Falling In Hard: Book Four in The Bridgeport Lake Summer Series

by Danielle Arie

  Something like a hot iron turned through my stomach, and I stepped closer. “I swear I want you, Lea. More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”

  I tucked a wild curl behind her ear.

  She took a sharp breath.

  “I drove an hour to get here. I’ll be risking major repercussions if I stay too long.” I closed my eyes, remembering the way my chief officer scowled at me when she told me what would happen if I was late getting back. “If that’s what it takes though, I’ll do it. How can I prove I’m serious?”

  Her eyes shifted to her shoes.

  “Tell me.” I got down on my knees in front of her, cheeks heating as I folded my hands in front of myself like a dang fool, but it didn’t matter. “Please, Lea. Please, give me one last chance.”

  She blew a deep breath and swallowed, her eyes shifting back to mine, the smallest glimmer of hope inside.

  “I’ll do anything.”

  The hint of a smile curled on her lips, turning straight wicked. “Anything?”

  She sat in a chair in the center of the stage she’d just performed on, legs crossed, biting her bottom lip, dimples teasing.

  I stood at the mic, sweating bullets, the cleaning crew and a few random stragglers the only ones left to stand witness to what I was about to do, but apparently, my nerves didn’t care if it was one witness, or a thousand this time.

  Pop music pounded out of the speakers, reverberating through the auditorium. It was some song by a boy band I hadn’t heard since the homecoming dance, senior year of high school. I tried saying I didn’t know the words, but she pulled ’em up on my phone and told me that wasn’t a valid excuse.

  The intro notes played. Digging my finger beneath my collar and clearing my throat, I leaned into the mic and tried to find the melody, but my voice came in way underneath the lead singer’s. “I want you baby,” I squeaked. “More than you’ll ever know.” My ears were on fire.

  Lea’s eyes gleamed, and she covered a maniacal laugh.

  “So tell me sugar. How long I have to go . . . on loving you, without a clue of when you’ll want me back. Girl, you’re fire, and I’m dying now, your love’s a heart attack. Ow!”

  She was doubled over now, face buried in her palms. “No. It’s so bad.”

  I blew a hard breath, took the mic out of its stand, and walked toward her, eyes bouncing to the lyrics on my phone.

  “I’m sorry, baby. I know I’ve been a fool. Breaking your heart, makes me so uncool. But you know it girl, you broke my world, and girl, I fell so hard. You know the way you look at me is tattooed on my heart. Yeah!”

  She screeched, slapping her knee.

  I couldn’t help laughing, too.

  Lea shook her head, holding a hand up. “St-stop,” she said between bursts of laughter.

  “Come on, gorgeous.” This was what she’d asked me to do to prove myself to her, and I wasn’t stopping until I had her in my arms. “I think you want me, too. Come on back now. We’ll start something new. And I’ll never make you wonder if I’m really gonna stay. I’m giving you the rest of me, and you can have your way. Have your way . . .” The lead singer went way up high, and I tried following, eyes closed, fist in the air, the whole nine yards, but my voice was cracking, and I sounded like a strangled cat, maybe even worse, and man, I didn’t know what part of this I thought would win her back, but it’s what she wanted, and she was all I wanted now.

  “Come back, come back, come back, come back . . .” The voices looped on an eternal echo, and I opened my eyes. Lea was crying laughing, wiping her tears away as she jumped out of her seat and sprinted across the stage, jumping into my arms.

  I pulled her close and breathed her deep, and just as an electric guitar picked up, she pulled my face down, looked me in the eyes, and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Okay, what?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist.

  “You win.”

  “I win?”

  She rose up onto her tiptoes and tightened her grip around my neck. “Third time’s a charm?”

  “Every time’s a charm when a girl like you gives a guy like me another chance.” I tucked a wild curl behind her ear and studied her perfect face, trying to memorize every last detail of it. I didn’t ever want to forget this. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be what you needed me to be before. I had so many demons to take down. I felt like I’d be taking you down with me. But I’m done fighting them now.”

