Chasing Ever After

by Stephanie Hoffman McManus

  “I can’t believe you guys are all here.” It felt amazing to have her in my arms again. Being apart from her again that long just wasn’t an option.

  “Believe it, babe,” I whispered against her lips before I kissed the ever loving shit out of them.

  Mia had done a great job keeping everything a surprise. Even Cait and Leila hadn’t been in on it and were equally surprised to see our group show up to crash the celebration. I didn’t miss the wicked gleam in Leila’s eye when she took in the guys. Her eyes lingered a little too long on Ky. Jax hadn’t missed it either if her frown was any indication. Ky pulled out seats for them at the opposite end of the large banquet style table we made by pushing together smaller ones. Leila didn’t seem to be discouraged at all as she shifted her attention to Spade and Chris. It seemed she had found new targets to sink her manicured claws into. They’d been warned what she was like though, so if they didn’t listen then that was their own damn fault.

  Little sis didn’t seem to like it much either. Poor Mia spent more time glaring at Leila, who was really laying it on Chris thick, than she did looking at her menu. I knew Chris well enough to know that he was only paying Leila enough attention to be friendly because that’s just who he is, but to Mia it probably looked like he was giving it right back to Leila. At least it would be a good reality check for her. Hopefully she would move past that schoolgirl crush thing she had going on, especially since Chris seemed to be oblivious to Mia’s reactions and feelings. I would wager that Leila was very aware of Mia’s crush though, and with every smug smile and barbed word sent her way, she rubbed it in deeper. The laughable part of the whole situation was that she continuously snuck glances at Ky, as if all of her flirting was done to rile him and make him jealous. It was pathetic and I couldn’t wait to get Sadie alone and escape the rest of this bullshit.

  Then of course Mr. and Mrs. Pierce showed up as we were ordering and things went from awkward to straight up uncomfortable. Everyone could feel the tension, and the guilty look on Cait’s face belied her quiet composure. I had no doubt she was responsible for their being here. Mr. Pierce at least had the decency to wish Sadie a happy birthday and lean down to kiss her on the cheek, while her mother looked as if she would rather be anywhere else.

  She pretended to be polite while introductions were made for those of the group who hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting Sadie’s delightful parents. Then as soon as they took their seats, the only daughter she could spare any affection for was the one who was just like her. She immediately zeroed in on Leila and Chris, and after plying Chris with her own brand of interrogation, must have deemed him a suitable match. It was all sorts of sickening to watch, so mostly I tried not to. He could handle his own shit and I was here for Sadie. I sat in between her and Jax, with Sadie on my right and Mia on hers and then their father and Mommy dearest. Ky was at the end to my left. Bas and Vi were across from us, with Spade and Chris on their other side, next to the bubblegum twins. We kept our own conversations going at our end in hopes of keeping Mia and Sadie’s attention away from the mess that was brewing at the other end.

  Somehow we made it all the way until champagne was served, towards the end of the meal in honor of the birthday girl, before everything imploded. The waiter had looked past Mia, Cait and Leila’s obvious underage status when handing out the flutes filled with bubbly liquid. It wasn’t like there was enough alcohol in them to get anyone drunk, and with parents present, who didn’t object when Leila and Cait each took theirs, he probably thought it wasn’t a big deal. The second Mia’s hand touched one of the glasses, Mrs. Pierce suddenly had plenty of attention to spare for her youngest daughter.

  “Do you really think that’s wise Mia, after your little stunt?” Her jab had its intended effect. Mia’s cheeks colored with embarrassment and she pulled her hand back from the glass in shame, staring down at the table.

  Sadie stood up for her sister, “Really, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s just a little champagne.” From there everything just spiraled downward.

  “Oh I see, and I suppose your judgment isn’t the least bit faulty. It was only after she returned from spending time with you that the incident took place. She was more out of control than ever after she got back.”

  “That wasn’t Sadie’s fault,” Mia interjected.

