The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories

by Brina Courtney

  Once he was done, I waited in a waiting room for patients until it was my turn to have the treatment. As I sat there, a woman around forty came in, crying. I didn’t know why she was crying, but she didn’t have any hair. A nurse was rubbing her back, whispering words to her as she cried.

  Once they left, I saw a woman about my age across from me.

  “First day?” she asked when she saw me looking at her. She had all her hair.

  “Yeah.” I smiled at her, trying to hide how scared I was.

  “This is my second round. I have chemo after this and they’re running late. I hope I don’t miss it.”

  “What...why do you have both?”

  “I have stage three colon cancer.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said, frowning.

  “I’m only thirty-three, too.”

  Another woman started talking to her and I just sat there and watched. The waiting room was filled with women in hospital gowns, doing puzzles and talking like we were on someone’s porch having lemonade. I figured that most of them had cancer. It was heartbreaking. We were all fighters in our own way. They were fighting for their lives and I was fighting to be pain free.

  “It’s my first day, too,” an Indian woman around sixty leaned over to tell me.

  “How long do you have to go?”

  “Four weeks, you?”

  “Six.”

  Before we could talk about whether either one of us had cancer, I was called back to the radiation room.

  The room was cold and a huge machine sat in the middle. I don’t even know if I can explain it, other than it looked like something you’d see on Star Trek. To me, the machine looked like a giant C with a long tongue and wings. The tongue was where I lay with my arms above my head and my hands clenched to bars that stuck up.

  While I lay on the table, my gown opened so the technicians could see my dots. They placed six more dots and lined me up with lasers while my gown stayed open and my breasts were uncovered. I stared at the orange leaves that hung on tree branches with a blue sky in the background that were used instead of the typical light panel for florescent lights.

  The actually zapping only lasted a few seconds, but getting the bench in the correct places, took close to thirty minutes total. After I was done, they moved the bench out and I covered up my chest with the gown and left—only to return the next day and do that part all over again—for six weeks.

  As I was leaving the patient waiting room after I changed, nurses wheeled a kid—a little younger than Cheyenne—with a shaved head, past me and in the direction of the radiation rooms. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and mentally prepared myself to see her every day until either she or I was finished with treatment.

  *~*~*

  I didn’t talk much on the way home. I tried to tell Easton everything, but I was exhausted—mentally and physically. He didn’t pry and knew I would eventually tell him everything.

  When we got home, I took a shower and crawled into bed. It was only four in the afternoon, but I needed a nap.

  *~*~*

  I woke to Easton running his fingers along my side where my scars from my surgery were still healing. They were almost healed, the stitches were gone, but they were still a little sensitive to the touch. I had four total. One on my back, two on my right side and one under my right breast.

  “Hey,” I said, turning over to face him.

  “It’s almost eight. I just wanted to see if you needed anything.”

  “Just some water.”

  He left to get me a glass of water and when he returned, he laid next to me, running his fingers through my hair. Easton knew I liked it when he did that—it calmed me and sometimes helped me fall asleep.

  “I didn’t get to rub lotion on your chest and back, yet,” he said with a smirk.

  Not wanting to burn my skin more than radiation was going to, I grabbed the lotion on the nightstand and handed it to him. He first applied it to my back and then I turned so he could do my chest. I could do it myself, but I knew he liked touching me—liked caring for me.

  “Want me to show you all of my Tattooed Dots?” I asked.

  “Tattooed Dots?”

  “Yeah, they had to tattoo dots on me so they can line up the lasers to pinpoint the radiation on the exact spot each day.”

  I pointed out all nine dots, he kissed each one and said. “Every time you look at these, I want you to remember how strong you are. You’re my Superwoman and you better watch out, you may have superpowers now.”

  EPILOGUE

  Six weeks later...

  Easton

  Watching Brooke go through radiation for six weeks made me truly believe that she was my Superwoman. She told me about the women she met; most with cancer and the children she saw every day. I didn’t know how she made it through. Most days she was tired and around three o’clock, she took a nap.

  Avery and I hired two new managers and I was able to go with Brooke every day. I cut back my hours to a few in the morning and a few in the afternoon until five o’clock. I didn’t mind that I had to travel back and forth, it was better than Boston.

  “You know this is going to make me look bad,” Avery said.

  “Not my fault, you should have already done it.”

  “I told you that I didn’t want to propose because she’ll just think that I’m doing it because she’s having my baby. Now, she’ll think that I’m just doing it because you’re doing it.”

  “Not my fault,” I said, taking out the black velvet box from the locked drawer of my desk.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “Are you trying to talk me out of it?”

  “Of course not. I just want you to be sure. We know how your first marriage worked out.”

  “Avery. Two words. The one.”

  “Alright, good luck,” he said and slapped my back.

  “I don’t need luck.” I laughed and shook my head.

  “Break a leg?”

  “I hope not!”

  “Fine. Go get the next Mrs. Crawford!”

  “Brooke Crawford. Has a nice ring to it.” I smiled.

  *~*~*

  The night before, I soaked white roses in water that I squeezed yellow highlighter in. I had read that it was to make them glow in a black light and I thought it was appropriate since it was her last day of radiation today.

