by HJ Bellus
Yesterday
is Ours
By HJ Bellus
Yesterday is Ours
Copyright © 2019 by HJ Bellus.
All rights reserved.
First Print Edition: April 2019
Limitless Publishing, LLC
Kailua, HI 96734
www.limitlesspublishing.com
Formatting: Limitless Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1-64034-571-3
ISBN-10: 1-64034-571-X
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.
Dedication
To my girls…Michelle, Diane, and Stacy Jo. You girls always have my back and believe in my words. You may never know how much I appreciate you. Thank you, and this one is for you with every shade of yellow and one very naughty dog.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Prologue
Cody
The flames from the bonfire lick and lap at the star-dabbled sky. Tailgates, wild dreams, and best friends are what fill my high school years. I’m the king on top of the world. A sweet smell of coconut tangled with lime assaults me. That simple scent intoxicates me. Always has since Roberta Cooper started wearing it during seventh grade.
Pretty damn sure I fell in love with the blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty when the elementary principal introduced her to our second-grade class. She had tears spilling down her face when her pencil didn’t fit in the standard pencil sharpener in our classroom. I was there by her side and have never left it. We’ve been through scraped knees, tetherball champions, the awkward middle school years, broken bones and signed casts with hearts and all, and now hopelessly in love our senior year.
Jessie and Jules cuddle together on the tailgate of his truck. Their story is much the same. They don’t fly under the radar. Instead, they are the icons of the town. Homecoming queen and star athlete—they run this place. Pretty sure every citizen of Boone would elect them the mayor of the town in a heartbeat even though they are high school seniors.
Brady and Tessi perch themselves on opposite sides of his tailgate. They play it off well. Tessi and Jules are inseparable, and Brady hangs with Jessie and me. Brady and Tessi have the game of hating each other down to a tee. If I was a betting man, and I am so this is gospel, the two of them will end up hitched with two-point-five kids in the future, picket fence and all.
My favorite smell hits me again, and I glance away from my friends and fire down to the wild soul snuggled next to me. Roberta Cooper, also known as Bertie. She’ll always be my Bertie. My girl is a blonde-haired beauty and owns my soul. She’s mine. There was never any doubt, and honestly, neither of us ever had a choice. The force of the world threw us together.
We are settled on a log with my girl curling from her cuddled position in my lap and wrapping herself around me. My truck is parked in the distance on purpose. I’ve always been a confident person up until this moment. It’s our time. We’ve been official since our freshman year. Everyone in our county knows Bertie is mine. No one dares look her way a second longer than necessary.
My girl isn’t the homecoming queen, cheerleader, or miss popular. Nope, she’ll go down in the yearbooks as the nerdy girl who always had her nose stuck in a book, and that’s what I love about her most. She has her grandma, who loves her dearly and raises her, her textbooks, and me.
Brady howls along with” “She’s Got It All” by Kenny Chesney while the rest of the clan snickers and tips back red Solo cups. I find myself whispering the words of the song into Bertie’s ear. This sweet little one has no idea how she has all my attention. When her hands drift to places that make me stutter over the words of the song, I struggle to remain where we are planted on the old drift log, perfectly placed by the bonfire. What is about to happen will be a memory in all my years I will never forget.
“I’m ready.” A sweet whisper tickles against my neck.
I glance down at the blonde beauty in my arms, her ocean blue eyes dazzling at me. My arms squeeze tighter around her, wanting to remember it all. When the song changes, I stand up with her in my arms. I’ll carry this woman wherever we go.
“Gonna head out,” I announce to the group.
“Just Like Jesse James” by Cher starts playing, prompting Jessie and Jules to do their own version of Dirty Dancing on the tailgate. Not one of our best friends pays any attention to us. Bertie tucks her face into my neck, peppering sweet kisses along my skin, and that’s all I need to move forward.
I know these backwoods better than anyone around. It’s been my playground since I knew how to walk. My parents were more concerned about society and how much money was stuffed in their pockets. They had a child for the sake of having one since it was what society deemed appropriate. The laws of the universe weren’t on their side when this smartass redneck hillbilly plopped in their lap.
“You know I can just kiss the hell out of you if you change your mind, right?” I kiss the top of her head, tightening my grip around her.
“I know, Cody.” She reaches up, stroking her finger down my jaw. “But I’m so ready.”
A gasp escapes Bertie when she sees the lit candles, fluffy-ass pillows, and red plaid flannel blankets. She had earlier shared with me that it was her ideal setting for our first time. I didn’t let her down, even though it took me driving three hours to get the right bedding. Echoes of our friends belting out a favorite Garth Brooks song surrounds us.
