The Quest

by Olivia Gracey

  I slipped on a pair of yoga pants, I know, I’m addicted to the way they make me feel and flatter my butt, and slipped on a wife beater. No need to be dressing up for a drink that I knew was strictly platonic. There was no chance of anything, so I was set on being me, being comfortable; the real me, no frills, fancies, or fakes.

  I scooted across to the bar and arrived before he did, or at least I thought I did anyway. I sat in a seat and ordered a drink from the bartender. The bar was a little empty, a few chairs scattered around with folks but no one I recognized. Then out of the corner of my eye, up walks this guy.

  “Sadie,” he says as he hugs me, “it’s so good to see you again.”

  I had no idea who he was. I must have had a strange look on my face because he laughed and said, “What? You don’t recognize me?”

  Now, to my defense the bar was dark, but this wasn’t Josh. My Josh was a stoutly large man, with a few muscles on his chest, and a head full of hair. He was at least fifty pounds lighter now and bald. The voice was the same, okay I agree, it must have been him, but boy had he changed.

  “Wow look at you! I didn’t recognize you, sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I get that all the time.” He sat down beside me and ordered a drink.

  “So what have you been up to? Where have you been?”

  “Well, I got married…”

  “Wow really? To who?” I wasn’t surprised. After all, he was a good catch, a good guy. I was secretly celebrating. I was finally off the hook.

  “Someone I met online, but it didn’t work out.”

  “Why?”

  “She couldn’t get along with my ex or my kids.”

  “I’m sorry. That bad huh?”

  Wasn’t long after the drinks arrived when he spilled his life right on the counter. Just laid it all out there. And what do you know, I was in the center of it all. We were best friends, that’s all we ever were, nothing beyond a hug. I didn’t have those type of feelings for him. He was friend-zoned from the get go; now he’s here telling me how much an impact I had on his life. How he concluded after his second failed marriage, that I was the one that got away. So you know what I’m thinking right? Got away? WTF?

  “Wait a minute. I had no idea you felt that way. We were nothing more than friends. You know this.”

  “Yes, but we had a connection, Sadie, a real connection. I’ve never had that before or anyone like you for that matter.” He was holding my hand now in his. What was he thinking? I know right!

  “Josh…” I pulled my hand back and quickly grabbed my drink with it, holding on to the glass so he couldn’t do that again.

  “Honestly, Sadie, I can’t get you out of my head. Tell me you don’t feel the same. Tell me you don’t love me, I know you do!” He smiled.

  I stared into the air with a blank glare. I had no idea what I was going to do with him. What do you do with a guy like this? How do you tell him how you really feel without hurting his feelings? Does he not remember that he was the one that walked away from our friendship? And I did say friendship. Even if he had stayed we still would have been nothing more than friends. I don’t believe in the theory of growing those feelings. They are either there or there not. And for me, definitely a big not!

  His hand was moving up and down my back now as he was playing with my hair. I flinched and moved sideways removing his hand. I flagged the bartender and ordered a glass of water.

  “Please don’t, Josh. I’m seeing someone,” I lied.

  “That’s okay. I don’t mind. I’ll wait.”

  “No, you won’t wait. That’s not a good idea.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “I don’t have the same feelings for you. I’m sorry.”

  “You will. You did before.”

  “No, I didn’t!” My voice grew loud and agitated.

  “Sure you did!”

  “When?” I argued. Understand I had never led him to believe we were more than friends, ever! No slips even. Always buddies. Buddies only!

  “Yes, you did. You even said you loved me.”

  “You’re confusing that love with friendship…” what was I saying, okay I have to get this point across or I’m going to have a disaster on my hands. “I do love you, did rather, but not like a girlfriend. You were my buddy remember? We were best friends not lovers Josh! I never want sex with you. Ever!”

  That was a little harsh. I didn’t realize how harsh until after those words had left my tongue and quieted the air around us. Eyes were on me like they were scolding me for being mean. Eyes were on him more pitiful and puppy-dog like. I heard one old lady say, “Bless him!” But there was no easy way to say it. He was like a little puppy dog all dressed up for a ball! He was sharply dressed, smelling good, and shaved. He had brand new jeans on, a nice black fitted pull over showing all his hard work, and a mile wide smile. The air around him agreed with him. But of course, I did not. I still wasn’t attracted to him in that way. Even if he was the last man standing on earth, I couldn’t kiss him. Those feelings just weren’t there for me. I didn’t want to crush him or give him false hope either. You would have thought my words would have hurt his feelings, but no. Josh looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and wide smile saying, “You will.” Very matter of fact.

  Over the years I have learned one very true thing about life…it’s a Boomerang! You throw something away and it comes back to you. Very true with men, too. You throw them away, they always come back. Test it…you will see. It’s true! It’s the boomerang theory.

  WOUH

  “WOW”

  “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall…” Everyone knows how it ends for poor Humpty. Unfortunately, many of us end up broken at times as well. Unlike Humpty, we don’t need “all the Kings Horses and All the Kings Men” to put us together again. We simply need to recognize where we are and understand the steps required to become good again. Did you know you're worthy of an unbroken heart? Wow!

