Forever and Ever (Complete #1-7)

by E. L. Todd

“Thanks for staying with me…”

  “Yeah.” Pity was in his eyes.

  I wanted to stay on this couch and cuddle with him all day long. The pain didn’t seem so unbearable when his arms formed a cage around me. I felt safe, that nothing could hurt me. Even in my darkest hour, he made me feel strong.

  “I hope you’re feeling better.”

  Not really. “Slightly.”

  His hand rested on my upper back and he looked into my eyes, the pain deep within.

  I wanted to ditch class and stay like this forever. I wanted Cayson to hold me, to chase away all the dark thoughts. But I knew he couldn’t. He had class and other obligations. He had a girlfriend… “You should probably go…” I sat up then looked at the time. It was already after eight. “You’re already missing your first class.”

  “I don’t care about my classes, Skye.” He sat up and looked at me. “I care about you.”

  This was the Cayson I missed, the best friend that would do anything for me. “I know. But I’m going to mope around here. There’s nothing you can do.”

  He sat close to me and took my hand. “I can mope with you.”

  I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed. There’s nothing I wanted more than to crawl into bed with him and forget about the world outside my apartment. I didn’t want to think about what Zack did to me. I didn’t want to think about the pain. “Cayson, go to class. We’ll talk later.” I stood up then ran my fingers through my hair.

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” He stood up and stared me down. “Because I don’t mind staying. I really don’t.”

  “Yes, Cayson. Please go.”

  Conflict was in his eyes. He thought for a moment before he came to me and hugged me. “I love you, Skye.”

  The air burned my lungs as I inhaled. “I love you too…”

  “Call me if you need anything.”

  I felt his solid frame in my hands. He towered over me, and he was easily twice my size. His hard chest felt like concrete when he leaned against me. “I know.”

  Then he cupped my cheek then pressed his forehead to mine. It was something we’d never done before. He closed his eyes and just held me, breathing hard. The intimacy we shared was foreign to me. We’d cuddled and touched, but this was something new. Then he leaned away and stepped back. “Zack fucked with the wrong girl.” He walked out and shut the door behind him.

  When I was alone again, I sat down and felt tears flood to the surface. I wanted Cayson to stay but I wasn’t so selfish to ask him to. School was important to him, and I would never intervene in that.

  All my blinds were shut so I was sitting in the dark. I had class today but I wasn’t in the mood to go. I was too distraught, too hurt. It wasn’t just the fact Zack was cheating on me. It didn’t hurt me that he said he loved me when he didn’t. He hurt me when he tricked me, used me, and I had no idea. I felt like an idiot for letting a liar into my inner circle. I was ashamed of my stupidity.

  The tears came again and I fought them back. Crying over a piece of shit like Zack was stupid. It was pointless. But I couldn’t help it. I was hurt. The past six months was a complete lie. It was bogus.

  I grabbed my phone then searched for the name I longed to see. No one else in the world would understand how I felt besides him. He may not have experienced the exact same thing, but I knew him well enough to understand that he’d experienced a lot of pain and a lot of disappointment. I hit the send button.

  He answered on the first ring. “Pumpkin, how are you?”

  Hearing the love in his voice made me break down. The tears fell when I tried to stop them.

  Alarm came into his voice. “Skye, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

  “I’m okay…I’m okay.”

  “Does someone have you? Is someone hurting you?” He always jumped to the worse possible conclusion.

  “No, I’m safe. I’m fine.” I breathed through the sobs.

  “Talk to me, pumpkin.”

  “I just…I feel so stupid.”

  Even though my dad didn’t know what was wrong, he was patient with me. “I’m leaving my office now. I’ll be there in two hours.”

  “No…you don’t need to do that. Don’t leave work because of me.”

  “Work doesn’t mean shit to me. I’ll be there in two hours.”

  I knew I shouldn’t argue with my dad. And honestly, I wanted him to come. “Okay…”

  “I love you, pumpkin. I’ll be there soon.”

  “I love you too, Dad.”

  He hung up.

  I put my phone on the coffee table then curled up in a ball, trying to fall asleep.

  My dad arrived in less than two hours. He didn’t understand speed limits or basic laws. They didn’t apply to him. He knocked on my door. “Pumpkin, it’s me.” Fear was in his voice.

  Even though I looked like shit, I answered the door. “Hey…”

  He stared at my tear stained face and he immediately mirrored the look. Pain flooded through his eyes, just like Cayson’s, and he looked like he lost the world. Wordlessly, he shut the door behind him then embraced me, pulling me to his chest and squeezing me hard.

  My dad held me and rubbed my back gently. Feeling him surround me with unconditional love made me upset all over again. Zack never loved me. He didn’t care about me. He used me, took advantage of me, and I let him. I started to cry.

  My dad guided me to the couch and set me down. Then he sat beside me with concern still in his eyes. He put one arm around my shoulder, tucking me into his side. “Tell me.”

  I didn’t know where to begin. “Dad, have you ever been used…because of your money?”

  His hand stilled on my back. “More times than I can count. Why?”

  “Did you feel stupid?”

  “Yes.”

  “What happened?”

