Love Ever After: Eleven All-New Romances!

by Nina Lane

  With that gentle, caring touch, Annie’s guard melted and tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “What is it,” Robin said, her dark brown eyes gentle and kind. “What did he do to you?”

  “I’m not sure,” Annie said, sitting up relieved her brain was finally clear. “I’ve got to brush my teeth. What day is it?”

  “Sunday,” Robin said, standing up and watching her closely, her arms crossed in front of her chest. “Do you need a doctor?”

  “What? No. I’m fine. Just guilty of making a bad dating choice,” Annie said, shoving her toothbrush in her mouth to end an interrogation she knew to be well meaning.

  “Well, I could really use your help on recruitment,” Robin said.

  Annie spit out the toothpaste and smiled, “I’m all yours.”

  For the rest of the day, every time a text arrived from Chris, she deleted it. He’d called four times already. But it didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to talk to him. Not yet. In her dreams, he would just disappear forever.

  * * *

  That night, as the final round of recruitment ended and the anxious freshmen girls walked out the door of the sorority house and into the night, Robin, Annie and the rest of the sorority’s rush committee retreated to the kitchen for cookies and milk. As they sat debating the last few bids, something caught Annie’s eye out the kitchen window. It was dark outside, of course, but she was certain she’d seen a person in the backyard.

  “What’s wrong Annie?” Robin said, glancing at her friend. “You’re white as a ghost.”

  “Nothing. Just thought I saw something… someone outside,” Annie said, as the rest of the girls stood up and headed over to the window. Her phone screen lit up with a text from Chris. We need to talk. Now! Come outside!

  “Him? Out there and on the phone?” Robin said, leaning towards her. Annie nodded as the group rejoined them.

  “We didn’t see anything,” one of the others said.

  “It was probably a tree branch blowing in the wind. There are some Santa Anna winds blowing tonight,” said another.

  “That’s probably what it was,” Annie said, locking eyes with Robin, a knowing look passing between them.

  After the meeting, Annie made sure the front door was locked and Madge locked the back. For the first time ever, Robin and Annie locked the door to their room, and slept with the bathroom light on.

  Annie was starting to remember more about her night in the motel with Chris, and the more she recalled, the more filled with dread she became. She spent the night tossing and turning, knowing she would have to confront him tomorrow and tell him they were over.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  TEN YEARS EARLIER

  IRVINE

  All night Annie jumped at the slightest noises. Once she even bolted upright when Robin rolled over. She must have finally slept for a few hours she realized, because she startled awake when her alarm sounded. Class was in an hour, so she hurried to get ready, pulling on a simple black sundress and sandals, arriving at the campus center with just enough time to grab a coffee at her favorite shop.

  “Let me get that for you, honey,” Chris said, coming up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist. She knew he’d appear. She’d braced for it, but chills still spread through her body and she moved out of his grasp.

  “I’ve got it,” she said as she placed her order. “I know we need to talk but I’m late for class. How about lunch here at noon?” Annie said, keeping her voice calm.

  “I’d rather see you tonight, baby,” Chris said. He had a smile pasted on his face, but his eyes told a different story.

  Annie swallowed as the barista called her name behind the counter. She walked over for her coffee, putting a welcome space between them. “Look, Chris, I’m freaked out a little by what happened Friday night,” she said. She kept her voice calm, her words light. “I need to take a break from us.”

  Chris’ eyes had turned a dark, menacing navy, his hands balled in fists by his side. “You can’t do that,” he said with a low, commanding voice.

  “Oh really? I can and I am. Now, step back away from me. I’m late for class,” Annie said, finding an inner strength she’d never had to summon before, finding a power she was lucky she possessed. She knew a couple of girls who were stuck, trapped in bad relationships with horrible, abusive boyfriends. She wasn’t going to be one of them by staying in this relationship. She had stayed in it too long already.

  She pushed past Chris and walked out the door into the sunlight, forcing herself not to look back. She hoped she’d stunned him enough to make her getaway, but she couldn’t be sure. Relief washed over her when she saw Donny on the sidewalk up ahead and she hurried to catch up to him.

