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FRAY I SWALLOWED HARD. Bollocks! It was hard not to cry when Sev was holding my hand tightly as if he was afraid I was going to leave. He brought me to the classroom inside the daycare where other kids were playing on the carpeted floor. It was even harder when he introduced me to his teachers and some of his little buddies. Parading me around as if to say, “See, I told you I have a dad.” My heart was breaking right there in the middle of the room surrounded by children. It ached so badly. But it immediately was healed the second Sev wrapped his arms around my legs and begged me to sit and play puzzles with him. At noon, Autumn called to check up on Sev. We had a brief video call before her next client came. The next phone call was the one I had been waiting for for days yet when it finally arrived now, I was a bit down about it. It was from Doctor Albright. “Mr. Ronan, we have the result.” “And?” I asked, feeling a bit impatient but at the same time afraid to hear the news.
AUTUMN I SMILED AS I WATCHED SEV sleeping in the middle of the bed, his arms stretched out and his mouth slightly opened. I turned around, leaving the door slightly open, and walked towards the living room where I had some work needing to be done. I always had the habit of bringing unfinished works home so that I could do them when Sev was sleeping. That way it wouldn’t cut any time I spent with Sev. I was halfway through the second draft when I heard his light footsteps followed by his voice. “Aren’t you going to sleep?” “No.” I moved my attention back to my laptop screen again. “I have to finish them so we could still go to the zoo tomorrow.” The couch dipped and I was suddenly aware of his presence. I gripped the paper a little tighter and turned to face him. “Go to sleep, Fray. You don’t need to wait for me.” “Fray,” he drawled. “It has been a while since you called me that.” Feeling slightly nervous about our closeness, I put my laptop aside, then stood and moved to the
FRAY THE PERSON SHE HAD IN MIND was none other than her brother Steven. I’d only met Steven twice. The first time was at Cas’s home a few years ago during Summer and the second, most recent one was at Tyler’s parents’ wedding. From what I’d gathered, he didn’t approve of me. He seemed to have a close relationship with Tyler so highly likely he blamed me for Autumn and Ty’s breakup. I gazed down at the cup of tea I was holding and took a deep breath in. Sometimes I wondered if I was the reason they were separating but I convinced myself that during my absence, they could’ve gone back together but they hadn’t. Thus I must not have been the reason. Looking at Sev who was sleeping on the couch next to me, I wasn’t so sure anymore. “Fray?” I heard Autumn before I saw her walking into the living room. She smiled the second her eyes found mine. One day, I would ask her. But not today. My lips stretched into a smile, mimicking hers as if they knew that they smiled simply because she was
Fray POV “YOU DO KNOW THAT I DON’T LIKE YOU, RIGHT?” Steven said after he took a swig of Corona Extra. I met his eyes deadpan, daring myself not to show any sign of weakness. “The sentiment is not lost on me although it does make me wonder.” “What?” “Pardon?” Steven growled. “It makes you wonder what?” “It makes me wonder how come a person dislikes someone he doesn’t truly know. Isn’t that a bit like saying you don’t like apples even though you’ve never eaten an apple?” There was a long silence before Steven finally replied. “Fine. You have a point there.” He took another swig of his beer, nearly finishing half of its content, then sighed. “Maybe I am a bit biased. All I know was my sister had a good relationship with Tyler before you stepped into the picture. And when you did, they broke up and she was heartbroken and pregnant. With your kid. Look, I don’t know what happened because she wouldn’t tell me and I wouldn’t force her to. But let’s make one thing clear. I wasn’t
Autumn POV AS I WALKED TOWARDS HIM, I started to feel nervous. Perhaps I shouldn’t do this. The look on his face was full of hope and the last thing I wanted was to turn it into sadness. The last thing I ever wanted was to break his heart. But at the same time, I knew this was the right thing to do—that I needed to do this for both of us to move on. Tyler hugged me the second his eyes met mine. I let myself relax in his embrace. This would be the last one. After a while I stepped backward, his hands dropped to the side of his face and when our eyes finally met again, I knew that he knew. He knew what I was going to say. I could see it in his eyes, feel it in the air as I watched his expression turn sour. “You don’t want to start over,” was all he said. “After all the things we’ve been through, you refused to give me another chance. Even after everything, Autumn? Really?” “Look, Ty, I really don’t want to do this but I have to.” I took a deep breath and tried my best to ignore the
Excerpt of What’s in Store She turned and I had to watch her talking to him. I had no clue why but when I saw Autumn laughing with Tyler, touching his arm, as they both stood there looking like the world’s best couple, something inside me snapped. I couldn’t keep my gaze off of them. It was almost as if they were glued to them, to their every move. Especially to her face, her smile, the glint in her dark brown eyes. Coming here was clearly a mistake. It was better to stay away. At least I could dance around the idea that she was missing me every now and then. But it had been too damn long. Five years, ten months, and twenty-two days since the last time we were in the same room although I could hardly call it a room, more like a small confined space in the back of the ambulance. She’d been frantic, tears strolling down her beautiful face, and I had been so afraid of dying yet at the same time glad that she was there for me in the last moment of my life. Images were plastered beneath
