by LK Collins
“No, let’s still go for our walk.” That actually sounds perfect, so I let him lead me across the street to his truck, where we grab the stroller, and of course his camera. Between the two of us, I think we’ve about captured every moment we could of Chloe’s two months in this world.
“Are you sure you’re okay with everything?”
“I am,” I say, giving his hand a small squeeze. “I didn’t expect Leo to jump with joy. Granted, I didn’t think he would entirely disown her, but his reaction really wasn’t a surprise. And I’m happy that he doesn’t want to be involved, aren’t you?”
“Hey, I didn’t have to kick his teeth in, and he’s out of our hair for good, so I couldn’t be happier.”
“Very true.” I giggle as we begin our trek around the lake, lifting the shade on Chloe’s seat, so I can get a better look at her. “God, she’s so beautiful.”
“Just like her mommy.” His words really do cause my heart to thud.
Chloe’s curious eyes take the world in around her, and every once in a while, the sun catches her eyes and makes her fuss. We stop at a nearby bench so we can sit. Parks removes her from the seat and rests her tenderly against his chest. She is so small in his arms, and the instant she is cuddled in close to him, she settles. He has that magic touch.
“You want a bottle?”
He shakes his head, patting her back softly as I adoringly stare at the two of them. “Nah, she just wanted her daddy.”
“She’s a daddy’s girl,” I tell him. It’s the truth.
Sitting here with the two of them in this moment is so surreal, but it’s my reality. No matter how dreamlike it seems, it’s mine. Parks is perfect in every way. My dream come true, and our daughter is the most beautiful baby in the world. Our life is perfection. When I look back on it all—it all makes sense. This is where I’m meant to be—living out my one final chance at happiness.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I have to thank my husband and the other half of LK Collins, William. This story would not be what it is without you, babe. Thank you for all your help on this one and for being the most amazing partner in the world. I love you more than words can ever express.
Ashley, my editor, this one was so exciting for us. I’m so glad to have you on my side. Thank you for teaching me, helping me, and molding me to be a better writer. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.
Leticia and Janice, my extraordinary proofreaders, you two are the bomb, thank you for making this process easy and enjoyable. I’m indebted to you both . . . always.
To my Beta team, your feedback and support are instrumental in what I do. Especially you, Crystal, thank you for believing in me and pushing me in the beginning to help me make this story a work of perfection.
Last, but absolutely not least: the readers, reviewers, bloggers, and my ARC team. I hope you all loved this story. I know it started out rocky and took Parks and Fallon a while to get together, but the journey and their happily ever after were worth it all. I do what I do for each and every one of you—thank you all so very, very much.
If you loved One Final Chance, please consider leaving a review on Amazon, it’s the best way to give back to an author. We read every single review.
3 Breaths
a novel by LK Collins
Cover Design by Prezidential Visions
Edited by Lisa Christman, Adept Edits
Formatting by by Prezidential Visions
Photography by FXQuadro
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owner.
Epigraph
“Take each breath as though it could be your last.” – LK Collins
Dedication
For my readers, this one is for you. Thank you for all of the years of support.
Prologue
“To Krane and Zoë,” Logan says holding his beer high in the air. The room echoes in cheers and I raise my drink. He hops off the stage, letting the band get back to playing as Zoë breathes softly on my neck. The small gesture from her makes me horny as fuck. “I want you,” she whispers, immediately filling my mind with images of fucking her.
Looking into her gorgeous eyes, I want her too. “I know,” I respond, teasing her, and it makes her shake her head at me.
“You know, if you want to survive this engagement, you better start taking care of me.”
She’s joking, but the insinuation that I don’t take care of her sets me off. She is my world and the only woman that I’ve ever loved. Swooping her tiny ass off of the ground, I toss her over my shoulder to “take care” of her, regardless if we’re in a New York City bar or not. She screams, “Put me down, baby,” and hits my back. No one seems to notice us, as the crowd is engrossed in the band that I’m sure Logan spent a ton of money on to play for us tonight – his parents are loaded and he definitely takes advantage.
“Oh, I’ll put you down in just a minute.” I slap her ass, kicking open the bathroom door. The single stall is open and there is just one guy in here. All I have to do is give him that look, that one that says get the fuck out of here or I’ll rip your head off and he scatters.
I set Zoë down and she wobbles a little, running her fingers through her fucking hair, knowing what that does to me. “Don’t do that.”
“Why?” she asks, resting her hands back on one of the sinks.
“You know why.”
She smiles and gestures me to her with one finger. We are both drunk – the connection we share is like nothing else, combine it with liquor and we are combustible. Looking into her eyes makes everything in my world complete. Knotting my fingers into the back of her hair, I press my lips to hers; she tastes like Patrón and Zoë, the perfect fucking combination.
