by Wendy Louise
Reviews of Forever is Mine:
“I loved this book! I loved the characters. I loved the story line. I loved everything about it. Can’t wait for the next one. I read it in one sitting. It’s a must-read!”
Rosie J on Goodreads
“I just wanted to let you know that I LOVE your book Forever is Mine. I couldn’t put it down when I was reading it. I loved every bit of it and I cannot wait for the second book. I just wanted to say thank you for writing an awesome book…”
Tiarna via email
“…I love your book Forever is Mine, and the passion I have for reading this book and only this book is unbelievable. I read it over and over again…I never knew I could be in love with a book.”
Ellie via email
Smashwords Edition
Forever is Mine & Forever is Yours
Copyright 2015 Wendy Louise Books
Published by Wendy Louise Books
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the author.
All characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author
Cover and Interior design by:
www.emtippettsbookdesigns.com
Table of Contents
Reviews of Forever is Mine
Title Page
Books by Wendy Louise
Forever is Mine
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty Two
Chapter Thirty Three
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Forever is Yours
Dedication
Quote
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty one
Chapter Twenty two
Chapter Twenty three
Chapter Twenty four
Chapter Twenty five
Chapter Twenty six
Chapter Twenty seven
Chapter Twenty eight
Chapter Twenty nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty one
Chapter Thirty two
Chapter Thirty three
Chapter Thirty four
Chapter Thirty five
Chapter Thirty six
Chapter Thirty seven
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
FOREVER IS OURS
About the Author
Side by Side
Copyright Notice
‘Side by Side’ Series
Side by Side
On Your Side (Coming in 2016)
‘Forever’ Series – reading order
Forever is Mine
Forever is Yours
Forever is Ours (Coming in 2016)
‘Rock Stars of Rewind’ Series
For Jagger’s Love (Coming in 2016)
For Bowie’s Trust (Coming in 2016)
To my sister, Jo, who was the first person to read this book and love Ethan and Ava as much as I do. I would never have been able to write about Ava and Olivia without having such a great sister to draw inspiration from.
Hugs X
I roll to my back and toss the condom to the floor. As I stare at the ceiling, the hottie to my left rolls to her side and places her head on my chest. Her dark hair fans out over my arm, tickling it as it pulls across my skin. She starts to run her fingernails across my abs, scratching as she goes. Before the sex, this would have turned me on, now it’s annoying me.
“Wanna do that again?” she says in a sing-song voice as her hand trails lower.
That’s my cue.
My cue to leave.
I gently remove myself from under her and search the floor for my jeans.
“You’re leaving?” she says, sitting up quickly and tossing her long hair over one shoulder.
“Yep,” I say as I button my fly and grab my t-shirt from under the bedside table.
She gives me a tight smile and says, “I guess what they say about you is true.”
“Yeah and what’s that?”
This girl is starting to piss me off and the fact that I can’t remember her name is not helping.
“You really do use women for one thing…”
Now she’s really pissing me off.
She only wanted me for one thing last night and she got it.
Twice.
Not to mention the fact that she has bragging rights – I bagged Ethan Drake!
So what the hell is her problem now?
“I never promised you anything but great sex and that’s what you got sweetheart,” I throw back.
“The great Ethan Drake,” she says through her teeth, “the Sex God with no emotions.”
“I’ll take that title as a compliment,” I say as I try to find my car keys.
“You’re a pig,” she says as I start to head out of the room.
I’m not going to argue with that assessment either. Call me what you will, Sex God, Pig, I can be either of those things.
The women I sleep with only want me because of who I am and what they can get from me. So I flaunt it. Who wouldn’t? But at the end of the day, doesn’t that make them the same as me? They use me in the same way as I use them.
I make my way to the door to leave and toss a “Thanks” over my shoulder.
Hey I’m not a total asshole!
I manage to get through the door before the shoe she throws at me hits the other side. I can hear her yelling at me from her position on the bed, but she is already a memory to me. I won’t be going there again.
I never do. No repeat performances for me.
I push the button for the elevator and take a deep breath. I’ve just had great sex with a hot chick. Most guys would give their left nut to have a night like I just did.
So why do I feel so hollow inside?
Hollywood here I come
I’ve never been go
od at saying goodbye. I stress and worry over the moment that I have to actually do it for weeks on end before it is upon me, and then I generally fall apart.
