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T W E N T Y - S E V E N
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
MercyCrownHappy Sunday sweethearts. Thank you for reading.♡
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CRAVE T W E N T Y - E I G H T
ARABELLA.I had no idea what we were going to do when Alex asked to sneak out of school but I definitely didn’t expect it to be us sitting on a bench in a quiet park he drove us to.A few children are running around and laughing with their parents not far away, along with some couples standing under the trees, doing couple things I guess.I turn to Alex and his arms are crossed against his chest, his head raised to the sky with his eyes closed.“What are we doing here? “ I ask and he opens his eyes. He turns his head to me. “Relaxing. ““Relaxing?” I repeat, and he chuckles as he closes his eyes again.“I think I wanted you around. “ He mutters and that makes my heart skip a beat.“You did?”“I might enjoy your company far more than you realize. “ He says, and it takes me by surprise. He enjoys my company? We rarely talk, though. When we’re together, our hands never leave each other. I guess that’s something to enjoy.“You’re being surprisingly nice today. “ I tell him and he opens one
CRAVE T W E N T Y - N I N E
DEX.Arabella said she’ll be back before school ended and it ended exactly thirty minutes ago but she’s still not here. I wonder if she’s okay. She has never missed school, and she didn’t reply to any of the texts I sent after the first one.“Dex! There you are. “ The yells of my name interrupt my thoughts and I turn my head to see Millie approaching me. She stops in front of me with a big smile, panting lightly. “Hey. ““Hey. You’re still around. “ I mumble and she nods. “Just checking out a few things before I leave. ““Oh, alright. “ I mutter, looking everywhere but her face.“Hey, “ she chuckles, reaching out to hit my arm gently. I drop my gaze on her and she says, “You never said anything about what I asked you earlier. “Knowing what she means, I clear my throat. “Right. That. “ I take a few minutes to access her face, wondering how she’d take my next words. Knowing however she reacts is better than me stringing her along, I open my mouth. “I can’t come. I’m sorry. “Her smile d
CRAVE T H I R T Y
ARABELLA.Fear grips me and I lift my head to see Ashley standing before me with lifted brows and arms crossed against her chest.I straighten my back and smile. “Oh hey, Ashley. “She narrows her eyes. “Hey? That’s all you have to say? Hey?” Fuck. What’s happening? Did she see something? Heard something? Did Dex come here? My eyes move across the room in search of the boy, but he isn’t here.“My eyes are up here. “ Ashley snaps, bringing my attention back to her, and I put on a pleading look. “Sorry. I know I’m late…”“You came with Alex?” She says, interrupting my words and I open my mouth with no words slipping through.She saw.“That bag. “ She nods towards the bag I have the extra clothes in. “He took you somewhere?”“I—“ Shit. What do I say? “Yeah. Um. I just. Dex got busy and Alex, um… He was heading home anyway so he offered. Haha. And this… is for Dex. He forgot it. It’s for his sister, Maddy. “ I chuckle awkwardly and the blank look on Ashley’s face tells me she doesn’t belie
CRAVE T H I R T Y - O N E
VERONICA. I walk down the hallway after leaving the last class I was sure Sam would be him but didn’t find him. I open my phone to see if he’s responded to my text but he hasn’t and I let out a sigh as I stare at the carefully wrapped sandwich in my other hand.I wanted to leave him this before I get busy with my classes but he’s nowhere to be found. I continue down the hallway and take the first corner I see then immediately step back, moving behind the wall when I see Sam leaning against a door with a girl before him. They seem pretty close as she slaps a hand on his arm, letting out a laugh and my stomach drops when Sam laughs along, pushing a strand of her hair away from her face. What the hell is going on? Who the hell is that girl and why’s she touching him that way? Why’s Sam touching her that way?They continue to talk and unable to stomach any more of it, I move out of my hiding spot. My first instinct is to walk away but deciding I don’t want to, I stride towards them and
CRAVE T H I R T Y - T W O
