A Hole in My Heart

by E. L. Todd

  Reid picked it up and examined it. “What’s this?”

  “A bracelet he got me.”

  He examined the engraving. “Did he forget your name?”

  “It’s from The Odyssey. It’s our favorite book together. He’s Odysseus and I’m Penelope. Even after all that time when Odysseus is sailing the seas, he still comes back to his wife, as madly in love as before. He’s always considered me in that regard…even though he never wanted to marry me.” I released a sad laugh. “It’s ironic, isn’t it?”

  He continued to examine the bracelet, absorbed in it.

  Looking at that bracelet brought back happy and sad memories. I didn’t want to look at it anymore.

  He finally put it down. “I’m sorry, Trinity. I have to go.”

  His words were so unexpected I didn’t know what to think. “Did I offend you? I didn’t mean to make the mood so depressing…”

  “No, it wasn’t you.” He stood up then put his hands in his pockets. “There’s just something I need to do.” He walked out and didn’t say goodbye to me.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Mike

  Slade’s final words played in my head long after he said them. The resignation and pain on his face shattered my indestructible heart. I didn’t enjoy hurting him. I didn’t get any pleasure out of it. But I was determined to keep my daughter safe. She picked Slade in the beginning and I accepted it. But now that he hurt her, I couldn’t accept that decision again.

  Hopefully, Slade would give up and leave Trinity alone. I knew he didn’t love her, not in the way he should. I knew he couldn’t give her what she needed. Scarlet had nothing but nice things to say about him, but I was a man who never gambled when it came to my family. I couldn’t afford to let my daughter get hurt again, not by a man who was bound to do it.

  The intercom beeped and my assistant’s voice came to my ear. “Reid is here to see you, sir.”

  His voice shattered my thoughts. “Send him in.”

  The door opened and Reid walked inside, but he didn’t seem cheerful like usual. His eyes were gray instead of blue, and his shoulders sagged in a way I’d never seen before. He seem flustered, almost uncomfortable.

  I stood up and shook his hand. “What brings you to this neighborhood?”

  He shook it then returned his hands to his pockets. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  “Everything all right?” I asked. “You seem under the weather.”

  He stared at my desk for a moment and didn’t address the question. “It’s about Trinity, sir.”

  “Is she okay?” I immediately asked.

  “No, she’s not.” He looked into my eyes as he said it.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s heartbroken over Slade.” He took a deep breath before he spoke. “I think he’s the only person who can fix her.”

  Not understanding his meaning, I just stared at him.

  “I wanted to be with Trinity because I know how incredible she is. Spending the past two months with her, even as friends, has been nothing but wonderful. She makes me laugh and makes me smile. But, now I don’t feel that way anymore. I’m bowing out, sir.”

  My eyes narrowed. “Why?”

  “Because she loves Slade. And, it’s pretty clear he loves her.”

  I stared at him blankly.

  “Slade has been trying to get your approval for a long time, despite the horrible way you treat him. He doesn’t give up. Only a man desperately in love would put up with that. And, at the golf course, I could see it. Slade was wrong for hurting her and he shouldn’t have taken so long to get his act together, but I think he’s the right person for her. Sir, you should give him your permission.”

  I couldn’t believe Reid was saying this. It was almost too hard to believe.

  “Slade is a good guy. He’ll take care of her. You don’t need to worry about it.”

  “Where is this coming from?” I asked.

  “When I was at Trinity’s, I saw this bracelet he gave her. That, including all the pictures, as well as everything she says about him…it’s not a normal love. It’s a love I’ve never experienced in thirty years. It’s…timeless. It’s…unbreakable. Even if Trinity got over him one day and she was with me, she would never love me the way she loves him. She’ll never love any man the way she loves him.”

  I sat back down and absorbed his words.

  “Trinity is my friend and I care about her a lot…and I think this is the best thing for her. So, I’m out of the picture.”

  I rubbed my chin while I regarded him. “I see.”

  Reid stood there for a long time, his hands in his pockets. “Let me say my congratulations now since I won’t have the opportunity again.”

  “Congratulations for what?”

  “On your daughter’s engagement.”

  ***

  I went to Slade’s apartment and knocked. I wasn’t sure if he was home, but I didn’t know where else he would be. He was usually tracking me down and pestering me until I couldn’t think straight, but he’d given up after the country club.

  I knew I hurt him.

  Slade opened the door then stared at me with suspicious eyes. He examined every part of my face, like he was trying to determine if I was an impostor. Surprise was in his eyes, as well as anger and curiosity.

  “May I come in?”

  Silently, he stepped aside and allowed me to enter.

