Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Quote
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Epliogue
Acknowledgements
Under the Stars
Copyright 2014 Chelsey Nichole
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. 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 owners.
Edited by Jennifer Roberts Hall
Cover Design by Robin Harper of Wicked by Design
Interior Formatting by Kassi Cooper of Kassi’s Kandids Formatting
“CAN I COME UP, KHLOE?”
“Yeah.”
I sat up and looked down. Colton climbed the tree until he reached the top of the roof, then sat next to me. We both laid back and looked up at the night sky, letting the stars grab our attention.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“It was all right.”
My dad was abusive, often hitting me and locking me in my room without food or water, and my mom was too far into her bottle to care what he was doing, so I was moved into a foster home. My foster dad was … someone I didn’t like talking about, but my foster mom was okay. Being on the roof, staring at the sky, was my escape, and Colton was my only saving grace from this world.
He grabbed my hand and held me tight. “We’ll get out of here soon, I promise. Just me and you, girl.” He kissed the side of my head. “Us against the world.”
I smiled. I often imagined our life together, sitting on the porch of our front yard, watching our kids play. I was only fifteen years old, but Colton was almost three years older than me. When I turned eighteen, I’d leave with him. We’d get out of this town and start our new beginning.
“My dad wants me to join the army.” His voice was soft.
I turned, looking at him without saying a word.
“I probably won’t get a scholarship for school, and since my dad used to be in the Army, he thinks I should be too.”
Colton was always trying to get approval from his dad, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him he would never see that day. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to wait here until you’re eighteen so I can take you out of here and start a life with you.”
My heart swelled with happiness. He loved me. He was the only one who understood me.
“But,” he sighed, “I have to either pay for college—which isn’t possible as I have no money—or I have to join the Army.” His face fell and he lowered his head, looking at his hands. “But if I join when I’m eighteen, I can come back for you when you turn eighteen. You have to believe me.”
I nodded as I returned my eyes to the sky, trying to hold back the tears. This wasn’t our plan. This wasn’t what we’d discussed.
“Khlo, you have to understand, it’ll better us. It’ll make me a better man for you and then I’ll come get you. We’ll get married and I’ll be a better husband. I’ll have money and a house for us. Please say you believe me.” He sat up, squeezing my hand.
Silence.
“You don’t, do you?” he breathed.
“I think it’s a lot to take in at once.”
“You’re my forever, Khlo. I can’t see my future without you in it.”
I felt the full force of his words hit me. Would he actually come back for me, or was I holding on to a dream that would never come true?
I looked up at Colton, his blue eyes searching my face for an approval he would never get. Call me selfish, but the thought of not seeing him for three years was a pain that planted so deep in my soul, I would never recover. He was the only thing I had here.
“I think I have to get back inside.”
“Khlo, that’s bullshit and you know it. You’re avoiding the problem at hand here.”
I sat up, my hazel eyes meeting his blue ones. Torture, pain, and sadness flowed through his eyes. For five years we’d had this plan, we’d been inseparable, and now, just like that, we’d be no more…at least for three years.
“Colton—”
“No, Khloe. I know what you’re going to say. I’m not giving up on you, on us. We can write each other every day while I’m away. Then, on your eighteenth birthday, I’ll swoop in here, snatch you up, and take you back with me. It’ll work out.”
“We’ll see,” I said as I began crawling towards the tree. “I’m beginning to not believe in fairy tales. I’ll see ya around.” I started my descent down the big tree, then slid into my window and closed it behind me. I had a lot to think about, and only a short time to think about it.
Colton turned eighteen four months later and left for the army three months after that.
There was a time where I received a letter in the mail almost every day. For the first two years, I really thought this would work out, I thought we’d be okay. Then the letters started coming less and less often.
His last letter said his buddy died in battle, shot right next to him. My heart broke for Colton, and I wanted nothing more than to comfort him. I wrote him twenty-three letters after that. Twenty-three letters spilling my heart and soul out to him. Twenty-three letters begging him to come back for me.
I never talked to Colton again.
And I learned that fairy tales don’t exist.
No matter how much you want them to.
I SLOWLY OPENED MY EYES, reaching out to shut off the alarm. Ben’s arm grabbed me and pulled me towards him as I rubbed my eyes. He nestled his head into the back of my neck, my back pressing against his chest.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this,” he mumbled.
I laughed. “We’ve been living together for almost a year now. I would think you’d be used to it by now.”
He shook his head as he started to plant soft kisses on my neck. I sat up and pulled my long brown hair to one side.
“Stay in bed.”
I slipped my glasses on before turning and looking over at Ben. He was sprawled out, no shirt, the sheets low on his stomach. The sight would be enough to keep any woman entangled in the sheets with him all day, but I had to be in court.
