Intensity
Page 26
“Hey, do you mind if I steal Ruthie away from you for a bit?” Celine asked Scott.
Scott pretended to scratch at his chin, which was covered with neatly groomed stubble. “Hmm, I’m not sure.”
Ruthie elbowed Scott in the ribs and snickered. “Oh come on, babe!”
Scott grinned, his blue eyes sparkling. “You’re the bride,” he told Celine. “You can get anything you want today.”
Celine winked. “Make sure to remind Noah of that, okay?” Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Ruthie’s wrist and led her to the Sweetheart Table.
Ruthie’s bracelet slid down her thin wrist as Celine tugged her across the floor. They maneuvered their way past Celine’s break-dancing cousin and pop-locking Grandma.
“Your family is wild,” Ruthie giggled, watching Grandma get down.
“Not as wild as my best friend,” Celine quipped. She dropped Ruthie’s arm and pushed back the skirt of her ballroom gown, somehow kneeling down so that she could reach for something under the table.
“What are you doing?” Ruthie asked with a frown. She looked across the dance floor and spotted Claudia grinding on some poor groomsman. “You really had to make her a bridesmaid?” she cringed.
Ignoring her, Celine straightened herself and held out a white box. It had a silver bow placed on the top of the lid. “Take this,” Celine offered.
“What is it?” Ruthie asked, taking the box from her.
“It’s my wedding gift to you,” Celine beamed proudly.
“Wedding gift?” Ruthie laughed. “Aren’t I supposed to be the one giving you a gift?” She paused and added, “By the way, I ordered it a bit too late. It should be shipped to you in two weeks.”
Celine laughed and shook her head. “Seriously, this is my gift to you. It’s a thank you…for the past fourteen years, for your unconditional love—for everything.”
With a suspicious smile on her face, Ruthie pulled off the top of the box. She looked inside and frowned. Amidst some hot pink tissue paper was what appeared to be (in Ruthie’s opinion) a fairly thick work presentation, complete with a clear plastic cover and a black plastic coil, which held the papers together.
“What is this?” she asked, taking the makeshift book out of the box.
Celine grinned. “It’s my new book, or rather the second draft of my new book. I wanted you to be the first to read it. Keep in mind it hasn’t been edited yet, so it’s still a bit raw.”
“Thank you?” Ruthie said, unsure of how to react.
Celine giggled. “It’s based on our friendship.” She smiled softly, gazing at the book in Ruthie’s hands. “From our stupid high school days to our somewhat stupider adult days,” she laughed. “I wrote this book to show how important your friendship is to me.”
Ruthie felt tears spring up in the corner of her eyes. Without a word, she bent over and hugged Celine tightly. “I can’t wait to read it.”
“I think you’ll like it,” Celine commented, patting her on the back.
“I’ll love it!” Ruthie grinned. “I’m sure of it!”
“I think you’ll especially love the last chapter. Go on, flip to the last page.”
Ruthie frowned. “Are you sure you want me to read the ending first? Kinda goes against my whole philosophy on reading.”
“Just do it!” She laughed at the look of hesitation on Ruthie’s face. With a shake of her head she explained, “The past few months have made me realize that we’d been going about my wedding all wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“As much as we denied it, we both acted as if it were the means to an end. What we both failed to realize was that nothing was ever going to end! Childhood, adulthood—nothing is going to change between us. We have so many more adventures to go on together. Sure, maybe none as intense as the recent one. Still, I’m sure each and every one will be great.”
With amusement, Ruthie flipped to the last page and read, “Beyond the day we are old women stricken to wheelchairs we’ll still be kindred spirits, soul mates, sisters, and most importantly best friends.”
Ruthie brought a hand up to her mouth and stifled back a sob. Celine’s eyes were already glassed over in tears, but luckily her makeup artist had prepared for the day’s occasion with waterproof eyeliner and mascara.
“Beyond the day we’re in wheelchairs on the beach?” Ruthie said in a whisper.
“Beyond the day we’re in wheelchairs on the beach,” Celine repeated. She hugged Ruthie tight and said, “I love you, Best Friend.”
“I love you, back.”
The music began to fade as the DJ called out over the tune. In a cheerful tone he announced, “This next song goes out to the bride, who may I say is intensifying!”
The women turned in horror as soon as the first few bars to an Intensity song began to play. They glanced quickly at one another and ran to the DJ yelling, “NO!”
THE END
Acknowledgements
Initially called “Number 19,” Intensity has been a long time coming. Actually being the second book I’ve ever written, I never thought it’d see the light of day! The fact that you are reading it right now couldn’t have happened without the support of many.
To God for making this dream come true. You never cease to amaze me and I am forever humbled by your blessings.
Thank you to my family (Mommy, Daddy & Janine) for all the love and support you have given me. I only hope to make you proud! I love you all very much!
To my husband, my biggest cheerleader. Ahh! It’s happening! I love you so much!
Thank you to my girls for cheering me on! I truly appreciate all your love and friendship <3
A big thanks to Jayne for reading/editing the first draft of Number 19! Without your thoughts and guidance this manuscript would surely have been collecting dust J
To my Limitless Publishing family especially, Jennifer, Jessica, Dixie and my awesome editor, Toni. Thanks for all the opportunities and believing in me.
Finally to my BFF. From the moment we asked each other to be Best Friends (ha!) and all the inside jokes (marshmallow man!) in between, you have truly made life an awesome adventure! This book is based on us and I hope you spot the inside jokes that I’ve littered throughout the chapters. Though we may not have met our favorite boy band ourselves, I still believe one day we will. Always remember July 18th! I love you!
About the Author
Thanks to her Mom’s unwavering devotion to read a childhood bedtime story to her every single night, S. BRIONES LIM’s love for books began before she could even speak.
Raised in Southern California, Lim initially dreamt of becoming an artist. After a Psychology Degree (Summa cum Laude), a stint in Art School, and a career in Advertising/Media she is finally diving back into her first love – books. As a self-renowned bookworm, Lim’s love for reading has inspired her to pen her own novels and hopes her readers will fall in love with her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.
Her obsessions include time with family, Cherry Coke, popcorn with jalapeños, watching movies and her dogs, Tobi and Roscoe. She currently lives in Virginia with her husband.
Facebook:
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Website:
http://sbrioneslimauthor.wordpress.com/
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7155647.S_Briones_Lim