  “Donny,” she said, threading her arm through his.

  “Hey little sis,” he said. “What’s wrong? You look totally freaked out.” Donny turned to see what might have made her so upset, and quickly back to Annie. “That bastard. I told you he was bad news. What happened?”

  “I’m fine. But I wouldn’t mind hanging out with you for the next few days,” Annie said. “You know, walking to class and stuff. I have Robin watching my back in the evenings.”

  Donny stopped on the sidewalk, forcing Annie to stop walking, too. “Tell me what he did. I swear, if he hurt you, I’ll kill him.”

  “No, I just want you to make sure he can’t bother me, that’s all. I can handle what happened,” she said quickly, hoping to talk Donny down from the rage she knew he was feeling. “It was my fault. Really. Please don’t do anything to him, it will only make things worse,” Annie said. Donny’s brow was lined with concern, his head tilted to the side. He ran his hand through his spiked blond hair and shook his head.

  “Ok, Annie. I’ll do whatever you want,” Donny said, but Annie wasn’t sure she fully believed him. They kept walking side by side, neither talking until they reached her class building.

  “I’ll meet you here after my class. Don’t move from the steps,” he said.

  “Thanks so much,” Annie said, kissing him on the cheek and hurrying up the stairs to class.

  * * *

  Donny waited just where he said he’d be, his arms folded across his chest. He looked like a bodyguard.

  Her angry bodyguard, it appeared. “Are you insane?” he asked her as she approached.

  “Geez, what?” Annie said, stepping back from him.

  “You have a fucking stalker,” he exclaimed in response to her outburst. “You didn’t sleep with him, too, did you? That makes them even MORE possessive, according to what I just read. Come over here,” Donny said, wrapping his arm around her and walking with her over to a bench under an oak tree. “Look, I gave some pledges an assignment while you were in class. I told my guys to find out who this Chris really is. He’s not even a student, Annie.”

  Annie’s brain was dizzy with the information Donny was spewing at her. How could she have been so stupid, so blinded by emotion?

  “He told me he was a transfer. What’s he doing here then? How does he come on campus?” Annie asked, dropping onto the bench, overwhelmed.

  Donny’s eyes were kind but his jaw was clenched. “He lives off campus and his apartment kitchen wall is covered with photos of you from that show you were on. The pledges said it’s crazy creepy,” he said. He sat down on the bench next to Annie, his hand on her knee.

  “No, this can’t be happening,” Annie said, her head swimming, chills running down her spine.

  “The pledges took photos of everything they could through his windows. I mean, they didn’t break in or anything, but you should know, there are even current photos of you on campus, from freshman year, even,” Donny said. “I saw them for myself.”

  “This can’t be happening,” she said, tears running down her cheeks. Donny pulled her in for a hug.

  “You need to call the cops,” he said.

  Annie took a deep, shaky breath. “Look, Donny, thank you. I can handle this,” she said. Annie had chosen to go out with Chris. H
e’d told her he was a fan and that had suited her ego just fine. He’d implied he was a student, or had she just never really asked enough questions, she wondered. This was all her fault.

  “Annie. Look at me,” Donny said, holding her shoulder, patting her leg with his big comforting hand. “You are so sweet, so naïve. It’s not your fault. He’s a real creep. More than I thought. He is potentially dangerous. You need to take this seriously.”

  Annie’s phone vibrated and she looked down. A text from Chris: When can we talk? Annie realized he could be watching them right now, hiding behind a building or tree. Her blood went cold.

  “Annie, I know this is a lot. But you have to protect yourself. Delete his contact. Block him. And call the cops,” Donny said standing up. “You want to go to class or go file a report?”

  Annie needed to think. “I need to go to class,” she said.

  “Ok, let’s go. I’m not letting you out of my sight,” Donny said as they stood together. She noticed him scanning the crowd of students flowing on the sidewalk, converging on her next classroom building. Annie was searching the crowd, too, looking for eyes that frightened her.