  “I wanted to fight them with you. I still do. Whatever you face, I want to be there to help you through it. But I have to know you’ll be there for me, too.”

  “I will.”

  Her eyes were shining, and she nodded, drawing my face to hers. “If you ever leave me like that again, I’m done.”

  “I was scared.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m really sorry,” I added.

  “I know.”

  “I love you so much, Lea. I don’t ever want to lose you again.”

  She swallowed, searching my eyes before she nodded and lifted her chin. “I know.”

  I blew a sigh of relief and dipped my face toward hers, capturing her lips in a kiss I didn’t ever want her to forget. This was the start of something new for both of us, and I had a feeling we were about to be in it for the long-haul this time.

  Epilogue

  -FOUR YEARS LATER-

  LEA

  Kyle and I were doing a final soundcheck with the band before we’d be set to start the opener for tonight’s worship session at Bridgeport’s youth camp. It had been forever since I’d been here, but everything about the drive up brought me back to the summer that changed me forever. The summer I found out the difference between living for myself and living for God. The summer I found out what love feels like and how horrific losing it can be. The summer I learned what true surrender and a little grit can get you. I’d always dreamed of a life like this, but I’d never realized how amazing living this dream could be. Beyond amazing . . .

  “Ready to roll, Miller?” Kyle asked me backstage, same as always.

  “Ready to rock, Keller,” I responded, Tay giving me a thumbs up off to the side. Out of all the performances I’d gotten her into since Kyle and I became headliners, coming back to Bridgeport had her the most excited. She’d even made me grab a shake with her on the way in, and we’d promised to do a girls’ day with each other while we were up here.

  “Let’s all give a big welcome to the one and only Overdrive!”

  The campers went wild, and my heart stuttered a little.

  Kyle nodded, and we ran out on stage, the screen behind us flashing with images of lightning and torrential rain.

  The theme this year was all about storms, and the way God walks you through every single one. I could testify to that, one specific storm haunting my memory most, and the stud of all studs who’d saved me from it.

  I grinned, and my heart swooned at the memory of Cory carrying me to safety that day, and the way he’d let down his guard to make sure I was okay. The start of it all happened right in these woods, and I’d be forever grateful I went on that dumb hike.

  The electric guitar wailed, and the drums came in heavy, and Kyle bounced with the beat. The bass picked up, and I started bouncing, too, eyes roving the crowd.

  I wished Cory could’ve been here for this, but he was finishing up his final Navy mission, and his ship wouldn’t dock for another week. He’d been at as many of our performances as he could make during his leaves. I’d found ways to visit him overseas whenever I’d had the chance, which honestly wasn’t as often as I’d wished. I didn’t know how we’d found a way to make it work this long, but neither one of us was giving up anytime soon. And we’d been talking about the future a lot lately. Like a lot, a lot. He was about to end his first enlistment, and the Navy was life for him right now, but he was looking forward to starting a different kind of life someday soon. A life with me.

  My heart did a swoony thing I hadn’t felt in a while, and Kyle leaned in for the fir
st line of the song. A song about hope, and forgiveness, and an unrivaled peace. I was so grateful I had God’s peace at my fingertips these days. How did I ever function without it?

  At the end of the song, the campers were all on their feet in applause, and Kyle told them to turn their applause toward Jesus. It got louder.

  As the voices calmed down, I glanced at our guitarist with a nod to start the second song, but he stood still, the weirdest look on his face.

  Maybe he forgot which one we were doing second?

  I frowned and whispered, “Light and Grace.”

  Kyle cleared his throat and stepped toward the mic. “You guys feel free to take a seat. We have a special little ditty planned out right now.”

  “Wait, what?” I whispered.

  He lifted a brow at me, like we went over this a thousand times, but we didn’t. It wasn’t the first time The King had changed things up on me last-minute before, but a good three years had passed since the last time. I thought he’d learned his lesson after that. I covered my mic and stepped back. “What are you doing?”

