“As long as he or she gets your looks. And brains,” Cam says before kissing the tip of my nose.
“I’m serious. Don’t let fear keep you from being who you’re meant to be.”
We talk about everything. He tells me how he ended up teaching at the ski school. How he went off the rails for a bit. I tell him my fears about being a parent, and he responds by telling me that we simply need a plan. That he isn’t going anywhere, no matter what.
After we’re all talked out, Cam pushes my sleep shirt up, exposing my stomach. His hand ghosts across my bare belly in a rhythmic, soothing manner before sliding down to my thigh, hooking it over his hip. He rubs my clit and it only takes a few seconds before I’m panting and grinding against him. Wordlessly, he pulls himself out of his sweats, guiding his length to my entrance.
This time, his movements are slow and deep. Unhurried. We don’t speak, letting our bodies do the talking. Even my orgasm is quiet, a silent storm washing over me, but somehow more intense than before.
“Fuck, Mollie,” Cam whispers into my neck as he empties himself inside me. After a few minutes, he tries to detach himself from me to go clean up, but I tighten my arms around him, too tired to care about the mess.
Just as we’re drifting to sleep, I feel it. It starts with the familiar flutters, but then it turns into more of a roll followed by a sharp jab.
“Holy shit was that—”
“The baby kicked,” I say, exhausted but excited, and then I press his hand against the right spot.
“I think I already love this baby. Is that weird?” he asks, his voice thick with sleep.
“No. It makes you amazing.”
Aspen, one year and one month later…
“Dada!” River babbles from my arms. Cam picked her name, and when he suggested it, I instantly fell in love.
“Yes, I know, baby girl,” I say, bouncing in place, trying to keep her happy. “I want Dada, too.”
I’m a nervous wreck. I’ve seen Cam compete before, but this is his comeback. His chance to win back his King of the Mountain status and snag another medal. He’s going to attempt some trick—that I won’t even try to remember the name of—that’s never been landed in an event before.
“Craig!” I shout over the mass of spectators and family members watching next to us. “FaceTime Emersyn. She’ll kill me if I forget.”
He nods, taking my phone and letting her watch via video chat. Cam is still Emersyn’s coach, and someday soon, she’s going to be better than him. He knows it, and I know it.
Once I left River’s Edge, I realized I didn’t really have a good enough reason to stay in San Francisco. Cam kept his word, attending every doctor appointment and coming down almost every weekend, all the while I made plans to relocate to River’s Edge. I’m illustrating children’s books now, so I can pretty much work anywhere, plus I get to put my art degree to work—just not in the way I thought.
By the time I was nine months pregnant, we were living together. My parents still think we’re batshit, and maybe we are. But that’s what happens when you’re in love. Love doesn’t wait until you have your shit together. It just happens. It’s up to you to decide how badly you want it. I wouldn’t change one moment of the crazy road we took to get to this moment here and now.
I hear Cam’s name over the speaker, but the blood is rushing through my ears, making it impossible to hear what they’re saying. Before I can ask one of my brothers, I see Cam. I see him flying down the mountain, and when he hits that jump and is launched into the air, I fight the urge to cover my eyes with my hands. It’s something I’ll never get used to.
I count his flips, the moment seemingly in slow motion, though in reality, it’s probably only about four seconds.
One…two…three…four…five.
“And he lands it, ladies and gentlemen! Camden Hess is breaking records here in Aspen again, and I think it’s safe to say, the King is back!” The applause that follow is deafening.
Cam slides down the hill, cutting through the snow, coming to a stop directly in front of us. He rips his helmet and goggles off and kisses River on her forehead before smashing his lips to mine.
“You did it, baby!” I squeal, so unbelievably happy for him. I know he’s missed it. Being Emersyn’s coach and dragging River on a mini snowboard around the living room floor just isn’t the same.
“Hey, Mollie Mabey!” he shouts over the chaos. “What are you doing for the rest of your life?” He holds out his hand, and Andrew reaches over to drop a little box into Cam’s palm before he goes down on one knee.
“Oh my God,” I gasp, completely taken aback. Cam pulls my hand away from my shocked expression and slides the ring on.
“You know when a rider goes down hard, and their gear goes flying everywhere, and they’re completely laid out? We have a name for that. It’s called a Yard Sale, and baby, you’re my fucking yard sale. Dare and Cordell called it from the start. You knocked me on my ass, and I was never the same again. And I never want to be, because this life with you and River is more than I will ever deserve. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” I scream, and River mimics the sound, throwing a little mitten-covered fist up. “I love you,” I mouth, as the crowd bursts into applause. My eyes fill with tears—I’m starting to think I’ll be an emotional sap for the rest of my life at this point—and Cam leans over the barrier, giving me a kiss far too indecent for public. But I let him, because he’s my yard sale, too.
“I love you, Mollie Mabey,” he says against my mouth.
“I am majorly, totally, butt-crazy in love with you, Camden Hess.”
The following summer…
“Do you, Camden Scott Hess, take Mollie Elizabeth Mabey to be your wife, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor her, to love her faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with her this day?” the pastor recites, speaking loudly to be heard over the sound of the waves in the lake. Mollie wanted to get married here, right where it all started.