  His apartment was small and depressing. All the lights were out, and it was practically pitch black. The bed in the corner looked like it hadn’t been made since he moved in. Dishes and trash were everywhere. I flicked on the light because my eyes were starting to hurt.

  Slade squinted like he’d been nocturnal for several years. After he acclimated to the brightness, his eyes opened wider. “What do you want?”

  “To talk.” I sat at the small kitchen table and felt the leg wobble slightly.

  Slade sat across from me and stared at me blankly.

  “Reid came to my office today.”

  “Let me guess, to ask for your permission?” he said bitterly. “And I’m sure you gave it to him in a heartbeat.”

  “Actually, he told me he didn’t want Trinity. He said he was bowing out—for the second time.”

  His eyes narrowed as he regarded me, and a slight hint of happiness glowed on his face. “Did he say why?”

  “He said there isn’t a doubt that Trinity will never love a man the way she loves you. And that there will never be a man that loves her more than you do. After the way you’ve put up with my behavior, Reid said a man could only suffer through that if he was desperately in love.”

  Slade stared at me but didn’t react.

  “He seems convinced that whatever relationship you two have isn’t normal. It’s rare, almost impossible, and he described it as timeless. He said it’s a type of love he hasn’t experienced in his thirty years of life.”

  “Trinity and I are soul mates—real soul mates.” He stared me in the eye as he said it. “Not that Nicholas Sparks soul mate bullshit. What we have is real. Her soul is mine and mine is hers. Maybe I didn’t want to get married because the institution isn’t good enough for us. To me, we are already committed for the rest of our lives. Marriage is beneath us.”

  I listened to his words without interruption. “I’m starting to realize that.”

  “Mike, give me your daughter.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve always wanted her for the rest of my life. That has never been the issue. I just didn’t want to sign a marriage license. It’s a stupid tradition anyway. And if you’re worried about me taking care of her, I promise I will. I might not be as rich as you are, but I make enough for us to live on if we had to. When she’s sick, I’ll be there. When she’s scared, I’ll make her feel safe. When she needs me, I’ll always be there. Just give her to me already. If you don’t, then I’m just going to take her.”

  I nodded. “Slade, you have my permission.”

  He released a heavy si
gh. “About fucking time.”

  I smirked slightly. “Slade, I owe you an apology for the way I treated you. I’m sorry.”

  “You hate me. I get it. I’m okay with that.”

  “I don’t hate you,” I said quietly.

  “Only hate could make you act that way.”

  “No,” I corrected. “Love, actually. I’m a much different person when I feel like my family is threatened. One day, you’ll understand what I mean.”

  “I hope so,” he said sincerely.

  “I’m very happy to have you as a son-in-law.”

  “Do you mean that?” he asked.

  “I wouldn’t say it unless I did. In time, I hope we can build a new relationship, a better one.”

  “Me too.”

  “And when you tell Trinity everything—”

  “I’m not going to tell her.”

  I stared at him in confusion.

  “She would hate you if I did. She needs her father and I would never try to take her away from you. Let’s just forget about it.”

  He gave me more mercy than I deserved. “I misjudged you.”

  “Damn right, you did.”

  I chuckled lightly. “I deserved that. So, when are you going to ask?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I want it to be perfect. I also want her to know I really mean it, that I’m not just asking her so I can keep her.”

  I nodded my head. “I think I can help with that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I stood up. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

  Slade gave me a confused look but did as I asked.

  ***

  We arrived at my house then walked to the cement path that led to the entrance of the property. White walls formed an arch, and the path moved between two lines of trees before it led to the house.

  I walked until I reached the exact spot.

  Slade looked around then turned to me. He cocked an eyebrow. “What is it?”

  “You’re standing on it.”

  He looked down and examined the concrete beneath his feet. Then he turned back to me, unsure what I meant.

  “This is the exact place where I proposed to my wife.”

  His eyes dilated in understanding and he looked around again.

  “I bought her this house because she loved it, but I lied and said someone else outbid me. Then I had Scarlet bring her to the house. When she got out, I kneeled and asked her to be my wife. When I told Trinity this story, she thought it was the most romantic thing she’s ever heard.”

  “That sounds like her,” he whispered.

  “And I’m sure she would love to be asked in the same way.”

  Slade looked at me, and a grin pulled at his lips. “It does sound pretty perfect.”

  I gripped his shoulder and looked into his face. “Then do it.”

  Check out MONDAY, the free book found at the end of this story!

  I don’t believe in destiny.

  In fate.

  Or in soul mates.

  But I believe in Hawke.

  My life has never been whole since my parents left forever. I have my brother, someone I can barely tolerate most of the time, and I have my best friend, Marie.

  And I have myself.

