by Hole, Carrie
Willing Surrender
Willing Surrender Series Book 1
Carrie Hogle (PinkParadox)
Contents
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
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
23. (Chapter 22 scene - Amy & James)
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Playlist
Thank You’s & Recognition
Chapter 1
Wearing her favorite worn t-shirt and gym shorts, Reina Hessman shuffled out of her room. Fiery red toes peeking at her as she crossed the cool tile towards the kitchen. Her long, dark brown hair a mess of wild curls. Destination: coffee. As she rounded the hallway corner, she saw her roommate Amy Harris sitting at the breakfast bar. Amy’s golden brown hair straightened, make-up on, obviously ready for the day. “I thought you were off today, why are you up and ready so early?” Reina asked as she grabbed a scrunchie off the table and tied her hair into a messy bun. “And, why is there no coffee?!”
“It’s 10:30, not 5 a.m. Anyway, I thought we’d go to The Coffee Spot this morning”
“You know I can’t even contemplate the outside world without caffeine.”
“Oh, but you can use words like contemplate.” Amy gave her a sideways look, and a smirk, just waiting for the sarcastic banter to begin.
Reina and Amy met as college roommates. Even with their vastly different personalities, or perhaps because of it, they became instant friends. Amy was outspoken and always up for an adventure. She was petite, flirtatious, carefree and spontaneous, but also fiercely loyal. Reina, 5’7” and a touch clumsy, had always been more reserved, pensive, and a touch sarcastic. No one would ever mistake her for a “people” person. She could occasionally let loose, and be a little wild, but generally with a close group of friends and always with a little cajoling. Somehow the two had formed a bond that had carried them across 15 years, family deaths, and Reina’s divorce.
“Look, you’re not allowed to give me crap, unless you supply coffee. Those are the rules.” Reina half-heartedly snipped.
“Like I waste time following rules,” Amy laughed, smiling that she had gotten a rise out of her. “OK. I’ll make a cup to go, you get ready.”
“If by ‘get ready’ you mean put on a bra, and brush my teeth, I’m in. Reluctantly I might add, very reluctantly.”
As Reina headed back to her room, Amy called out to her snickering, “Better put on some pants too.”
“Smartass!” Reina yelled back, smiling.
Less than 20 minutes later Reina was ready to go, or as ready as she was going to get. Hair in a neater messy bun, curls still trying to escape. Wearing her most comfy jeans, her appropriate, “I haven’t had enough coffee. Please stop talking” tee, and tattoo artist sneakers. One last look at her make-up free face, brown eyes staring back at her she thought, Look out world, here I come.
“Took you long enough,” Amy goaded.
“You’re in full sass mode this morning,” Reina replied giving her a hard look, while sticking out her tongue.
“You know you love me,” Amy replied, holding out coffee to go, as a peace offering. “I’m driving!”
Narrowing her eyes Reina quipped, “Oh, now I get it. You plan to rope me into running errands with you all day. Sneaky brat.”
“Come on Reina. I know you finished your design project last night! Come hang out with me today,” Amy said, with a pretty pout.
“I still have to email the finished product.”
“Yeah, but that takes like 10 minutes. They’re not expecting it until tomorrow anyway.”
“What, no date tonight,” Reina joked, with a wink.
“Nope. I have a long weekend, and saved all my time for you.”
“Oh come on then,” Reina said with a melodramatic flare. “You really are a brat though.”
Within minutes they were pulling up to The Coffee Spot. At three blocks away, they walked there most of the time. With tree covered sidewalks, and quaint old houses, it was the perfect way to start the day or unwind. It was owned by Amy’s mother Carol, and one of Reina’s favorite places. It was also one of the reasons Reina and Amy had again become roommates. Amy’s parents had always dreamed of owning a coffee shop, but when her father’s health began to falter, it was put on hold. He’d passed away five years ago. Carol had spent the insurance money and their savings to make their dream a reality. She couldn’t bear to live in the bigger house by herself, so she built a small house beside the coffee shop. Amy took over the house she’d grown up in, and when Reina was looking for a new place, Amy had convinced her to move in. Being devastated by her husband’s passing, Carol poured her heart into the cafe. It quickly became a local favorite, but always seemed comfortable.
The outside was mix between a house and an old-fashioned cafe. Complete with an Austrian inspired sign, a small bench, and a lamppost. Like the name, it was attractive but unassuming. The surprise was on the inside. It was mostly brick walls, with a few small wooden tables. On either side were wooden shelves, with various coffee items and unique old fashioned candies. The counters were also wooden, with pastry filled deli style display cases. Fresh bagels, muffins and croissants were elegantly displayed on decorative cake stands. Beautifully handwritten chalkboard signs were strategically placed. Behind the counter were shelves of chalkboard canisters filled with sugar, cinnamon, cocoa and such. It was cozy, and friendly, and a touch old fashioned. It felt perfect to Reina.
As they walked towards the entrance, Reina noticed the wild daisies along the well-kept sidewalk. As they neared the door, she stopped mid-step. Amy was opening the door before she noticed Reina just standing there, staring down the street.
