by Fields, MJ
“Did you tell him about your bachelor’s degree?” I whisper as my parents step into the kitchen, leaving us alone in the living room.
“I told him everything.” He winks, lust in his eyes.
“What do you mean, everything?” I place a hand on my hip as my thoughts turn to what he did to me last night on my kitchen floor. I flush.
When he wags his brows at me, I smack him in the arm, eliciting a warm chuckle from him. He knows exactly what I’m thinking, and he’s teasing me over it.
Moving an errant hair behind my ear, he tells me, “I told him all about the college program I’m doing online to get my degree, just like I promised my mother I’d do. Told him about bringing fresh water onto the reservation, so the tribal members no longer had to drive hours back and forth for clean water. He’s a great guy, your dad. You didn’t tell me how well we’d get along.”
“I guess I wanted to surprise you.”
“Lauren, no one is as funny as you are.” He chuckles.
“I’ve got to keep you guessing, don’t I?”
His eyes turn to flames. “Since you like surprises so much”—he pauses, and I try not to laugh because we both know me and surprises don’t get along—“be ready for a surprise from me tonight.”
“Oh, yeah? What kind of surprise?” I smile, draping my arms around his narrow waist and looking into his eyes. God, he’s hot. “I can’t wait.”
His eyes drift to the kitchen and then come back down to me. “Don’t want to ruin my good name by taking you right here on his living room couch. So, you’d better stop with those heated eyes.”
“What heated eyes?” I lick my lips, gaze moving from his face down to the zipper in his navy slacks.
The fact that he got nicely dressed for my family makes me so crazy happy that I can barely contain it. I love him casual and gruff, but this clean-cut side is damn sexy, too.
“Gotta learn a better game face, babe.” He laughs playfully. “Maybe you should put on those huge, round bug-style glasses to hide it?”
My jaw drops and eyes widen before we break into laughter. “You’ll never let me live that down, huh?”
“Don’t think so.”
“I’m enjoying tonight, but I can’t wait to move out with you next month.”
He growls low in his throat, “You’ve got no idea.”
“Dessert?” My parents call out.
They enter the room, and I can feel it. Slade and I might be opposites, but somehow, we’re just right in all the ways it counts.
“Babe, I want you to see our room.” He moves a few boxes over, eyes twinkling.
Vincent and Eve smile, like they know something I don’t.
“Finally!” I exclaim, clapping my hands together.
He’s kept this bedroom from me since we bought the place. Something about dangerous fumes or toxic chemicals. Whatever it is, he scared me into staying out of it.
He pulls a silver key from his pocket and opens the lock. He takes my hand and leads me into the bedroom. My jaw drops. The walls are painted in a dusty gray. The bed is a beautiful white four-poster, complete with a fluffy white duvet cover and gray throw pillows.
“Did Eve help?” I ask.
Silver candles line the windowsills. The room is soft and Zen-like.
“Nope.”
“Wait.” I take in a breath before practically shrieking, eyes scanning the room. “You did this?” I wonder how he pulled this off.
“Boy Scouts can do all sorts of things. But first, closet.”
He opens the door before flipping on a light, and I scream, jumping up and down in glee. It’s a walk-in with racks for shoes, sections for bags, and rows of hanging space. It’s ten times better than my closet in LA. And, to think, I gave away all those clothes and accessories. Ugh!
“And look. For your platforms and wedges.” He winks, pointing to a shoe rack.
I laugh. “I’ve trained you well, huh?” I’m in awe. “Slade, where are you going to put your—” My gaze drops.
Slade isn’t standing up. He’s on … one knee. My hands fly to cover my mouth. A small black box appears in his hands, tiny inside his large, callous palms.
“The first night I met your father, I spoke to him alone. We not only talked about the ways I was moving forward in my life, but I also told him how I was going through a hard time and dealing with issues post-war. He wasn’t too keen about you being with a man who has PTSD, but once I let him know that I’d do anything to be the man you deserved and how hard I was working toward that goal, he came around.
“Lauren, I want to be the father of your children. I think, the night of Vincent and Eve’s wedding, I fell in love with you. You know how badly I wanted you, but my demons were a wrench in my life. But your laughter, your smile, your depth, your soul? It all speaks to me. It saved me. I will always love you. Be my wife, Lauren.”
He removes the ring and slides it onto my left hand. A simple round solitaire, surrounded with delicate red rubies. “The stone belonged to my mother, but I had it reset.”
I drop to my knees, too, and he wraps me up in his huge arms.
“Yes, Slade. Yes.”
I burst into tears because we’ve come so far. The last six months, we’ve been traveling between Nevada and California. Long rides on his bike. Sunday night dinners with my family when he was in town. The never-ending phone calls. Conversations about life. His past. Mine. Helping to put together his broken pieces, displaced since war. I saw his doctor a few times, too. And counseling us together has worked wonders. I learned that I wouldn’t be able to put him back exactly how he had been before war, but a new creation could be made. It would be different but amazing in its own way. Lucky for me, I love Slade as he is.
