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2022-10-26 14:20:22Related chapters
Unexpected Arrivals James: Part One: 15 Years Earlier
After I slammed my locker door shut, I turned to join the sea of people meandering the halls of Harbrook High. Another day in the life with kids I'd known since birth. Shuffling through the crowd, I made my way to second period without so much as lifting my head. The voices that said hello, and the familiar pats on the back never changed. Every day was just like the last. There were never new faces, and I'd grown bored with the old ones somewhere around junior high. Until today. I hovered over the desk I'd sat at since the year started, but instead of it being empty—waiting for my ass to grace its presence and warm the seat—there was a girl where nothing should have been. The light streaming through the window behind me cast my shadow over her tiny frame. I'd been prepared to kick her out, until she lifted her gaze and tossed my world on its side just before it sent me spinning. The way her eyes caressed my body until she found my gaze, the soft-pink glow on her cheeks
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
I stopped chewing and stared at her. The way her emerald-green eyes dulled made my heart clench painfully. Words weren't going to ease her pain, and neither was my cocky attitude. With the half-eaten apple in one hand, I reached across the table with the other. My fingers rested on hers before curling in with the slightest bit of a squeeze. She fought against the tears that filled her aching eyes, but one escaped against her valiant effort. Mindlessly, I set the fruit on the table and wiped the lone tear from her cheek with my thumb. "You want some of my peanut butter and jelly?" I could have slapped myself. She was orphaned less than a week ago, and somehow, I believed half of my sandwich would ease that pain. She chuckled the tiniest bit, and the tears cascaded down her beautiful face. The loss radiated in her eyes, but God, I'd give every last cent in my trust fund to keep her smiling. "Captain of the basketball team eats PB and J for lunch? And you said the school
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
It was almost six by the time I pulled up to the Chase mansion. The lights burned brightly throughout, but there were no cars in the driveway. I didn't have her phone number, so I hadn't been able to let her know I was running late. When I knocked on the door, it took ages for someone to finally answer it. I'd been expecting hired help, so it came as a shock when Cora greeted me. "Hey." She had yet to meet my eyes, and instead, stared at my feet. I lifted her chin and noticed the red rim beneath her lashes and the bloodshot look around her irises. "I'm sorry I'm late. I didn't have your number to call." "It's okay." She swiped her tongue along her lips, and I traced its movement until it disappeared back into her mouth. "No, it's not." Running my hand through my hair, I tugged on the roots in frustration. "I got in trouble at school and then with the team. I came as soon as they let me out. I haven't even been home." "I know. I saw." Fuck. I'd hoped she'd
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
There were definite benefits to having clout, not only in school, but in Geneva Key in general. Once I'd decided Cora Chase owned my soul that night on the beach, it had taken a matter of days for the student body at Harbrook to fall for her as well. She'd even captivated my best friend once he'd spent time with her and got over the changes. Cora was magnetic, and she had a personality that drew people in once she let down her guard. Cora had only been in school two weeks before we were out for Christmas break, and in that time, it was no secret that the five-foot-three-inch Yankee had me wrapped around her little finger. And by the time we returned after the new year, we were a solid couple everyone stopped to admire and tried to befriend. She joined the track team in the spring and shined like the star I'd known she was from the moment I'd met her. The other students quickly figured out she was a force to be reckoned with in the classroom as well. This girl had it all. And ther
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
I expected her to launch into a persuasive speech about school in the fall, but to my surprise, when we got to her house, she just led me to her room. Cora dropped her backpack by the dresser and turned to me. Her tiny hand fisted my shirt and pulled me in before closing the door behind us. Her lips turned up in a coquettish grin that drove me wild, and I knew instantly what she was after. She didn't waste any time. Long fingers wrapped themselves around the hem of my T-shirt and started to lift. She wasn't tall enough to get it over my head, though all she had to do was start the ball rolling, and I'd take over. I reached between my shoulder blades and tugged the shirt off. With each inch of skin I exposed, her hands roamed further. The warmth of her touch sent chills up my arms and down my back. She knew what she did to me, and I think she secretly enjoyed being able to bring a man twice her size to his knees. Her soft lips peppered kisses all over my torso, teasing me wit
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
"You two are going to the same college?" Neil didn't try to hide his agitation at my declaration while we jogged around the island. "Why are you so surprised? I'm going to one of the best schools in the country, and it also happens to have a kick-ass basketball program." "You're also toting a serious amount of baggage with you. I don't get it. It's like you can't breathe without her filling your damn lungs with oxygen." He'd picked up the pace, making defending myself more difficult—not that I should have to. "Why do you care?" My heart pounded like a bass drum at a rock concert. Each beat crashed in my chest more forcefully than the last. "Just hate seeing you throw your life away on a high school girlfriend." "Jesus, are you my father or my best friend? You love Cora. Where's this coming from?" "Forget it, dude. Do what makes you happy." I stopped and dropped my hands to my knees. We'd taken to a pace that left us nearly sprinting on the sand. I c