  A sneaky grin pulled across his face. “Give me your guitar.”

  “What?”

  He chuckled. “Trust me, Miller. Give me your guitar.”

  “Why would I do that?” I whisper-shouted. “Kyle! We’re in the middle of leading worship.”

  Hand extended, he lifted a brow and nodded. “This is all part of tonight.”

  “Just do it, Lea,” our drummer said.

  I huffed a breath and did it, turning to give a wave and a shrug to the audience.

  Kyle nodded to the space behind me, and I turned around.

  Cory stood there, half-smile turned up, wearing my favorite button-up flannel shirt, jeans, and his construction boots.

  I gasped and ran toward him, throwing myself in his arms, trying not to sob. “What’re you doing here? You’re supposed to be at sea.”

  He held me tight, my heart slamming at the feel of him, warm and solid and right here. The scent of his woodsy cologne and the sound of his throaty chuckle brought tears to my eyes. Gah! I never knew how much I’d been missing him until he was back in my arms again, and he was really here. Right now. At Bridgeport!

  He released a heavy sigh. “Dang, I missed you.”

  “Missed you, too.”

  “This is Lea’s longtime boyfriend, Cory,” Kyle said into his mic in a sports announcer’s voice. “And it all started at Bridgeport.”

  Cory set me down, kissed my temple, and blew a short breath. “Just like fishin’,” he murmured, and got down on one knee.

  I covered my gaping mouth.

  The campers’ cheers flooded the air.

  My fingers trembled and my knees went weak as his brown eyes found mine, and he opened a ring box between us. “You’re everything to me, Lea Miller. I still can’t believe the way God brought us together, but I thank Him every day for it. It’s been an honor to have you in my life this far, and I can’t imagine not having you in it from here on out.” He swallowed. “I asked your Mom’s blessing, Garrett’s, and Nolan’s, too. Would’ve asked your dad if I could’ve.”

  My eyes were stinging.

  He took a deep breath. “Lea, will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my bride?”

  I jumped up and down, nodding. “Yes!”

  The band went crazy, and so did the campers.

  He stood to slide the ring on my finger and pulled me close. “Thank you for loving me.”

  “Funny you think I had a choice.” I tucked my cheek to his chest as the band started up the second song without me, and we moved backstage.

  Tay came up with a shriek and a hug, then she pulled back to look at the ring, and slapped Cory’s arm. “Dang, Cory! It’s an ice-rink!”

  He chuckled.

  Mom came next, wrapping me in her arms and letting out a sigh. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so happy for you.”

  Garrett patted Cory’s arm and gave me a high-five. “Congratulations.”

  Nolan came toward us next, nodding. “You guys are fighters, dude,” he said to Cory. He shook his hand and pulled me into a tight side hug. “Congrats, little sis.”

  Wanda came next, eyes glistening as she hugged me. “You can’t believe how proud I am of you guys.” She sniffed and stepped back to cup Cory’s cheek. “You’ve done good, son.”

  “Lucky feller,” Cory’s stepdad said, squeezing Wanda’s shoulder and shooting Cory a wink.

  I turned to study Cory’s face. His cheeks were pink, and his ears reddening. Even with all of his military training, he still hadn’t mastered the whole hiding his embarrassment thing.

  I drew a deep breath and rested my head on his chest, whispering a prayer, thanking God for Cory’s quiet and steady presence in my life. For the way God had brought us together all those years ago, and for wherever He was about to take us next.

  “Amen,” I said.

  “Amen,” he echoed.

  “Know what I was thinking?” I asked, slipping in beside him.

  His hand found the small of my back, and he blew a deep sigh. “That ring’s non-refundable.” His lips turned up at the corners, and his eyes twinkled. “Hope you didn’t change your mind.”

  “Funny. You should be a comedian.”

  He pressed a kiss to my cheek and drew me closer. “What were you thinking?”