  “Okay, let’s not get into it over dinner. We’re here to celebrate a birthday, not rehash old arguments and past mistakes. It’s behind us now,” Mr. Pierce put a stop to the conversation. At least he tried.

  “Yes, of course, let’s carry on celebrating as if none of this family’s troubles are her fault. Honestly I can’t believe you would drag me here in the first place, knowing she refuses to apologize and make amends for what she has put us all through with her selfishness, but by all means, let’s celebrate and toast to my wonderful daughter,” she sneered and then raised her glass to Sadie. “To you daughter. Where did I do wrong and what did I ever do to deserve a daughter like you?” Then she smoothly tossed back the contents of her glass before setting it back on the table while the rest of us just stared on in shock. I felt my face heat in anger and I was just about to stand and give that woman a piece of my mind, when Sadie’s father saved me from having to.

  “Enough,” he barked, and for the first time I saw his anger and outrage with his wife. “Your behavior and words tonight are uncalled for, and quite frankly I’m sick and tired of it. I have done everything I can to appease you and try to hold this family together while you insist upon tearing it apart. I will not listen to you place any more blame on our daughters,” she started to interrupt, but he put a stop to that as well.

  “No. I do not want to hear it. For too long you’ve tried to find fault in our children any time their opinion or desires differed from yours. For so long I thought you were just being tough because in your own way you wanted the best for them, but I can see now that I’ve been blind. They are all our daughters and not one of them is better than the rest. It was our job to love them equally, to encourage and support them in whatever they chose to do and to always be on their side. It was we who failed them, not the other way around, and I won’t have you pitting me against my own children any longer. We’re a family and there should only be one side, but we haven’t acted as a family in so long, I’m not surprised that we’ve driven our children away. Now I think it’s time that you grab your purse and we say goodnight.” He left no room for argument and she immediately stood, shoving back her chair and storming out of the restaurant in a huff. Then Mr. Pierce turned to Sadie.

  “I’m sorry that we’ve ruined your night. It was a mistake bringing your mother here and thinking she could act civilly for once. We will be having a long discussion at home, and I promise you things will change.” He bent down to kiss her cheek again, but she surprised him by standing and wrapping her arms around his neck. It only took a moment for him to return the embrace. When they broke apart, he took another long look at his daughter, brushing her hair out of her face and mumbling another quiet, “I’m so sorry,” before he let her go. I could see emotions churning in Sadie’s eyes and knew she was fighting back tears, but she’d needed that moment from her dad for a very long time.

  He looked to his other daughters. “I think it would be best if the three of you followed us home.” His tone made it clear that it wasn’t really a suggestion. Then he went after his wife. Cait stood, making to follow them, but Leila ignored her and attempted to salvage the night with Chris. Cait gave her an irritated look before grabbing her twin’s arm and dragging her up. “Just come on Leila. Mia you too, you can ride with us.” Mia and Leila both wore matching looks of displeasure. Leila shook out of her sister’s grasp and then did a prissy little march out of the restaurant. Like mother, like daughter. Cait said goodbye to everyone and followed after her. Mia took a little longer saying goodnight, but eventually drug her feet outside as well.

  “Holy shit, that was better than watching Game of Thrones,” Spade exclaimed once they were all
gone. “I mean, no offense Sadie, but I figure you already know how fucked your family is. I mean if we had just given you all some swords and let you go at it, I feel like it would have been exactly like Game of Thrones. Your mom is totally Cersei Lannister, and Leila is like Joffrey, that little punk ass –”

  “Yeah, we get it,” I told him, watching Sadie for her reaction, but surprisingly she started to laugh.

  “Yeah, they are pretty messed up, but as long as I don’t have to Joffrey, you can make fun of my mother all you want.”

  I grinned at her and then placed a kiss on her forehead. “Happy birthday babe, sorry the Lannisters fucked it up for you.”

  “It’s okay, technically tomorrow is my birthday, so you can make it up to me then.”

  “Yeah, about that babe, we got some stuff to talk about, starting with why you were trying to keep your birthday from me.”