  “Why are you asking?”

  “I’m just curious. You’re so withdrawn and cold. Whenever you’re in public, you’re a different person. Your walls are always up and you’re untouchable. You’re suspicious of everyone and you don’t extend any warmth. But when you’re home with us…you’re different. You’re happy. What happened to make you that way?”

  He processed my words for a long time. “I don’t have enough time in the day to explain every incident that has made me so hateful toward other people. Unlike your grandfather, I’ve had a hard time seeing the good in others. They will use you and take you for everything you have. Very few people in the world will truly love you for you. I’m happy when I’m home because your mother loved me from the beginning. She loved me despite my wealth, and my extended family is the same way. No one else in the world treats me that way. I’m lucky I have anyone at all.”

  “Has a girlfriend ever used you?”

  He stared at me for a moment. “Yes. My last girlfriend before your mother lied to me and tricked me into being with her. She wanted my wealth for security, and she was willing to do anything to get it. She really hurt your mother. And fortunately, your mother loved me enough to forgive me.”

  “You cheated on Mom?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “Never. But I left her for this other woman—because I thought she was pregnant.”

  “Was she?”

  “Yes, but it wasn’t mine.”

  “What happened to her?”

  “I couldn’t care less.” Anger was in his voice. “Skye, why are you asking me this?”

  I wiped my tears away. “My boyfriend…or my ex-boyfriend used me.”

  He stared me down. “How?”

  I never thought I would tell my father this but I was desperate. “We’ve been dating for six months. He kept insisting on meeting you and Mom. I never understood why. He even told me he loved me so he could come to the gala. I didn’t say it back. Then Cayson overheard him talking to a friend in the library…”

  My dad’s face was unreadable. He was guarded, but anger was coursing in his eyes.

  “He’s just with me for my wealth. He planned on marry
ing me and then divorcing me, taking half of my assets. He’s been cheating on me the entire time. He never cared about me. He never loved me. I feel so stupid…” More tears bubbled under the surface.

  My dad didn’t react. He kept his arm around my shoulder, and I felt it tremble slightly. I expected him to explode, to demolish my apartment, but he didn’t. He kept calm. “I’m sorry that happened to you, Skye. I always feared my wealth would sabotage your life and I’m sorry it has.”

  “It’s not your fault, Dad.”

  “And I’m sorry you’ve learned that people are innately evil and greedy. That’s a lesson I hoped to spare you from.”

  “I just feel stupid…”

  “Don’t,” he said gently. “When you have everything, people will want it. And that’s just how it is. Now you understand why I’m so protective of you and your…personal life.”

  “Yeah…”

  He kissed my forehead. “You’re such a beautiful girl and you’re too smart for your own good. You’re smarter than your mother and I put together. I know this is hard for you. It’d be hard on anyone. But don’t let him bring you down. He’s just one asshole, and there is a sea of great men. You will find someone who loves you for you, someone you trust implicitly. And you will be happy.”

  “Like you and Mom?”

  “Happier than us.” Moisture built up in his eyes when he looked at me. “I’ve been through a lot of pain, but seeing my daughter cry over a broken heart has to be the worst I’ve ever bared.”

  “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “Don’t apologize. If I share the load with you, you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.” He wiped a tear away with the pad of his thumb. “Would you like to know a story about your mother and me?”

  I nodded.

  “I was with a woman I was in love with. She was beautiful and perfect. I bought a ring and planned on proposing to her. Actually, your mother helped me pick it out. But then she cheated on me, dumped me, and then left me for someone else. I was devastated, heartbroken. Your mother was there for me, being the best friend I needed. And at some point, something changed. She wasn’t just my friend anymore. A night of drunken sex opened my eyes and made me realize what was right in front of me. I fell in love with your mother in a way I never felt for that other woman. And in the end, that heartbreak was the best thing that ever happened to me. Because if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be with your mother.” He cupped my cheeks. “And I wouldn’t have you.”

  His words clenched my heart painfully.

  “I know this is hard for you, but you’ll realize it’s the best thing that ever happened to you. You will find a better man, and now you’ll be able to recognize him because of this pain. You will be wiser for it, and of course, you’ll be stronger for it.”

  Somehow he made me feel better. Even though Zack was a horrible mistake, he taught me a valuable lesson. I’m glad I learned it early in life compared to my father.

  He pulled a strand of hair from my wet cheeks then rested his hand on my shoulder. “Did that help?”

  I nodded. “It did.” I wasn’t crying anymore.

  His eyes turned serious and malicious. The warmth that radiated from him a second ago was gone. “Tell me his name.”

  I hated Zack, but I wasn’t sure he deserved what my father had in mind. “What are you going to do to him?”

  “You let me worry about that.” He didn’t touch me, just stared me down. “Skye, his name.”

  “You can’t kill him.” I knew it was a ridiculous accusation to make, but my father could get rid of someone if he really wanted to.

  “His name.”

  “Dad.”

  “Skye.”

  “Promise me you won’t kill him.”

  He clenched his jaw. “I promise.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  His eyes burned in demonic fire. “Secure his financial future—just like he was doing with you.”

  What did that mean?

