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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
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Some loser sent them to me. I’ll throw them away tomorrow. Just like I did with all the others.” Alex’s face hardened, the muscle above his jaw flexing as he pressed his teeth together. “Others? Is some guy harassing you?” Ben asked, looking angry, but he relaxed
ALEXANDER “I need a favor!” Ben exclaimed, storming into my office with a smiling Brinley in tow. She had purple paint all over her face in the shape of a butterfly, and her hair looked like she had been attacked by a second-grade classroom with unlimited access to colorful ponytails and clips.
HAVEN Ben’s eyes closed as if he were in pain as I leaned forward and flicked his lips with my tongue. I was bold when drunk, but this… this was a new level. I felt invincible with Ben as if I could act on any urge I had, and he couldn’t or wouldn’t judge me for it. He would just… satisfy me. “
HAVEN I loved them. The women were absolutely incredible. All of them, except Nora, but she broke away from the group fairly quickly. It seemed she was a bitch to everyone, and no one really put up with it. They just ignored her when her attitude started up and wouldn’t talk to her again until she
HAVEN Brinley stayed with us for three nights, which was the best distraction I could have asked for. The girls had been so happy to be together that I didn’t have time to dwell on any of the shit that had happened in the past few months. They needed constant engagement and snacks. I secretly had
BEN I watched with a smile as Brinley held her baby brother, Tristan, for the first time. I was excited to meet him, but I also wanted her to do so before me or Siri did. It was vital for them to bond, and with the bright smile on her little face, I knew she would have no problem with that. Brin
HAVEN The girls were bouncing in their car seats as we pulled up to the hospital's main entrance and got out. Ben handed the keys to the valet before helping Brinley out of her seat while I grabbed Siri. They had been talking nonstop about the baby and how excited they were to meet him, but I drea
BEN “Man, I don’t remember Coach being this intense the past few years,” Jake muttered as he pulled off his gear, and I nodded in agreement, doing the same. It had been brutal out there today, but we needed it. The team wasn’t in game shape, myself included, but we were working hard to power thro
HAVEN “You can’t be serious,” I said as I stared at her in horror. Had I brought a child into the world myself? Yes. Do I remember how scary it is? Also Yes. Do I remember what the doctors had done? No. I was busy screaming and pushing as I ripped myself open to bring a life into this world.
HAVEN I was nervous about bringing Siri to daycare, and even though I wasn’t working yet, I wanted to ensure she was well-adjusted before I started leaving her there all day for work. Bailee had suggested the daycare she used, and Siri had been over the moon to see Brinley there when I dropped he
BEN As I snuck out of the bedroom that night, I couldn’t help but look back and admire my wife for a moment as she lay stretched out in our bed. She had one leg up, and the blanket was covering her butt, leaving her back exposed in the most sinfully sexy way. Had she not almost passed out after