by Harlow James
A Simple Love
The Hopetown Series Book 3
By Harlow James
Dedication
To those who know that love is worth fighting for. Love isn’t simple, but loving the right person is.
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Other Books by Harlow James
Acknowledgments
Sneak Peek of Chasing Hope
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Victoria
“Don’t fall. Please, for the love of God, don’t let me fall.” I glance up to the ceiling, sending my whisper of a prayer to the man upstairs as I patiently wait for my turn. The stage in front of me is the last hurdle I have to cross before I am FINALLY finished with college. The culmination of the last seven years hits me like a tidal wave, crashing into me as a ton of relief cascades off of my shoulders, knowing that my degree in elementary education, including my teaching credential, is finally mine.
Earning my college education has been the most challenging obstacle I have ever climbed. Every shift at the diner, every penny pinched to pay for tuition, every social situation I avoided or couldn’t take part in, every paper written, and test taken was worth it. I exhale at the thought that it’s all ultimately behind me as I cross this stage and pick up my diploma. The last thing I need is to trip across it while I make that final ascent into adulthood though, so I double check the straps on my wedges, a habit of mine because of my clumsiness, just as I hear my name through the speaker.
“Victoria Baker!” The announcer calls my name, the echo ringing through the stadium, followed by the cheering of my family and friends in the audience. The sea of red and white in the crowd makes it hard to determine where my loved ones have sat, but I try to remember to focus on the task at hand before seeking them out. I lift my head from my sight on my shoes before taking a deep breath and climbing the stairs on the side of the stage.
“Go, Vic! We love you!” I can hear Hayley’s loud voice over the others, so I follow the sound, awarded with her jumping up and down next to a pregnant Pauline with Dean’s arms around her. My parents stand behind them, my father clapping proudly and my mother brushing tears from her cheeks. Lilly, my younger sister, is bouncing enthusiastically next to my mom, waving her arms frantically to get my attention. I throw a small wave their way as I carefully saunter across the stage, shake hands with the Dean of the University of Nebraska, pause for the photographer to take a picture, and exhale a long breath on the way down the stairs on the other end.
I did it. I stuck to my guns, avoided any unnecessary distractions, and am now officially a college graduate. My job at Hopetown Elementary awaits me in September, so this summer is full of possibilities and a chance for me to live a little. I can’t recall the last time I had a moment to spend on something that wasn’t school related. As the thought crosses my mind, my eyes veer over to my family and friends once again, this time meeting the dark brown eyes of Michael Kelley.
His position behind his brother made me miss the sight of him before because now he’s fully visible and my eyes can’t stop staring. His face is flat, not one ounce of emotion evident until his eyes meet mine and a slight smile turns up on the corners of his mouth, his head nodding slightly at his acknowledgment of my gaze. I grin back, and then turn my attention to the line of students in front of me, following my classmates back to our seats to await the end of the ceremony. My body is on high alert as I let the effect of Mike’s smirk slide over my body.
If I’m Superman, then Mike Kelley is my kryptonite. Tall, dark, and handsome, the man has had it bad for me since we were kids and the feeling is mutual, but I’ve never given in. Why do you ask? Because when your entire future rides on graduating from college, and the one time you decide to give in he stands you up, you construct a brick wall around your heart, shut him out of your mind, and focus on your goals. So that’s what I did, blocking out the idea of Michael Kelley completely, until about five seconds ago.
Thirty minutes later, caps fly through the air, pomp and circumstance rings through the speakers, and the entire crowd is on their feet, fighting to find their loved ones to congratulate them once again and exit the arena. Not one to cause a scene, I wait patiently for my turn to exit the row of seats I was assigned to and cascade over to the corner where I text everyone to meet me once the graduation had finished.
“My girl!” My mom opens her arms wide as I run into them, her embrace heartfelt and encompassing. My mom has always been my biggest supporter, doing everything she could to assist me in achieving my dreams of being a teacher, including the small payments she helped make towards my tuition without my father knowing, which didn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated by me. Her short black hair streaked with grays tickles my nose as she finally released her hold on me. The same hazel eyes I inherited from her stare back at me, filled with tears, and a genuine smile stretches across her face as her palm rests on my cheek.
“Come here kiddo,” my dad pulls me in next, his strong arms squeezing my shoulders, his voice clouded with emotion. My dad is a big man, oozing that teddy bear vibe. His gray hair and glasses showcase his age, but his broad shoulders and strong arms still feel the same way they did when I was a little girl, safe and protective. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispers in my ear, causing my own tears to well now. I’ve been able to keep the dam shut through the ceremony but seeing my family and their pride and tears have pummeled my own reserve and now the dam has been broken.
“Thanks, Dad.” I lean up and kiss him on the cheek before turning around to face my friends, wiping the tears streaming down my face.