  I lifted a shoulder, pouting my bottom lip a little. “In all my time up here, I never got a real fishing tour in.”

  He frowned. “Serious?”

  I shrugged. “Still want to marry me?”

  “Mm.” He pressed a sound kiss to my lips, sending a shot of warmth straight to my toes. He pulled away softly, leaving me hopeful he’d be up for my idea.

  “Take me fishing?” I asked, trailing my fingers across his chin.

  “Pretty sure you have a couple songs to sing first, and I already had to miss more than I wanted to.”

  He patted my back and nodded toward the stage. “They sound terrible without you. Get up there and do what you were made to, beautiful. I’ll be here when you’re done.”

  “Sure about that?” I lifted a brow at him, and he rolled his eyes.

  “I’ll never live it down, will I?”

  I gave him a quick kiss and made my way back out on the stage. Kyle smiled widely at me as I joined in on the chorus, my family and Cory’s filing into the front row. I glanced down at Cory, amazed at how much he’d changed since that summer so long ago. We both had, and I could only guess how much more we would over the course of forever. I couldn’t wait to find out.

  He double-winked at me. I covered my heart and double-winked back.

  Lightning streaked across the stage’s screens, and I turned my attention back to the song, more than thankful for the way my storm had turned out in the end. Exactly the way it was supposed to—beyond terrifying, but perfect in every way.

  Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed FALLING IN HARD!

  ~

  Reviews are an author’s bread and butter. Danielle would be so grateful if you would leave yours.

  Bridgeport Lake novels are stand-alone stories, set in the span of the same summer. To read Tucker’s story, check out FALLING IN FAST below:

  Two Hearts. Three Weeks. One Unexpected Romance.

  She’s sworn off guys for the summer and he’s done dating Bridgeport girls. Will three weeks together be enough time to change their minds?

  When 18-year-old Emery Hudson decides to work the summer at her favorite Christian camp, she determines to forget her recent breakup, uphold a no dating policy, and center her life on God. But her new crew lead is a hottie with a contagious faith, and she can’t help but start to crush on him. When Tucker starts crushing back, she has to choose between her dream full-ride basketball scholarship, and extending her time at Bridgeport to see if this crush might be a little more like fate.

  22-year-old Tucker Garcia has returned to Bridgeport Lake for his fourth summer on staff, but this summer’s bound to be di
fferent. His dad walked out on his family last year, and it’s up to him to help support his mom and two little brothers. When his new crew member turns out to be an incredible girl with a heart for God, Tucker’s forced to re-think his no-girl-summer mantra. Only, honest guys don’t let awesome girls give up on their dreams, and Emery’s is amazing. When Tucker realizes he’s starting to fall, he’s forced to decide whether to neglect his family to go after the girl of his dreams, or put a halt to their budding romance to make sure she goes after her own.

  Keep Reading for a Sneak Peek from Falling In Fast, Bridgeport Lake Series Book 1. Enjoy!…

  ONE

  -Emery-

  All my friends had their lives annoyingly figured out by the end of senior year. None of them were left guessing at their plans for college in the fall. I was in the same boat as them, sporting my new school colors, talking dorm-decor, and shedding a million goodbye tears. But that was before my jerk-boyfriend decided to make out with Carly Graves at a random party. I saw the video on social five days before graduation. So, did the rest of the school. Yeah. That kind of insanity makes a person rethink everything.

  I had to get out of there.

  I gritted my way through graduation, deleted all of Nick’s apology texts, and applied to work the summer at Bridgeport Lake Christian Camp. My acceptance call came the second day of summer.

  Bridgeport wanted me and it was hundreds of miles away from everything that reminded me of him.

  That was all I needed to know . . .

  Something about the familiar, thick scent of mountain sequoias settled my nerves as I adjusted my duffle bag on my shoulder and glanced around the campus. Everything in sight took me straight back to summer life as a camper the previous four years. Swimming. Campfires. Ropes courses. Massive hundred-player games.