Fate (Choices #2)

by Lane, Sydney

  Just two people getting to know each other.

  I promised I wouldn't lay a hand on her until I knew she was ready, and I didn't. We dated. We talked... and we moved in together. Ok, so I know we were taking it slow, but she needed a roommate when Jenna moved out, and I had my own apartment.

  It took a lot of convincing for Little Miss Perfect to finally cave in. She was, rightly so, worried about what her parents would think. She even worried about what my parents would think. Of course, my family loves Quince. My mom sees how happy she makes me, and that's all she wants. After I confessed about Paige, my mom was just glad to see me moving on. I think she was afraid I was broken.

  And by the way, Quincy did find out about my nickname for her. At first, she didn't like it, even forbade me to use it around her. She hacked into my phone and changed her name. But once I explained it to her, she was fine with it. I actually think she secretly likes it. Perfect to Quincy meant that she had to be what everyone else wanted her to be. To me, it means that she just has to be herself. And that girl.... she's perfect for me.

  She also likes my new tattoo. Around my wrist are the words 'What the heart has known, it will never forget'. So many meanings, but they all lead back to us.

  Sometimes, Quincy tells me stories about Katie. She makes her seem so full of life that it's hard to believe she isn't here with us. When I met 'the parents', I was afraid they'd take one look at me and decide I wasn't good enough for their little girl. As it turns out, Mrs. Priest pulled me aside and thanked me for taking care of Quincy the night Katie died. I told her it wasn't me who did that, but all she would say was, "Yes, Brody, it was you. It was always you." I just shake my head because that night still holds so many terrible memories for all of us. I don't have the heart to correct her anymore.

  Declan and I have reached an impasse. It's better than it was when I decided to move out, but it's still awkward. I see him watching Quincy when we're around, but instead of pissing me off, it makes me feel guilty. I know they had a real relationship, founded on friendship, and in their own way, they both need that. Quincy watches him, too, when she thinks I'm not looking. And that's Ok. Maybe someday, they can be friends again, when they've both had time to heal.

  Eric and Jenna are on their way to getting married. He hasn't proposed yet, but he doesn't have to. We all just know. Jenna reminds me at least weekly that if I ever hurt Quincy again, my balls are hers. I laugh and tell her that's fine by me. If I ever hurt her again, I'd gladly hand ‘em over. Seriously.

  Quincy is applying to UT Memphis, and we plan on moving there next fall. I got accepted to med school, and she'll be finishing her pre-med requirements. If all goes as planned, we'll finish school together, get married, and start a family. I can't wait for that day... when Quincy will finally be mine. I'd get married tomorrow, but she wants to finish school first. I do what she says, but I do remind her that you can't always follow a plan, sometimes Fate steps in and does whatever she wants to. Yes, I said 'she'.

  That's because only a woman could be so damned temperamental yet so fuckin' right all the time.

  Chapter 43 - Quincy

  So, you heard my story. It was time you heard from Brody as well. We didn’t just get back together and have a perfect drama-free life. We’ve had our moments, but never, not once, have I tried to leave him again. Leaving him would be like trying to leave myself. Impossible. He's the color in my world of black and white.

  You see, I know a lot of people who knew my story wouldn’t like me. Heck, if I met a girl like me, I might not even like her. But this is the thing. People do stupid, thoughtless things when they are hurting. Does that excuse my behavior? No. Not at all.

  I have so many regrets, so many things I wish I could do differently. But then, I wouldn’t be here, where I am now, would I? I wouldn’t be happier than I’ve ever been, and I wouldn’t have Brody. He makes it all worth it, even though it doesn’t change what I did. What we did.

  For those of you who wish I’d chosen Declan, please remember this. He deserved better. He deserves someone who loves only him, who doesn’t have to make a choice, who knows there is no one else she’d rather be with. That person wasn’t me. Someday, he’s going to find a girl he feels that way about. He’ll love her the way I love Brody, and he’ll understand. Right now, that wound is too fresh, too deep, for him to understand, but trust me, it will happen. He’s too good to be alone for long.

  So, where do we go from here? I don’t know. I no longer feel as if I have to have the answers to everything. We’ll get married. We’ll finish school. And maybe someday, we’ll have a family of our own. It doesn’t matter where we go as long as we’re together.

  I have this dream sometimes. I'm sitting in bed, reading a book to a little brown-haired, blue-eyed girl. Her eyes grow tired, and she balls her little hands into fists, rubbing her eyes with them. She looks up at me, and I tell her, “It’s time for bed, baby girl.”

  And that little girl, who has obviously captured my heart, says back to me, “Mom, can you tell me a story about when you were little?”

  My heart breaks just a little, and I start my story like this. “Once upon a time, there were two little girls who loved each other very much. They were sisters…..”

  Epilogue - Brody

  I push open the door to the residents’ lounge, expecting to find it full, but there is only Quincy. She’s watching TV with her back to me. Dressed in scrubs with a long pony tail, she looks too young to be a physician. Her eyes have dark circles under them, and she looks tired, but I know she wouldn’t change any of this for the world. It’s kind of surreal, with us both finally achieving our dreams and doing it together.