Cordell stands behind me and Sutton stands with Mollie, our families taking up the front row of chairs on the sand. Dare, his girl Logan, Asher, Briar, Matty and Alec from Dare’s shop…they’re all here. Even Adrian.
“Fuck yeah,” I respond without thinking, staring at Mollie’s big, honey brown eyes. My eyes drift to the deep V-line of her dress, showing off her tits that are held up by thin white straps. She’s so fucking beautiful. I hear a mix of chuckles and sniffles from our guests, Cordell flicks my ear, Sutton covers River’s ears, and Mollie blushes at my crude response.
“Shit, sorry.” I clear my throat. “I do. God, I do,” I say, squeezing her hands in mine. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that this started as a one-night stand, when now, I don’t even want to spend one night without her. Or River.
“Do you, Mollie Elizabeth Mabey, take Camden Scott Hess to be your husband, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor him, to love him faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with him this day?”
“I do,” Mollie says, her eyes filling with tears, and I brush my thumbs across her cheeks to catch them before they fall.
The pastor asks for the rings, and Cord hands him the box. He gives me Mollie’s ring.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” I say the line I memorized for this moment, sliding the diamond onto her shaky finger. Pastor Thomas gives Mollie my band.
“With this ring, I thee wed.” She glides the ring over my knuckle, the black band coming to sit against the colorful tattoos on the back of my hand.
Pastor Thomas speaks about the significance of exchanging rings, but I don’t hear the words, too stuck on the fact that this is happening, and I
don’t have one, single fucking doubt. This is what I want. Forever.
“And now, by the power vested in me by the state of California, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. Camden, you may kiss your bride.”
So, I do. I kiss the fuck out of my bride.
My bride.
I cup her cheek with one hand and grip the back of her neck with the other, bending my neck to bring my lips to hers in a kiss that’s far too indecent for public. It’s my wedding day. Ask me if I care. Mollie stands on her tiptoes and melts into my touch, like she always does. Whistles and applause break out, and Mollie is the first to pull away, smiling wide.
“Family and friends, I present to you for the first time ever, Camden and Mollie Hess.”
Mollie bends down to catch River, who runs into her arms, and the three of us make our exit down the aisle together. Just the three of us. Just the way it should be.
“You okay, man?” Adrian asks, eyeing the crumpled-up water bottle in my fist.
“Fine,” I snap. Briar stares straight ahead at Cam and Mollie dancing to some female version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” pretending to be oblivious to our conversation. She’s been acting weird all fucking week, avoiding me like the plague, and whenever I can manage to corner her, she makes excuses about being tired, which I know is complete bullshit.
I can feel her slipping away from me, and I can’t do anything to stop it. So, here I sit in limbo, waiting for her to either try to leave me or to tell me what I did so I can fix it.
“Have you heard from my brother?” Briar asks him, to change the subject, I’m sure.
“Nope,” Adrian replies. He clears his throat and averts his eyes…his tell that he’s hiding something. All this time has gone by, and we’re all still keeping secrets like we’re in high school.
Briar’s face falls. She’s been worried about Dash. He’s been distant for a few months now, and no one—except for Adrian, I suspect—knows what’s up with him. Must be a Vale family trait.
“He’ll be all right,” Adrian tries to assure her, reaching over to squeeze her shoulder.
“If he doesn’t drink himself to death,” she mutters, swirling her untouched glass of champagne. Wanting to take her mind off Dash, I stand, holding out my hand for her to take. Wary blue eyes look up at me.
“Dance with me,” I say, chancing rejection.
“You…want to dance?”
“Come on, baby girl. It’s a one-time offer. Take it or leave it.”
Briar’s lips tip up in a reluctant smile as she puts her glass down, slipping her palm into mine. I lead her out to the dance floor, pulling her close.
“You look beautiful,” I murmur into her blonde hair as she lays her head on my chest. Beautiful is putting it lightly. She looks fucking lethal in her black and white striped summer dress with a slit clear up to the top of her thigh. I rub my hand across the exposed skin on the warm skin of her back, then I hear her sniffle.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, trying to pull back to see her face, but she burrows deeper into my chest, and I feel her tears seep through my button-up shirt. “Just fucking tell me, Briar. Are you leaving me?” I ask, point-blank.
She pulls back, glassy eyes searching mine, seeming genuinely confused. “Leave you? Why the hell would I leave you?”
“You tell me,” I say a little louder than I mean to, earning a few dirty looks from Mollie and Cam’s guests. “You’ve been avoiding me all week. What the fuck is going on?”
“I just—”
“Don’t feed me another excuse,” I cut her off, and she shushes me, leading me away from the dance floor and into the wooded area, not wanting to cause a scene. That right there should tell me that whatever she’s about to say isn’t good.
“Is it because we haven’t gotten married yet?” I ask, as the thought occurs to me. “Because I was just waiting for you to say the word. Set a date and it’s done. We can get married tomorrow, if that’s what you want.”
“No, that’s not it,” she says, shaking her head. “I didn’t want to do this here.” She twists her hands together nervously.
