by Ivy Smoak
“I’m really glad she had you,” Kennedy said. She pointed to one of the pictures of Brooklyn and me at the Halloween party dancing.
I wished I could have rewound time to that night. I would have held her close and not let go. I would have insisted we leave town. Get away from her crazy family. But I didn’t do that. I’d thought I could keep her safe. I’d been wrong.
I wanted to blame anyone but myself. Because all I could feel was guilt swallowing me whole. I’d said terrible things to her. I hadn’t answered her calls. I’d let her stay in that monster’s home instead of bringing her back with me. And I’d pretended she was a dirty little secret. When in reality? She was my whole fucking world.
We sat there in silence. I wasn’t even sure how long. We just sat and sat. She didn’t say a word as I cried. So I didn’t say a word about her tears either. I think we both just needed to be close to Brooklyn. And it was nice that there was someone else that seemed to care as much as I did. Brooklyn was loved. And she’d always be loved.
“It’s getting late,” Kennedy said. “We should probably get going.”
I closed the photo album. I could barely see it in the encroaching darkness anyway. “You go ahead.”
“You’re staying?”
I stared at her. “Where else am I supposed to go?” My whole life was here. I couldn’t fathom moving from this spot. I just…I couldn’t. Not now. Not tonight.
Kennedy nodded. “Okay. I’ll stay too.”
“You don’t have to…”
“She would have wanted me to. She would have wanted me to make sure you were okay.”
My stupid tears started up again. “I’m not okay. I don’t know how to be okay.”
“I know.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “So I’m just going to stay too. We can be not okay together. For however long it takes.”
Forever. I would forever not be okay.
My friends didn’t understand. They thought not talking about Brooklyn would help. And maybe it would help them. But it wouldn’t help me. It seemed like Kennedy was the only one who understood. I couldn’t let Brooklyn just fade away. I wouldn’t. “I don’t ever want to forget about her. And no one else understands. I can’t forget her. I can’t stop loving her.”
“We won’t,” Kennedy said. “We won’t let her just become a distant memory. We can’t.”
I opened up the photo album again and squinted down at a picture of Brooklyn smiling at the camera. It was hard to see it in the dark. Like there was a haze around her perfect face. Like she was already slipping away. I’m never letting you go, Brooklyn. I’ll never stop loving you. “Never,” I said. Never.
Kennedy put her head on my shoulder. “Nunca.”
* * *
I’m so sorry! That turned out way darker than I meant for it to. But these characters all have minds of their own.
I really did originally intend for this to be a three book series, but clearly it hasn’t panned out that way. So there is some good news…
Matt will still get his happily ever after! Empire High Book 4 will skip ahead to take place 15 years in the future (right after This Is Love). Coming Spring of 2021…
And here’s some more good news: You can find out what Matt was thinking when he first met Brooklyn! CLICK HERE to get your free copy of Matt’s point-of-view in Matthew Caldwell - The Untouchable.
The Untouchables. That’s what everyone called us. The nickname had followed us around since we were kids. I wasn’t sure who started it, but the premise behind it was simple. My friends and I could get away with murder. Literally. That’s what happens when your parents own the two biggest companies in Manhattan.
We were untouchable. And I was…sick of it. I was sick of the lies and the secrets. I was sick of the pedestal we had to stand on. And I was sick of the girls throwing themselves at my feet like I was some sort of god. I was tired of being untouchable. Especially when all I wanted was someone who would never belong in my world…
CLICK HERE to get your free copy!
Temptation
There’s a lot of time between the end of this book and the start of Book 4. Fifteen years, to be exact. And you can see what the Untouchables were up to during that time. Because Matthew Caldwell isn’t the only Untouchable with his own story! When James Hunter grows up, he gives up his billionaire lifestyle in NYC to become a professor. But he never expected to be teaching such a beautiful student. He has to resist her. He needs to walk away. Penny deserves better than a man with his demons. But she’s daring him to cross the line. And he’s never been one to resist temptation.
CLICK HERE to keep reading about the Untouchables!
Shy student Penny Taylor always follows the rules. At least, that’s how it appears to her classmates. But she has one illicit secret – she’s fallen hard for her professor. And she’s pretty sure he’s fallen for her too.
Everyone loves Professor Hunter. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. And completely unobtainable. But it’s the secrets hiding behind his deep brown eyes that allures Penny. Secrets darker than she could ever imagine.
James Hunter gave up his billionaire lifestyle in NYC last year to become a professor. The easiest new rule to follow: don’t fraternize with the students. It’s easy to follow because he’s become quite the recluse in his new town – the only way he knows how to keep his secrets buried.
But he never expected to be teaching such a beautiful student. He has to resist her. He needs to walk away. Penny deserves better than a man with his demons. But she’s daring him to cross the line. And he’s never been one to resist temptation.
CLICK HERE to start reading in Kindle Unlimited!
A Note From Ivy
I’ve had so much fun reliving high school. Well…in some ways at least. The last few chapters of this book wrecked me. I knew what needed to happen, but I was still sobbing at my keyboard for days writing and editing the end of this book. For everyone who has already read The Hunted Series, you knew going into these books that Matthew Caldwell was single as an adult. And I hate that tragedy was part of his journey.
My heart is broken.
But I truly believe that broken hearts can heal. Matt healed Brooklyn’s heart. And there is someone out there that will heal Matt’s in the future.
Yes, the future!! We’re skipping ahead to find Matt’s happily ever after. It’ll take place right after This is Love in the reading order. So if you haven’t read The Hunted and Light to My Darkness series yet, make sure to catch up today. Plus seeing adult James is going to have you dying to see adult Matt too.
Matt. Oh my heart. All I know about Matthew Caldwell is that he deserves his happily ever after. And it’s coming. I promise.
Ivy Smoak
Wilmington, DE
www.IvySmoak.com
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