  She looked up at me sheepishly. “Oh.”

  Chapter 36

  Sadie

  I took Ace back to the boat with me that night. He was more than a little surprised when we pulled up to the marina instead of my parents’ house like he’d expected. “Uh, what are we doing here Sade?”

  “This is where I’ve been staying since my mom threw me out of the house,” I explained.

  “I see,” was all he said. I knew he wasn’t happy that I’d kept it from him, and I had a feeling that was going to be the theme for the night.

  “It’s actually been kind of nice staying here. It’s quiet.” And lonely. “The fresh air is great.” The rocking makes me seasick. “Most of the people around the docks are really friendly.” Someone in Clayton’s family has been leaving nasty notes on my rental car just about every day. “It’s been nice having my own space away from my mom.” I’ve missed you like crazy and wish you’d never left. Everything I told him was the truth, just once again I was leaving a few minor details out. I led him down the dock and onto the boat. I gave him a quick tour. He was pretty impressed with the yacht. Uncle Ray had dropped a pretty penny to have it custom built at a shipyard just down the coast, and it was a beauty.

  When there was nothing left to show him, and I couldn’t avoid our talk any longer, I took his hand and guided him to the bedroom I’d been staying in. It was the master suite, and could have been the master bedroom in any fancy home or condo.

  He pulled me over to the plush, king sized bed and sat me down beside him. “Are you sure you’re okay? Everything with your mom and then your dad, that was pretty intense back there.”

  “It was, but I’m okay. I’m glad my dad finally stood up to her. I think he really gets it now, and I hope he’s right, that things will change. It felt good to hug my dad. It’s been a long time.” A really long time. I don’t think I’d hugged my dad since I was a little girl.

  “Then do you want to tell me what’s going on? For two months you’ve been telling me you were okay, that things were good, and then I get here and your mom is still a bitch and you’re living on a boat by yourself, and you weren’t even going to tell me about Clayton and your birthday. I just don’t understand why you kept everything from me, why you pretended things were going so well when they weren’t. You were the one that made such a big deal about honesty and communication, and I have to say that you’ve sucked at it lately.” He was upset and he had every right to be.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t like not talking to you about those things, but I was afraid if you knew I was having a hard time, you’d rush back here to try and make it all okay,” I tried to explain.

  “What would have been so bad about that? You really didn’t want me here?”

  “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, how badly I wanted you to be here with me, but you were sacrificing too much to stay. You needed to get back to the band and your life. I didn’t want to mess anything up for you, and I knew you were exhausted trying to go back and forth.”

  “But that wasn’t your decision to make, Sadie. This isn’t just your life or my life. I thought we were an ‘us’, which would make this our life, and we should decide those things together. Instead you made us both miserable by sending me away.”

  “You were miserable?”

  “Yes, dammit. I don’t like being apart from you. I don’t want to do it again, and I won’t. Are we clear on that?”

  Instead of saying anything, because I wasn’t sure how much my words and assurances meant to him right now, I took his face in my hands and brought his mouth to mine. I tried to put every ounce of longing and need that I’d felt these past two months, and all the love I had to give him into that kiss. His tongue pushed at the seam of my lips and when I opened to him, he gave everything back to me. I could feel his desperation and without disconnecting our lips, I shifted, swinging one leg over his lap so that I was straddling him. I ran my hands back through his soft hair, tangling my fingers in the wavy locks which had grown out considerably and fell just past his shoulders now.

  His hands found their way to my hips and he dug his fingers into my skin there while he kissed me with the same fervent passion that caused me to push him down on the bed so that I was hovering above him. I kissed him until I was dizzy and breathing hard and then I kissed him some more. It felt like were both trying to force every single kiss we’d missed out on in the past two months into this one kiss. It was one hell of a kiss.

  When we were both panting and my lips were sufficiently swollen and possibly even bruised, we lay there side by side, staring at the ceiling. “I think I’m pretty clear now,” I giggled.

