by Maree Green
Dream
A Fighting Fate novel
By Maree Green
Copyright
Copyright 2017 Maree Green
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Table of Contents
Title
Copyright
About Maree Green
Connect with Maree Green
Chapter 1
Olivia
Saying goodbye to someone you cared about was the worst.
Especially if you knew that goodbye was forever. I think those kinds of goodbyes did something to your soul. They changed you in a way that affected your life forever. Like a tiny little piece of your essence stayed behind when you left.
Well, that’s how I felt when I said goodbye to the people of Gulu that morning anyway. I’d grown so close to each and every one of them over the last six years, they all felt like family to me. My heart had never felt so heavy.
It was something I never thought I’d feel when I first came to Africa. When my parents had packed me up at thirteen and moved us to Uganda as part of the United World Aid Group, I’d been horrified. At the time, we’d been living in Salt Creek, California, and my life, as far as I was concerned, had been perfect. I’d lived right in the middle of the popular crowd, with a guaranteed place in the cheer squad when I reached middle school.
I didn’t speak to my parents for days.
But it only took a week in Gulu for me to realize how shallow my life had been, and I can tell you, it had been a pretty hard pill for me to swallow. By the end of my second week there, my priorities had changed completely. Popularity and ranking became something I was ashamed to have wanted, and the thought of deciding someone’s worth based on how much money they made filled me with sadness.
Knowing I was about to return to such a society wasn’t easy for me to accept. If I had my way, I would’ve stayed in Gulu indefinitely. I loved what we did there, and I loved helping the people who needed so much. But it was time to head back to the land of the free so I could formally begin my adult life.
The idea of paid work thrilled and terrified me at the same time. I was excited to start making plans for my own future—to go through the process of deciding what path I wanted to take—but the thought of my day being regimented and controlled in so many ways, scared me more than I would admit.
As I stood at the boarding gates at Entebbe Airport, ready to say yet another goodbye, this time to my parents, I consoled myself with three things: the knowledge that I would be seeing them again in eight weeks’ time; that it was now late June, and I wouldn’t be starting work for another seven weeks; and that I’d be spending that time with my dad’s sister, Aunt Jenny.
Aunt Jenny was thirty-three, unmarried, and had never had any children. As an executive with a company that made games for a well-known gaming console, she lived most of her life in an apartment in Los Angeles. But when she wasn’t busy making a fortune, she spent the rest of her time at her beach house, about an hour’s drive north of the city.
And that was where I was heading for the summer. Over a month of relaxation on a secluded beach in California. I wasn’t entirely sure I was ready for it.
“All right there, kiddo?” Dad asked, hoisting my backpack higher on my back for me.
“As right as I’ll ever be,” I said, drawing in a deep breath. This was the first time I was going to be taking such a long trip on my own. Even though I was excited, and I knew I was equipped to deal with the majority of things that could come my way, it was still pretty freaking daunting.
Mom rubbed my shoulder. “You’ll be fine. You’re the toughest nineteen-year-old I know.”
“Really?” I deadpanned.
She held my gaze for a few moments before her expression turned a little teasing. “Okay, well, you’ll be the toughest nineteen-year-old I know in the US. How’s that?”
I laughed. “I’d say that was fair.”
She brushed my cheek with her thumb. “But you really will be fine. You’re going to have a great time with Aunt Jenny. I know just how much she’s been looking forward to seeing you. You’ll be a spoiled little princess by the time we see you next.”
Rolling my eyes, I gave her my best sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, right.”
“You never know,” Dad said with a smirk. “She can be damn persuasive when she wants to be. I recommend not arguing with her.”
A voice cut in through the loud speaker behind us. Emirates flight 7-3-0 is now boarding. Please start making your way to gate 4 with your boarding pass ready—
“I guess that’s me,” I said, my stomach churning.
Mom enveloped me with a bone-crunching hug. “Make sure you call me as soon as you can. Aunt Jenny will be waiting at LAX for you. Be safe.”
Releasing her, I swallowed down the lump that was forming in my throat. “I love you, Mom. Be safe.”
Dad grabbed me and squeezed me tight. “Be safe, kiddo.”
‘Be safe’ was a saying Dad started the week we arrived in Gulu. It was a saying that meant more than we could know at the time, considering the environment we’d arrived in, but it had stuck throughout the years. To us, it had more depth to it than a simple, ‘I love you.’
“I will, Dad. I’ll see you soon.”
Mom pressed her closed fist against her mouth as she watched me back away. I could tell she was smiling by the way her eyes crinkled at the corners, but I knew it was purely for my benefit. The way she grasped Dad’s hand until her knuckles turned white told me just how nervous she was to send me off alone.
If they didn’t have to wait for the new missionaries to arrive and run through the processes with them, they would’ve been right here with me now. But that was just the way it worked, I guessed. These things took time, and I knew I needed as much of it as I could manage in order to get myself into the swing of things back home.
