After We Met, page 16
When the voices in her head give it a rest, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Aurora Rose Reynolds, (the queen) Kristen Ashley, Joanna Wylde, Madeline Sheehan and Harper Sloan. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, movies, TV shows and life.
She's a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and (the real)Evan, , a friend and a writer. How does she do it? She'll never tell.
Check out these other titles by Evan Grace
Ripple Effect
A second chance romance
With Brock, I thought we had a love to last forever.
Until the night it died a quick, tragic death, leaving me broke, and destroying my ability to trust another man with my heart.
Now Brock is back and after years apart it's time to face my past and finally get some closure, no matter how much I still love him.
With Ripley, I was getting the home I had always dreamed of instead of the home I grew up in.
I grew up in a home filled with violence and hate. Unlike my father, I vowed never to hurt the people I love. Until the moment I did just that. Now, I'm out of the military, returning home.
I don't expect to see Ripley and haven't laid eyes on her since that night, but even after six years, the feeling I have for her are still there.
It's time for me to face the demons of my past--the same demons that Ripley's been fighting this whole time.
Can Ripley forgive me, and even if she does -- will I be able to forgive myself for hurting the only person who ever mattered?
Chapter 1
Brock
“Hey baby.” MY girl, my heart, the love of my life climbs into my beat-up old Ford pickup truck. Once she’s inside, I grab the back of her neck, pull her across the worn bench seat, and kiss her lips hard before pulling back. Her smile is like a beacon of light leading me to the promised land, and her cornflower blue eyes twinkle in the sunlight as she stares at me.
“Brock what is it? Is something wrong?” She worries her lower lip between her teeth.
I stroke her cheek with my fingertips. “No, nothing’s wrong. I just love you.” Pleasure fills me as I watch her lightly tanned cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink. Even after all this time, I can still embarrass her.
Ripley Brown and I have been together since our freshman year in high school—well, technically we did break up for a week the middle of our sophomore year, but that’s it. We were each other’s firsts, and if I have it my way, we’ll be each other’s lasts.
I pull into the parking lot of Aldridge High School where Ripley and I are seniors. In two days, we’ll finally be out of this place, and then in just a couple months, she and I will be heading to Western Illinois University. My girl is going to be studying elementary
education and I’ll be going to school for law enforcement.
We talked for a long time about our future and where we both wanted to go to school, and her parents have been great about it. They know we’re serious about each other and her dad knows that after graduation, I plan on giving Ripley a promise ring. I worked my ass off this past year to be able to afford the ring I wanted to give her: a delicate gold band with her birthstone, a sapphire, and a little diamond next to each other. I really wanted to propose, but I know she wouldn’t want to get married until we both finish college.
I can wait.
I climb out of my truck and walk around the front end, helping Ripley down then wrapping my arm around her shoulders. At our school, it’s small enough that you almost know everyone. Sometimes it’s a good thing, and other times not so much, like last year when a rumor was started I had cheated on Rip with some girl I met at an away game. It wasn’t true; I’d never do that to her.
It all started because Jonah Mitchell is a rich asshole prick who thinks he’s entitled to everything, including my girl. Ripley is the only girl at school who is immune to his “charm”. Sure, she is nice to him—she’s nice to everyone—but he is always watching
her, looking at her like he wants to strip her bare and do whatever he wants with her. We’ve hated each other since grade school, and I hate him still.
Once inside the building, we make our way toward our lockers, which are coincidentally right next to each other—thanks to Rip’s best friend, Kat. Every year, the friends switch lockers, and it was actually Kat who introduced us.
Through grade school and junior high, Rip and I went to different schools. It was two days after the first day of high school that I met her and fell in love. I was putting my backpack in my locker when I heard laughter coming down the hall. When I turned toward the sound, I felt myself freeze. Ripley was walking arm in arm with Kat, and she was smiling widely at the spastic red head. My breath caught in my throat, and my dick took notice.
She hasn’t changed much since then. Her blonde hair hung down her back framing her face in wild, crazy curls, and her eyes were the softest blue, surrounded by thick dark lashes. She was and still is a petite thing with subtle curves that do things to me, and it always brings out the need to protect her.