During his initial visits out to LA, we slept in separate beds. We both knew the situation wouldn’t be forever, but it was the safest move, considering the fact that his nightmares were still being dealt with and Dr. Sullivan was still testing out doses of medications. It didn’t take too long for us to feel that we could handle being side by side. And, when we finally slept side-by-side, it felt like returning home.
“Baby?” he whispers in the dark.
“Yeah?”
“Will you stay here, next to me? Can we try to do a night together? If I move too much or seem to be getting restless in my sleep, just wake me. Want you in this bed by my side. I’m ready if you are.”
Somehow, with distance, we grew immeasurably closer. I fell in love with his mind and his passion and dedication. He hired hundreds of US veterans to work on building water pipelines on the reservation, and I know it was incredible to him. Healing even.
“Come. I have another surprise set up for you.”
Hand in hand, we enter our beautiful kitchen, tears streaming down my face. A large bottle of champagne on ice and a spread of cheese and vegetables and dips and Vincent and Eve and my parents, too! Were they hiding here all this time? My mom hugs me in her beautiful cream-colored pantsuit, and my father shakes Slade’s hand. Vincent and Eve are all smiles with their new baby on the way, and I know that my life is just beginning. It might not always be easy, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Don’t want to leave Slade and Lauren’s world?
Read more about Vincent and Eve in the Amazon best-selling Vincent and Eve Series, available now on Amazon and FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Rising (Vincent and Eve Book 1) https://amzn.to/2LnAeDa
Reckoning (Vincent and Eve Book 2) https://amzn.to/2A89C4y
Redemption (Vincent and Eve Book 3) https://amzn.to/2PM9aOH
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Acknowledgments
The journey has been wild and there are people to thank!
Firstly, my husband. Every hero I write is born out of my love for you.
My kids, without whom I could not function. You guys are truly the greatest blessings in my life.
Thank you, Autumn, at Wordsmith Publicity, for putting my books on the map. For supporting me through every step of the process and for being you. I don’t just adore you. I freakin’ love you!
To my editors. Nicole Bailey, Jovana Shirley, and Ellie McLove. You guys turned my manuscript into my pride.
To Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations, who manages to create covers that truly embody the words within.
Thank you to all of the incredible book bloggers! I never believed people would read my work, but then you all spread the word…got my books out…I’m in awe of what you all do. And to all the bookstagrammers! How you all manage to take such stunning book photos is astounding. Thank you!
Thank you to my best friends and beta readers who gave me the push and confidence I needed to publish my work. I love you guys so much. Jana, Ronna, Jayme, Roxy, Candice, and Keeana.
Thank you to my Master Beta Reader Leigh Ford. Without you…well, I won’t say. Because I don’t want to even think about a situation where you weren’t in my life or involved in my character’s lives.
And to Jessica’s Jet Setters!! You ladies rock. Your support and love keep me going.
Gravity
By Lauren Runow
For every band I’ve ever loved,
Thank you for feeding my soul.
One
Pulling me down. Feeling the weight
Living for tomorrow not knowing if it will be too late.
The life, the people, hell—my own sanity
I need her to keep me grounded like she’s my personal gravity.
- Trevin Allen
Lily – Age 12
“Come on, Trev! We have to get home, now!” I turn to scream behind me as I ride up the hill, watching the sun slowly fade away into darkness.
He knew we’d gone too far back in these hills on our bikes, and no matter how much I told him we needed to turn around, he wouldn’t listen. Now we’re still at least a mile from home and losing sunlight by the second.
“I’m going as fast as I can, but it’s kind of hard to push this thing with a popped tire,” he nags back at me.
“Well, whose fault is that? I told you not to do that jump,” I yell, looking over my shoulder.
The boy is crazy. Anything he can fly his bike off of, he will. I went around a steep rock, but not him—he went right over it and bent the rim, shredding the tire in the process.
Grunts of frustration come from behind me as I stop and turn in his direction. His irritation level is evident as he reaches down to pick his bike up from a different angle, hoping it would be easier to carry. The sight of him struggling has me off my bike, walking it back to where he’s standing.
“Here.” I push the handlebars toward him. “You pedal and I’ll ride between your legs. We’ll just leave yours here and come get it tomorrow. No one’s going to mess with it all the way out here.”
Without a second thought, he drops his bike, grabbing mine with a huge smile. “Good idea. Hop on.”
I straddle the metal bar, looping my fingers around his forearms and resting my butt and legs up high on the middle bar. The position is extremely awkward, and I’m already regretting my suggestion.
Memories of when we met at eight years old fly through my head as we take off down the street together.
“Hi, I’m Trevin. What’s your name?” A boy sneaks around the fence to where I tried to hide from him.
“Lily,” I shyly state, not daring to meet his gaze.
“Lily—like the pad?”
“Excuse me?” My head shoots up.
“You know, lily pad, like what frogs jump on in a pond.”