ARABELLA.I haven’t seen Peter around since the last time and I had almost forgotten he once existed in my life until today. He told me he has something important to say and wants me to follow him to the school field. Knowing he can do nothing to me — and if he eventually tries, I’d not hesitate to use my defenses — I follow him there and I now stand before the guy who I once thought as good.“Alright. What is it that you have to say to me? I’m running late for class. “ I say impatiently and I watch as he brings out a necklace from his pocket. He waves it between us. "Remember this?"I scoff as I recognize the jewelry as the one I got him for his last birthday. I can still remember how excited I was to get it for him, but that’s all in the past now."Yeah. What about it?" I speak nonchalantly and he extends it to me. "I want you to have it back. Since we broke up and all. "I shouldn’t have found those words that funny, but I can’t hold back the laugh that drops from my mouth. "You’re
CRAVE T H I R T Y - T H R E E
ARABELLA. "What do you think you’re doing?" He snaps as he walks in, dropping the cup he has in hand on his desk as he continues his stride towards me and I stutter when he stands before me. "I didn’t mean to… I was just…" Realizing I’ve got no good excuse for rummaging through his stuff, I shake my head. "I’m sorry." "Step back," He utters harshly without acknowledging my apology and I do as I’m told. I watch as Alex bends to grab the frame off the floor, where I had mistakenly dropped it, but thankfully it isn’t cracked. I hope. I can’t take a good look since it’s turned to him. He raises his head, and that irritation is still clear in his eyes. He doesn’t hide the anger in his words as he says, "I leave you for some minutes and you start going through my stuff? The hell?" "I’m sorry." I whisper gently and he shakes his head as he points to the door. "Leave." My eyes dilate in surprise and my mouth hangs in shock as only a word slips through my parted lips. "What?" "I said leav
CRAVE T H I R T Y - F O U R
VERONICA."You’ve been on that phone for a while. Who are you texting?" My smile fades at Sam’s voice and I immediately drop my phone to my lap, turning the screen away. I clear my throat and lift my head to him. "No one. When did you arrive in the room?"He stands before me with narrowed eyes and a towel wrapped around his waist, having just left the shower.I watch the balls of water that trail down his chest as he takes a step toward me and I instinctively move back on the bed."No one?" He mumbles as he stops by the edge. "You were smiling at your phone and it’s no one? I’ve been observing you these past few days, Veronica. Who got your attention?""It's no one. " I repeat my earlier answer and I know the exact moment he loses his patience. I see it slip from his eyes and he extends his hand. "Give me your phone.""What?"He smirks. "Since it’s no one as you claim, then you’ll have no trouble with me looking through your phone, right?"Feat grips me and I shake my head as I move fu
CRAVE T H I R T Y - F I V E
ALEXANDER. I move away from Arabella after those words, feeling my body go stiff from hearing that again. Especially in that position. She also raises from the bed after me, her body turned to me and I clear my throat. "We should leave now." "Oh. Okay?" Her voice is small as I watch her move away from the bed. She plays with the edge of her gown as she stands before me without saying a word. "Go on. I’ll meet you in the living room." I tell her and she nods before she slowly walks out of my room. Once she’s out, I fall back on my bed with a sigh. Why would she utter those words? I had let myself feel too relaxed around Arabella that I forgot there could be a time this would happen. Those words she uttered brought back so many memories. Memories I’ve kept deep inside of me. Not because I regret them, but I’ve got no other choice but to forget about them. Despite that, I still cherish them deeply and Arabella saying such words to me makes my heart ache in a way I haven’t felt in a
Latest chapter
CRAVE NOTE
Hellooo Loves, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it? I apologize for the late update but thank you so much for being patient with me.We’ve now come to the end of Arabella’s and Alexander’s story but as seen, Dex’s and Veronica’s isn’t over yet. There’ll be a short book attached to this one for Dex’s and Veronica’s story. Then after their story is done, we’ll have bonus chapters on Alex and Ara, where we’ll get to know about their lives after high school. This will not be now, though because I’ll be completing my other book—My Stepbrother—in June along with writing my new book.In case some people don’t know yet, I have a new book on the app. It’s titled My Best Friend’s Girl and you can check it out if you’re interested. The characters are new to me, and I’m sure many of you would enjoy the journey as much as I’m enjoying writing it.Anyway, I’ll be writing My Best Friend’s Girl and completing My Stepbrother in June so bonus chapters with DexVeronica’s short book won’t be happening then.
