Authors: Lindsay Paige
Without a Doubt
* * * *
Without a Doubt
Copyright © 2015 by Lindsay Paige
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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One Year Earlier
MY HEART SINKS, so heavy with heartache and confusion that I can feel it ripping from my chest, and then falling to the ground before being soaked up like rain until it reaches the deepest depths of the earth. Kelly's eyes are glassy, betraying the words she's telling me.
“I don't understand,” I say again.
She takes a deep breath. “Emerson, I think this will be good for us. You're going off to college; I'm staying here at the community college, and it only makes sense that we take a break and see other people.”
“But I love you, and this doesn't make any sense to me at all.” I shake my head at the absurdity of it. We were best friends first. We decided to take the plunge our junior year as a couple and I love her more than anything. She's my entire world and the thought of going on without her makes me want to fall to my knees in pain. Why she suddenly wants us to take a break is beyond me.
Kelly wraps her arms around my waist. She's sitting on the tailgate of my truck, and I'm standing in front of her, between her knees. “You said you would do anything for me,” she tells me with a pointed look, daring me to retract my words.
I sigh with defeat. She's backed me into a corner. Kelly's as stubborn as they come and once she makes up her mind, there's no changing it. “You're sure you want this? All I want is you, but if you want me to do this, then I reckon I will. If you're sure.”
Please, please, please, say no.
All I want is for her to change her mind.
She nods. “I'm positive, Emerson.”
My heart disintegrates. “How long do you want this break?” I ask, my voice surprisingly calm and understanding, two emotions that are far from what I'm actually feeling. I want to clench my fists, shout, and drop to my knees to beg her to change her mind. I'd do anything, if only she wasn't so determined to make this happen.
“Two years, at least.”
Two whole years?
I'll never last that length of time without her. “We can do more growing up, learn who we are without the other, and learn if we're really meant to be.”
We are. I
know
we are. Without a doubt, Kelly Price is
the
love of my life. Before I can complain about how long she wants me to be without her, she speaks again.
“You'll see other people, won't you?” There's so much hope in her voice and it confuses me. “Otherwise, it's pointless.”
I lean forward to rest my forehead against hers. The breeze blows, and I inhale that floral fragrance she's always wearing. “You're killing me, Kelly,” I whisper, my composure getting harder and harder to maintain.
She remains silent, knowing exactly what she's doing. I just don't know
why
. Instead of telling me that we don't have to do this, she tilts her head back to let her lips meet mine. Kelly distracts me with her mouth as her hands begin to roam, and she uses her body to her advantage. I can't help but feel like this is a permanent goodbye and not a temporary one. But this is what she wants, what she's asked of me, and I'll give it to her because I love her more than life itself.
Time will pass, and in two years, I'll be back here. Kelly will be mine again and we'll have to catch up on lost time. I know we're young, but I've never been more sure about anything than I am about the fact that the rest of my life will be spent with this girl. All I have to do is give her this one thing.
Present Day
FIRST DAY OF classes always suck if you ask me. They're boring as most teachers go over their repetitive syllabi, highlighting information pertaining to the class, but generally expecting us to read it more thoroughly later. Afterward, they attempt to start lectures no one wants to be forced to listen to just yet. The icing on the cake to this boring day though is when I see a girl pacing by my truck. She has shoulder-length curly black hair and she's wearing a white tank top, shorts which show a lot of leg and a perfect ass, and flip-flops.
I stop twirling my keys on my finger to press the unlock button. She jumps at the sound and the headlights flashing once. Then, she turns around to face me.
Wow.
She's hot. Her bright, light blue eyes are a contrast to her tan skin and dark hair. Her curves lead to hips you want to grab and cleavage peeks from the top of her shirt.