“Hey guys!” Speak of the devil. Kat races toward us, wrapping her arms around Ripley before letting her go and giving me a high five. “Only two more days then we’re out of this bitch.” She pumps her fist in the air, Ripley and I laugh.
“What’s up, James?” I feel my body lock up tight and turn to find Jonah and the asshole brigade. They’re your typical teen movie/teenage drama characters: rich boys who think they can do whatever they want. They hate me because I’m popular, captain
of the football team, dating the hottest girl in school, and what they would call poor.
My family is lower middle class, for sure. My mom works full-time, and my dad works until he gets fired then moves on to the next job because he’s a drunk who loves to run his mouth. Everyone knows he beats us, or at least he used to beat me until I got bigger than him. Now he uses words instead of fists. He hits my mom, although she denies it and defends his shitty behavior.
I’ll never understand why, and until she’s ready to leave, there is nothing I can do.
I shake off those thoughts. “What do you want Mitchell?”
“Oh nothing.” His eyes scan Ripley’s body and I want to pummel his face, but that’s exactly what the prick wants. He’s been trying to get me to lose my temper for a long time, but I refuse to let that asshole win. “What’s up Ripley? Looking gorgeous
as always. You know if you ever want to come with me on my family’s boat, I’d love to take you out.”
I’m ready to pound him when I feel Ripley’s arms wrap around my waist and her lips kissing the underside of my jaw. I smile, knowing what she’s doing, and I attack her mouth right there in the hall, backing her up against my locker. She loves it when I pin her down or push her against the wall.
“When you’re ready to stop slumming, I’ll be here,” Jonah says loudly, and I hear him growl before walking away. Reluctantly, I pull away from her.
Her grin is wide and she’s got a hint of mischief in her eyes. “You’re so bad. I’m going to have to paddle your ass tonight,” I whisper against her lips.
Maybe I’ll drive her out to our spot and make love to her in the bed of my truck. It sucks because I don’t dare bring her back to my place, and her parents may love me, but they wouldn’t if they caught us doing it in her bedroom.
“Promise?” Ripley winks at me before opening her locker and grabbing a pen, then gives me another kiss before disappearing down the hall with Kat.
I feel someone move next to me—it’s my best friend Cale.
“What’s up dude?” We exchange one of those half-hug, halfback-slap greetings.
“Nothing.” I look at my phone. “Running late?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t get my fucking car to start. Luckily my dad was still home so he jumped it. Where are Kat and Rip?” Cale’s got a thing for Kat, but is kind of shy around the opposite sex.
He’s been really good about hiding his feelings for her, which is a good thing. If Ripley picked up on it, she would’ve already tried setting them up on a date. My girl is desperate to play matchmaker for everyone we know.
“They already took off toward Ms. Baker’s class.” I lean in close. “When are you going to talk to Kat? I don’t want you to miss your shot with her before she goes away to school.” Out of the four of us, she’s going the farthest—she’ll be attending USC and majoring in accounting. She’s a freaky math whiz.
“I don’t know. Every time I try to get her alone, it just doesn’t work. Maybe I’ll talk to her at Miller’s party.” One of our classmates is throwing a party the night of graduation. I honestly don’t want to go because someone will get drunk and then get
stupid, and it’ll ruin it for everyone else.
Don’t get me wrong, I like to drink, but I don’t get all crazy with it because my dad’s an alcoholic and I refuse to become one too. Plus, I wouldn’t do anything that could jeopardize my relationship with Ripley.
“I think that’s a great idea.” I bump his shoulder. “Let’s go before we’re late.”
My leg bounces as I wait for this graduation ceremony to get over with. We’re finally graduating. I can’t wait to finally be away from my dad. Of course, I don’t want to move away from Mom, but she’s never going to leave him. I wipe the sweat from my brow
and banish those thoughts from my mind. We’ve already been up to get our diplomas, and now we’re listening to the final speech before we can get the hell out of here.