She moans, wrapping her legs around me and runs her hands up my back, sending a shiver right to my cock. Dropping my hands, I grip her thighs and carry her to the door. Knowing that there’s no lock on it, I’ll have to fuck her right here to keep it shut. If it was anyone else but Zoë, I wouldn’t give two shits if they saw us fuck.
Her tongue caresses mine, never letting up. My cock is so hard that it hurts. Pushing myself against her, I groan, needing to be inside her. “Let me down,” she asks, needing it just as much as I do.
“Keep your back against the door,” I tell her, pulling her tank top down and exposing her hard pink nipples. My mouth moves to them and I suck hard, flicking my tongue back and forth on one of my favorite parts of her body. She slides her jeans down her legs and then fumbles with mine. The tip of my dick is numb from straining against the rough fabric, throbbing for her.
Finally she sets my cock free and I let out a deep puff of air, looking down at her hand as she strokes my shaft. The sensation is one of the things I live for. Reaching down, I grab her wrist, along with her other one, pulling her arms above her head. She nudges her hips forward with her legs spread apart. I watch her begging me in her soft sexy voice, “Please fuck me.” Still holding both of her hands with one of mine, I grip my cock with the other and nudge myself against her.
Fuck, she’s wet.
Rubbing myself on her clit, she moans and rocks her hips even more. I love to play with her…to tease her. Especially when she’s this turned on.
“Take back what you said.”
“What do you mean?” she asks, breathless
and confused.
“About me needing to start taking care of you.”
“I take it back. You know I was joking, baby.”
With a triumphant smirk on my face, I let go of her hands and lift her up again, knowing that I am too tall to fuck her while standing. She attaches to me and we both look down at my swollen dick as I gently nuzzle my way deep inside of her. Then locking eyes with her, everything in this moment freezes. She’s panting as I begin to stroke myself inside of her and this makes me pick up my pace. The noise of her ass hitting the door echoes throughout the room.
Christ, her pussy is my heaven.
The door nudges a little and I press her into it, digging myself a little further into her cunt. “Occupied,” I growl.
“Sorry,” the person on the other side says. Zoë hangs on to my neck and I stroke myself inside of her, feeling her warmth and tightness. Loving what her body does to mine. Pressing my lips to her neck, I suck hard, feeling my cum brew.
“Fuck, baby,” she cries, and I pull away. Her skin is flushed and her eyes are closed. My balls tighten as she clamps her pussy down around me and I watch her fall from this world. Holding on to my orgasm for as long as possible, I watch her. Fuck, she is so gorgeous, the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen. She writhes and shakes against me as I shove myself into her as deep as I can.
Then…it hits me. I groan, pumping my cock ‘til my cum shoots deep inside her. Gradually, I slow my movements and rest my forehead against hers.
“I love you, baby,” I tell her, easing my way out of my favorite place.
“I love you,” she responds and grabs a paper towel, cleaning herself off. I wrestle my dick back into my pants, holding the door closed. Watching her, I know that I could come a few more times, but that’ll have to wait until we are home.
“Ready?” I ask, holding my hand out to her as she zips her pants.
“Yup,” she says and grins at me walking out of the restroom. Intertwining my fingers with hers, I stop at the bar and get us two more beers. We both turn and look at the huge crowd of our closest friends.
“You know our engagement dinner with both sides of our family isn’t gonna be this fun,” she says.
“We’ll make the best of it and have fun, like we always do, babe. Your mom will be drunk, so we’ll be right there along with her.”
Taking a swig of the beer the bartender hands me, I can’t help but get lost in her beauty.
She takes a quick drink of her beer as I take her hand and lead her to the dance floor to dance with our friends and party the night away.
Ten beers, seven shots, and something else I can’t remember later, it’s time to leave. Everyone else is gone and Zoë is almost asleep in my arms.
“Let’s go, you party animal.”
She looks up at me with her hair in her face and all I can see are her teeth. I can’t help but laugh – oh, she’s going to be hurting tomorrow. Wrapping my arm around her, we stumble out into the cool spring night. The subway station is just a block away and after a fifteen-minute ride, we’ll be home.
“You good?” I ask Zoë as we make the short walk.
“Uh huh,” she responds, keeping up with me. The city is still buzzing; I swear New York never sleeps, and that’s why I love it here. Entering the stairs for the subway, we begin to walk down and Zoë wobbles.
“Hold on to me, okay?” I prop her up as we make our way to the bottom.
“Mm hmm,” she hums as her chin slumps toward her chest.
Waiting on the platform, there isn’t anyone down here, except for a bum sleeping on a bench. The train pulls up and we enter the empty car.
Zoë flops down in a seat, her head still hanging low and I wonder if she’s sleeping already. Sitting next to her, I wrap an arm around her and she nuzzles to me.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. Baby?” she asks.
“Uh huh.”
“Can we go to Long Beach tomorrow?”
“Sure,” I respond, knowing she’s not going to want to do anything but sleep all day, but being a smart man, I play along.