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
There were several benefits to having money—not that I had any, but my parents did. Their absence proved to work in my favor when I asked about leaving for Chapel Hill earlier than expected. Sadly, they were excited by my ambition and desire to get a head start on college. I failed to mention that Cora and Neil would be joining me, and they didn't question my need for a two-bedroom apartment versus one. Everything fell into place like the stars were aligned by celestial forces. Life was perfect for those four years. Neil worked the first year we were there in order to establish residency and gain in-state tuition while Cora and I attended classes and did the whole freshman thing. Life in Chapel Hill so far surpassed anything I'd ever imagined it would be. And being on the UNC basketball team made Harbrook seem pitiful in comparison. I couldn't go anywhere and not be recognized. As a starting freshman forward, I was the talk of the town, and ESPN loved to grace the screen with my
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
"I'm late." "What do you mean, you're late?" The words slipped past my lips in a much harsher tone than I'd intended. "I mean, I should have started my period four days ago, and it hasn't come. I'm late." The fear in my girlfriend's eyes was more crushing than the thought of her being pregnant our sophomore year in college. "Maybe it's just stress." I'd heard stress could change the body's chemistry, surely it could change a woman's monthly cycle. "I'm on the Pill, James. It should be like clockwork." "Exactly, you're on the Pill. So there's no way you could be pregnant." I wanted to believe those words, but even as a guy, I wasn't stupid enough to believe anything was foolproof except abstinence. And we were far from celibate. She stared at me in disbelief. "You're not really that naïve, right?" Her clipped tone gave me more insight into her trepidation than the fear in her eyes. I took her into my arms, pulling her onto my lap, and sat on the be
Last Updated : 2022-10-26
Latest chapter
Unexpected Arrivals Legend
I missed my mama every day. She told me she'd have to go to heaven first, but I hadn't really believed her. Or maybe I didn't understand what that meant. Everything she told me had been true. My daddy came to take his turn when hers was over, and he brought Cora. My mama hadn't been able to tell me much about her except that she would love me. And she'd been right. Daddy and I played when he'd get home from work, but Cora was my best friend. We made scrapbooks together and told stories about our mamas, and when I wanted to cry, she didn't treat me like a baby. She held me, and she cried, too. I knew she was sad here, even if she never told me, so I took her out every day looking for a friend—not for me, for Cora. And every time I saw a shooting star, I gave Cora my wish. When I started school, I met lots of kids. My teacher said they were friends—but I didn't think if someone bit you or hit someone else that made them a friend. I thought it made them mean. Maybe Cora should t
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
Chapter 71: Cora"So when do we get to meet the little urchin?" Neil was excited to meet his best friend's son. "Cora's grandmother is bringing him home around lunch." "How's that going, Cora?" The concern on Neil's face was endearing. "Really well. It's not going to fix itself overnight, even so, I think we're both trying. And that's about all we can do right now. Legend makes it a lot easier." "Does anyone have any idea why his mom gave him such an…odd name?" Hannah had chosen her words carefully as not to offend James, but he'd wondered the same thing. "We haven't asked." I wanted to. However, with everything else going on, it seemed to be at the bottom of the list of things to question. Before the conversation of namesakes could continue, the front door flew open as the doorbell rang. Gwendolyn tried to respect the Carpenters, while Legend had already made himself at home. "Daddy, look what Dottie got me." He flew through the foyer and into the b
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
Having joint custody of a young child was exhausting. We weren't obligated by court order to give Gwendolyn any time, but Legend loved her, and it gave me an excuse to spend time with her out of perceived obligation. I didn't have to admit I was anxious to get to know her or that I had questions. I didn't have to tell her I'd done nothing besides think about all the ways I'd missed out over the years. I got to use Legend as an excuse to have lunch with her during an exchange or walk on the beach while he played in the waves, or sit on a park bench when he climbed on a jungle gym like a monkey. And each opportunity opened the door to a relationship I'd never imagined I'd have, much less crave. Day by day, I realized what I would have missed out on had I not given her the chance. And I tried not to dwell on all I'd lost in favor of all I had to gain. "I'm going to miss you tonight, buddy." Legend was tall and lanky, much like the pictures I'd seen of James at his age, and he gave th
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