“Should’ve parked further away.” I set Bertie on the tailgate, nesting between her spread legs. I run my palms up and down her jean-clad thighs.
“I can only hear the sound of your heartbeat drumming along with the rhythm of mine.” She cups my cheeks, dipping for a kiss. It’s sweet, tender, and hot as hell.
I know I won’t be able to stop myself tonight. I grab her by the hips, scooting her back and hopping in the back of the truck, covering her body while not breaking the kiss. Our clothing is tossed piece by piece until we are cocooned in the thick flannel blanket. Bertie is the brave one, kissing the hell out of me through each step until there’s nothing but blank space. Once we are connected, there’s nothing else left worth in this world.
She’s mine.
Forever.
End of.
***
Years Later
Boone Leader
Lead Story
Local hero, Cody Sterling, stormed into a burning building. Late last night, one of our own volunteer firefighters saved the day by rushing into a fiery inferno to save a local kindergarten teacher, Kate Wilson-Valentukonis. Kate is new to our town but is already a beloved teacher by many five- and six-year-olds, and their parents, i
n our community. The horrific incident has broken many of our hearts. The evil actions of those responsible is something none of us can begin to process.
Cody and Kate have both been transported to the local hospital in critical condition. We know both flirted with death, but it was Cody’s bravery that gave them hope.
The two suspects who started the fire were shot by police when they wouldn’t give themselves up or put down their weapons.
Our small town has been rocked by this event. The one thing we can cling to is the good in the world. It’s safe to say our little town is praying for a speedy recovery for both Cody Sterling and Kate Wilson-Valentukonis.
Chapter 1
Cody
The boys brought me here. The five-hour drive was bathed in silence. They tried to talk about nonsense and shit, yet all I had to give was a jerk of my chin. I’m a skeleton of a man, fighting every day to get out of the shadows. It’s the pain that holds me back. They think it’s the scars and marks on my skin. They couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve never corrected them.
Feeling fractured bones that have tried to mend creak and crack as you simply try to piss or take a shit isn’t something any man would offer willingly. Truly thought I was at my lowest the day I ran off Bertie. Roberta Cooper, the one girl who owned me, and I ruined it all being cocky and drunk. I fucked her roommate. Lied to her and pushed her out of my life. Told Bertie that we were on different paths when really I was covering up a soul-deep secret that would ruin us. I never wanted her to feel that pain. A chicken-shit move, and one I’ve had to live with.
I know how it feels because my body is so fucked up right now I don’t know what normal feels like. I vowed that day she’d never know what I did, and I’ve kept good on that secret for years upon years.
“Let’s taste the chocolate pudding before we go.” Jessie shoves Max in the shoulder. “You know, since that’s our boy’s favorite.”
“I was thinking of ordering a Pussy Pleaser.” Max smirks.
“Just leave,” I grumble, tamping down the growl that yearns to shred from my chest as I sit down on the edge of the bed.
They checked me in and are pushing the limits of waiting, long enough to make me uncomfortable. I guess that’s what life-long friends do. The harder they try to bring me back to life, the further I tumble down the dark, murky hole of hell. My personal hell. My body doesn’t work, my mind has spiraled into a vortex of everything I’ve done wrong, and I’m at a loss on how to live.
My bar used to be my baby, and now I couldn’t give two fucks. Haven’t returned a call or talked to my parents. They only reached out because me saving a woman in a burning building was headline news on all major news station outlets around us. I swear it’s the only time they’ve ever showed me attention. I made them damn proud opening a bar and acting the fool for years…not. It’s a damn simple equation. I hate life right now.
“Cody.” Jessie settles into the chair next to the hospital bed. “We aren’t leaving until we know you’re good.”
I snort and shake my head, feeling like a bigger asshole. They’ll never understand that it wasn’t the fire. Well, it was the fire that brought the façade of my life tumbling down around my boots. It’s nobody’s fault, and I will never regret racing into the fiery house. I’d do it over again any day, knowing damn well Max, Jessie, or Brady would do the same thing.
It’s the healing scars and the pain radiating from my hips every time I move that remind me of all my past blunders. I’ve fucked up so many times and masked it all with my charming personality.
The thing is when you fake it for so long, you’ll eventually crumble like a deck of cards until your core is exposed to the world. That’s something that would bring the greatest superhero to their knees.
I keep my gaze focused on the tile of the hospital room. “Get on back, you two, to your women and family. I’m good.”
There’s silence that’s awkward as fuck. I don’t dare look up. Walls would close in on me since I know my best friends can see right through me.
Jessie is the first to clear his throat. I feel a pat on my shoulder. “You got this, Cody. Will be expecting a cold one at your bar in a few months.”
Max follows, saying much of the same.