CRAVE EIGHTY - FIVE
GRADUATION DAY.~TWO MONTHS LATER~ARABELLA."Is Alex not coming?" Ashley asks me again after Sinclair leaves to attend an urgent business, and I frown as I take my phone out of my purse. The last texts I’ve sent him stare back at me with no response and I chew my cheek. "I don’t know. He isn’t responding.""Are you sure he’s okay?" He should be. We spoke last night before I went to bed and I saw his bike in front of his house this morning, but I’ve heard nothing from him. Could he be bummed that he isn’t graduating with me? But that was his choice.After Alexander returned from Florida, he told me he had a change of mind. The small life he wanted to live once was no longer his dream and after seeing his mother struggle and fight for her life, he now wants to be a doctor. He studied hard for the little time he had left till we took the exams. Maybe even more than me. He had no time to be with me and I understood. I’m happy he has a dream he’s pursuing and when the results came out, he
CRAVE EIGHTY - FOUR
ARABELLA.We walk back into the house with our intertwined fingers and I pass Alexander a smile when Dex sees him calling out his name from the sofa."That’s you?" Dex stands from the couch and strides toward us. His hands are in his pockets and his gaze is on Alex, who pushes out his other hand, refusing to let me go. "Hey, dude."Dex looks at the outstretched hand, and his face hardens. "Are you back now after almost breaking my best friend’s heart?" He throws the question at Alex, who looks down at me before tightening his hand against mine. When he looks away, I try to meet Dex’s eyes, but he’s too busy glaring at Alex. The tension in the air rises as Alex’s hand stays in the air while Dex looks like he’s just two seconds away from punching him."You should know I’d never intentionally do that. They were stuff back at my home that needed to be taken care of and there was no avoid—"Dex’s face suddenly breaks in a smile and before Alex can finish, he slaps a hand on his shoulder. "
CRAVE E I G H T Y - T H R E E
ALEXANDER. I continue to pace down the hallway, my heart drumming in my chest with each second that ticks by, and no one coming out of that room. My gaze turns on Kaleb, who’s nervously tapping his feet against the floor and fidgeting in his seat, his eyes occasionally shifting from his moving hands to the door next to him. "She’ll be fine," I tell him as I slap a hand on his thigh to keep it steady before I fall into the seat next to him. He shakes his head as he turns to me. "It’s been hours and there’s been nothing. Just people moving in and out of there, and refusing to tell us anything." "That’s kind of how the surgery works." I let out a chuckle, trying to suppress the fact that I’m just as afraid as he is. Afraid the news that comes out of there wouldn’t be the one we want. "Seriously, Kaleb; she’ll be fine. Remember what she told us: we can’t get scared no matter what happens." "I’m trying." He hisses as he bends over his back and drops his clamped hands to his legs. I rem
CRAVE E I G H T Y - T W O
ARABELLA. I gaze at Alex between my legs and my head falls back on the arm of the couch with a loud moan as I feel his tongue laps at my core. "Alex…" I call out his name as I pull at the end of his curls and he hums with his lips pressed to my pussy, the vibration sending shocks through my body and I drip even more on his tongue. "Oh God," my other hand moves to my chest, and I squeeze my breast through the fabric of my dress as my eyes screw shut, my toes curling around his neck. "Oh, don’t you dare do that." I snap my eyes open when Alexander suddenly yanks my hand off my chest and also because he removes his head from my pussy, ripping away my fast-coming pleasure and I frown when I meet his eyes. He only grins down at me, as if he enjoys having me this way—frustrated and desperate for release. "Alex…" "Shh, baby." He whispers as he comes down over me, his hands slipping to my sides and I’m sure he can hear how fast my heart is beating in my chest at this close distance. "I tol
