist. The meeting would be held at the headquarters, HQ, branch. Now when I say branch, it’s meant literally. Our “building” was in an old oak on the outskirts of the Redwood Forest, in Northern California. The branches contained different divisions: HQ,
Administration, Housing, and Training.
As a Fairy Godmother, once I was assigned a project and left the HQ, I would take on a human form, maintaining my fairy looks and features. Obviously I would lose my wings and ability to fly, and I would grow into a form more fitting for a human, but my hair, face and complexion would remain the same.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to say Thank You to everyone who has read the Friends & Lovers Trilogy, and been so supportive of these books.
As always, I have to thank the fantastic women who helped make Trust in Me the book it is today: Raine Thomas, Autumn Sexton Hull, Taneesha Freidus, and Marilyn Almodovar. Thanks for the support you have given throughout the trilogy.
Thanks again to Allie at b designs for designing the cover for Trust in Me. I told her I wanted this cover to be hotter than the others, and she delivered. You can check out her designs here: http://bdesignpublishingservices.wordpress.com/
Thank you to KMS Freelance Editing for proofreading Trust in Me. It was great working with you.
Finally, I want say a HUGE Thank You to Julie at AToMR Tours. Your continued support has been wonderful, and I really appreciate the work you have put in to helping me market this trilogy.
If you are interested in finding out more about AToMR Tours, you can find it here: http://atomrbookblogtours.com/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult series. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her novels through Amazon.
Trust in Me Page 11