There was simply not enough time for me to go through my closet. Today was Sunday and there had been two weddings back-to-back this weekend that I had to handle, being a manager of the event-management business that my dad owned. We started this business when I had to take a break from college due to being pregnant. At that time, I had free time on my hand and I always wanted to own an event-planning business so I’d informed my dad and borrowed money from him. Instead of lending me his money, he’d started a company and was about to hand it to me when I told him that I’d feel much better working as an employee while he kept the ownership. At least until one day when I had enough money to buy the company from him. As I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror of the gorgeous Metropolitan building, I counted to ten as it usually would give me a calming effect. The attire that I was currently wearing would not suitable for the reunion. Hell, it wasn't suitable for an event organiz
Frazier’s POV SHOCK RIPPED THROUGH ME as I stared at the girl a few feet away from me. It was her. It was Autumn. The color leached from her face and for a second, I was tempted to let go of Natalie’s hand, take a step forward, and pull Autumn into a hug. It’d been so long, so damn long and regardless of how many times I’d tried removing her from my mind, I always failed miserably. She turned and I had to watch her talking to him. I had no clue why but when I saw Autumn laughing with Tyler, touching his arm, as they both stood there looking like the world’s best couple, something inside me snapped. I couldn’t keep my gaze off of them. It was almost as if they were glued to them, to their every move. Especially to her face, her smile, the glint in her dark brown eyes. Coming here was clearly a mistake. It was better to stay away. At least I could dance around the idea that she was missing me every now and then. But it had been too damn long. Five years, ten months, and twenty-two d
Autumn POV AS I WALKED TOWARDS HIM, I started to feel nervous. Perhaps I shouldn’t do this. The look on his face was full of hope and the last thing I wanted was to turn it into sadness. The last thing I ever wanted was to break his heart. But at the same time, I knew this was the right thing to do—that I needed to do this for both of us to move on. Tyler hugged me the second his eyes met mine. I let myself relax in his embrace. This would be the last one. After a while I stepped backward, his hands dropped to the side of his face and when our eyes finally met again, I knew that he knew. He knew what I was going to say. I could see it in his eyes, feel it in the air as I watched his expression turn sour. “You don’t want to start over,” was all he said. “After all the things we’ve been through, you refused to give me another chance. Even after everything, Autumn? Really?” “Look, Ty, I really don’t want to do this but I have to.” I took a deep breath and tried my best to ignore the
Fray POV “YOU DO KNOW THAT I DON’T LIKE YOU, RIGHT?” Steven said after he took a swig of Corona Extra. I met his eyes deadpan, daring myself not to show any sign of weakness. “The sentiment is not lost on me although it does make me wonder.” “What?” “Pardon?” Steven growled. “It makes you wonder what?” “It makes me wonder how come a person dislikes someone he doesn’t truly know. Isn’t that a bit like saying you don’t like apples even though you’ve never eaten an apple?” There was a long silence before Steven finally replied. “Fine. You have a point there.” He took another swig of his beer, nearly finishing half of its content, then sighed. “Maybe I am a bit biased. All I know was my sister had a good relationship with Tyler before you stepped into the picture. And when you did, they broke up and she was heartbroken and pregnant. With your kid. Look, I don’t know what happened because she wouldn’t tell me and I wouldn’t force her to. But let’s make one thing clear. I wasn’t
FRAY THE PERSON SHE HAD IN MIND was none other than her brother Steven. I’d only met Steven twice. The first time was at Cas’s home a few years ago during Summer and the second, most recent one was at Tyler’s parents’ wedding. From what I’d gathered, he didn’t approve of me. He seemed to have a close relationship with Tyler so highly likely he blamed me for Autumn and Ty’s breakup. I gazed down at the cup of tea I was holding and took a deep breath in. Sometimes I wondered if I was the reason they were separating but I convinced myself that during my absence, they could’ve gone back together but they hadn’t. Thus I must not have been the reason. Looking at Sev who was sleeping on the couch next to me, I wasn’t so sure anymore. “Fray?” I heard Autumn before I saw her walking into the living room. She smiled the second her eyes found mine. One day, I would ask her. But not today. My lips stretched into a smile, mimicking hers as if they knew that they smiled simply because she was
AUTUMN I SMILED AS I WATCHED SEV sleeping in the middle of the bed, his arms stretched out and his mouth slightly opened. I turned around, leaving the door slightly open, and walked towards the living room where I had some work needing to be done. I always had the habit of bringing unfinished works home so that I could do them when Sev was sleeping. That way it wouldn’t cut any time I spent with Sev. I was halfway through the second draft when I heard his light footsteps followed by his voice. “Aren’t you going to sleep?” “No.” I moved my attention back to my laptop screen again. “I have to finish them so we could still go to the zoo tomorrow.” The couch dipped and I was suddenly aware of his presence. I gripped the paper a little tighter and turned to face him. “Go to sleep, Fray. You don’t need to wait for me.” “Fray,” he drawled. “It has been a while since you called me that.” Feeling slightly nervous about our closeness, I put my laptop aside, then stood and moved to the
FRAY I SWALLOWED HARD. Bollocks! It was hard not to cry when Sev was holding my hand tightly as if he was afraid I was going to leave. He brought me to the classroom inside the daycare where other kids were playing on the carpeted floor. It was even harder when he introduced me to his teachers and some of his little buddies. Parading me around as if to say, “See, I told you I have a dad.” My heart was breaking right there in the middle of the room surrounded by children. It ached so badly. But it immediately was healed the second Sev wrapped his arms around my legs and begged me to sit and play puzzles with him. At noon, Autumn called to check up on Sev. We had a brief video call before her next client came. The next phone call was the one I had been waiting for for days yet when it finally arrived now, I was a bit down about it. It was from Doctor Albright. “Mr. Ronan, we have the result.” “And?” I asked, feeling a bit impatient but at the same time afraid to hear the news.