"So your father was Chelsea's dad, but she never met him, which makes you Legend's aunt and stepmother? And Gwendolyn, or Dottie, is not only your grandmother; she's my son's great-grandmother? For a Chase, that sounds awfully reprehensible and totally preposterous—not to mention, a tad trashy." I couldn't tell if he didn't buy it or he was so dumbfounded that reality hadn't quite hit him. So I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest, my hip cocked to the side against the dresser, and a death glare on my face while I blinked slowly in his direction. He continued to move about our room getting ready for bed, and still, I said nothing—waiting for it to register. When he finally stopped, presumably because I hadn't made a peep, I pursed my lips and raised my brow, daring him to make another joke. "Baby, what do you want me to say?" He patted the mattress next to him, but I remained firmly planted. "I can't begin to wrap my mind around any of the twisted pieces in the puzz
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
I wandered aimlessly across the island. Although, the years of blame and weeks of turmoil with Gwendolyn at the forefront subsided. Eventually, I had to end up back at the Carpenters', nevertheless my mind was a disaster. The farther I walked, the more muddled I became. I'd cried more in the last two hours than I could remember in the last two years. Tears didn't bring clarity, only a headache. I couldn't imagine how I'd tell James that Legend had a fifty percent chance of having Huntingtons, much less suggest having him tested. Moreover, I couldn't figure out why we would want a death sentence for a child we'd just met. If there wasn't a cure, then why live with that looming overhead. It made no sense to me, but it wasn't my choice to make. Legend wasn't my son—not biologically anyway. James and Gwendolyn would need to be the ones to make that decision. I didn't envy either in that choice and wished I could fix it with a hug, since that was about all I had to offer. When th
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
"Was she sick when she got pregnant?" "Yes. Although, I doubt James even realized it. She had tremors in her hands, and at that point, she wasn't comfortable driving because every once in a while, she'd get turned around. However, most of her symptoms were easily masked as fatigue or clumsiness. And she wasn't around James much before he left town. The disease didn't progress drastically until Legend was about three." "How could she have ever thought she could raise a child alone?" The part of me that had been grateful to Chelsea for the gift she'd given us had turned to rage. "I can't imagine being so selfish knowing she was going to die and that child would have no one." "He had me. The same way she always had. And in her eyes, that was a great life." "Explain that to me. How did my dad go from knocking up her mom to you being the grandmother to her that you never were to me?" "Would you like some more coffee, dear?" I could tell that was her way of try
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
I made it to the end of the driveway before curiosity got the better of me. I shouldn't care what she'd meant by so did they, yet each step I took got harder as the sentiment echoed in my mind. I stopped and stared at the sky, cursing God for giving me a heart that made me unable to let those three words go. "Ugh," I groaned to no one. Nothing she could say would change anything. Still, for some reason, I couldn't walk away. It was like not picking up the next book after a major cliffhanger. I had to have the truth, even if the ending sucked. My shoulders dropped in defeat, and I pivoted on the ball of my foot to head back to my grandmother's porch. Each time I lifted my foot, taking me closer to her front door, I cringed inside. "Get the information. In and out. You don't have to make friends with her or even peace. Just find out her side and go." Talking to myself in my head was one thing; doing it out loud took my irritation to a whole new level. I sounded like an i
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
When the door finally cracked open, I was met by a face I wanted to love but couldn't figure out how. "I had hoped you'd come by at some point. Please, come in." She ushered me through and straight into her home. "Is everything all right with Legend?" Gwendolyn asked as she pointed me toward the couch. "Oh yeah, he's fine. He and James went to the park." "Would you like some coffee?" Coffee indicated I'd be here a while. It would also give me something to do besides fidget with my hands and pick at my fingers. "That would be nice, thank you." She made her way to the kitchen, leaving me on the couch. "Your father was a big coffee drinker, although, I don't recall your mother ever liking it much." I smiled at the memory. My love of the drink had indeed come from my dad. "She didn't care for it, but I used to steal sips of his when he wasn't looking." It had slipped out before I realized I was being civil. "Are you hungry? I have some muffins." "N
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
"How are things going?" I hadn't had much time to talk to Hannah since we'd left New York, and I missed my best friend. "Status quo. The real question is how are you holding up?" The concern was evident in Hannah's tone. "Honestly, I'm struggling, but not with what you'd expect." "Oh yeah? Insta-mom has been a walk in the park?" She giggled. "Hannah, he's awesome. You're going to love him. He looks nothing like James, but it's uncanny how similar the two are. I'm completely gone for him." "Then what's the problem, are you jealous?" "Of what?" I'd just told her how much I adored Legend. There was no reason to think I'd be jealous of his relationship with his dad. "The other woman," she whispered as if Chelsea were a secret. "You are aware she passed away, right?" "Yeah, but she still had your husband's child. And I remember how you felt about her when you were in France. This has to be like a giant slap in the face—her parting gift to you."