CRAVE E I G H T Y - O N E
ALEXANDER. I walk into the house with my shoulders sank and Arabella is standing in the middle of the living room. She smiles when she sees me and immediately starts moving in my direction. I stretch my hands and pull her into my chest once she’s close enough, and she wraps her arms around my neck, pressing herself against me. "Hm." I moan into her neck as my hands lock around her waist and grip tight. "Are you okay?" Arabella asks against my chest and I pull back to look at her pretty face but keep my hands around her waist. She doesn’t remove hers from my neck either, and I drop my forehead on hers. "I’m so fucking sorry, baby," I whisper, and she moves one hand to my hair, threading it through my curls while the other stays on the back of my neck. "What are you sorry for? You’ve done nothing wrong." She says in a soft voice, and I push back my head to look into her eyes. I keep my eyes on her as I drop my hands to her ass and bend my legs back slightly. I lift her in my arms and
CRAVE E I G H T Y
ALEXANDER. ME: I’m on my way. I don’t get another reply and I sigh as I throw my phone back into my pocket before I turn to Mom, whose head is lifted to me. Her brows are arched when she asks, "Is everything alright?" "Just the company. Really weird stuff, and I’m not sure how they’re happening." I inform her in a tired voice, and she drops the frame in her hand to her side. "Weird stuff happens all the time with business." She chuckles and I stare at her even when I know her eyes are on me. She doesn’t question it and I stare some more before I crouch before her and grab her hands. If she’s surprised by my sudden display of affection, she definitely doesn’t show it and only gives me a questioning look as we lock gazes. "Will you be… like you know… mad? If I fail? If I’m unable to save the company?" I ask and she takes a while to answer. When she does, her voice is gentle and laced with assurance. "If that’s what you’re afraid of, then you need not be. I told you before: it’s up to
CRAVE S E V E N T Y - N I N E
ALEXANDER. My eyes widen. "Amanda?" I croak as I keep my eyes on Zack, who looks like he just got denied the biggest and most important goal of his life. "But how… How did she? How did that happen? We have more than 60% of the shares and she only got the…" "No, Alex." Zack interrupts and pushes himself off the wall he’s leaned against. He swipes a hand down his face before he crosses his hands over his chest. "She wasn’t the one. The buyer isn’t Amanda." I wiggle my brows. "I don’t understand. Are you saying…" I pause and I don’t complete the words before Zack nods, confirming the thought that comes to mind. "There’s a new buyer?" "Yeah." "Who? And how exactly did they manage to buy the company without having shares?" He sighs. "I don’t know who it is and I don’t know how they did this, but they must be really good." He lets out a dry chuckle. "Exceptionally good, because I never thought this was possible. I didn’t know…" "We have to find out who it is." "We’re in the dark. W
CRAVE S E V E N T Y - E I G H T
ALEXANDER."Hi." Sofia smiles as she adjusts her bag on her shoulder. Her brows furrow as her eyes drag down my body before she holds my gaze again. "I didn’t know you were back in Florida. What are you doing here?""Just stuff," I mutter as my eyes go to her stomach. Sofia must have noticed me staring because she drops a hand on it and I raise my gaze. "What are you doing here?""I came to meet my mom." She provides and when I stare at her, confused, she continues. "I didn’t exactly take the advice you gave.""Oh?""But I didn’t go through with the terrible plan I had either." She chuckles and I smile as I take in the happiness that radiates on her face. She looks sunny. Different from the last time I saw her, and her eyes are twinkling. "I spoke to Mom about it and it took a while, but she understood. Dad, however, didn’t. I had to leave home for a while, but I think everything should be back to normal soon.""I’m happy for you, Sofia," I tell her and she beams. "Thank you. I am. Ve