Leaving behind moments in time has never been easy for me. Change has always been a dirty word.
I have been worrying over the goodbye that is now staring me in the face for weeks.
“Don’t forget to call if you need anything…..” my mum says, emphasizing the last word in a drawn out way; “…and say hello to your sister for us, give her a big kiss.”
She embraces me in a warm hug. I shut my eyes and tighten my grip on her. This one will have to last me for a while. I inhale her scent, all jasmine and daisy, and commit it to memory. It makes me feel safe.
Dad wraps his large arms around us both and squeezes. He can sense Mum’s imminent emotional crumble. “Stay safe over there kiddo,” he says with a smile. “Don’t go falling in love with any American men; I want you to come back! One daughter living over there is more than enough.”
I pull back from their double embrace and raise my eyebrows at my dad. “That’s the last thing you need to worry about Dad. I am steering clear of the men over there.”
“Good girl, just go and enjoy yourself.” He smiles his charming smile and passes me the handle for my hand luggage. “Give Olivia a big kiss from me too.”
“I will. I love you both.” I pull them both in for one last hug and then bend to grab my bag.
Mum’s eyes are starting to gloss over so it is time for me to head off. I can’t see her cry; it will just set me off too. After a final glance over my shoulder and a wave, I make my way through the departure gate and in to Customs.
On my way to a new life.
Change.
That word keeps swirling through my brain but I push it back. The normal panic that I feel whenever I think about the change I’m undertaking gets squashed down as I breathe deeply and focus on the task at hand.
After 4 years of studying for a Journalism Degree at Melbourne University in Australia, I’m about to board a plane for the bright lights of Los Angeles and leave behind everything and everyone that makes me feel safe and comforted. I always like life to be safe and comfortable, so right now I’m wondering what on Earth I am thinking in agreeing to fly half way around the world to work for my sister.
My older sister is Olivia Lucas, upcoming Hollywood Actress and star of what is hoped to be one of the highest grossing movies of the year – Forever is mine.
As I stand in line at the Customs counter, waiting to have my passport stamped I think of the new job that awaits me in LA. Olivia needs a Personal Assistant on set and begged me to come and work with her. She said that she didn’t want some ‘Hollywood type’ that would be mindlessly at her beck and call, sucking up at every opportunity. She wants someone she can trust and confide in, and that’s me.
We’ve always been close despite the 4 year age gap. She has always been my best friend and confidante, even since she has been living in the States. We always make sure to talk at least twice a week to catch up on each other’s lives.
After getting through Customs, I decide to peruse the duty free shop to kill some time. I have an hour to spare before my flight boards. I want to bring something for Olivia, so I settle on a small bottle of her favourite perfume before paying for it and heading to the Ladies Room to freshen up.
I’ve dressed comfortably in my Levis, pale blue converse and a loose fitting cardigan that drapes warmly around my body. My long, naturally wavy brown hair is pulled back in to a ponytail and I have kept my make up to a minimum thinking of the fourteen hour flight ahead of me, and not wanting ‘panda eyes’ when I land. Although I’m sure they are inevitable.
I am so ready for this trip. I need to escape the reality of life for a while and move outside my comfort zone. Life for me has always been about doing the right thing. Working hard at school, because that’s what was expected; studying at University because that was the natural progression to take. Being with the right guy, the nice guy, because that’s what someone like me does.
Well, didn’t that turn out great!
I was with Cole for two years until I found out that he had been cheating on me with not one but two other girls.
I was devastated.
Completely ripped in half!
The weird thing about it all now is that the more I look back on our relationship, the more I realise that I was with him because he was comfortable and he represented what everyone thought was right for me. Good job, good family, good looks. In hindsight, that was all deceiving, and he was so wrong for me on so many levels. Breaking up with him was the best thing I could have done two months ago, but it still hurts. I miss the friendship and companionship - but not him.
They finally call my flight, so I gather my handbag, my carry on case and my magazines and join the queue ready to board. I take a deep breath and look out the large airport windows one last time at the Melbourne sun, shining brightly and casting warm rays across the carpet.
Here goes nothing.