“Ummmm... Hello. Are ya coming? What are you looking at anyway,” she asked.
Reina looked back, obviously distracted. “Do you see those two men walking away? One of those guys looked just like James Beaston. Crazy!”
“Why do I know that name?”
“He’s the actor of that show Wolf’s Bane.”
“You mean the show you’re constantly binge watching? Well, what are you waiting for, go introduce yourself.”
“Oh yeah. I’m going to walk up to a stranger, and make myself look crazy. That would be a definite No. I’m sure it’s not him anyway. What would he be doing in random town in Tennessee?”
Before she knew it was coming, Amy yelled out, “Hey handsome, I think I know you!”
Reina grabbed the door and literally started pushing her inside, completely embarrassed. “Seriously! What are you, like twelve?” Then she laughed, “I should have known better. You’re lucky I like you.”
“Like me? More like, can’t live without me”
“Sad, but true.” She smiled. They were both laughing as they approached the counter.
“Morning mom,” Amy called out, as she rounded the counter, giving her mom a small hug.
Carol returned her hug, with a small cheek kiss, and then looked at Reina. “Good to see you Reina. Haven’t seen you in at least a week.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I’ve been working on a business project. Logo, website, pamphlets. The works. Amy has been sneaking me coffee and blueberry muffin rations though.”
Carol laughed, “What are y
ou girls having this morning?”
“Don’t worry mom, I’ll make it,” Amy smiled
Carol smiled in return then went back to straightening up and checking supplies.
Amy looked at Reina inquisitively. “Let’s see. Large cappuccino, 3 shots and a touch of chocolate?”
“Iced please, it’s going to get hot today. Also, better make it 4 shots if you want me to run errands with you.”
“Coming right up! Don’t try to get out of it either, I’m holding you hostage,” She joked
Amy handed Reina her drink and made one for herself. She put a couple of muffins and croissants in a bag and they headed out. Amy gave her mom another hug, “Love you mom.”
Reina gave her a quick hug as well. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
“You girls try to stay out of trouble,” she winked
“You know how Amy can be. I’ll do my best.”
This had been a running joke between them. Carol had become like a second mom to Reina, so she always teased about the wild one and the quiet one. Reina talked to her own mom often, but it was nice to have the comfort of a second family.
Chapter 2
Almost five hours, and what seemed like one hundred stops later, Amy finally had mercy on her. Amy could go all day, flirting with everyone along the way. Reina, on the other hand, had reached her people limit. Now she could have a little time to breath, and just enjoy her own space. Reina had always been big on personal space. Maybe it was being an only child. Maybe she was emotionally broken. She didn’t feel broken, but letting people in was definitely not her strong suit. When she did find someone she felt that connection with, she tended to nurture those relationships and keep them...as few as they may be.
She had to admit to herself, the day wasn’t a total bust. She did find two perfect new shirts, both t-shirts of course. One red fitted but comfortable, scoop neck that said, “The key to my heart is coffee.” in a fancy script font. The other was an earth toned, distressed, V-neck with the phrase, “You had me at coffee,” on it. It was as if they’d been made with her in mind. It made the day out totally worth it. She wouldn't say it though, or Amy would probably never let her live it down. She threw the bag on the bed, took off her bra, switched back to her pj shorts, and settled on the couch with the remote and a leftover croissant.
Amy stopped in front of her, hands on hips. “What are you doing?”
“Ummm...being comfortable? I’m sure you’ve heard of the concept.”
“Oh no. Not tonight. We’re going out.”
“We already went out,” Reina huffed
“That doesn’t even count. We’re going out to find some fun tonight.”
“I am having fun. So, good luck with that.”
“Reina, I am not going to let you sit in this house another night. I’ve decreed we are going out, and you are going to have fun.”
“Amy, we ran around all day. I’ve reached my ‘outside, with people’ quota. I don’t want to.”
Amy sat next to her on the couch. “Look Reina, I’m worried about you. I know your business is doing well, and you seem content, but you really need to put yourself back out there. You’ve been divorced for three years, and haven’t even tried dating yet.”
Reina just looked at her silently for a few moments. She wanted to be angry. The indignation was bubbling under the surface, but underneath it she knew Amy meant well. If almost anyone else had said it, they would quickly learn not to overstep. She had the uncanny knack of letting someone have it without even breaking etiquette. Her instinct was to lash out, but she was smart enough to hold back. She didn't want to say something she’d regret. Although she may never admit it, deep down she knew Amy was right. She did sometimes feel that something was missing. As if there were a small hole in her heart, and she couldn't find the key for it. That didn’t make it sting less. It most certainly didn’t make it any easier to hear or act on. Putting herself out there was completely out of her comfort zone.
She glanced away. “You’re right, I am content. I’m not looking for a man.”
“I’m sorry. I'm not saying you need to run out and find mister right, or even be with someone. I just...I’d like to see you happy, not just content. You're such a beautiful person, and I love you. Please come out with me. We’ll go someplace low key, like the Crow's Nest. It’s Thursday, so it won’t be busy. We’ll have a couple of beers and play pool. Please? Do you know how hard it is to play pool by yourself?”
