After We Fell (Falling Fast #1.5)

by Jessica Gibson

  After We Fell Falling Fast Book 1.5 Copyright © 2016 by Jessica Gibson

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review

  Cover designed by Belinda Boring

  Edits done by Editing 4 Indies and It’s Your Story Content Editing

  Dedication

  To my amazing husband, because writing love stories always makes me feel mushy about you. And to my Father in Law Jim, thank you for always being my biggest fan.

  Acknowledgements

  I was so excited to dive back into Becca and Levi’s world again. Their love story has and always will be one of my favorites that I’ve written. I hope you enjoy seeing where their journey leads them!

  I want to send a very special thank you to Mama T, your help and friendship mean the world to me. I will never publish a book without your fingerprints on it.

  I also want to thank my best friend Belinda for your encouragement and the late night chat sessions we have. I can’t imagine life without you in it!

  Finally, thank you to all my amazing readers and everyone involved in my reader group on Facebook. You all rock!!!!!

  From The Harder I Fall

  “Becca … I told myself I was going to wait, but I can't think of a better place to do this than in front of our family.” Levi kissed me before dropping down on one knee.

  My heart stopped.

  “I know it’s soon, and I know we’re really young, but there is no one else for me. I want to take care of you forever and be the one who makes you smile for the rest of our lives. You’ll never be alone again, and I’m always going to be here to catch you. Becca, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?”

  Tears sprang to my eyes. He was right, it should be too soon, but it wasn’t. Levi was my happy ending; he was everything. We fit together.

  “Yes.” I was breathless; my fingers shook as I held my hand out to him. “Yes, I will marry you, Levi.”

  We kissed to a chorus of cheers. I looked to see Julian, Sadie, and Mel, our best friends, standing with the others. Levi’s mom, Ruth, and Sadie were both crying and hugging.

  He swooped me up into his arms and swung me around. I looked down in wonder as he knelt on the ground and slipped the most amazing ring on my finger.

  “I designed it myself.” He looked so proud.

  The ring was beautiful with a narrow row of diamonds around the band and a huge round diamond sitting atop the band.

  “It reminded me of you, beautiful and strong.” He kissed my fingers.

  “I’m going to love you forever.” I kissed him with everything I had.

  Everyone rushed us at once, and Ruth hugged me tight. “Welcome to the family, honey. I’m so proud to call you my own.”

  “Oh, Ruth, I promise to make him happy for the rest of our lives. I love him so much; it feels like my heart will sometimes burst from loving him.”

  “Baby girl”—she cupped my cheeks—“that’s how you know it’s right. I still feel that way about Sam, and it’s been a lifetime. Never let it go. Hold onto that feeling for the rest of your lives.”

  Chapter 1

  Was I ready for this? Probably not, but I sure as hell loved him. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever fall in love. I had never even known what it meant to be in a healthy relationship, never having seen it in my life until I met him. Levi. The perfect man for me. He let me fly, let me be free, and I knew he would always catch me. I loved him so much that my heart actually hurt sometimes because it was so full.

  I sat on an old beach chair at the edge of the water, watching the waves lap at the shore. I scrunched my toes in the damp sand and let out the breath I had been holding in. The early morning fog surrounded me like a hug—salty and cold and just what I needed to calm my thoughts. I couldn’t believe it had all come together so quickly. Ruth had taken care of everything and let me dance the summer away. They got me, really got me. It was slightly terrifying to let someone else take care of me after so many years of going it alone. But Ruth wasn’t the kind of person you could hold at arm's length for long. She was warm and loving, and the mother I wish I had growing up. Knowing Chad was with them, being taken care of and loved, allowed me the freedom of actually living my life for myself.

  I stayed where I was for a long while, listening to the gulls call to each other, when I heard footsteps approaching. I knew who it was before he sat down next to me.

  “Thought I’d find you down here.” Chad knocked shoulders with me.

  “It’s so peaceful. I didn’t know I liked the beach, never knew it was something I was missing,” I said wistfully. We had missed out on so much in our lives already. Tears blurred my vision. So much regret in our past. I hated it.

  “We can make new memories now, Becs. I want you to be happy. No more sadness. You’ve had enough to last a lifetime. Levi is good for you. He makes you get out of your head and live. Promise me you aren’t marrying him because you feel like you have to.” The intensity in his eyes surprised me.

  “Chad …” I didn’t know how best to describe the way I felt about Levi. “Levi is it. I love him so completely. I know we’re young, but it’s right. I wouldn’t marry him because the Kleins took you in. I’m not stupid or interested in tying myself to someone for life out of guilt. I’ve done enough things because of guilt already.”

  “I was just making sure. Come on, Ruth was looking for you.” He pulled me to my feet, and we walked up to the house together.

  It was chaos when we stepped inside. Flowers and tulle covered every available surface in the great room and kitchen area. Ruth stood in the center of a huge brigade of people, doling out orders like a general. When she saw me, she broke away and strode toward us with purpose.

  “Chad, you should be out front with the men.” She scooted him out in a split second. I felt dizzy looking around at everything.