  “Look, I’m not going to the police. We can handle this. He’ll go away, I know he will. Just let me do this my way, please,” Annie said, hugging her protector around the waist. “I love you for being so concerned. And if things get worse, I’ll call the police. Promise.”

  “I’ll see you after class, right here,” Donny stated again, his jaw set in a worried frown.

  “I’ll be here,” she said. Annie wondered what Donny would do if he found out that Chris had drugged her, and raped her, because finally, Annie’s addled brain was waking up to that reality.

  * * *

  As the week progressed Annie felt better. Donny and his team of unidentified pledges and some of the football team had gone on the offensive Monday evening leaving an anonymous note on Chris’ car informing him that Annie had reported him to the police, and he had better stay away from her.

  Although Annie didn’t necessarily approve of the move, she hadn’t heard from Chris since it happened. And that felt good. The Theta pledge class was announced on bid day Wednesday night and Robin was pleased with the results, no thanks to Annie, as she was fond of teasing her even though Annie’s pick Sophie was in the class. She’d met Sophie on the same morning as she met Chris, Annie realized with a start. Focus on the positive, she told herself.

  As Annie and Robin walked to Donny’s fraternity house for the mixer on Thursday night, the sun was setting and the temperature was a perfect seventy degrees. Annie wore her favorite semi-formal dress, a bright blue fitted number that hugged her curves in all the right places. Walking beside her, Robin was a vision of sleek elegance in a white flowing dress and high heels. Robin would tower over most of the guys at the mixer, Annie knew, but Robin had given up caring if she intimidated the guys. Robin was convinced she’d find a tall, confident Mr. Right, someday.

  As they walked into the courtyard of the frat house, Donny spotted them and hurried over, wrapping them both in a bear hug. “So glad you’re here, so glad.”

  “Thanks Donny, happy to be here,” Robin said as Annie smiled.

  “Hank, get over here,” Donny yelled and Annie watched as a guy with the friendliest smile she’d ever seen turned around and locked eyes with her. As her heart melted, Hank made his way through the crowded party and joined their group.

  “Hank, this is Annie,” Donny said, acting like the proud matchmaker he was. “Annie meet Hank. You’re two of my favorite people and, well, you’re perfect for each other. You’ll see.”

  Annie felt her cheeks flush and laughed as Hank’s face turned red. Hank had strawberry blond hair, green eyes and the biggest smile she’d ever seen. He was as tall and muscular as Donny: no doubt a member of the football team. Annie admired his broad chest as he stood in front of her.

  “Hey Annie,” Hank said, reaching out his hand. Annie shook his hand and felt her heart skip a beat. What was wrong with her? She was still in shock over Chris, and knew he could be watching her from the shadows right now. So how was it possible to have this type of reaction to Hank, she wondered. Because it was more than just a physical jolt, she realized, there was warmth conveyed in Hank’s touch. He made her heart sing just by holding her hand.

  Robin seemed elated to meet Hank, jumping into the conversation. “So, Hank, tell us all about yourself. I trust Donny, but I’d like to hear about you from you,” Robin said, plunking her long pointer finger into the middle of Hank’s chest.

  Hank smiled. He smiled, Annie realized. Hank wasn’t threatened by questions from Robin, or angry or worried about anything, it seemed. Hank was happy. Confident. He didn’t seem to have secrets and he hadn’t even mentioned that he’d watched Laguna Nights. Annie felt the tension that had been pinning her shoulders up to her ears all week starting to loosen. As she listened to him talk about himself, his family and his dreams, and then later, as they danced under the stars at the party, Annie realized Hank just made her feel light. She’d laughed more this evening than she had since the beginning of school. He was a calm and patient guy with a gentle touch and a loving soul. He also had two left feet, she thought with a smile.

  “I am a terrible dancer, Annie,” Hank said as they swayed back and forth to the music. “This literally, the move we are doing, is my entire repertoire. I apologize in advance if you are accustomed to more.”