Reina smiled in spite of herself. She wasn't a pushover. If she put her foot down, and said no, Amy would let it go. It had been a nice day, getting out of the house, and spending time with her friend. Even though they were roommates, they both had their own schedules and things to do. Feeling less than confident she gave a melodramatic, “OK, if I have to. But, you owe me. Big time! Really though Amy, I’m not promising that we’ll stay out and party all night.”
“We’ll have some drinks, listen to the jukebox, and just hang out. Promise. I’m really not trying to make you miserable.”
“I know,” she murmured.
“So, what do you think? We’ll head out in a couple of hours?”
“All right. Shower it is. The only hope of taming these curls is when it’s wet. It’ll take that long for it to air dry.”
As they both stood up, Amy reached out. “Alright, hug me so I know you’re not mad.”
“I’m not mad,” she answered. Amy might seem carefree, but if you knew her well enough, you’d see she wore her heart on her sleeve. “Now go get ready, you take forever,” she joked.
“It’s not my fault you’re so low maintenance,” she laughed, back to her lighthearted self.
Reina showered, put on some music, brushed her hair and scrunched some mousse into it. She spritzed on her favorite perfume, both fruity and spicy, it made her feel a bit sexy. She slid on a pair of mid-rise, hip hugging jeans that flared a bit at the bottom. They always looked great with her wedged sandals, which she loved. The sandals had small rhinestone skulls that made her heart smile. She opted for her silky push-up bra. Her breasts were an average “C” cup, but at her age a little lift never hurt. She finished it off with her new red tee. She gave her hair a couple of shakes, and another round of scrunching. She’d always wished for straight hair that she could simply run her fingers through. She rarely straightened it. With the humidity, it never stayed anyway. It didn’t seem worth the time or damage. So, she’d learned to own her curls, or most of the time, just wear it up. Although, falling just past her bra strap, wearing it up too much occasionally gave her tension headaches. Sometimes she just had to let it be. She had gotten lucky in the eyelash department. She felt her brown eyes were a bit plain, but they were framed with thick, dark, naturally long lashes. It was easy to make them seem dramatic, with just a few touches of mascara. Since she was making the effort to go out, she added a hint of blush, and a red lip stain. She liked the lip stains because she could add a touch of lipgloss or even chapstick, and not give it a second thought. Amy was right about one thing for sure, she was low maintenance.
As she walked through the dining room, towards the kitchen, she yelled down the hall. “Hurry up Amy!” It would take several tries, and who knew how long, to actually get her out the door. She made herself a sandwich, and waited at the breakfast bar. If she sat on the couch, she might change her mind and settle in with her celebrity crush instead. “You better come on, before I change my mind!”
Amy appeared at the end of the hallway, half ready. “You try to change your mind, and I’ll hide the coffee!” She smiled mischievously. “I’m almost ready. Ten more minutes.”
“Yeah, right,” Reina mumbled under her breath. “I’m calling a cab now, so you better move your ass!” Although the bar was technically within walking distance, they’d decided to take the lazy route. “I’ll tell them 15 minutes.” When she called, she told them 30.
As the cab pulled up, Amy finally came out, dressed in fashionably ripped jeans, a lacy Bohemian style t
op, and heeled suede sandals. The outfit was perfectly understated.
“Took you forever, as usual,” Reina jokingly grumbled.
“Come on then, let’s get the hell out of here,” She giggled.
On the short car ride over, they casually bantered about random life moments.
Chapter 3
The Crow’s Nest was a mellow, local hang-out. Mostly quiet through the week, and busier on the weekends, but always with a laid-back vibe. The outside was an unobtrusive brick building, with parking in the front and around the side. A decorative sloped awning, with the name across the front, covered a large, darkly tinted window. The inside was relaxed and welcoming. On the left were a few pool tables, with high top tables along the wall beside them. In the far left corner was a small area where local bands would periodically perform. The L-shaped bar was on the right, restrooms nestled in the back right corner. On the rear wall was a jukebox, and a couple of dart boards, round wooden tables were scattered throughout. The lighting was low and atmospheric, with brighter beer themed lights over the pool tables. The walls were decorated with liquor memorabilia and antique style road signs.
When Reina and Amy entered, there was handful of people having muted conversations and soft laughter. They sat at the bar and started a conversation with the owner/bartender Joe Davis. Joe was only a couple of years older than them. He and Amy had briefly attended high school together, Joe was a senior when Amy was a freshman. So, they had casually known each other for years.
“Amy, Reina...good to see you ladies! Out looking for trouble?”
“You know I'm always looking for trouble,” Amy teased.
Joe smiled and chuckled. “What are you girls starting off with tonight?”
“Just a couple of beers please. Thanks Joe,” Amy replied with a flirty smile.
They chatted, and sipped, enjoying each other’s company. “Do you have any new projects planned,” Amy inquired.