“Oh my gosh, Vic! I am SO proud of you!” Hayley, one of my best friends since first grade, rushes in this time, releasing her hand from her fiancé, Tyler, and gathering me into her for a hug. Hayley and Tyler met last year after he moved to Hopetown from Georgia, and she fell fast and hard. The feeling was mutual though, his pursuit of her relentless, until they finally overcame his past and her crazy ex-boyfriend, solidifying their commitment to each other when he proposed last September.
“Thank you, Hales. I’m so glad you’re here. I wouldn’t be here without you and your dad, you know.” Hayley and her dad own Ruby’s diner, the best little hometown restaurant for miles back home in Hopetown. I’ve been working there since high school waiting tables, saving every penny I could to put towards my tuition. Fortunately, I only had to take out one small loan throughout the past seven years to help pay for my degree, mostly thanks to Hayley’s dad, Mark, and the generous wage he paid me.
“You worked for this, Vic. Not me and my dad. That’s all you, girl!” Hayley nudges me as Pauline waddles up to us. Pauline, my other best friend, who is now six months pregnant, closes the gap between us and pulls me in for snug embrace, her basketball of a belly pressing up against me. Pauline and Dean, Michael’s older brother, used to d
ate when they were younger. She broke up with him abruptly when they were nineteen, which meant they avoided each other and their feelings for years before finally working through their issues and reconciling. Let’s just say the reunion went rather well, because within two months she was pregnant, and their baby is due in September.
“Vic, you are amazing,” she praises me, her smile so wide, I know she is just as proud of me as anyone. “I’ve never known someone as determined as you. I am proud to call you my best friend, lady.” She kisses me on the cheek before returning to Dean’s arms.
“Congratulations, Vic,” his deep voice follows Pauline’s as he wraps his arms around her belly. Dean, the slightly bigger version of Michael, is the overprotective male of the group. His fierce love for Pauline is so blatantly obvious; it’s overwhelming. Sometimes I wish I could have that, someone who would walk across a fire for me. But sadly, my focus has been only on school, not much on dating over the past five years. Once I realized that men would only provide an interruption from my goals, I swore off dating and focused on my education. Now that I’m through with that, I’m nervous to even put myself back out in the dating world. Only one thing at a time, Vic, I keep reminding myself.
Tyler comes up next and offers me a hug. By the time he releases me, Mike has pushed his way to the forefront of the group. The tingles that shoot up my spine create a sensation I haven’t allowed myself to feel in years as I take in the entirety of him. His black hair is slicked back neatly and shaved close on the sides, his dark brown eyes penetrating my gaze. A navy blue button-down clings to his torso, a lean and toned physique clearly obvious even under his shirt. His dark grey slacks hug his strong legs as he stands there with a smirk on his face, blatantly knowing how good he looks right now, which causes my body to react in a way I haven’t felt ever. It’s a rare sighting to see him in business attire. After starting his furniture business in the spring, he’s mostly been channeling his inner lumberjack, his wardrobe comprising blue jeans, plain t-shirts, and flannels.
“Congratulations, Vic,” he says, just barely above a whisper as he pulls me in for a hug. The woodsy scent of his cologne mixed with his laundry detergent filters up to my nose, kick starts my heart and slowly starts chipping away at the fortress I’ve constructed to keep him out of it. His muscular arms encase me in a shield, his strong hands widespread across my back, closing me off from everyone around us. I relish in the feeling of being in his arms for a moment before I quickly bring myself back to reality.
Mike and I have a longstanding ‘cold war’ approach to our friendship. Both of us know how the other feels, but we never act on it, too afraid to make the first move and ultimately detonate our friendship if it doesn’t work out. I knew that even trying to pursue a relationship with Michael would prove challenging, but when I accepted a date from him five years ago, I was ready to fight for what I felt in my heart to be right. There was something between us that neither one could deny and everyone else knew it too.
Clasping both of my shoulders in his hands, he backs away just enough so our eyes can meet. His expression has shifted between congratulatory to hopeful. “I want to talk to you later if that’s okay?” His voice is just a whisper as his chocolaty browns stare down at me in question, a short head bob the only response I can muster as I realize everyone is watching us. He releases me as he nods in acknowledgment and walks away, not even bothering to address anyone before leaving.
Dean chimes in to save his brother, as he takes in the faces of my parents and my friends, everyone confused about what just happened. “He has an order he needs to finish before the party, but he will be there.” A polite grin streaks across his face as I turn to my dad and see his lips form a thin line.
My dad has never been a fan of the Kelley boys. He always warned me to stay away from them, cautioned that they were nothing but trouble like their father, a drunk with a gambling problem. Lucky for my dad, Mike never showed up for our date five years ago, so I was never forced to stand up to my father in protest of his preconceived notions about the boy I knew could steal my heart forever or wreck me.
Over the years, I’ve witnessed firsthand how Dean and Michael have grown into respectable, responsible, and loving men despite their father, especially in Dean’s case. I know that Michael has wanted to pursue me for years, which made his standing me up for our date all the more confusing. Add on the fact that my only previous relationship in high school ended badly, and it’s safe to say I haven’t had the best of luck in love. But after that night when he did not show for our date, I swore off boys, swore off any distractions at all, and vowed to focus on school and finally becoming a teacher, the only job I’ve ever wanted since I was five.