“Babe, you know I’d love to, but I have to be in court at nine.” I swung my legs over the bed and got up, walking towards our bathroom.
“I’ll be in court today too,” he called before I started the shower.
I worked for the district attorney’s office, and Ben was a top notch divorce attorney here in Charlotte, North Carolina. We met in law school when I ran into him, spilling hot coffee all over him. I was so embarrassed as it was my first year at Duke and Ben was a sophomore.
“I’m so sorry.” I leaned down, picking up my now empty cup.
“Shit!” He cur
sed, pulling his white polo away from his body. “Is this coffee?”
I grabbed my books and stood to my feet. “Yes, sorry. Please, let me buy you a new shirt.”
“It’s okay.” He finally looked at me and I felt butterflies leap from my stomach. His green eyes held my attention. He had to be at least six foot tall and his brown hair looked like he had run his hand through it numerous times. “I need to run to my dorm and change shirts, let me buy you a coffee? Meet me at the coffee shop on the corner in thirty minutes?”
I blushed. “Sure,” I whispered. He smiled as he took off towards the dorms. I smiled as I walked towards the coffee shop. After that, he started helping me study, and I guess you can say one thing led to another, and at my graduation, four years later, he proposed.
“Earth to Khloe.” Ben waved his hands in front of my face. I blinked and looked at him. “You okay?” he asked as he hung my towel up next to the shower.
I closed the glass shower door. “Yeah, just thinking.”
“Okay. I’ll start the coffee.” He kissed my cheek.
After my shower, I dressed in a black pencil skirt and a royal blue silk top, then brushed through my hair, deciding to let it air dry on the way to work. I found Ben at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and his files opened, going through them. I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his neck, nuzzling my head next to his.
“Whatcha looking at?” I kissed his cheek before walking towards the coffee pot.
“This couple was married for twelve years and they have one kid. The wife walked into her house one day and found her husband shacked up with a woman half his age. It’s a sad story, but I’m going to try and get everything I can for them.”
“I’m sure you will.” I smiled as I fixed my coffee.
“How’s that criminal case going?”
I poured some sugar into my coffee. “It’s going well. We should get him and tons of cocaine and heroin off the streets soon.”
He looked up and smiled at me. “Good. I’m glad it’s working out. Just be careful.”
“Of course.” I paused. “Hey, remember tonight is my bachelorette party, so I won’t be home until late.”
Ben walked over to me, looping his hands around my waist, and pulling me towards his chest. “Oh yeah?” He started kissing my neck. “And then, I can have you all to myself.” I felt his smile against my skin.
“Forever,” I turned around and threw my arms around his neck.
June: Where are you?
I looked over at the clock that hung on the wall—oh shit! Almost seven pm. Time has totally escaped me, as usual. I started shutting down my computer and gathering up my stuff to put back inside my briefcase. June was going to kill me.
June had been my best friend since Freshman year at Duke, and was the complete opposite of me: no filter, crazy beautiful, and about as wild as they come. She had cried when I told her I was engaged because “her best friend was being taken off the market.”
Me: I’m on my way to your house. I’m so, so sorry.
June: Hurry up, all the girls are here :)
I pulled into her driveway in record time. I’d only wanted a couple of girls here for my bachelorette party, but judging by the cars and loud music blaring from June’s house, she’d wanted otherwise.
“Khloeeeeee!” June ran out of her house and grabbed me into a hug.
I laughed as I hugged her back. “Hey, babe.”
“You’re three drinks and two shots behind. Come on!” She pulled me towards her cute little townhouse she’d recently purchased. “And we have to get you out of those horrid clothes.”
She pulled my hand and led me back to her room where she had laid out clothes for me. The good thing about us being best friends, we wore the same size, but June was a complete opposite. June was tall with tan skin, long blonde hair and green eyes that sparkled. I always thought she should have been a model instead of a clothing designer, but she was happy and that was all that mattered.
I eyed the outfit she’d picked out for me—a tiny strapless black dress with high, nude heels. June left me, so I quickly dressed, then followed the voices, which lead me to her kitchen. Some of our college girlfriends stood around her island in the middle of the kitchen.
“Look at you! So sad to see you scooped off the market,” June winked at me as she poured everyone a shot. “To my best friend,” June began as we all held up our shot glasses. “You are an amazing person and I’m glad you’re getting snatched up, but I’m sad as well because now you’re going to become an old lady.” We all laughed. “But Ben is a great guy, and I know you’re happy, and at the end of the day that’s all I care about.”
I reached over and hugged her as we clinked shot glasses and downed the tequila. I coughed as I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the tequila flow down my throat and into my stomach.
Tonight was going to be crazy.