  “Now, you need to head upstairs and start getting pampered. You only get married once, so enjoy this day. Commit it to memory. I’ll do my best to make it magical.” She hugged me tight, and I laid my head on her chest. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes before I could stop them.

  “Hey, now.” She wiped them away and hugged me again. “Only happy tears today.”

  “It’s all so overwhelming.” I sniffled.

  “We’re a lot to take in en masse. You’re doing a bang-up job of holding it together.”

  “You know it has nothing to do with Levi, right? I love him and want to be his wife more than anything.” I was suddenly terrified she would think I didn’t love him enough.

  “I know how you feel about my son; that was never in question. This year has been hard for you with many huge changes. This wedding, this marriage, will be the start of a new life for you. A happier one. So what I’m saying is that I understand the tears. I just hope that today will be the end of them for you. I only want laughter and joy for your future.” She hugged me again before sending me up the stairs.

  I stopped at the huge window on the first landing. I could hear Levi laughing about something with Julian. His dark hair ruffled in the breeze, and my heart stopped when our eyes met for the briefest moment. I wanted to run to him, but I knew it wasn’t allowed. Instead, I lifted my fingers to my lips and blew him a kiss. He rewarded me with a wink before Julian pulled him away.

  I crept silently into my room and locked the door behind me. I wanted a few minutes to myself before the craziness of the day began. I looked down at the ring he had placed on my finger only months earlier. It was so us; the narrow band of diamonds was so delicate and the big round diamo
nd in the center was all Levi, big and showy. I was ready for this; I was ready to be his wife forever.

  After a quick shower, I dressed in the fluffy white robe with “Bride” spelled out in rhinestones across the back that Ruth had presented me with the night before. A knock on the door told me the quiet time I had been relishing was now over.

  “Becs? Let me in. Why is the door locked?” Sadie’s voice rang out. Sadie, my first friend, my best friend.

  “Coming.” I trotted to the door and unlocked it. Sadie and a slew of others spilled into the room.

  “Your glam squad has arrived.” She grinned at me.

  And arrived they had. Tables and chairs were brought in; makeup, nail polish, blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, and anything else imaginable covered every available surface.

  My friends Mel and Caroline came in not long after. Friends. I had friends. And these wonderful ladies wanted to stand up with me as I pledged my love to the man of my dreams. I knew the next year wouldn’t be the same, with Levi and me living off campus and the rest of them living in the dorms. But it wasn’t a scary prospect; in fact, I was looking forward to it. The freedom to just be young and enjoy school and my dancing. Levi brought so much more than love into my life; he brought stability and a sense of peace.

  The day flew by in a blur of laughter, pedicures, manicures, and massages. As the sun was setting, my nerves were steady. I was ready to become a Mrs.

  “Come on, Becs, it’s your turn in the chair,” Sadie called from the other side of the room. I’d had a consultation the week before where we did a trial run for my makeup and hair. I wanted romance—that was the overall look I was going for.

  For the next hour, two people worked on me nonstop. My eyes closed for much of it. The noise around me disappeared, and I thought about dancing. My time spent at Joffrey over the summer had been amazing. I had grown so much in skill. In my head, I was gliding across the floor, dancing just for Levi.

  Ruth came in just as they were removing my cape and turning me to the mirror. I blinked rapidly as I saw myself for the first time. My hair was in loose waves cascading down my back with the sides pinned back in a half updo. My makeup was dreamy; that’s the only way to describe it. Soft and delicate. I was blown away.

  “Oh, my.” Ruth pressed a hand to her heart. “Becca, you look …” She dabbed at her tears. “You look beautiful, honey.”

  I beamed at her. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” She had changed at some point since I last saw her. She wore a floor-length pale pink one-shoulder chiffon gown. It suited her amazingly well.

  “You ready to get dressed?” She nodded to my gown hanging on the back of the door.

  It took three people to get me dressed. Once I was laced into it and my veil was in place, I asked for a moment alone.

  I stood in front of the mirror, wanting to commit every second of this day to memory. I had loved my dress from the moment I had put it on. The delicate lace mixed with tulle at the bottom was the perfect blend of me—the ballet me wanted tulle and the new me wanted lace. It hugged me tight until mid-thigh and then it exploded out in a riot of tulle. I touched my fingers to the mirror, where my face was. I said good-bye to Becca Langer; she would never be me again. I didn’t need her anymore; I had a new me now.

  “Becca? You ready?” Chad knocked softly before coming in. “Wow. Seriously, just wow. You look so gorgeous. Levi is going to freak when he sees you.” He walked to me and kissed my cheek. He looked amazing in his tux, so much like the man I knew he would grow into one day. My heart was full of love.

  My girls were just outside the door talking in excited whispers. Sadie had chosen pale blue strapless dresses that were light and flowy with soft waves of ruffles flowing down the skirt. They all wore their hair up in big braided buns, and I had to admit she had been right about having everyone’s style uniform. My first inclination had been to let everyone choose their own dress, but she and Ruth had nixed that idea quickly. They were perfect for my beach wedding.