  I’m in my third year of residency, and Quincy is a newbie. People like to give me shit for dating one of the grunts, but I don’t give a rat’s ass. They're just jealous they didn’t get to her first. I still get tingly all over and warm inside every time I see her. Every. Single. Time.

  Getting to know Quincy has been an adventure, and I never want to stop. While I may have only wanted her body at first, now, I wouldn’t settle for anything less than her heart, body, and mind. During her medical school rotations, I saw her learn and grow in ways that made me want to be a better man. I’m the doctor I am because of her.

  If a patient needed someone to hold them, Quincy was there, her arms wrapped around a stranger as they grieved or worried. She has always been willing to hold their hand or just listen to their stories. Whether she’s volunteering in the food pantry or assisting in a surgery, she always puts her patients first. What sets Quincy apart from everyone else is her ability to console families, to give them the compassion that many of us overlook. Patients are always a priority, but we all suck at taking care of their families. Not Quincy. That is where she shines, where her spirit really comes to life.

  It’s rare to find someone who wants to speak to the families of the ones that don’t make it, to be the bearer of such tragic news. Quincy not only wants to do it, she thrives on it. It’s the very essence of her heart, and she wears it on her sleeve. With every family she consoles, she heals a little more each day, as if by helping others, she can undo some of her own pain. You see, Quincy knows what it’s like to be the one left behind. She's proof that a heart can be broken, shattered even, but still love with inexplicable capacity.

  That amazing, almost too-good-to-be-real girl is going to be my wife. I'll never forget the day I took her up to the cabin in the snow. We hiked through the woods to the pier on the lake, our noses and feet frozen to a place that meant so much to us. On bended knee, I asked her to be mine, to let me be hers, and to make me the happiest man alive. I already knew she had my heart, but when she said 'yes', it sealed the deal. No more hiding. Just us and the future. I still can't believe she's mine.

  I watch her for a several minutes before she notices me. Her eyes sparkle as she smiles, and I’m certain that I'll never get tired of that look. When I walk to her, she stands to hug me.

  “I mi
ssed you last night.” She stayed at the hospital last night, and I missed waking up with her.

  “I know. The Williams baby was touch and go. I just couldn’t leave.” There is pain in her eyes, and I know caring too much sometimes takes its toll. I also know that the baby made it through the night because Quincy stayed by her side, giving her the best care in the world. She held the mother’s hand, whispering words of encouragement through the darkest hours, something that woman will never forget. It’s just what she has to do.

  “Tonight, then. I have plans for you." I look at my watch. "As a matter of fact, don’t you have a break coming up?” I massage her neck and shoulders, relieving some of the tension there.

  “Yes. Like now.” She turns in my arms, pressing her lips to my neck. I like the way she's thinking.

  A quick inventory of the on-call room reveals that it's empty, but we don't have much time. As soon as I lock the door behind us, we frantically shed as little clothing as possible. I back her against the wall, lifting her above me as her legs settle around my waist. The only sound is the panting coming from each of us as our skin slaps together. My hands roam over her body, unable to get enough. I drive my hips into her over and over until she cries out in release. Within seconds, I moan into her throat. A quickie, but it'll get me through the day.

  My scrubs are pooled around my ankles, and I reach for them, adjusting my clothing. Quincy looks flustered but now has a glow in her cheeks. I can't take my eyes off her while she rushes to get dressed. Even now, I think she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

  "So, how's the morning sickness?" She hasn't been sick for a few days, so I'm hoping she's finally past it. It's hell watching the person you love try to work while sick as a dog.

  "Better." She smiles. "Even better now." She swears I'm the only thing that helps.

  "So, when are we going to tell everyone?" I'm ready to shout it to the world. I'm going to be a father. We're going to be parents. "You're not still worried about how everyone will react, are you?"

  Wrapping her arms around my waist and laying her head on my chest, Quincy reassures me. "I'm not worried. We're getting married in two months." It took her some time to get used to the idea. "But we always had to do things backwards, didn't we?"

  No, not backwards. Not even sideways. Fate just got it right.

  The End

  Thank you for reading Fate! Please drop by and leave a review where you purchased it! I hope you all are pleased with the conclusion to Brody and Quincy's story. Declan will be telling his story in Hope (Choices #3). Please join me on his journey!!!

  Acknowledgements

  It's that time again... first, and always, I'd like to give thanks to my family for their sacrifices so that I could do this. My husband and my girls mean the world to me. Without them, there is no purpose.

  MSA, you did it again! I love your input, your creativity, and your dedication. I always know you'll do it right, as if it were your own baby, and you didn't let me down! I love the cover. I can't thank you enough.

  Josh, I know you thought I was a nut (or several other names I can't say here), but I love the cover, and I am so glad you did this. Thanks for showing up when I really wasn't sure you would.

  Sharon, you are still the best beta reader EVER. Your handholding helps mold these characters into the people they become. Your input and support are invaluable. I could never thank you enough!