  “He will never find a job when he graduates. He will flip burgers just to make ends meet. He will put in eighty hours a week at minimum wage just to pay his rent. All he will know is the life of a poor man. Every time he turns for help, he’ll never get it. His apartment will be broken into constantly, his prized possessions looted. His record will register him as a sex offender so he’ll never have a date as long as he lives. He will resort to prostitution when his hand isn’t doing the job. Then he will be thrown in jail for his crimes. When he gets out, the cycle will repeat. And he will loathe himself for ever fucking with Sean Preston.”

  My heart accelerated at his words. It was a lifelong punishment he would never escape. My father would ruin his life—literally. “That’s too harsh…”

  “Skye, give me his name. If you don’t, I’ll just get it from your brother or your cousins. This will happen.”

  “Dad, I know you’re upset but you don’t mean that.”

  “I don’t?”

  “No…I know you’re protective of me but that’s extreme. You know it is. I don’t want that and neither do you.”

  He took a deep breath then held my hand. “You’re right. I guess I don’t know how to control my anger sometimes. People can do whatever they want to me and it doesn’t bother me. But when it comes to my family…I’m harsh.”

  I patted the top of his hand. “I know, Dad. It’s okay.”

  “I still want his name.” The seriousness was back in his eyes.

  “Why?”

  “Just tell me, Skye.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Zack Stone.”

  “Thank you.” He relaxed visibly then rubbed his palms together. His Rolex flashed in the light. “Have you had breakfast?”

  “No.” I wasn’t hungry, not after that threat.

  “Would you like to join me?”

  “It’s okay, Dad. You should get back to work.”

  He gave me a firm look. “Like I’ve said a hundred times, work means nothing to me. Businesses rise and collapse every day. Regimes grow and fall. But my family means everything to me. Now have breakfast with me.”

  “Okay.”

  We headed to a diner in town then ordered waffles. My dad ate slowly and barely touched his food. He was a health nut. His body was still thick and toned despite his age. He did boxing and martial arts after work for exercise. My mom didn’t exercise as often as he did, but they would run on the beach together sometimes.

  When we finished, we went back to my apartment.

  “Want to watch a movie?” he asked.

  It meant the world to me that he was spending all day with me. He dropped everything in a heartbeat when I needed him. I had the best parents in the world. Not just because they gave me everything financially, but they showed me how much they loved me every single day. “Sure.”

  I sat next to him on the couch and covered myself with a blanket. He flipped through the channels until he found something.

  His phone rang. He glanced at it then took the call. I know he wouldn’t have answered it if it were anyone else but my mother. “Baby?”

  “Mike told me you took off from the office and you aren’t answering your phone. Is everything alright?”

  “Skye called and asked to see me.”

  Her voice changed. “Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine. I’ll explain when I get home.”

  “Okay.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “When will you be home?”

  “Late tonight.”

  “Can you call me when you leave?”

  He smirked. “Why don’t you just check the GPS on my phone?”

  “Just call me, Sean.”

  “You’re starting to sound a lot like me.” He was clearly enjoying teasing my mom.

  “Whose fault is that? Now will you call me?”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  I rolled my eyes while I listened to them.

  “You aren’t getting any from me tonight.”

&
nbsp; He laughed. “Yeah right. I’m calling your bluff.”

  “I mean it.”

  “Please, you’re worse than I am.”

  “Do I need to cover my ears?” I said.

  “I guess you’ll find out if I made good on my threat when you get home.” My mom’s tone was dark.

  My dad quickly changed his tactic. “I’ll call you, baby.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “But you know I’ll always call you.”

  Her voice softened. “I do.”

  “You guys are going to make me gag,” I said.

  My dad chuckled. “I love you, baby.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Bye.” He waited for her to hang up first. Then he placed the phone on the coffee table.

  The door opened and Cayson walked in. He was carrying a pizza and a liter of soda. He stilled when he saw my dad. “Oh. Hi, Uncle Sean.”

  “Hey, kid. What did you bring?” my dad asked.

  “Skye’s favorite is pizza,” he explained.

  “Just like her mom.” My dad smiled.

  I rose from the couch then went to him. “Thanks but we ate not too long ago.”

  “Save it for later.” He watched me closely with concern in his eyes. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, my dad made me feel better.”

  “Good.” He nodded slowly. “I’m glad.”

  “Thanks for staying with me last night.”

  “You don’t need to thank me, Skye.”

  I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly feeling nervous.

  “I’ll let you get back to your dad,” he said. “But you can call me if you need anything, even if you just want to talk.”

  “I know, Cayson.”

  Cayson walked over to my dad on the couch. “Hey, Uncle Sean.”

  My dad rose and hugged him. “Thanks for looking after my daughter.”

  “Of course. I always do.”

  He patted Cayson’s shoulder. “Having a fine young man like you and the rest of your cousins gives me peace of mind when I’m not around.”

  “You can count on me.”

  “I know.” He smiled at him. “And don’t worry about Zack. I’ll take care of him.”

  Cayson’s face became slightly pale. “Okay. Go easy on him.”

  My dad had an evil look in his eye. “I know you don’t mean that.”