I smiled as best I could, trying to ease their worries. “Don’t scare the new family,” I teased as I joined the line.
“I can’t make any promises,” Dad called back, draping his arm over Mom’s shoulder. It was a seemingly innocent gesture, but I knew just how much his touch calmed Mom’s nerves.
As the line moved forward, and the stewardess checked my pass, ushering me toward the tunnel, I took one last moment to appreciate the people who had shaped me into who I was today. My love for them was without bounds. I would forever be grateful for who they were.
Blowing them a kiss, I inhaled, slow and deep. Then I turned and walked away.
Chapter 2
Josh
The crowd was impossible.
“Joshua! I love you!”
“I’m your biggest fan, Joshua. Kiss me!”
“Please, Joshua! Let me have your baby!”
“Sign my poster, Joshua!”
I pushed through the crowd, blindly following Corey as he plowed a path toward the waiting SUV. Cain and Daniel flanked me, taking most of the pressure off me as I moved, scrawling my marker over anything the fans thrust my way. The paparazzi pushed forward, careless of the fans they were crushing in their quest, their cameras clicking and flashing as they yelled out absurdities.
“Joshua, where’s Caitlyn? Is it true you cheated on her with Hannah Bryant?”
“Do you think Willow’s Way will get a nod for an Oscar, Joshua?”<
br />
“Is there any truth to the rumors you and Hannah Bryant are engaged?”
Their voices instantly muted the second Cain and Daniel pushed me into the backseat of our Escalade, climbing in behind me and shutting the door.
I exhaled heavily. “Fuck. You’d think I’d be used to this shit by now, but I still feel like punching them all out. I mean, cheating on Caitlyn? How the hell could I be cheating on Caitlyn when we’re not even together?” I growled in frustration.
Corey shook his head. “Dude, you know how it works. To them, if you’re with her on screen, then you must be with her off it. They don’t have the ability to separate fiction from reality.”
I groaned. “Did you hear that dick ask if I was engaged to Hannah?” I said, continuing my rant. “We haven’t even been on a single date. It was a fucking business meeting!” I slammed my head back against the headrest. “They’re delusional. If they left me alone for five minutes, I might actually have a chance at a relationship that lasted long enough to get there.”
I sighed. I might as well admit it. It was never going to happen. I mean, it wasn’t like I was looking for the love of my life, but it would be nice to actually get a girlfriend who lasted longer than a month or two.
“You just need a break, man,” Cain said with a shrug. “You’re burnt out.”
He was right. That kind of shit usually didn’t bother me, but it had been almost fifteen months since I’d had a decent break—six months since the guys had taken a decent break, and it was clearly starting to grate on my nerves.
It took Lance ten full minutes just to get around the hulking paparazzi and out onto the road. It was fucking ridiculous. I mean, what did they expect? They knew they weren’t going to get a money shot with the tinting I had, for crying out loud.
I exhaled in a huff, looking over at Cain’s amused face. Employing my longtime friends, Cain and Corey, along with my other trusted friends, Daniel and Lance, as my full-time bodyguards, was the best move I’d ever made. After a couple of scary moments with my previous bodyguards the year before, I found it hard to trust anyone I didn’t know personally. Knowing it was my best friends who had my back made my life a lot easier.
It didn’t change the fact that I felt guilty about their lack of a vacation, though. They’d worked their asses off protecting me for the last six months, with very little downtime in between. As it was, we only had six weeks before we were off again, this time across the country to Florida. That was why I was determined to give them a proper break this time. We were all heading to the beach house I’d bought specifically for this purpose. It was just going to be us, our boards, and the ocean. Nothing was going to stop us from taking this time out. I was determined.
It wasn’t until we were on the 101, heading north, away from the fans and away from the chaos, that I started to relax. Any remaining tension I might’ve been holding onto, disappeared the instant the Escalade pulled into the underground garage.
Climbing out, I stretched my legs and sighed before making my way up the stairs. A dark-haired woman greeted me at the top, her smile warm and welcoming. I assumed she was the cleaner I’d employed to freshen the house up for our arrival. Mrs. Robinson, if I remembered right. I was glad to see she was around my mother’s age, and not a swooning teenager. I didn’t think I would’ve been able to handle that at this point in time.
“Good morning, Mr. Emerson,” she said, her voice cheery.
“Mrs. Robinson?” I said, returning her smile. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Mr. Emerson. I was just on my way out. I’ve stocked the pantry just how you asked, and all the beds are made up with fresh linen.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” I said.
“You’re welcome, sir. I’ll come back in August, as planned. Do you need anything else before I go?”
“No. Thank you.”
She nodded. “Very well, then.”
Letting Cain walk her out, I made my way to my favorite place in the house. The deck. I loved watching the ocean from there. It was the most calming thing on the planet as far as I was concerned. The first movie I had a paid part in was to thank for that.