  But when Hawke walks into my life, there’s an immediate connection. Our eyes lock and an unspoken conversation is exchanged. For the first time in my life, I actually feel something.

  But he doesn’t.

  He keeps me at arm’s length and pretends there’s nothing between us when there clearly is. I’m not the kind of girl to wait around for any guy, so I don’t.

  But that doesn’t mean he isn’t in the back of my mind.

  Our paths cross again in a way neither one of us expect and it changes everything. Was it destiny that made it happen? Was it fate?

  Or was it something else?

  My Soul Is Yours

  Book Two Of The Forever and Ever Series

  AVAILABLE NOW

  Click To Purchase On Amazon

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading A Hole In My Heart. I hope you enjoyed reading Skye and Cayson’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you could leave a short review on Amazon.com, iTunes, or BarnesandNoble.com, it would help me so much! Those reviews are the best kind of support you can give an author. Thank you!

  Wishing you love,

  E. L. Todd

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  Another Day At The Office

  Francesca

  On my first day working at The Grind, a coffee shop in Myrtle Beach, the constant sound of the running blender gave me a headache. Just when it would stop spinning for a damn second, it started up again. Taking orders from customers was a hassle because I couldn’t hear a word they said. And just when I raised my voice so they could understand me, the blender shut off and I looked like a screaming lunatic.

  But now that blender reminded me of home.

  I’d been working at The Grind for nearly three years. It was a great college gig. It was flexible with my class schedule, and when I wanted to blow off work for a party, it was easy to change shifts with another worker.

  It wasn’t my dream job, but it was okay for now.

  The shop was dead that afternoon, so I opened my jar of homemade batter and beat it with a spoon until it was fluffy again. Then I poured it into a pan and shoved it into the oven.

  “What are you baking now?” Marie, my roommate and best friend, grabbed her apron and tied it around her waist. She reeked of smoke, so I knew she lit one up in the back alley. I tried getting her to quit a few times, but that just made her addiction worse.

  “Apple cherry muffins.”

  “Hmm…sounds good.”

  I was notorious for my love of baking. We had an oven at our house, but it wasn’t as nice as the one at The Grind. I took advantage of it whenever I could. “They’re not super sweet so at least they won’t give you diabetes.”

  Marie popped a few breath mints into her mouth to cover up the stench of smoke. “I’m not worried about diabetes.”

  “Just lung cancer?” It was a mean jab but I didn’t care.

  Marie rolled her eyes. “I smoke twice a day…sometimes only once.”

  “If it’s so seldom, why do it at all?” I put my hand on my hip and narrowed my eyes on her face. I wasn’t a judgmental person, but I wanted my best friend to be around as long as possible.

  “Shut up and keep baking.” She walked around me and headed to the front of the café.

  I rolled my eyes even though no one was around to witness it. Then I set the timer on the oven.

  ***

  “Damn, these are good.” Marie picked at the muffin right at the counter. A few customer
s were sitting at tables in the lobby, but no one was in line. Fortunately, our manager was pretty lenient with all the crazy things we did. One time, a customer complained that Marie was on her phone, but our manager didn’t seem to care.

  “Thanks.”

  “Are they made with real apples and cherries?” She spoke with her mouth full.

  “Yep. Natural is the only way to go.” I tried not to eat everything I made otherwise I really would get diabetes.

  “We could probably sell these for two bucks a pop.” She finished the muffin then sucked the crumbs off her fingers.

  “Two bucks?” I asked. “Maybe ninety nine cents.”

  “Are you kidding me?” she asked. “Our chocolate croissant is $3.50.”

  “Still sounds like a rip off to me.” I noticed the crumbs around her mouth but I didn’t say anything because I knew she would get there eventually. Right now, she was focused on her fingers.

  The bell over the door rang as someone walked inside. That bell was a lifesaver when we were doing things we shouldn’t be—like right now. I set the tray of muffins on the counter then smoothed out my apron without checking who the customer was.

  “Oh my god.” Marie lowered her voice so only I could hear her. “That’s him.”

  “That’s who?”

  “That super hot guy that comes in here all the time. He works on homework or something. But he looks too old to be in college…” She immediately straightened her hair then checked her breath.

  I peeked over the counter and saw the guy she was talking about. She wasn’t exaggerating about his looks. He really was hot. He had dark brown hair that was a little messy, but he obviously did it on purpose. It was full and thick, and it was clear he ran his fingers through it when he was deep in thought. He wore slacks and a collared shirt with a dark blue tie down his chest. He had to be over six feet, and he filled out his clothes well. Even in a sleeved shirt, the muscles of his arms were obvious. His chest was wide and his stomach was tight. He stood at the end of the line and stared up at the menu as he tried to decide what he wanted.