My glare in his direction makes him laugh before he continues. “So, Lily Pad, did you just move in?”
“My name is not Lily Pad, just Lily…and yes, we moved in yesterday.”
“Okay, well, can I call you another name then? Maybe Turtle? You looked like one the way you were peeking your head out behind the fence.”
“No, you can call me Lily.”
“Okay, Lillllyyyy…” he drawls my name out, making a point. “Come on, grab your bike. Let’s go ride.”
“I don't have a bike…” My voice is low, embarrassed by not having one, but even if I did, I don’t know how to ride one.
“You don’t have a bike?” He seems shocked by my revelation.
“I lived in San Francisco. You don’t really ride your bike in the street there.”
“That’s crazy! Well, come here then…you can ride mine, or I have a scooter if you want.”
“Um, I…um,” I stutter, not sure what to say.
“It’s cool if you don't know how. I’ll teach you.”
“Uh, okay, I guess so.”
Perched on the bike, he holds the seat and runs down the street next to me while I try my best not to fall. The wheels wobble and I almost lose control a few times, but he catches me before I hit the ground. My heart pounds with adrenaline pumping through me, the joy of riding overruling the fear of falling.
“Come on, Lily Pad. Try to stay upright.”
I glare at him over my shoulder, and he laughs in response as he pushes me forward again, telling me to pedal faster. Following his instructions, my little feet push as hard and quick as they can to pick up speed.
I’m so focused on trying to maintain my balance and breathe at the same time, I don’t realize I’m doing it all by myself. It’s not until I hear him screaming from behind me, celebrating my success, that it dawns on me he’s no longer by my side.
My attention is thrown off when I see him so far away and fear instantly sets in. The bike starts to sway from side to side and panic takes over. I remove my feet from the pedals, slowing my speed down by running them along the ground yet still straddling the bike. My gaze finally lifts, only to see a huge wall of bushes, and in the blink of an eye, I slam right into them, scraping every inch of my body as the branches bring me to an automatic stop.
“Lily!” I hear Trevin scream as he runs down the street after me.
I try my hardest to fight back the tears threatening to fall, not wanting him to see me cry.
“Are you okay?” he asks, moving branches away and pulling on my arm to help me up.
“Y–yeah,” I stutter.
“Good because that was awesome!” He celebrates, throwing both hands in the air and jumping up and down. “Man, I wish I had my parents’ camera. You should’ve seen yourself going into those bushes!”
Remembering his excitement from my crash years ago, and knowing how reckless he is on his own bike, I can’t stop worrying about riding with him now. Fear of falling and breaking something takes hold of my chest. That cannot happen. I have a dance recital coming up and I can’t miss it.
“Here, just sit on my lap. That way, I can see over you and you’ll be more comfortable than you would be sitting on that bar.”
“But I’ll crush you,” I whine, not looking at him.
“Really? You’re the tiniest thing alive. Have you looked at me recently? I’m the biggest guy in our class. There’s no way you could crush me.”
I turn to see his face painted with pride. Even though he says it’s not a big deal, deep down he loves the fact he’s the “cool kid” in class. His hair is always in the latest style, spiked up in front and cut close in the back—the same cut other boys want but their moms won’t let them have. He’s the only guy I know who cares about his clothes. Trevin only wears plaid button-ups or skater-looking shirts with jeans and his Chucks. He’s also
the only kid in the class who can ride a skateboard and can even do tricks on it. The other guys try, but for him, it just comes naturally.
Most of the girls in our class are jealous we’re so close, but I don’t get all girly and giggly like they do when he’s around. They talk about the butterflies in their tummies and their flush faces when they see him. He’s not just Trev—no, he’s Trevvvviiin, all long, drawn out, and dreamy-like when they say it.
Sitting back on his lap, I lean against his chest and adjust my legs so they’re in a more secure position. “Is this okay?” I ask.
He laughs. “Yeah, now hold on.”
I turn and our eyes meet for a brief second as a small smile forms on his lips. They’re so close to my face I can feel the warmth of his breath on my skin, and instantly, my chest tightens.
Looking forward, I maintain a death grip on his arms, unsure of what’s wrong with my chest. I take a deep breath to try to calm the fear seizing my ribs. I mean, it must be fear I’m feeling. I’ve seen this boy jump off the craziest cliffs, and here I am, trusting him to ride my bike to safety—with me on it.
Yes, that must be it. Fear.
Surprisingly, he maintains a normal pace, and after a few yards, the ache in my chest subsides, replaced with a feeling I can’t explain. The cool breeze floating through the summer night relaxes me while his warmth wraps around my body. Without realizing it, I drop my head to the left, sinking into him, and making this ride even more comfortable.
His breathing picks up, and I can hear the sudden shakiness in my ear and feel his heart starting to race as the steady beat taps my back. He isn’t pedaling fast, but I guess having to exert enough energy to propel both of us must be tiring. The farther we go, the rougher and deeper it gets.