“Ok, well we’d better get going if we’re going to make it back to Hopetown in time for your party, Vic. Brian has the bar closed down and ready to go. We’re just waiting on the guest of honor.” Pauline smiles over at me, winking as she twists in Dean’s arms and he leads her towards the exit. Pauline co-owns BJ’s Bar & Grill with Brian (the original owner), the only bar in our small little town, which she offered up to use as the location for my graduation party. Most of the town will be there, women and men who’ve watched me grow up just as eager to celebrate the start of my career as I am.
“Yes, let’s get out of here. The traffic will be insane soon,” I agree, ushering everyone towards the exit after Pauline and Dean. I remove my red cap and gown as we make our way out, grateful to ditch one of the most hideous outfits I’ve ever worn. Seriously, who designed those things? The warm and humid air hits us outside the arena as we find our cars rather quickly and make it out of the parking lot just in time to head back to Hopetown, about an hour north of Lincoln.
I’ve made this drive three times a week for the past seven years. Admiring the Nebraska landscape out of the window to my left, I take a moment to soak in the fact that I won’t ever have to make this drive again unless it’s by choice. And it won’t be because I have to go to class; it will be because I wanted to go to Lincoln on my own accord. The emerald grass sways from the wind on either side of the highway, providing that quintessential farming land vibe signature to Nebraska. Random trees strike up from the ground and the sun begins to fall in the sky on my side of the car, the stark rays beating through the window as I move to shield my eyes from the light. This place may not seem like much to most people, but it’s home to me and I have no intention of leaving soon.
On the drive back, my parents make small talk in the front seat while I sit next to Lilly in the back as she tells me all about the book she’s been reading. My little sister is nine, and I’m twenty-five. Such a significant age gap makes me feel more like a second mom to her than a big sister. My parents had an accidental pregnancy in their forties and Lilly came along nine months later. I always wanted a sibling, so I was ecstatic, but my parents struggled with starting over again with another child. Nevertheless, Lilly is the light of all three of our lives, keeping us on our toes and providing non-stop laughs. Her energy knows no bounds though, and neither does her conversational skills.
“So the main character is nine, like me, and she finds this note in her parent’s basement….” Her voice is so high pitched from her excitement. I shudder and squint as I back away slightly from the noise. Bless her heart, she hasn’t quite learned about how to control her voice in small spaces yet. Her black hair similar to mine is pulled up off of her face, her long ponytail whipping around as she explains every detail in the plot of her story.
I know she’s rambling on about her book and I really should pay more close attention, but my mind is fixated on Mike and what he said to me after the ceremony. He wants to talk to me, after all these years. I mean, we see each other often when we hang out with Tyler, Hayley, Pauline, and Dean. But we never really converse more than necessary, so I’m anxious to know what this conversation will entail.
Is he finally going to make a move? Do I want him to, or more importantly, do I trust him to follow through after h
e stood me up last time? I have so many questions to contemplate on the drive, but a smile plays on the corners of my mouth as I realize, for the first time in my life, I get to live my life for me. I finally get to teach, hopefully move out of my parents’ house soon, and possibly fall in love, something I’ve been prolonging out of necessity. I take the rest of the drive to envision my future, excited that I finally get to start this next chapter in my life, but nervous about where it will take me. I guess we will find out tonight.
Chapter 2
Mike
“You can do this. You’ve been waiting for this moment, and now it’s here.” Breathing deeply, I exhale just as hard as I stare at myself in the mirror in my master bathroom. Deep brown eyes glower back at me as I muster up the courage to fulfill my deepest desires tonight. The shaking in my hands accompanied by the sweat dripping down my back only serves to remind me how crucial tonight is to my future with Vic.
Victoria Baker. The raven-haired beauty that has been on my radar since I was ten and never left my sights is finally free, the chains of school and accomplishing her goals severed, releasing her out into the world for the taking. And tonight, I make my move. This girl, a woman now actually, has been the only person I’ve ever wanted in my entire life. I had one girlfriend in high school, only because Victoria had a boyfriend at the time as well, and I couldn’t stand the thought of her with someone else without my own form of distraction. Brittany and I used each other mutually, her eyes set on a football player a year older than us, but it wasn’t love. It was a need to make the people we actually wanted jealous. It didn’t work, but at least we tried.
When Victoria broke up with her boyfriend, I waited a good two years before I made my move. I was nervous as all hell, but I knew I would kick myself if I never went for it. The note that I left on my table during her shift at the diner paid homage to the notes we used to pass each other in school. Of course, the ones during class were never serious, but rather simple questions that we asked one another out of friendship that could be answered by checking ‘yes’ or ‘no’. So when I finally got the courage to ask her out, I followed through with tradition and wrote a note asking her to go on a date with me, complete with two boxes that she could check with her answer. Yes or No.