  A special thanks to the editors! Kathy Krick and Erinn Giblin, you guys did a wonderful job, and I appreciated every little red mark and suggestion. I honestly believe a book is only as good as its editors.

  Thanks, again, to the wonderful, tireless Ena Burnette. You are the best!

  And to the readers and bloggers who read and share these books... thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

  Keep reading for a excerpt from The Albino Redwoods by Heather Nelson - a great YA novel!!!

  Fate Playlist

  Ne-Yo - Let me Love you (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)

  Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are

  Maroon 5 – Sad

  Skylar Gray – Back From the Dead

  Three Days Grace – The High Road

  Hinder - I Don’t Wanna Believe

  Avril Lavigne – Innocence

  Bruno Mars – It Will Rain

  Lifehouse - Between the Raindrops

  Pink – Glitter In The Air

  Nickelback – Far Away

  30 Seconds to Mars - Hurricaine

  Citizen Cope - Sideways

  Wishes for my girls.....

  I wish for you.....

  A life led by Christ

  A good heart

  Love for others

  Long legs

  Joy

  Hard work

  Laughter

  To know how much I love you

  Empathy

  Ability to make smart decisions

  High self-esteem without being conceited

  A life-long best-friend

  Ability to adapt to change

  Respect

  A worthy husband

  True happiness

  Desire to make things better than you found them

  Peace in your heart

  Sanity

  And each other.....

  About the Author

  Sydney Lane lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and children. Growing up in Smalltown, USA, Sydney dreamed of being a writer. After spending an outrageous amount of money to go to college and reading thousands of books, Sydney finally decided to follow her heart. With her babies in bed and husband neglected, she worked by the light of her laptop and wrote Choices. Sydney is very active in charity work for anti-bullying and depression awareness groups.

  Please feel free to contact me and offer feedback or ask questions. I love to read reviews on Goodreads and Amazon!

  My personal email address is: authorsydneylane@gmail.com

  I also have a community page on facebook for Author Sydney Lane. Please check there for information on new releases, teasers, and more!

  If you or anyone you know experiences depression or have suicidal thoughts, take it seriously and seek professional help. You may save a life.

  National Suicide Prevention Hotline – 1-800-273-8255

  Stop bullying at home. Teach your children to love themselves and others.

  The Albino Redwoods

  by Heather Nelson

  Prologue

  He started his day like every other. Wearing sweat pants and tennis shoes, he checked the security cameras, and snuck outside. He ran because he needed to. Because everything in his life was forced into a tiny little box, much too small to contain the young man he had become. He wasn’t afraid of getting caught. Not anymore. He was only afraid someone he loved would pay for his defiance.

  His usual path led him close to the large house, but he never lingered there. Today, however, he stopped. Panting, muscles burning, he listened to the scene unfolding. He could see them standing outside the mass of trees that were his constant companions.

  “Grey’s coming home? No! Damn it, Eli. I can’t do this!” the woman cried.

  “We have no choice. If you think I didn’t try to find another school to take him, you’re wrong,” the stout, white-haired man argued.

  “He’ll tell, Eli! Grey will tell.”

  “He won’t. He’s not a child anymore,” Eli countered. He closed the space between them and tenderly placed his hands on her shoulders. She pulled away.

  “Why didn’t we just kill that abomination when he was born?” She jerked her head toward the woods and the hidden young man cringed lower to the ground. “I could have done it. I would have done it. I’ll never forgive you for letting him live!”

  Chapter 1

  “Joanne,” my most hateful teacher snapped. Her angry face was pasty with the concealer she had caked on her skin.

  “Yes, Mrs. O’Neil?”

  “I asked you a question!” she growled. I stared at her unapologetically.
She didn’t wait for a response before she moved on to ask her question of the quiet boy sitting to my left.

  “Jerome! What is the difference between a monarchy and an emirate?” she barked. He practically trembled in his seat, his dark eyes as big as saucers.

  “I don’t know?” he squeaked.

  I suppressed a sigh. His timid response was so typical. So was Mrs. O’Neil’s. It seemed she’d find any excuse to sit at her desk and not teach us anything.

  “You people are unbelievable!” she screamed, throwing her hands into the air. She stomped to the blackboard, moving with the dexterity of someone much younger. “We’ve been discussing the different forms of government all week. Am I just wasting my breath? You think I want to stand up here day after day knowing that I’m squandering my time? Who actually thought you people had any capacity for learning is beyond me.”

  She walked briskly to her desk and sat down, muttering as she took out a yellow plastic compact and applied a fresh coat of powder to her laden face. Almost in unison, the students who’d raised their hands to answer her question let them fall. All the heads bowed in shame. “Well, since I can’t teach you people anything, you can spend the rest of the class reading silently from chapter twelve.”

  I closed my eyes as I opened my book to some random page. I was dangerously close to losing my temper. After a few deep breaths, I opened them. The first thing I saw was Iris. She sat in the same row as Jerome, just ahead of him, with her shoulders hunched in defeat. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and I could see the moisture there glistening under the florescent lights.