I’ve packed my ipad and loaded it up with books and movies to help me get through the long haul flight. I know the in-flight entertainment is there, but I wanted to read. There’s nothing better than getting lost in a book. Once situated in my economy class seat at the back of the plane, I pull it out and start to read to pass some time. An older lady sits next to me and nods to say hello. She settles herself and pulls out a book. I am hoping that we will both sit and do our own thing for the next fourteen hours. I am not averse to talking to people on planes, but I don’t want to make small talk for the entire journey.
Following a light lunch of pasta, salad, chocolate mousse and those little crackers with portion control cheese – I love those - I decide to put my headphones on and listen to music while trying to settle in to sleep. I decide on Adele, because her music is really soothing to me. While listening to her singing about Turning Tables, I must have succumbed to sleep because I don’t wake until the Flight Attendants are starting to serve juice and coffee in preparation for breakfast.
I am now only 3 hours from my destination and the butterflies in my stomach turn into bats and begin to flutter. I am so excited, yet nervous, not knowing what to expect in this new city that I will call home for the next twelve months.
Once the Captain announces that we are about to make our descent in to LA, I am scared. My heart is beating so fast behind my ribs; I need to calm myself with a few deep breaths. How do people do this when they don’t have anyone to meet them at the other end? If I didn’t have Olivia here with me, I would be a basket case. I take a few more calming breaths and peer out the window to see the land below while ensuring that my seat belt is securely fastened.
As I step through the doors at LAX I am welcomed by the bright morning sunshine streaming through the large glass windows. It reminds me of the sight I left behind in Melbourne. That somehow makes me feel a little more at home.
A little more at ease.
I come across a smartly dressed lady ahead with a sign stating my name, standing near the exit. She looks like a cross between a security guard and a chauffeur, with her pressed black slacks, crisp white shirt, black tie and black hat. I don’t recognise her but make my way over to her, dodging all the travellers as I go. Not an easy task with the luggage trolley. This airport is so busy, it blows my mind.
“Hi, I’m Ava Lucas,” I say as I reach her, offering my hand for her to shake.
“Good Morning Miss Lucas, I’m Miranda. Your sister sent me to collect you and asked me to drop you off at the Studio. She hopes that you don’t mind, but she had an early call time this morning.”
“No worries,” I reply, handing the luggage trolley over to her as she reaches for it.
Miranda is all efficiency and professionalism in one smart package. She helps me to navigate the airport and car park with my luggage and soon afterwards I am situated in the back of a sleek black SUV, heading towards the freeway and the studio. The car is very luxurious and
smells of new leather seats. It makes me feel like someone important and suddenly I get a small glimpse of what life must be like for my soon-to-be-superstar sister.
I’m in awe of the city as it flies past the windows. I cannot believe how many freeways there are here and how they wind their way around each other. I will never be able to work out which one to take or where to go. In Melbourne we only have a few freeways and they pretty much go in a straight line compared to this. They are easy to navigate, but these look terrifying. Suddenly the thought of driving in my adopted city sends a chill to my stomach.
Miranda seems completely at ease weaving her way through the mountain of traffic, so I nestle back in my seat and try to take in as much as I can. The palm trees, the billboards, the city buildings, it is all so exciting. As we continue, I start to see landmarks that I have only ever seen in movies, or on TV. The sight of the Hollywood sign up on the hill to my right makes me squeal as we pass it. Miranda looks at me in the rear view mirror in a way that tells me that I am not the first person to have that reaction in her presence. I apologise to her for my little outburst and return to my city gazing out the car window, silently. She doesn’t seem the type to chat.
We continue for some time until Miranda tells me that we have arrived at our destination. I am excited to see that we have pulled through the gates at Universal Studios. I try to contain myself this time so that no unexpected squeals leave my throat. I need to act professionally; there are going to be many OMG moments now that I’m here.
We meander our way through parking lots and roadways that lead us to the back lot of the studios. I watch as eager tourists are undergoing a tour of the area in a little train car. They’re all madly snapping photos and videos of everything around them. I feel like I belong in the train car with them rather than wherever I’m currently headed.
The car pulls up outside a huge warehouse-like building with Studio A written on the side of it. Miranda opens my car door and leads me through the large door. We walk down a long corridor to an area that looks like it is reserved for guests.
“Please wait here Miss Lucas,” she says, “someone will be with you shortly. I’ll ensure that your luggage makes its way to your sister’s apartment.”