  WOUH - Worthy Of an Unbroken Heart - is Olivia Gracey’s glue that enables the broken to be whole again. She feels there are five crucial steps to identify where you are in rebuilding yourself after being broken:

  • Allow - why do people treat us the way they do? We ALLOW them to.

  • Quest - act of finding yourself again; self-discovery and replacing the one who broke you.

  • Boomerang - throw them away, they come back. You learn you bounce and allow others to bounce back into your life that don’t belong.

  • Settle - when you hit a period of exhaustion, you don’t make the choices you should make and you settle for something or someone.

  • Empowered - when you know that you know what you know. Your life is grounded and you clearly define yourself. Powerful people make powerful choices.

  The Allow Factor is the first book in the WOUH series. It is the journey of Sadie, a woman who simply can’t get over a man. He bailed on her the night before they were scheduled to fly to beautiful Jamaica to marry her. When Sadie takes the steps to re-build her life, she finds herself right back in the arms of the man who broke her. In her process of healing, she learns she is worthy, she is beautiful, and she deserves to be someone’s forever bride.

  The QUEST is Olivia Gracey’s second book in the WOUH series. Sadie is on a quest to love herself again, and replace the man who broke her. Does she have a type? What is she looking for? Stability? Financial security? Or someone just to hold her? She searches every possible avenue to find the man that she truly connects with––easier said than done. Read Sadie’s adventures of putting her past behind her, and find out how she restores the peace in her life.

  Boomerang Theory will be Olivia Gracey’s third book in the WOUH series. Watch for part four The Settlement Phase and part five Empowered to be released in 2017.

  Olivia Gracey is not only an accomplished author, but also a renowned speaker and champion of the broken. She can be requested for speaking engagements and public appearances. Please send all correspondences to info@OliviaGracey.com

/>   About the Author:

  Olivia Gracey is a fiction romance writer, author of The Allow Factor, Sailing Alice Marie, New Year New York New You, and her soon to be released The Quest. She is a singer/songwriter who was born and raised in Lawton, Oklahoma now currently residing in Huntsville, Alabama with her family. Her passion for writing is spelled out easily within the pages of her books and in the lines of her songs. She writes words that are relatable, compelling and heart wrenching. She opens the door to your thoughts challenging you to dig deep within yourself and answer the question, “Do you know what your worth?”

  Olivia Gracey can easily be described as an uplifter, a motivator, an inspirational soul who resides on the optimistic side of life. She's proven hard work and perseverance pays off and it's never too late to follow your dreams. Her goal was to be a published author. Now with that achieved the bar is set high in her eyes to become a New York Times bestseller and see her work on the big screen.

  Olivia Gracey spends most of her time writing and building her brand. She no doubt cherishes the family that surrounds her. She can easily be found amongst her two boys and her three dog babies. She makes time to play music with her oldest son Ty Gracey and their band JUST GRACEY. She can also be found on a shooting range with her youngest son sharpening her skills.

  She's a mother. She's a writer. She is driven by her passion. She feels blessed to say the least.

  Acknowledgments:

  “Cheers! To all the men with manners that know how to treat a Lady. The ones with spontaneous wild sides and the sharpest wits. The ones that don’t want a hook up and don’t like to share. The non-serial daters with soulful eyes and the biggest smiles. Amongst you may I find my frog.” ~Olivia Gracey

  Social Media Links:

  Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Allow-Factor-Olivia-Gracey/dp/1625260539/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

  Website: www.OliviaGracey.com

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Olivia_Gracey @Olivia_Gracey

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OGracey

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviagraceyauthor/ @OliviaGraceyAuthor

  If you love Olivia Gracey’s story, check out her other Solstice Publishing books:

  The Allow Factor

  What if you met someone tonight, someone that awakened your soul? What if the look he gave you from across the room shook your universe, caused your butterflies to come alive, made you weak in the knees?

  What if you find yourself face to face with him, breathing the air he breathes with no clue how you got there. Of course nothing would make sense for you. Right?

  Some say it’s love at first sight. Some say it’s Destiny. Some say run as fast as you can and never look back. That’s what I should have done. But no, instead I exhaled and then inhaled and said, “Hi, my name is Sadie.”

  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00K02TPTK

  New Year New York New You

  Somewhere in a cab between Chinatown and Mid-Manhatan, Scarlet Woods was dumped by her would be, almost nearly, if he had waited another day, boyfriend. Leaning on the advice of her manicurist, Scarlet decided she would do what any Alabama girl would do to heal their tattered heart... search for the love affair of their lives in the most romantic city in the world!

  Scarlet begins her quest on her last night in the city, with only hours to spare, and no idea where to begin. Scarlet finds an un-expectant surprise in the the most un-expectant guide. A man Scarlet would have never considered but one whom gave her the ride of her life. It proves Prince Charming wears many hats but only Armani shoes.

  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01CO7RMXY