  A low chuckle escaped his lips and he turned his head to face me. “Good, because I can’t go without that. I need your kisses babe.”

  “Oh yeah?” I scooted away from him and sat up and grinned at him playfully. “How bad?”

  He just grinned back. “Real bad Sade, I need them like … like a needle needs a vein,” he busted out singing, “like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs the rain.”

  I immediately started laughing, so I didn’t even see it coming when he pounced and pinned me to the bed while he continued singing in his best southern drawl. “I need you like a –” he paused. “Shit, I don’t know the rest of the lyrics, but are you getting my point babe? I need you so much. Your kisses are like my own personal brand of heroine.”

  “Hey,” I scrunched up my brow, “Isn’t that from –”

  “Shhh.” He put a finger over my lips to shut me up. “I’m just a boy, standing in front of a girl, asking her to love him.” I couldn’t stop the grin that broke out across my face.

  “You’re ridiculous,” I mumbled around his finger that was still covering my lips.

  “But baby, you complete me.” Even though I couldn’t talk, I rolled my eyes. “The first time I ever saw you, I knew you were going to be mine. You had me at hello.” He put his lips to my skin just below my ear and I shivered. It had nothing to do with the temperature. “You make me want to be a better man,” I could feel his smile against my skin. I don’t know how he was doing it, but he delivered each line like he was professing his undying love instead of regurgitating movie lines, and I had to say it was working.

  “Stop it,” I laughed and gave him a halfhearted shove off of me, but he didn’t budge. He planted his hands on either side of my face and kissed his way down my neck.

  “It’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard.” He started to whisper as his lips brushed over my shoulder. He pulled the strap of my dress down to expose more of me. I closed my eyes and sighed. “We’re gonna have to work at this every day,” he kissed lower, “but I want to do that because I want you.” He kissed along swell of my breasts, never quite touching where I wanted him to. “I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day.” The Notebook. The freaking Notebook. I’m pretty sure I melted into a puddle right there. He raised himself up and I opened my eyes to see his looking down at me.

  “Come on Sadie, fifty years from now, when you’re looking back at your life, don’t you want to be able to say you had
the guts to get in the car?” And the moment was broken.

  “Seriously?” I shook my head and laughed. “Transformers?”

  “Yeah, I was running out of lines, but I think I made my point, don’t you. If not I could keep going.” His eyes took on a mischievous glint and he dropped his head and continued covering my throat and collarbone with soft kisses, while his fingers trailed up my sides. I sucked in a sharp breath. It felt so good. I did want him to keep going. Then, just as he reached my ribcage, he playfully nipped at my throat and started tickling my sides. I bucked underneath of him and squirmed, trying to break free. He was relentless though, and I gasped for breath in between each embarrassing squeal and snort. Finally I managed to shove him off of me and onto the floor. I sucked in a few ragged breaths and he hopped back up laughing and stalked toward me, I scrambled backwards on the bed.

  “That wasn’t very nice Sadie.” He grinned dangerously as he crawled across the bed toward me. “Nobody puts baby in a corner.”

  “That doesn’t even make sense,” I cried, still trying to get away from him, but that was the last thing either one of us said. He wrapped his fingers around my ankle and pulled me down the bed so that my body was once again underneath his. After that, the sensations and feelings his touch created, pervaded my every thought and sense. I was aware only of his lips on mine, our tongues intertwining, his lips trailing along my jaw and down my neck. The tug of my zipper, the brush of fabric against my skin as it disappeared, his hands exploring and caressing, and the only sounds either of us made were breathy moans and sighs.

  When morning came, I woke tangled in the sheets with my body wrapped around his. It wasn’t an altogether unfortunate way to wake up, especially since I was treated to the sight of his bare chest, and what a sight it was. I pressed a soft kiss on his chest, just over his heart and I felt the deep sigh rumble through his body. “Good morning beautiful.” I looked up to see his sleepy eyes on me and a satisfied smile on his face.