“Put me out of my fucking misery, Bry. The not knowing is killing me.”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurts out in a rush. I don’t react. I don’t speak. I don’t move. I don’t even think I’m breathing.
“I know you don’t want kids, and I don’t blame you, but Ash, you’re not your dad. And I know we’re young, but I’ve known that I wanted to be with you since I was fourt—”
“Briar. Shut up,” I say, cutting off her rambling. Her mouth snaps shut, and I feel a smile spread across my face. “You’re pregnant? We’re having a baby?”
“I found out last week. You’re not mad?” she asks before biting on that plump bottom lip.
“Why the fuck would I be mad?”
Briar’s jaw drops. “Are you kidding me? You’ve always said that you never want kids. That you don’t want to end up like John.”
“Briar…when is the last time I said something like that?”
“I don’t know,” she says, and I can practically see her mind trying to find the right answer.
“I haven’t said that shit since we got back together. Because that’s when it changed for me. You changed that for me. First of all, you wouldn’t let me fuck our kid up,” I say, and she laughs, wiping away the tears that stream down her face. “And second of all, you showed me a long time ago that I’m not my father.”
She throws her arms around my neck, pressing her tear-streaked lips to mine, kissing me hard. My arms wrap around her waist, lifting her to my height as my tongue sweeps inside her sweet mouth.
When she pulls away from the kiss, she’s breathless. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“You better be,” I grumble, letting her slide down my body until she’s standing on her feet again. I walk backward, pulling her with me until my back hits the tree behind me. I sit down, and Briar straddles my lap, her hands reaching to fumble with my zipper. She already knows where this is going.
“I can’t believe you thought I’d ever leave you,” she says, bunching her dress up and out of the way.
“It’s cute that you think you have a choice. You’re stuck with me forever now.” I shove my boxers down my hips just far enough to free my cock. She moves her underwear to the side and lowers herself onto my length.
“Like a bad habit.”
“Couldn’t keep it in your pants for another hour, Kelley?” I ask as a slightly disheveled Ash and Briar make their way back to the reception tent. I expect Ash to tell me to fuck off at the very least, but he doesn’t so much as acknowledge me.
“Why is your face like that?” Sutton points her beer bottle in Asher’s direction. “Oh my God…is he…is that…are you smiling?”
“You wanna take me out to the woods and make me smile, too, Sutton?” Lo’s brother Jess asks, bouncing his eyebrows.
“Come talk to me when you’re at least a sophomore.”
Jess is leaving for college after the reception. He scored himself a lacrosse scholarship, and while Lo acts like she’s okay, I know she’s not taking it well. I also know that her pride for all that Jess has accomplished outweighs her sadness.
“I’m gonna hold you to that.”
“I like this kid,” Adrian says, throwing an arm around Jess’ shoulder.
Lo laughs next to me, shaking her head at their banter, but her smile isn’t as bright as it usually is.
I bring my lips close to her ear so only she can hear. “You did this, you know. Your sacrifices—your selflessness—you made it possible. He’s lucky to have you, Sally.”
Lo smiles at my nickname for her. “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without you.”
I’m about to argue that she didn’t need me—Lo is a fucking fighter, and she would’ve made it work without me—when Jess speaks.
“Shit. Henry’s here to pick me up,” he says, stuffing his phone into the back pocket of his jeans. “I
gotta go, Lo.”
I squeeze Lo’s thigh, knowing she’s trying like hell not to cry in front of everyone.
“Wait,” Cam says, walking up with a tray of shot glasses, Mollie right beside him. “Before you go, we’re all doing a shot.”
Everyone stands, reaching for their glass. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Asher sneakily down Briar’s shot before handing her the empty glass. I lift an eyebrow at him in question, and he just smirks in response. Motherfucker.
“To Mr. and Mrs. Hess,” Cord says, raising his shot glass.
“To second chances,” Asher adds.
“And new beginnings,” Lo says.
“To college pussy,” Jess says with a straight face, making everyone laugh.
“To you guys, who’ve shown me that you don’t have to be blood to be family,” I say.
Everyone raises their glass.
“To family.”
The End. For now.
Rewrite the Stars Excerpt
Something flutters to my feet, and I look down to see a piece of yellow paper pressed against my once white leather tennis shoes that are now coated with dirt. Bending over, I peel it off my ankles, reading the words.
Jessup Brothers Carnival presents The Sons of Eastlake
Freak Show * Games * Rides * Food * Fun
This weekend only!
Noon-10:00 P.M.
Eastlake. Why does that name sound familiar?
I shouldn’t be here. I left after an argument with my parents got particularly nasty. Insults were slung, and feelings were hurt—on both sides. Ignoring the nagging guilt inside my head, I move my feet in the direction of the leather jacket man. I glance around, making sure no one will see me sneaking in, then swing one leg over the gate. I scurry toward the tent, looking over my shoulder in a way that screams guilty. When I’m finally inside, I’m shocked to see how many people can fit in here. There are rows upon rows of excited spectators of all ages with an aisle in the middle that leads to a giant ball-shaped cage of some sort.
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