by Abby Gale
“Let's go.”
"Eva… I'm sorry-" her mom starts, and her dad interrupts her, "We're sorry, Evangeline."
“Please, don't leave. Not until we talk it all out. Not until you listen to us, please,” her mother says while crying. I bet no one has ever seen that woman cry before.
"You've lost your son, and you didn't know how to deal with it. And looking at me probably reminded you that day. So you decided to ignore me and focus on work, right?" Eva says coldly.
When her dad nods, she snorts. "Believe me, I know. In your absence, I had much time to make theories to help me forgive you. But staying here and talking won't make me forgive you so easily, Mom," Eva adds.
Mrs. Faye nods.
“Would you at least let us try to redeem ourselves?” her dad asks, putting his hand on her mother's back to support her.
“I doubt you'll want it, but…” she swallows before continuing with a softer voice, “Please, do, Dad. I want to forgive you and to be able to talk to you.”
Her parent's nod.
“Let us know the address you'll be staying. And if you need anything,” her mother says and comes to hug Eva. Their hug is awkward, but I see how it touches Eva.
“Use Eva's credit card for whatever you need. And… take care of my girl,” her dad says to me almost reluctantly before stretching his hand for a handshake.
And with that, we are both confronted and blessed. It was a strange moment. One I don't know is good or bad. But when I get to the driver seat of my truck, I see Eva's chin high and her eyes somehow clearer from the pain. Like there is clarity or maybe closure at their short and weird argument.
I have to admit, I was expecting more fight from her parents. I thought they'd be such assholes toward her and about our relationship, but all I really saw was a mother and father in pain they didn't know how to deal with.
“Can we go to West? I want to say goodbye to them,” Eva says as we leave her home behind.
My girl cares for those people so much, the last week we also made sure the staff will continue providing whatever is needed in the Westside. And I loved spending time with them, too. They were the family when Eva needed one.
When I link our fingers on my thigh, I smile at Eva and drive to the Westside, hoping she'll build the bridges back with her parents.
Epilogue
Eva
3 months later
To Eva,
My girl, my love, my future
I sigh dreamily again like I did for the ninth time I've read Elijah's book since he told me it was accepted by a publisher. I'm still angry at him for not letting me read this sooner, but every time I see the dedication, I fall in love with him even more. And as I read the story, my heart feels like it's gonna burst out of my chest in every page.
He wrote our story. It's a fictional version of our story.
A creative writing professor and his new student, Evie. That’s what we became in his fictional world. The way we look, the way we feel are still the same in those pages. Same intensity. Same hunger. Same love.
And aside from all the romantic aspect in the story, the really touching part is how he portrayed the South Town in the book. The relationships, the people in there, how they lived, how they loved. He took everything he saw and everything I told him and poured them in this book with so much emotion and intensity the people who read his book have already started social projects about people and places in need.
Proud doesn’t even cover what I’m feeling every time I read this book.
Time flows by as Elijah's words suck me in.
I gasp when Elijah nuzzles into my neck. “Shouldn’t you be writing your essay before our guests show up, babe?”
“I'll write it in a few hours. I need to read this one more time for the sake of your release day,” I murmur as I keep reading.
“For release day, I'd much prefer you naked in my lap, you know,” he says playfully, sitting on the arm of my chair.
Looking up at him, I smile and kiss his jaw. “I'm sure its time will come, too.”
He groans. “Sometimes I regret writing that book.”
"Don't be a cry baby. Let me read my book, and we'll have dinner with our parents, then I'm all yours," I whisper as seductively as I can.
And the moment I finish my sentence, the doorbell rings.
Elijah groans and I giggle as we both head to open the door.
My parents and Elijah's family fill our little apartment. They must come at the same time.
Taking a step back, I watch everyone hug each other and talk at the same time like beautiful chaos.
Mom and Dad have been trying to fix our broken relationship since I left home. Their first visit was two months ago, and it was so awkward. But since then, they come to visit almost every week. Every time they show up here or call me, I feel like a hole inside me fills with joy.
Elijah's family and I got along well since the first time we met. His oldest sister, Sarah visits at least once a week, and she’s my best friend. And now, we are all together to celebrate Elijah's debut novel.
I've been alone for so long, but now I have a big family. And I guess, I finally found my happy place.
If you liked Teach Me Sweetly
Check out Perfect Strangers
I slowly turned my back to face him as his hands wrapped around my waist, resting lower than commonly appropriate. Trying not to focus on the tingling sensation he caused with his hands on the curve of my ass, I raised my head.