  As she took her afternoon nap, I grabbed the roses from my storage shed in the backyard and Cheyenne and I started to make my signature chicken carbonara for dinner and crème brûlée for dessert. Peanut knew I was proposing. I showed her the princess cut diamond in a halo setting.

  Cheyenne thought it was perfect. “It’s a princess diamond because Brooke is your princess and a halo setting because your bar is called Halo.”

  My daughter was a genius. I didn’t think of either one of those things when I picked the one and a half carat ring out. I just thought it was pretty and it reminded me of Brooke—now I knew why.

  “Okay, go close the curtains. Brooke should be waking up soon,” I said to Cheyenne.

  She went about the living room and kitchen, turning the blinds and then drawing the curtains closed. Not to be obvious, we sat in the living room, watching TV and waiting for my princess to wake up.

  I was anxious to say the least. My leg bounced up and down and Cheyenne told me a few times to stop moving the coffee table with my foot. What did she expect? I was about to ask my soul mate to marry me!

  Finally, as the sun started to set, Brooke walked in. “It smells good in here. Whatcha makin’?”

  “Cheyenne and I made chicken carbonara and crème brûlée since it’s a special occasion.”

  “It’s a special occasion?”

  “Yeah, no more radiation,” I said, standing in front of her and grabbed her hands in mine then leaned down and kissed her.

  “Gross,” Cheyenne said under her breath, and Brooke and I laughed, our mouths still connected. “Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

  We fol
lowed Cheyenne to the kitchen and after she made herself a bowl, I made Brooke and myself one.

  “Are these for me?” Brooke asked, looking at the roses.

  “Of course...”

  “Shouldn’t they be red?” she asked, cutting me off before I could explain why they were white. “I remember something about red meaning love,” she said, winking at Cheyenne.

  “These are special,” Cheyenne said.

  “They are?” Brooke asked.

  Cheyenne turned off the lights and I stood, holding a black light above them while they glowed.

  “Oh my God! How do they do that?”

  “Daddy did that. They’re your radiation flowers.”

  During the six weeks, we had teased her about glowing in the dark since she was going through radiation. I think Cheyenne really wanted her to start glowing.

  “I love them,” she said and kissed me.

  “You guys!” Cheyenne protested.

  “Hey, don’t you kiss boys, too?” Brooke asked.

  “You told her?” Cheyenne asked me.

  Fuck!

  “It’s okay, Chey, it’s normal,” Brooke said.

  “Yeah, but I don’t want to see you two!”

  We laughed and then all sat at the dining room table. I started to get nervous. I mean, I was already nervous, but it was getting to that time. Cheyenne was being impatient and Brooke—I’m not sure, but she was hungry.

  Cheyenne gave me a look and nudged her head towards Brooke. I nodded back and Cheyenne went to get the ring out of her room.

  I cleared my throat. “Remember when I told you that I loved you?” I asked, turning in my seat to face Brooke as she sat beside me.

  “Yeah,” she smiled.

  “Do you remember how I told you that my dad once told me that I would know who I was meant to be with when I couldn’t get her out of my head?”

  “Yeah,” she said and set her fork down.

  Cheyenne walked back in and sat down in her seat.

  “I know these last few months have been hard. They’ve been hard on all of us. When Avery told me that you had a tumor—I wanted him to be wrong. My dad is always right...don’t tell him that by the way.” Brooke smiled and I continued. “Avery had to be wrong because you consumed my every thought. I wanted to wake up every morning with you beside me until the day I died—not you, but me. I never want to live another day without you in my life.

  “There’s no other woman in this world that makes me feel the way you make me feel. You’ve come into my life and shown me how to be a man and you’ve made me a better father for Peanut. We were just living our lives, but you’ve brightened it. I love you. We love you,” I said, motioning between Cheyenne and myself.

  Tears started to form in Brooke’s eyes and I was trying to keep my train of thought. I just wanted to spit the words out, but I needed her to know how much I loved her.

  I reached up and wiped a few tears with my thumb. “I used to work long hours, barely having time for my own daughter, but now all I want to do is be home with my girls. Every day, I kick myself for not realizing how much of an idiot I was before you came into my life. Cheyenne and I have talked and she wants you in her life as much as I want you in mine. She wants a brother or sister, too,” I smiled, trying to make Brooke smile.

  Brooke wiped more of her tears from her cheek.

  “I want to give you the family that you want. I want to give you the world, and I wanted to give you the biggest ring in the world, but the size of this ring, doesn’t equal the size of my love. I love you so much...marry me,” I said and opened the box that Cheyenne passed me.

  “Yes, of course,” she said and wrapped her arms around me. I held her tight, knowing I would never stop loving her.

  The End...for now.

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Dear Readers,

  I hope you’ve enjoyed Tattooed Dots as much as I did writing it. When I first started, I planned for TD to be a standalone, but the more I wrote, the more the characters evolved and it came to the point where I knew that I couldn’t fit everything into one book.

