Jeff’s house was only a few minutes from mine and I pulled into the field, leaving my car parked near the fence close to the road. It would be easier to just walk the short distance to the party, rather than chance getting my new car stuck out there or running over a huge branch and ruining the under carriage. I always did this and was usually met halfway by whichever guy I was talking to that night so that I wouldn’t have to walk alone. I was surprised when Sam didn’t answer my text, but even more surprised that he isn’t out here waiting for me. Must be helping Jeff out with something.
Not to worry though. I always wear my boots out here and jeans so that my legs don’t get tore up from the long weeds. Tonight was chilly, and I found one of Sam’s old baseball hoodies in my closet to keep me warm. I haven’t worn this since high school, the same night I saw him with icky Vicky. That retched bitch better not be here tonight. Not that I really care. It was me that he chose after all.
Well at least I thought I was. My heart sinks into chest as I approach the party and see Sam, casually chatting it up with a leggy blonde and holding a drink in his hand. He wasn’t helping Jeff, and this would explain why he didn’t answer my text or come meet me to walk me up.
A few steps closer and the recognition settles. It’s Emma, the girl from the photo that he dated before moving to Avalon. What the fuck is she doing here. She’s not from here. Please tell me he didn’t invite her. Or is she crazy and stalking him? Either way, this is not good.
The flash back of that night I saw him kissing Vicky plays in my head and I squeeze the bottom of the sweatshirt in my hands.
Stupid, unlucky, sweatshirt.
I stop for a quick second to gather my thoughts. This is exactly what I try to avoid; the feeling that you lost something amazing and your heart breaking to pieces.
Not this time. I will not let him go so easily. It’s time that I fight for what’s mine.
I take a deep breath and continue my way over to where they are standing. Without even acknowledging her, I wrap my arm around Sam’s waist and dip under his arm to give him a hug.
“Hi babe.” I say, more girly than I would normally.
“Hey beautiful, I didn’t know you were on your way or I would have met you by the road.” He reaches in to his pocket and pulls his hand out empty then pats his back pockets. “Shit, did you text me? I must have left my phone in my truck. Sorry baby.”
“No worries. I’m good.” I smile at him and then turn to the supermodel and hold out my hand. “Sorry, hi I’m – “
“Cheyenne, so nice to finally meet you.”
She knows who I am?
“I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like I practically know you. I’m Emma. Sam and I used to go to school together.” She said nicely. Almost too nicely, yet it seems very sincere. Interesting.
Still in shock and slightly confused, a familiar face walks up and joins in the reunion.
“Cheyenne, how are you? Been a long time.” Says Ryan. He also went to our high school and was new to town the same year Sam was. They ended up going to the same college on a baseball scholarship and ended up as roommates.
“I’m good, how are you?” I ask trying to hide my feelings on the situation at hand.
He reaches his hand around the back side of Emma and pulls her into a hug, which she gladly accepts. Now, I am officially lost. This could not get weirder.
“So, I see you met Emma.” Ryan says.
“Yes, we did, but apparently she already knows me. Hopefully you have been telling her only the good things about me.” I reply trying to keep my composure as cool as possible.
“Are there any bad things?” Ryan asks and we both laugh.
“This is true.” I reply.
Sam being the powerful mind reader that he is, senses my un-comfort and reaches for my hand to give it a reassuring squeeze.
“Well, we are going to go get a drink. I’m sure we will see you in a bit. Good to see you, Cheyenne.”
“Yes, it was very nice to meet you finally. Sam talked about you all the time. Hope to get to talk more later.” Emma reached out and hugged me, which caught me off guard. She was so sincere and I was feeling like a bitch for thinking she was here to steal my man.
“Yeah, for sure.” I replied with a smile.
She reached up and gave Sam a friendly hug and lowered her voice. “See aren’t you glad you took my advice. Nice to see you so happy.” She looked towards me and smiled. “See you both later”
Sam smiled and I was once again confused. Why would she say that? What advice could she have given him? He left her there, why would that make her happy?
“Advice, huh? Am I missing something here? I thought you got an internship and broke her heart when you had to move.”
“Well, that’s partially true.” He still had a smile on his face, but ran his fingers through his hair like he was about to say something that might really piss me off. “I did get an internship here, but it was only after she told me about it.”
“What? Why would she tell you about something that would send you away?”
“Okay, let me start from the beginning. Emma and I had a class together our junior year and starting hanging out. We started to date, but it was never really serious. I could never really commit to the relationship. She sensed something was off and asked Ryan behind my back. He told her about you and our past together. She approached me about it one night when we had been drinking and I broke down and told her everything. She wasn’t mad, but mostly sad for me, and mad that I wouldn’t fight for what I wanted. It was her idea for me to apply for the internship and transfer to Avalon to be closer to you and try to win you back.”
“Seriously?” My mind. Was. Blown. “You moved to Avalon for me?”
“Crazy, right?”
“Insane is more of the word I would choose.” I sat silent for a moment and tried to process it all. “So then what’s with her and Ryan? Isn’t that weird for you?”
“Nah. He loved her the minute he met her. That is another reason why it would have never worked with us. I knew how he felt about her and that I would never feel that way for her. It was only a matter of time before she realized it too. They started hanging out and the rest is history.”
“Wow. I am speechless.” Which is a first for me.
“Listen, Cheyenne. I am sorry that I wasn’t honest with you about why I moved here, but I didn’t want to scare you or push you further away from me. I just needed to see if there was still a chance. I love you more than life itself and would fight for your heart any day of the week.”
“I love you too, and I’m glad you took a chance on me and my stupid heart. Plus now I have something to brag about. How many people do you know that have a guy move to be closer to her, just hoping she would give their love a chance?”
He laughed and pulled me in for a long, deep kiss. “You, Little Red, will always be worth the risk.”
Fulfilling our dream of writing would not be possible without the continued love and support of our family and close friends. The countless hours spent ignoring them while locked away in front of our computers could never be taken for granted. Thank you for always believing in our success and allowing us the time to focus on our dreams.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle Louise is the name used for two friends who share an obsession in reading. Both had a dream of writing, and together they planned and plotted to accomplish their goals. The experience they shared while creating, their first novel, Picking up the Pieces, solidified their new obsession with writing.
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/> Books by Michelle Louise
Loving You to Pieces (Pieces .5)
Picking up the Pieces (Pieces 1)
Falling to Pieces (Pieces 2)
FALLING TO PIECES - -PLAYLIST
Games – Luke Bryan
Take Your Time – Sam Hunt
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Just The Girl – Click Five
Ain’t Worth the Whiskey – Cole Swindell
She Don’t Love You – Eric Paslay
Girl Crush – Little Big Town
Jealous – Nick Jonas
Let Her Go – Passenger
Love Me Like You Mean It – Kelsea Ballerini
Wild Child – Kenny Chesney
Say You Do – Dierks Bentley
Tonight Looks Good On You – Jason Aldean
Falling to Pieces Page 20