I gasped with sudden shock at the man in front of me. It was the gorgeous man from across the bar and up close he was even more beautiful. His high cheekbones and sharp jaw radiated power as he looked down at me. His lips were full, almost enough to put women in envy. His hair was messy like he’d just fucked someone in the restroom, maybe he did… and his eyes… those eyes left me speechless. I didn’t know what color they were, but I knew the look in them –raw passion, unadulterated domination, and full of naughty secrets that promised a good time.
And I wanted them… I wanted all the things he could do to me.
I didn’t know why I felt such an intense need for this man… maybe it was his undeniable beauty –in my mind, there was no other word to describe him. Maybe it was the frustration Darren caused me by making me feel stupid all those months, or maybe it was the lack of sex in my life… whatever the reason was for the first time in my twenty-two year old life, I wanted to have a one night stand. I wanted him to take me somewhere, anywhere, and give me the ride of my life.
I hardly noticed that we continued our seductive rhythm as I checked him out. It was like foreplay with the background music. I could feel the wetness between my legs, his hardness on my stomach. We hadn’t even said a word, but we were talking on a primal level. We had an understanding between us that no words could create.
He leaned into me with a smirk on his face, giving me a hint of his strong scent.
“Let’s get out of here,” he growled, moving his hands down to grab my ass. My body was put on high alert by his touches and his voice.
A small touch of insecurity found its way into my mind and I didn’t want to appear too eager, even though I was willing to fuck him in the restroom.
“Why?” I whispered with a smile. His eyes told me he knew I was just trying to play hard to get.
He pulled me closer, his lips grazing mine as he whispered, “I want to fuck you and you want to be fucked. Do we need any more reason?”
One-click: Perfect Strangers
Acknowledgement
Writing sweet and emotional stories always such a challenge with me. A challenge I enjoy. And I want to thank you for reading my words whether they are dark or sweet. Your support is what keeps me going in daily basis. Thank you!
Firstly, I want to thank Sybil Wilson. She is the person behind every masterpiece of a cover my books have, but she’s so much more than an artist to me. Sybil is my friend I’m blessed to have and my rock through thick and thin.
Lots
of thanks to my PA, Angela for always being by my side and always believing in me. Thank you for organizing my life.
I want to thank my amazing friend Brianna Hale for letting me talk her ears off while we bounce off ideas. She’s a great friend, a beautiful soul, and an awesome writer.
A very special thanks to Keyrsten Robinson. She’s a jewel. I’m the luckiest for finding someone like her in my team. Her beta feedback, her editing notes, and her support made this book as good as it can be. We just clicked from the first second we got in touch and now I can’t think of publishing a book without her feedback first.
And the biggest thanks should go to my amazing beta-readers, Nicole Townsend Brown, Tre Talbot, Renee Mccleary, Sarah Barton, Mary Laberge, Starla Payne, Lauren Renay. And to Nancy George for taking one final glance on the book to make sure it’s as good as it can be. I’m blessed to have your support, friendship, and feedback. Their thoughts and criticism for my works are always invaluable and irreplaceable. I don’t know what I’d do without them. I love each and every one of these ladies beyond description.
Thank you to every amazing person in my street team. Tre Talbot, Haddie Harper, Keri Roth, and Scarlette Evans bombards my notifications in a daily basis and I’m beyond grateful for their support. I appreciate it more than I can explain.
Lastly, I want to thank Illuminate Author Services for their detailed work to polish my words and catch typos. Brian and Jo-Anne worked thoroughly and quickly.
Other Books by Abby Gale
Violet, Club Nymph #1
Erotica-Suspense-Romance
Menagé relationship
Angel, Club Nymph #2
Dark erotica, Trigger warning
Sage, Club Nymph #3
Coming of age, Trigger warning
Stand Alones
Beautiful Inferno
Dark, Taboo Romance
Perfect Strangers
Contemporary Romance with the touch of taboo
One Night Only
Based on a true story novella
One Special Love
Spin-off to One Night Only
(Ashton’s story)
Co-written with Nina Auril
Thirteen
Halloween Novella, Erotic Thriller
Mayhem Under the Mistletoes
Christmas Novella, Romcom
Hazards to the Heart
Co-written with Nina Auril
Valentine’s Day Novella, Romcom
About Abby Gale
Abby Gale is an international author. She is an avid reader, former blogger, and a pharmacist. She writes whatever storyline sucks her in, but mostly her books will be erotica with some darkness in it.
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