“Then why did you agree to come?”
“I need to see him, just one last time.” Saying the words burned. Needing Milo still but knowing this last glimpse of him was the final act of our doomed relationship ripped me to shreds. The gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach hadn’t abated since Thanksgiving. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or barely function because my heart overruled my head and threatened to lead me down a path of destruction.
“There’s still time, Ed. Talk to him and see if you can salvage whatever it was you guys had.”
Milo’s harsh words burrowed deep into my soul and no matter how I tried to justify them, I couldn’t. Keep your queer hands to yourself and get the fuck out. “It’s too late for us.”
“It doesn’t have to be. Come on, it takes one of you to make the first move.”
Logan sympathising with Milo was the last thing I expected. “I didn’t know you cared so much.”
“I might have screwed up talking to Seth, but you’re still my friend, and I care about you.” He reached out to me. Flashbacks of Milo pulling away momentarily robbed me of breath. “I hate to see you this way.”
Exhaling, I couldn’t fall to pieces, not here, not now. “You were right. Logan.”
“Right about what?”
“Him—I was a notch on his bedpost.” How could I have been such a fool? “He never had any intention of telling Sandra about me.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“You weren’t there, you didn’t see his face...” I could feel my emotions spiralling out of control. “...that look in his eyes…” I took a deep breath. “His parting words”
“From what you told me, his asshole dad turning up changed everything. Hell, Ed, look at your cheek and tell me that was a normal Thanksgiving?”
As bruises go, it was a belter, travelling from my cheek and stopping right under my eye. But Clayton Wilcox would pay for his actions in court. A hate crime would not be looked upon favourably by the courts. My last act of kindness to Milo was filing charges for assault against his lowlife father. Actually, I did it more for Sandra. She didn’t deserve him. Milo could rot in hell while his father rotted in jail. “My first, and last Thanksgiving.”
“I don’t want you to go.” I heard the break in his voice. “But I care enough to want what’s best for you, and if you’re tellin’ me going back to England is the only way you can move on, I’m here for ya.”
“You’ve been a good friend, Logan.”
“I wish I hadn’t made the mistakes I did.” Regret was his best friend. For his own sake, he had to forgive himself. Now, post break up, his actions, although foolish weren’t a big deal.
I wouldn’t get into this conversation again and tried to change the subject. “Do you think there is anything between you and Seth?” I still believed they were a good match.
“He’s great in the sack, but aside from that, I doubt it.”
“Seth is a good guy.”
“Yeah, he is, but I’m sure he feels the same way about me. Seth’s convenient, which is no bad thing.”
“Don’t hurt him, Logan.”
“That won’t happen.”
“You don’t know how he really feels about you, so don’t be a smart arse and assume!”
He looked deep into my eyes. I felt uncomfortable. Every ounce of bottled and pent up emotion he felt for me spilled out. “Seth will always be the runner up.”
I required no clarification and had no intention of delving deeper into what could have been. “I’ll be back in a minute.” I pushed the truck door open, terror coursing through me.
What if he sees me?
This was my last chance. It was now or never. Gingerly approaching Nick’s, through the window I saw Seth fluttering about the customers like a butterfly, but where was Milo? I craned my neck, revealing that bit more of myself, hoping he was in the back somewhere. Then, my heart almost shuddered to a stop as he appeared. Milo!
He wasn’t the man I remember, but a shadow of his former self. The haunted look in his eyes told me of his state of mind, but he wasn’t mine to worry about anymore.
Physically, he was still a fine specimen. He looked bigger, bulkier, and I wondered if the college gym bore the brunt of his inner turmoil. Regardless, I couldn’t allow myself to feel sorry for him, no matter how dark the circles were around his beautiful eyes. This was his mess, his doing, and I refused to take responsibility for the destruction he wrought.
He chatted with Seth, but I sensed no joy in his world. It hurt to see him going through the motions, only doing what he had to do. Stop it, Edward!
Milo looked in my direction, and for a moment, I was caught in the act, but suddenly, he turned away, his attention demanded by the large lady trying to balance her oversized derriere on a bar stool.
I played a dangerous game, but I daren’t get any closer. Time to go, Edward.
Blowing out the last of my anguish, I pressed my fingertips against the window and stole one last look. Then I closed my eyes, desperately trying to remember happier times, but memories sat in a locked box, the key lost to a time before now. Standing here, looking into his world, one I no longer belonged in only served to prolong my agony. Opening my eyes, he was gone.
I lifted my eyes skyward, my words a whisper in the gentle breeze. “Goodbye, my love.”