  There is more of Brooke and Easton’s story that needs to be written, like Brooke’s issue with her mother for example. Book two, will be Avery and Nicole’s story and then book three will be Brooke and Easton’s.

  I’m not sure when everything will be released, but to make sure that you’re aware of my release dates, please subscribe to either my blog, newsletter or both. You can find the links on my website at www.authorkimberlyknight.com. You can also follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorKKnight.

  Thank you again, and I hope these two have captured a place in your heart! You can really help me out a lot by leaving a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads. Your love and support means everything to me and I cherish you all!

  -Kimberly

  Turn to the back for an excerpt of the novel

  Neanderthal Seeks Human

  by Penny Reid

  OTHER BOOKS BY KIMBERLY KNIGHT

  Where I Need to Be (B&S Series, #1)

  Finding Spencer (B&S Series, #1.5)

  Wanted (B&S Series, #2)

  Wanting Spencer (B&S Series, 2.5)

  Anything Like Me (B&S Series, #3)

  Forever Spencer (B&S Series, 3.5)

  Perfect Fit –The B&S Series Box Set (Books 1, 2 & 3)

  Tattooed Dots (The Halo Series, #1)

  The One (The Halo Series, #2)

  Never Stop (The Halo Series, #3) Release date: TBD

  My One (The Halo Series, #4) Release date: TBD

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First, I would like to thank my husband for all his patience these last few months. Writing a book and ignoring family to get it done is not ideal, but I think we made it through! Thank you for understanding. Also, you showed me how much you love me by taking care of me during my tumor ordeal and radiation. I love you, you know?

  To my Mom, thank you for holding my hand when I went for my biopsy and my surgery. Nothing compares to the love of a mother, and I am so grateful to have you. I love you!

  Audrey Harte, thanks for always letting me bounce ideas off of you even when we disagree. I’m glad we are on this journey together, and each day we get closer to writing on that beach in Hawaii, but I’ll settle for our trips to The Cheesecake Factory for now! Also, thank you for checking up on me when I was in the hospital and always being there for me. You really have no idea how much I cherish our friendship. Thank you for always having my back. You know I have yours, too!

  Next, I want to thank each and every one of my fans that messaged me and sent good thoughts my way when they learned that I had a tumor like Brooke had. It meant so much to have that love from everyone. It was a hard few months, but having those encouraging words, helped me more than you would ever know!

  I would also like to thank my betas; Alma, Anessa, Brandi, Chauna, Danielle, Elizabeth, Evette, Kerry, Kristen, Renee and Stacy. Thank you for taking the much needed hours and telling me your honest thoughts about TD. I loved working with all of you, and I hope that we can do it in the future!

  To all the bloggers that participated in my cover reveal, thank you! Without bloggers, I have no idea where I would be. You all take the chance on me and my books, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I never thought I would be an author, especially one with a fan base, and I owe a lot to the bloggers out there!

  Chasity and Donna, thank you for all the help that you’ve given me over these past few months, and also for forcing me to get TD done. If it weren’t for you two, I would probably only have seven chapters written—still!

  To Linda with Fifty Shades of Sexy, thank you for introducing me to Jonathan Brownell. My cover is sexy, and it all started with you messaging me in the wee hours of the night!

  Jonathan, Amy and Lisa, thank you for making my cover my best one yet! I love it and couldn’t do it without you three. I hope we can work together in the future.

  Jonathan: https://www.face
book.com/JonBrownell21

  Amy: https://www.facebook.com/Actress.Amora.Lee

  Photographer: https://www.facebook.com/E.MariePhotographs

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Kimberly Knight lives in the mountains near a lake with her loving husband and spoiled cat, Precious. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her favorite reality TV shows, watching the San Francisco Giants and San Jose Sharks kick butt, crushing candy on Candy Crush, playing computer games like World of Warcraft with Audrey Harte and online poker. Now that she lives near a lake, she plans on working on her tan and doing more outdoor stuff like...watching hot guys waterski. However, the bulk of her time is dedicated to writing and reading Romance and Erotic fiction.

  www.authorkimberlyknight.com

  www.facebook.com/AuthorKKnight

  twitter.com/Author_KKnight

  pinterest.com/authorkknight

  NEANDERTHAL SEEKS HUMAN

  By

  Penny Reid

  CHAPTER 1

  I lost it in the bathroom.

  Sitting on the toilet, I started to panic when I noticed the graveyard of empty toilet paper rolls. The brown cylinders had ostensibly been placed vertically to form a half oval on top of the flat shiny surface of the stainless steel toilet paper holder. It was like some sort of miniature recycled Stonehenge in the women’s bathroom, a monument to the bowel movements of days past.

  Actually, it was sometime around 2:30 p.m. when my day exited the realm of country song bad and entered the neighboring territory of Aunt Ethel’s annual Christmas letter bad. Last year Aunt Ethel wrote with steady, stalwart sincerity of Uncle Joe’s gout and her one—no, make that two—car accidents, the new sinkhole in their backyard, their impending eviction from the trailer park, and Cousin Serena’s divorce. To be fair, Cousin Serena got divorced every year, so that didn’t really count toward the calamitous computation of yearly catastrophes.