  “You ready for this?” He took my arm and tucked it into his.

  “I really am. He’s it for me. You know?” I could feel the emotion welling up within me, as though my heart would burst from it.

  “I can see it, what’s between you two. I know he’ll make you happy and treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Promise me something?” Chad was suddenly serious.

  “Of course, anything.” I looked at him.

  “Just promise me you’ll never look back. Don’t think about where we came from anymore. Just think about where you and Levi are heading.” He leaned into me and touched his cheek to mine, and I was transported back in time to shared moments of love when we were kids and had no one but each other.

  “I promise you that I won’t let it define me anymore, Chad, if you can promise me the same thing. The world is yours; you can be anything you want.” I searched his eyes, willing him to believe what I was saying. He had so much in store for him, and I wanted him to take every chance, every opportunity, that came up. I wanted so much for him.

  He kissed my cheek and walked me out onto the back porch. I could just make out Levi, standing in the sand in front of a huge arch of flowers and strands of fabric that blew in the breeze. The sun was just beginning to set; the sky was on fire in shades of pink and peach. It was the perfect backdrop to marry my best friend. My heart leaped into my throat as we began to walk toward my future.

  Chad walked me down the aisle toward my future husband, the tears blurring my vision. But I still saw Levi, and the look of amazement in his eyes made me melt. My heart raced in a gallop as we slowly made our way to him.

  “Remember, only happiness from now on,” Chad whispered and hugged me tight before handing me over to Levi.

  The look of absolute wonder in his green eyes made my knees go weak. He swept me into his arms for a quick squeeze.

  “I love you,” he whispered. “You took my breath away when I saw you at the end of the aisle.” He brushed his fingers along my jaw.

  I totally forgot there were other people around us until the pastor cleared his throat and we finally broke apart to a chorus of laughter.

  I barely heard the beginning of what the pastor was saying. I couldn’t take my eyes off Levi. There had never been a man alive who looked more attractive in a tux.

  “And now, the bride and groom will recite their vows. They have chosen to first say a few words to each other before we make the more traditional vows. Becca, if you would go first please.”

  I took Levi’s hands into my own. “Levi ...” I stopped a moment as tears blurred my vision and choked my voice. “Levi, I wasn’t looking for you at all. In fact, I tried to run as far away from you as I could get. Thank you for catching me and for not letting me go. I never knew love existed in the real world. I thought it was the stuff people read about in romance books. You’ve shown me a whole new way of life. You’ve given me so much. I promise that I will love you for the rest of my days.” I paused to stop the quiver in my voice. “Thank you for really seeing me, past the person that I used to be. You push me to be better, stronger. I love you so much it hurts. I can't wait to see what life has in store for us in the next seventy years.” I smiled through my tears.

  He leaned in and kissed my tears away before taking my hands again.

  “Becca, where do I even start? I love you isn’t a strong enough sentiment. It doesn’t quite capture what I feel for you. I adore the person that you are, scars and all. Everything you have endured has made you into the perfect wife for me, the perfect match for me. I promise you here and now, in front of all of our friends, that I will move heaven and earth to keep the darkness of your past away. I’ll never let it touch you again. I’ll make you laugh every day, and I’ll kiss away your tears. You will never be alone again. I’ll love and protect you with all that I am. Becca, I love you so much, and I can't believe I’m lucky enough to have found you when I did.” His eyes were shining as he looked down at me. He was my forever.
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  The pastor took the helm again. “Becca, if you would repeat after me. I, Rebecca Marie Langer, take you, Levi Samuel Klein, to be my husband. To love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, until death parts us.”

  I looked into Levi’s eyes and repeated the same words that so many before us had said to each other. When it was his turn, I couldn’t stop the tears that fell down my cheeks. My heart was so full of happiness.

  “If I could have the rings please?” The pastor looked at Julian and Sadie.

  Sadie dropped Levi’s thick platinum band onto the bible before Julian dropped a narrow diamond band next to it.

  “Take the rings, please, and repeat after me. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and fidelity.”

  My voice was thick with emotion as we spoke in unison.

  “It gives me great pleasure to announce that you are now husband and wife. Levi, you may kiss your bride.”

  “I thought we’d never get to this part.” He laughed and swooped me into his arms and back into a dramatic dip. “I love you,” he whispered before kissing me. We’d planned to do a chaste peck, but clearly, he had other ideas. This kiss was anything but chaste. I clutched at his neck as he stole the breath from my lungs. The kiss spoke of the wedding night and everything he was feeling at the moment.

  After what was most likely far too long for a first kiss, he pulled away and tucked my arm into his. “Ready, Mrs. Klein?”

  I giggled, and we walked back down the aisle to a chorus of cheers and laughter. Ruth was dabbing at her eyes and beaming like the proud mom she was, her head resting on Samuel’s shoulder. Chad looked a little on the emotional side too, as he smiled brightly at us.

  Married! We were actually married! I was a Mrs. Such a weird feeling. Joy and love all rolled into one.

  We slipped back into the house, away from the noise. We wanted a moment alone before the craziness of pictures and the reception.