The limo picked us up at eleven, and we made our way to CJ’s Bar, a club we go to all the time. We reserved our own private table on a balcony overlooking the dance floor. The dance floor had about one hundred people packed onto it, dancing their hearts out to the loud, rap music blaring through the speakers.
“Let’s go dance!” June yelled. I nodded and grabbed my Long Island.
We walked downstairs and began dancing, raising our drinks so they wouldn’t spill. A couple of songs later, I went to the bar to get another drink and take a breath while June was pulled away by some hottie on the dance floor.
I ordered another Long Island and found a seat at the bar. I laughed as I watched June on the dance floor. She was crazy!
“It’s funny to watch people who are drunk, especially when you’re not that drunk,” the husky voice yelled over the music next to me. I smiled at him and nodded.
The mystery man wore a dark blue T-shirt that hugged his muscles and a pair of dark blue jeans. His head was buzzed, and a tattoo peeked out of his shirt on his upper arm, but I couldn’t make out what it was. He looked over at me, his blue eyes clouded.
“I’m Cole.” He held his hand out and I shook it, making sure he saw the large, two-carat canary cushion cut diamond on my finger.
“Khloe.”
His eyes grew wide as he looked down at my diamond. “Khloe.” My name sounded like sex rolling off his tongue; so much so that he had me stunned that I couldn’t say anything in response to him.
Get your shit together, Khlo. You’re engaged!
“So, you’re getting married?” He took another drink of his beer.
“Yeah, some day.” I laughed.
“Commitment issues?” His blue eyes bore into me.
“Not exactly.” I took a sip of my drink just as June came up, grabbing my arm. “Are you gonna dance?”
“Have fun,” Cole said, eyeing me as June dragged me toward the dance floor.
As we danced, I felt Cole’s eyes on me, watching me. His eyes seemed familiar to me, and made my body heat up, craving those blue eyes on me.
I was getting married.
I was happy.
I was in love.
At least that was what I kept telling myself.
I PULLED INTO MY USUAL parking spot at the office and got out. As I walked to the door, I could feel someone watching me, but as my eyes searched I couldn’t find anyone. I walked inside and said hello to Marie, our receptionist. Marie has been with the firm since I started. We never really saw each other outside of work, but she was sweet, nonetheless.
“Something came for you. I put it on your desk.” She smiled as I made my way down the hall to my office.
“Thanks.”
A dozen light-pink lilies were on my desk. I picked up the card that was tied with a ribbon as I set my stuff down.
“Who’s it from?” Marie stood in my doorway, eyeing me, waiting for me to spill the beans.
“It doesn’t say, but I assume it’s from Ben,” I lie. Ben would only send roses.
“That is so romantic. I wish I had a guy who wou
ld send me flowers just because,” she gushed as she turned and walked back to her desk.
This was creepy. I called the number that was printed on the back of the card. It was the flower shop, but they refused to give me any information due to their privacy policies. I stared at the flowers, who could send them to me? I stared at them for a while debating what to do with them. They couldn’t be from Ben. He never got me flowers just because, which was fine, because I wasn’t a huge flower person anyway. I decided to toss them. Whoever gave them to me should’ve put a name on them if they wanted me to keep them so bad. I jumped right into my work, trying to forget about the flowers staring at me from the trash bin.
I didn’t look up again until Marie came into my office telling me she was going to lunch. My stomach growled, signaling I should do the same. Looking at the clock, I realized it was almost two, so I grabbed my purse and phone and went across the street to Starbucks to get a coffee and something to nibble on.
I sat at a table outside, letting my skin soak up the sun rays. My eyes snapped open as something cold spilt on me. The same guy I met at the bar last night stood there with his mouth open in an O shape and a half empty water bottle in his hands.
“Holy shit,” he breathed. “I’m so, so sorry.” He ran inside and emerged with tons of napkins, then handed them to me, apologizing the whole time.
“It’s okay.” I laughed. The water mainly got on my legs the edge of my skirt. “Just an accident. You’re the guy from the bar the other night, right?” I asked, stopping my clean up to look at him. He looked better in the sunlight. His eyes weren’t as cloudy, but something was still missing in his steel blue eyes. Something I just couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“Khlo?” he asked, stunning me. Nobody calls me Khlo. God, I hate that name.
“Khloe,” I corrected him. “Cole, right?” I asked as I put the used napkins on the table.
“Cole it is.” He smiled. “Do you mind if I take a seat?” He pointed to the chair across the table from me.
“Uh, sure.” I smiled as he sat down.
“So what do you do, Khloe?” he asked, taking a drink of his water.“I’m an assistant district attorney. My office is right over there,” I pointed to the building across the street. He nodded. “What about you?” I asked, taking a drink of my coffee.
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