  Annie was delighted. “Are you kidding me? This, um, shuffle step we’re doing is all I can do, too,” she said. “Look at all of these people, look at Robin.” Annie said nodding her head in the direction of her rhythmically blessed roommate commanding the dance floor. “In my dreams I’d have half those moves.”

  “It must be hard to talk when you’re doing that, though,” Hank said. “And I’m having a great time chatting with you.”

  Her heart pounded a couple of times and Annie looked up into his handsome face. “I’m having a great time chatting with you, too. I feel like we’ve known each other for longer than tonight. I know that’s weird,” she said, feeling her face flush.

  “I feel the same. Maybe it’s because we both grew up in Laguna Beach? It’s such a small town, I knew who you were, of course. But you never would have noticed me back then,” Hank said. “Donny kept saying we had to meet. He was right.” He held her tight as a group of dancers pushed past them off the dance floor.

  Annie could hear his heart beating in his chest and she could smell his scent, a mix of cotton and strength, she imagined. She wished she had met him back in high school, but at least they’d met now. She felt safe and happy in Hank’s arms and she didn’t want the night to end.

  “Ready for a drink?” Hank asked and she nodded, reluctant to break the embrace but not wanting to seem too eager. Hank held her hand and he expertly plowed through the crowd, reaching the bar at the other side of the courtyard in record time.

  He handed her a beer and said, “Cheers. Thank you for coming tonight. You’re more beautiful than you were on the show. I’m sure you know that.”

  Annie smiled. So he had seen the show, she realized. Of course he had. He’d gone to the same high school where it was being filmed. “Did you ever think about auditioning for the series?” Annie asked.

  “No, no way,” Hank said with a chuckle. “I am not that guy. Josh, Scott, all of those dudes had the surf swagger and the girl magnet thing down. I was busy being the football nerd. My mom always wanted me to do it.”

  “It had its benefits. But, there were issues, too. Losing your privacy that young and well, other stuff,” Annie said, a chill shooting through her as she felt the urge to look around, scanning the crowd for him. “Definitely a downside. Donny told you about Chris, I’m sure.”

  Hank wrapped his arm around her shoulder and said, “He told me about the stalker. I’m sorry.”

  Annie wasn’t about to let Chris ruin another moment of her life, not on this perfect evening. “Don’t worry about him. I
was stupid. I didn’t see him for who he was. But it’s over.”

  She looked into Hank’s face and saw understanding. “Annie, everybody makes mistakes. That’s how we grow, and how we find the person we are meant to be with,” he said. He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly on the top of her head.

  “Thanks for saying that,” she said as her heart swelled. She couldn’t believe she was standing next to this amazing man, enjoying conversation and incredible chemistry. She could talk to him all night, she thought, but realized it must be getting late as the party guests were thinning out. Which meant, it probably was near curfew.

  Hank had seemingly read her mind. “Time to go?” he asked.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” she answered, reluctant for the night to end.

  As Hank escorted her back to the house after the dance, walking side by side, holding hands he said, “Where are you headed after graduation?”

  “Nowhere,” Annie said. “I’ve always dreamed of living in Laguna Beach, having a bunch of babies, you know? A pretty simple dream but it’s mine.”

  “It’s a beautiful dream,” Hank said squeezing the hand he held. “I’m going to live there, too. Best place on earth, great family spot.”

  They’d reached the house, stopping in a shadow on the sidewalk. Annie’s heart was pounding in her chest. This handsome, funny, wonderful guy had just said his dream was the same as her dream.

  “Hey Annie, can I see you again tomorrow?” Hank said.

  “I’d love it,” she said, her heart swelling with excitement as he kissed her on the cheek.

  * * *

  The day after the fraternity mixer, Hank arrived for their first date in his white pickup truck, apologizing through the rolled-down window for the tangle of football equipment shoved in the back. As she smiled at him from the curb, she told herself to breathe. She knew he was the opposite of Chris, but getting into a car with a guy and giving him the power to drive her away somewhere was tough. Robin had assured her it was a necessary step and of course, she wanted to spend time with Hank, so she was trying to be brave. She scanned the street for any sign of Chris or his car.