As I watched the swell of the ocean rise and fall, I closed my eyes in a long blink and exhaled slowly. Not much was going on in the way of waves to surf, but it was still beautiful. Daniel joined me a few moments later, leaning his arms on the railing. “Life’s good, man.”
I smiled and glanced his way. It was funny. I hadn’t grown up with Daniel. His identical twin brother, Ryan, was the one I’d grown up with, but I had no doubt he would do anything to protect me. The bond I’d formed with him over the last fifteen months was tighter than I had with anyone else.
He was ex-military, with an amazing mind for special tactical services—that’s how he’d managed to become my head of security—but it was the way he’d been able to overcome the horrors he faced while deployed that impressed me the most. He was now a loving husband to one of my closest friends from school, and they had a daughter. He once told me if it hadn’t been for Amy and Mae, he wouldn’t have had the strength to get through captivity, let alone live a normal life after what he’d endured.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I said.
Daniel simply nodded. I liked that about him. He only spoke when he thought it was necessary.
“Are you going to let me teach you a few moves out on the waves?” I asked with a grin.
His answering laugh was soft. The boys and I had been nagging him for months to pick up a board. “Nah, I don’t want to miss any time with my girls.”
I smiled at him and patted him on the shoulder. He hadn’t said it, but I knew he was dying for the moment Amy and Mae got here, and damn if I didn’t respect the shit out of him for it.
I mean, here he was, the same age as me, and he was married with a kid. He was settled in his life. He had exactly what he wanted, and his head was screwed on tight. It made me feel like an immature playboy.
“When are they getting here?” I asked.
His smile grew wider. “She’s driving down in the morning.”
Nodding, I squeezed his shoulder. “Good. How’s the room?”
As soon as I decided I was going to bring everyone here for the summer, I knew the little apartment above the garage would be perfect for their little family. It had a small kitchenette and living area, with a spacious bedroom and bathroom. But most importantly, it was separate from the main house. They could just enjoy the time on their own, or join in with everyone else. The choice was theirs.
Daniel lifted his gaze to mine, gratitude burning in its depths. “It’s perfect, man. You didn’t need to do all that.”
I immediately knew he was talking about all the baby supplies I’d had Mrs. Robinson bring in. “Yeah, I did. I want Amy to be able to relax while she’s here.”
He swallowed. It was the only sign of emotion I’d get. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.”
He nodded politely, but I knew he wouldn’t. It just wasn’t his way. “I’m going to check over the security system. Make sure it’s all up and running properly.” With that, he turned and walked back inside.
Shaking my head with a grin, I pulled out my phone and opened the best app I had—a surf report app. And if it was correct, the boys and I would have some waves to catch by tomorrow afternoon. Oh, yeah. This summer was going to rock.
Chapter 3
Olivia
I woke to the sounds of waves rolling in and out. I would’ve liked to say it was peaceful and relaxing, but it was so different from what I was used to, I found it kind of jarring.
Blinking a few times to clear my head, I sighed and stretched, turning to glance at the clock beside the bed. As my consciousness slowly deciphered the little green numbers and told me it was six fifteen, my eyes widened. Holy crap. I’d been asleep for fifteen hours? How the hell had that happened?
Frowning, I forced myself to sit
up. The thought of having no responsibilities for the next few weeks felt more than a little weird. There were no chores waiting for me. No school to get to on time. And no villagers needing assistance. It was just me, and a whole lot of empty time.
Grabbing my toiletry bag, I ducked into my very own bathroom and relieved myself before assessing the fanciest shower I’d ever seen, trying to work out how to turn the thing on.
Lifting the lever on the side as carefully as I could, a nozzle suddenly descended from the ceiling, fanning out and spraying water down like a luxuriously soft waterfall. It was freakishly showy, and I felt as guilty as hell using it, but this was what I needed to get used to, whether I liked it or not.
Stepping under the spray, I closed my eyes and let the cool water wash away the last of my sleep, before hopping out and getting ready for the day. Choosing one of the two pairs of shorts I owned, I paired them with a worn gray tank and stepped into my barely-hanging-in-there flip-flops.
Aunt Jenny was making pancakes by the time I made it down to the kitchen. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” she said with a smile. “Ready to hit the shops?”
She’d already warned me during the car trip from the airport that she’d be taking me shopping as soon as possible. She’d said she had six years of birthdays and Christmases to make up for. The thought made me a little nervous. I wasn’t sure if I could ever be a seasoned shopper again after the last six years, but I had to admit, my wardrobe was seriously lacking.
I pursed my lips. “I think so, but please be gentle with me.”
She laughed a huge belly laugh I thought was completely unnecessary, and slid a stack of pancakes in front of me. “I’ll be as gentle as I can, precious, but I saw your suitcase. You’re in desperate need of everything from underwear to shoes, and everything else in between.”
I cringed. “Okay, I’ll admit that, but let’s not go overboard, okay?”
She turned away from me, trying to hide her laugh. “I’ll try to make it as painless as possible.”