“I mean it.”
“I know you do.”
The subway zooms down the tracks rocking us back and forth a little, and I rest my head against hers. Zoning out on the orange and yellow seats across from us. Then, the alcohol sets in and my eyes close. My mind drifting back to fucking her in the bathroom.
Suddenly, my daydream is cut short. Zoë shakes violently in my hold.
“Baby,” I yell holding on to her.
She doesn’t respond, her eyes are rolled back in her head, and I know I have to do something. She has had seizures before, but not for a long time and never with me. I know I need to protect her until I can get help at the next stop.
Laying her on the floor of the subway, I cradle her head, her arms and legs flailing. My insides break, burning in pain watching her hurting like this. “Baby, please,” I plead, crying, holding on to her, but she won’t stop and I don’t know what else to do. White foam pools out the sides of her mouth, followed by blood, and I fear she’s bit her tongue.
“Zoë!” I scream, freaking out, watching her like this, so…helpless.
Finally her body starts to slow and my heart skips a beat. “Zoë, oh, baby,” I weep, wiping my eyes so I can see her clearly and move around her. As I hover above her, she is still twitching a tiny bit and I wait for her to come to, cradling her head in my hands.
“Wake up,” I whisper, resting my forehead against hers just wanting her body to calm. The announcement for the next stop goes off, so it’s not long until I can get her off of here. My chest heaves watching her ragged breaths. She’s struggling. “Baby, please hang in there,” I whisper, looking at her as the train starts to slow.
Then her body settles and everything about her calms.
Thank God!
She’s going to be okay! She has to be. I count her breaths, waiting for her to come back to me. One…two…three…and then…nothing. I panic looking into her eyes – they are slightly open and glazed over. She is staring off, not looking at me. “No, Zoë!” I scream, shaking her by the shoulders. “You can’t leave me!”
The train stops at the next station, and I scream for help when the doors open, even though I know it’s too late. Looking down at her body, I knot my fingers into my hair, horrified. Her chest is still.
Tears cloud my vision as I lift her in my arms. Holding her lifeless body close to mine, I sit – crying – reeling in the agony of facing my greatest nightmare.
Everything around me spins.
Jesus, this cannot be real.
I sob into her neck, smelling her, my Zoë, my world, my everything…for one last time.
Chapter 1
Closing my eyes, I sit on the sand of Long Beach after another hellish run and breathe in the fresh sea air. My chest feels heavy, and I wish the pain from the run would erase my mind, but it doesn’t.
I live in a constant hell.
The painstaking reality of my life is plagued with the images of Zoë dying in front of me. In my arms. I do my best to push those fucked up thoughts away and concentrate on what we had. That is if I can keep focused for long enough. Sometimes I can, and when that happens I can still smell her and picture her face – eyes – body – laugh, everything about her is at my fingertips, so close, but not close enough to reach. Even with the illusions that I hold on to, it’s not enough. She’s not here with me any longer.
I don’t want to come to terms with the fact that I’ll never see her again or touch her soft skin, but I have to, because she is truly gone. As fucked up as I am…I know what’s real and what isn’t. I will never feel her touch or her lips or look into her eyes. So for now, this is all that I have left, and it brings me as close to her as possible.
She might have unexpectedly left this world five months ago, but it still feels like yesterday in my head. The wound is fresh and burns me every minute of every day. The pain of losing her is like nothing th
at I’ve ever experienced. Every breath is brutal, my life really has zero purpose now, and it’s hard to find a point to opening my eyes when I wake up each day. Everyone says with time things will get better, but I don’t fucking buy that shit…it won’t.
Listening to the sound of the waves as they crash against the shore, I wonder why God didn’t take me, why her? There was no reason for it to be her time. The fucking doctors tell me that she died of SUDEP, Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, which in my mind is complete bullshit and confusing…maybe they think if they put a fucking acronym on it then it counts as an explanation. But it just means they don’t know shit.
My phone rings and it pains me to open my eyes – I attribute that to exhaustion and the tequila that’s still running through my veins from last night. Looking down at it through my dark shades, it’s my mom, my overbearing and controlling mother. I know better than to blow her off; she’ll just come find me if I do.
“Hey, Mom.”
“How’s the beach?” she asks, knowing that every morning I come here. I have since I lost Zoë, not able to bring myself to stop. I made her a promise before she died to bring her here and for that reason, this is where I feel the most connected to her.
“It’s nice, Mom.” There’s an underlying aggravation to my tone. I really don’t want to deal with her right now.
“Good, well, I just wanted to remind you of your sister’s wedding and that you need to—”
“I know, Mom.”
“Well, if you knew, you’d have gotten measured for your tux. Your dad’s going now. If you wanna meet him, he can pay for it.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I love you, Krane.”
“You too.” I hang up and lie back on the sand, closing my eyes.