“You got it, brothers,” I mumble.
There’s no footsteps or slamming of the door to my room. Not even an obnoxious nurse races in.
Jessie clears his throat again, and that’s when I glance up. His knitted brows devastate me. The grief tensed up in his shoulders makes me feel like the bastard I am. My fingers itch for the vodka bottle. I drank my own damn self out of my bar. I’d give anything to just have a drink to numb this pain.
“We are here. I know you’re struggling. I get that shit more than anyone. Just know you have a family to turn to that won’t judge you.”
I nod, giving him nothing else. It means the fucking world since my own parents are worthless in my eyes. I was the rich kid in high school. Looking back, it was cool as hell, but now it’s worthless. Mom and Dad are jet setting the world while I’m left here shattered beyond belief. It goes far beyond the scars on my skin. Nobody will ever understand. I’ve always been carefree and up for the party. The thing is those years have caught up with me, and now I sit on a hospital bed, a shell of a man.
“I’m good here.” I scrub the stubble on my jaw, where I tend to keep it clean-shaven. “I’ll update you once my hip surgery is done.”
The improving wounds of the burns are just that, and damn near healed. My left calf is covered in burns, as is my back. I guess that’s a blessing, so I don’t have to face them every day.
I get around like a ninety-year-old man, feeling the raging pain with each movement. This surgery should’ve been done before I went home, but I refused, not wanting to face shit. This is the first step to getting my life back and facing my past, or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
A king who once had it all sits here a broken and shattered man. I have glimpses of strength and guess I acted on that shit. I’m ready for the pain to be gone, then I’ll deal with the internal bullshit.
“Yeah.” Jessie gives a jerk of his chin.
I know what he’s worried about. No need to ask him to know he’s wondering if I’ll skip out before the surgery is actually done. Max and Jessie took me to a rehabilitation place, and I lasted a whole whopping nine days. They forced me, and I didn’t want to be there. It all went to hell. I returned home an even grumpier son of a bitch. Learning how to live after the accident wasn’t even close to being on my radar.
I kick my legs up on the hospital bed, relaxing back, propping my arms behind my head as if I was in some damn fancy resort. I let loose my signature wisecrack smile. The first part of this process is re-training my mind to think positive.
“I’ve been a dick and in a shit state of mind. Thank you, brothers, for remaining by my side. Go crack a case open for me at the bar and enjoy it while I’m gone. I’ll be home before you know it, limp free and all.” I wink.
“There’s our brother.” Max walks over and pats me on the shoulder.
“Damn right you will be.” Jessie flanks my other side.
“Coming back stronger and better.” The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I force them out anyway.
“I’ll hold off the family as long as I can. Sure won’t be long with Emma and Finn wanting to see their favorite uncle,” Jessie adds.
“Get out of here.” I swat at both of them. “Meet with the surgeon tonight and then it’s on.”
They don’t have to say a word for me to tell they feel like shit leaving me here alone. I’ve told them over and over that shit doesn’t bother me. Never has. I guess when you’re raised that way, it’s what you know. Doesn’t mean there aren’t moments in time when I sure wish one blonde bombshell was by my side throughout life. I shake that shit off before I’m consumed into a vortex of memories.
The boys eventually take off, and I don’t have a moment of time to my
self before the nurses and staff at the surgery center finish checking me in.
Chapter 2
Cody
The stiff sheets of the hospital bed are already scratching against my ass. It’s going to be a long damn night, that’s for sure. Not to mention the stale smell in this place and the constant buzzing noises. I’ve already fine-tuned myself to block out the pages announced on the overhead speaker. The blood pressure cuff going off what seems every few minutes on my bicep is another damn story.
“Knock, knock.” A grey-haired man in a white coat rounds into my room. His attention is laser-focused on a tablet in one hand while he scrubs his cheek with the other. “Mr. Sterling, how are we this evening?”
I find it odd he still doesn’t look up at me. Not even once. His bedside manners are lacking at best. I did my research and know he’s the best around when it comes to a total hip replacement. I had other options, but this man is the best and most aggressive.
“Good,” I answer with one word.
“Looks like everything is set for tomorrow. All your labs look great.” He relaxes in a chair next to my bed. “Do you have any questions?”
I shake my head. “No.”
He ignores my answer and proceeds to explain to me the fact I’ll be up and walking and it will take three to six weeks of recovery. He clears his throat mid-sentence.
“And you’ll need to follow through with some therapy.”
I pick up on the way he draws out “some therapy.” Yeah, pretty damn hard to explain that I need some mental health counseling to live with my past sins and my current situation.
“Looks like a total month’s stay if you buckle down and get through everything.” Doctor Rayson finally makes eye contact with me.