“Then you should probably worry a little less about me and a little more time with a math tutor.” I lifted my coffee mug, taking another sip as I held his stare. “Just stay away from my wife and child!” Caleb yelled. “Oh, but they’re no longer yours, are they?” I said as all the pieces fell into p
BAILEE “You bitch!” Caleb screamed. I had heard him call me countless times before, but it was humiliating having witnesses. Yet, even though he was shouting behind me and I could hear the commotion of the security guards escorting my ex-husband from my ex-boyfriend’s office, I couldn’t pull away.
BAILEE EIGHT YEARS AGO (Sixteen years old) “If it isn’t Baby Evans!” Jacob mocked, pulling on a chunk of my hair and jerking my head back. “Ow!” I snapped, spinning around to swat his hand away. “Leave me alone!” “So touchy! What’s wrong, Baby Evans? I thought you liked getting your hair pulled. I've heard all about you.” Jacob said, grabbing a fist full and yanking on my hair again, this time forcing me back so far that I stumbled, crashing into a warm body. “Let her go,” The deep, familiar voice made me tense, but as his arms wrapped around me, I froze. “Come on, Xander!” Jacob laughed, grabbing the strap to my backpack and tugging on it. “Lighten up. Ben’s not here, and she’s not your sister. I’m just having a little fun.” “Don’t fucking call me that, and get your hands off her!” Alexander growled, and my hands grabbed his sides to hold myself up as Jacob gave one last tug on the strap. Ben’s friends hadn’t always bothered me, not until I hit puberty a few years ago,
BAILEEHe was nowhere to be found for the rest of the day, and after dinner that night, I walked down to the docks and dangled my feet into the water. It wasn’t long before I heard footsteps on the wooden planks behind me. The hair rose on the back of my neck, and tingles of nerves shot through my skin as Alex approached and kicked off his shoes to join me. “Are you okay?” He asked, sitting next to me, his thigh touching mine. “Were you suspended?” I whispered, guilt flooding through me at the thought because I knew how hard he was working to better his life since his dad had been sent to prison. I had overheard him telling Ben about his plans to get into a law school, and this could ruin that. Alex let out a bitter laugh before sighing. “Yeah.” “Are your foster parents angry?” “Don’t worry about me, Bailee. I can handle it. I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He hadn’t answered my question directly, so I knew that was a yes. “Me? I wasn’t the one in a fight today!” I ex
BAILEE It had taken several days for Brinley’s fever to break and a few more for me to feel comfortable enough to send her to daycare. I had resisted when Caleb demanded we get a nanny instead of sending Brinley to daycare, but I lost that argument. Now, I finally had the chance to do what I
“You were on a dream vacation with your boyfriend, expecting your own ring and happily ever after. I wasn’t going to dampen your excitement over your future with my drama!” I exclaimed, hearing the bell chime from the front of the store. I always had two employees working up there, so I ignored it
BAILEE By the time I got into the car to end my day, I was hot and sweaty. My hair was sticking to my face, and my shirt was uncomfortably damp from walking the giant bouquets of roses up and down the street, giving them to other businesses. Twenty-Six. He had sent me twenty-six bouquets.
BAILEE I had just put Brinley down in her new bed when I heard voices downstairs. My back went rigid, and the hairs on my arms stood in terror as I scanned my surroundings for something I could use as a weapon. Only the hallway was bare except for a few picture frames. There was nothing for me to
HAVEN I needed to get out of the house. Staying inside was driving me crazy, and I couldn’t take it anymore. My last job interview was a week ago, and while I keep applying, no one wants to hire the woman all over the tabloids with a sex tape. Our PR team managed to get it taken down, but it stil
BEN “Rangers player Benjamin Evans is today’s hot topic. Now fans were petitioning for him to be traded for his performance last season. Even I wanted him gone, and I’ve followed his career since he was being scouted.” The reporters around him laughed, and I gritted my jaw. “I know. I remember hi
HAVEN Ben’s leg bounced all through breakfast, and I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder every few seconds to the large window behind me. The way his eyes kept scanning it made me feel like someone was about to repel from the roof and crash through it at any moment, or there was a sniper some
BEN Was it weird to be shopping for engagement rings at this moment? Yes Still, I couldn’t help myself. It was the first place my mind went when I woke up this morning. If Haven was so comfortable around me and loved me so much that she was willing to let me fuck her in the ass, then I would bet s
HAVEN “Have you ever done this before?” Ben asked, and I shook my head. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before stepping back. “How did I get so lucky?” His question, with the sudden loss of his body heat, made me blush, and I pushed off the counter slowly. I could only assume, with him
HAVEN “Did he say anything to you?” Ben asked as we settled into our room for the night. Siri had passed out on the car ride home, and Ben made it look so easy to transfer her from the car to her bed. I had never succeeded in doing that without waking her up. “No,” I said, meeting his stressed
BEN He was so close to them... so close to my family, and there was nothing I could do but watch. “Evans! Head in the game!” Coach screamed, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scene before me. Security was coming down the steps toward him, and he threw his head back laughing before walk
HAVEN I was so scared that Ben would be angry at me for going behind his back and calling his parents that I hadn’t even told him they were coming. They were staying at a hotel near the stadium and were ecstatic to meet Siri. That was my big regret with this surprise. Ben didn’t get to introduce
BEN “Is Haven bringing Siri tonight?” Jake asked, and I nodded, unable to stop the smile on my face. The first pre-season game was tonight, and I was over the moon to finally have someone to give my tickets to. They weren't front row since the arena saved those for the high-paying fans, but my