I WAS ABOUT TO UNLOCK the door when my phone rang. I pulled my phone out of my bag and looked down at the caller ID. Aubrey Vincent. It was Tyler’s mom. Should I answer it? My finger moved on its own and before I knew it, I had my phone pressed on my ear. “Hi, Aubrey.” “How are you, Autumn?” “I-I’m good.” I cleared my throat in the hope that it would shake off this nervous feeling I suddenly had in the pit of my stomach. Previously I had never felt nervous talking to Audrey yet now, I could hardly keep my fingers from fiddling. “How are you? How’s everyone back in D.C.?” I started pacing in the hallway, glancing at the door every now and then. “We’re all good.” There were a few seconds of silence before she heavily sighed. “Look, I know you have a lot going on right now and I’m probably the last person you’d like to talk to but I really have to talk to you.” Now I felt bad for making her feel this way. I couldn’t help it. Talking to my ex’s mom whom I used to be very close was
This chapter is dedicated to Beth Webb-Hepler, Marlotte, Sonya Jones, & Cindy Simmons Mann who have voted for this book. Grazie!*********Autumn’s POVI PUT MY PHONE on the phone holder and Face-timed Steven while waiting for the red light to turn green. He picked up at the second tone, faster than usual. “Hey, sis, what’s up?” I glanced at the view of him sitting on his sofa, his gaze was moving back-to-back on me and what I expected was the TV. “Do you think I am a man-repellent?” I blurted out straight from the jar.“What?” He finally fixed his gaze on me. “What’s that?” “Just now Charlotte and I had a talk and she mentioned that I had this repellent thing on. Something to shoo men away. Be honest with me, Steven, do I have it on me?” Steven looked a tad uncomfortable. “You’re a single mother and a businesswoman, sis. You have a lot going on and a lot going on for you.” “True.” I took the left turn and then sighed. “Still, I’d like to think guys find me attractive. Like I’m a
Grazie mille! Thanks to your vote, POTI finally is promoted on GN App under the Billionaire tab - POPULAR! Here is a chapter to celebrate!*********AUTUMN“AUTUMN,” CHARLOTTE, MY ASSISTANT CALLED ME from behind her desk as I walked past it. “I’ve called Anna’s Wondrous Treats and they said they could lower the price for Derek and Michelle’s wedding as long as we book them for Yeni and Layla’s wedding.” “That’s great!” With Derek and Michelle’s many requests — in which one of them included a magician— it would help a lot if we could save some money from the catering. I flipped my wrist over and looked down at my watch. Seven PM. With the New York traffic, I was sure I’d be late for dinner. I knew it since two hours ago when the meeting with Yeni Parker and Layla Hall became longer than planned. Frazier had called twice today. He had mentioned that Sev was showing him around and introducing him to his friends and teacher. From what I’d heard so far, it seemed that they were having a g
This 2nd update of the day is dedicated to Merlinda Pancho Pi who has voted for this book. Grazie mille!*********AUTUMNTHIS WAS WEIRD. Definitely weird. How else would you describe sleeping next to your ex? Okay, I stood corrected. He was not my ex. We had never been boyfriend and girlfriend. No. We had slept together once —not exactly once, but you know what I mean—and it was a one-time thing. Albeit it resulted in me carrying his child, it did not necessarily make him my ex unless there was a term called ex-one-night-stand which I doubt its existence and logic.My head turned slightly, very slowly to the right and my eyes caught his dark blonde head bowed, his forehead nearly touching Sev’s. They looked so much alike. So much that it made me envious because I did not see any part of me in Sev even though I’d carried him in my womb for eight months and twelve days.I still remembered how small Sev was when he was born. I cried when I first saw him. Not only because it was a touchi