To be continued.
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, Mitchell and I want to give our love to our families and significant others for their patience while we worked together. The time difference and miles between us forced us into more unconventional hours. Their support allowed us the time to embrace our work without barriers.
Of course, Mandi Reece, our beloved PA, is invaluable. She keeps us on task and reminds of all those other back end things we often forget about. You’re our all-star and we could not do this without you and your organization.
The beta team guys and girls came on board and opened their minds to our work. The honest feedback and time they put in is not a thankless job in our minds. In fact, beta reads are one of the most important steps to making sure a work is in tip-top shape before it goes live. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your time and help.
Our editor Amy came through like a champ. She embraced our ideas and styles from the start. She kept the authenticity and brand we were developing intact, as she marked up our work for revision. This journey would not be the same without her. Our hearts are in her hands!
The indie community is an interesting place. It provides an amazing group of people between our readers, groups, and other authors we love you all for your support.
I (Maggie) want to thank Grasshopper. He reached out to me before setting up shop in the writing arena as a mentor and fellow author. He blew me away with his work Metamorphosis and from there he’s only continued to grow. Our co-write is a journey I would not have made, and he pushed me as an author as well. I love you Grasshopper and can't wait to write more with you!
I (Mitchell) would like to thank Miyaggie for picking up the gauntlet of what was a mammoth challenge for her. But also for taking a chance on me, a newbie in this crazy world. Co-writing has been a dream and I look forward to continuing work on the sequel and beyond. Love you right back, now let's get to it. (Wax on. Wax off.)
Love is love,
Maggie and Mitchell
About the Author
Maggie Jane Schuler is a wife, mother of three almost-grown children, and teacher by day. While she has always loved to read, the thought of writing her own prose did not strike until she was in the middle of writing her master’s thesis. From that point on, she was hooked.
She resides in Southern California. Besides the family and books, she loves baseball. Since the Dodgers, Angels, and Padres are all within a short distance, and the Giants and Athletics a nice weekend jaunt away, she’s got plenty of games to take in during the season. Additionally, she enjoys cooking, movies, the beach, and the local mountains. She’s most con
tent being with her family engaged in whatever activity they have planned.
Connect with the Author:
Website: www.maggiejaneschuler.com
FB: bit.ly/AuthorMaggieJaneSchulerFB
FB Reader Group: bit.ly/TheNerdyNest
Twitter: bit.ly/MaggieJaneSchulerTwitter
IG: bit.ly/maggiejanenerdynovelistInstagram
Goodreads: bit.ly/GoodreadsMJS
Amazon: Author.to/AmazonMaggieJaneSchuler
BookBub: http://bit.ly/MJSBookBub
Mitchell Summers lives in Manchester, England.
Writing is something he has always wanted to do, and thanks to a career break, he finally took up the challenge.
Connect with the Author
Amazon: http://author.to/MtchSmr
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/AthrMSfb
Facebook Fan Group: http://bit.ly/LoseControlWithMitchellSummers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19982170.Mitchell_Summers
Also by
Maggie Jane Schuler
THE DIAMOND SERIES
Up To Bat: https://books2read.com/Up-to-BatMJSchuler
The Playbook: https://books2read.com/ThePlaybookMJSchuler
THE SURF SERIES
In the Surf: https://books2read.com/MJSIntheSurf
Along the Shore: https://books2read.com/MJSAlongtheShore
STANDALONES
Resurrection: https://books2read.com/ResurrectionMJSchuler
A Sorcerer’s Road to Temperance: https://books2read.com/ASRTT
Melt Me: https://books2read.com/MJSMeltMe
Research Required:
Co-Writes
With Morgan Heyward
Transformation: https://books2read.com/Transformation
Calculation: https://books2read.com/WitSCalculation
Creation: https://books2read.com/WitSCreation
With Mitchell Summers
Shattered Beliefs: https://books2read.com/ShatteredBeliefs
Mitchell Summers
Metamorphosis: http://geni.us/metamsmrs
HORNY TRUCKER SERIES
On the Road Again: https://geni.us/MStrk1
Hitting it Hard: https://geni.us/MStrke2
Cloistered Vampire: http://geni.us/ClstrMS
Edge of Ecstasy: http://geni.us/tgdgExMS
Co-Writes
With Maggie Jane Schuler
Shattered Beliefs: https://geni.us/ms2blf
Table of Contents
TItle Page
Copyright
Dedication
Shattered Beliefs
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Also by
Maggie Jane Schuler
Mitchell Summers
Shattered Beliefs Page 22