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BAILEE EIGHT YEARS AGO (Sixteen years old) I couldn’t help but stare longingly at the party on the beach. I wanted to be there for Ben’s birthday, but I had work to finish, and until I was done, there would be no fun for me. My parents owned a resort on the lake where Ben and I worked after s
“No!” I said suddenly, placing my hands on his chest. “No. I wasn’t saying that YOU stink. You smell incredible. You always do. You just have Amber’s perfume all over you. It's bad enough having to sit back and watch as you let her rub herself on you like a damn cat, but now I have to smell her on y
ALEXANDER The Tale-Tell Heart. I had thought that story was ridiculous when I was in school. The heart under the floor, beating, driving the madman insane… How could a dead heart beat? I got it now, though, because in my desk sat a file, one I could practically hear beating away, mocking me
BAILEE The red carpet had been intimidating, but each time I started to feel overwhelmed, Alex would pull me closer to him and move us to the next area. His warm body against mine had felt so nice that a few times, I found myself leaning into him on my own, wanting to steal his body heat. It
“Baby,” Alex said, and I flinched before I could stop myself at the name. He noticed. His smile faltered, and he looked away from me toward the band. “Normally people dance after the meal.” “Then let’s go to the bar to get a drink,” I said, placing my hand on his thigh and holding his stare as I
BAILEE The table was tense when they called for everyone to take their seats for dinner to be served, even more so when the head of the foundation recognized ‘the very generous’ Alexander Kingston as one of their largest donors. George, Helen, and Caleb were fuming from across the table at the s
I gasped as he spun me harshly until the front of my body crashed into his. “You really are more trouble than you’re worth, you know that?” Caleb spat through his clenched teeth while holding his fake smile on his face. Filled with anger, I pretended to stumble, accidentally stepping on his foo
BAILEE “How much?” I asked through my teeth as I glared at him, too angry to even blink. “Oh, Bailee,” Caleb said, pulling at a piece of my hair, and I yanked my face away. “You will never make enough to release the lien.” “How much?!” I demanded louder, yanking myself out of his arms. My che
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
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