Ripley’s parents are taking us out to eat after we’re done and they invited my parents, but my dad said no, which meant my mom said no too. Whatever—I’d rather not have his drunken ass there. You know things are bad when every night you pray for your own father to drop dead. I’ve got a lot of anger inside me, and that’s why I can’t ever hit Jonah, even if I want to. I’m afraid I’ll snap and there will be no turning back.
Kat taps me on the arm and I realize everyone is tossing their caps up into the air. I give her a smile and with a whoop, toss mine too. I spot Ripley as she comes running toward us, and I catch her in my arms. After spinning her around, I set her back down
on her feet and kiss her quickly.
When I pull back, a flash has me turning my head—my mom is taking our picture.
“Let me take one more,” she says with a smile.
Ripley wraps her arms around my waist and I wrap my arm around her shoulders. She snaps a couple more and then Ripley switches places with her. I wrap my arms around my mom, hugging her tight, and tell her, “I’m glad you came, Mom.”
“I-I’m so proud of you. My baby boy is a high school graduate, and next, college.” She kisses my cheek before taking her leave. I’m sure my dad told her when he wanted her home, and like always she does exactly what he says.
Ripley comes up and wraps her arms around my waist. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I am. Let’s go find your parents.”
Chapter 2
Ripley
Brock moves slowly in and out of me, and my orgasm begins to fade. I can still feel him pulsing inside me after his, and my hands glide gently up and down his back. His lips touch that spot on my neck that makes goose bumps pop up all over my body, and a contented sigh leaves my lips. I whimper as Brock pulls his softening penis out of me. We both quickly dress, then
I lie back down in his arms. The bed of his truck isn’t the most comfortable place to rest, but he keeps sleeping bags and blankets in a trunk in the back, which helps. “I can’t wait until we go away to school,” Brock whispers against my forehead.
I hug him tight and place my lips right over his heart. “I know baby. I wish my parents would let you move in until it’s time to go.” I push up and look down at him.
He reaches up tucking my hair behind my ear. “You know that’s not a good idea. I love your mom and dad, and I’d hate if something happened that would change how they saw me.”
Stuff like this is why my parents love Brock. He’s always been respectful of their rules when it comes to me, and Dad has been instrumental in keeping Brock on the right path to graduate. His dad is useless, so mine took it upon himself to guide and support Brock’s journey. That’s why my dad’s my hero.
Every day he drops me off at home sadness washes over me as I think about what he’s going home to. The first time Brock showed up with a black eye, I bawled like a baby and threatened to go after the bastard. Instead, my dad took Brock out back. I don’t know what they talked about, but when they came back he grabbed my hand and we made our way to school.
I rest my head on Brock’s chest. His heartbeat is a sweet, steady rhythm, and it’s beginning to lull me to sleep. “How many kids should we have?” he asks quietly.
“Hmmm . . . well I’d like at least two, maybe three.” We’re both only children ourselves, but I have always wanted a big, loud, loving family.
He moves me so I’m on my back and he looms over me. “I think we should have four. I want a little girl that’ll look like her mommy and three boys to protect their sister.”
“Four? You realize I’m the one who has to carry them and then push them out, right? Although I do like the idea of having sweet little boys who love their momma.” He bends down and our lips touch. The kiss is slow and sweet, and I could do it forever.
His tongue licks at my lips until they open to him, and the kiss quickly intensifies as our tongues tangle and my legs wrap around his hips. Then he pulls back.
“I need to get you home so you can get ready for the party unless you don’t want to go anymore.” He looks at me with a hopeful expression.
“We have to go. Come on, it’ll be fun.” With a sigh, he helps me stand up. We roll up the sleeping bags and blankets and put them back in the chest, and then he jumps down off the bed and reaches for me, helping me down.
On the way back into town, I sit right next to Brock with my head on his shoulder. All too soon, he’s pulling up in front of my parents’ house. “I’ll be back at eight,” he tells me before kissing my lips.
“Okay, I’ll see you later. I love you.” I climb out of the truck.
“I love you too, baby.” I stand on the sidewalk and watch his truck disappear down the street, and then I head inside to begin getting ready for the party.
“Brock should be here any minute, so we’ll just meet you there,” I tell Kat as I pluck my outfit out of my dresser drawer.
“Okay, that sounds good. Cale offered to be my driver for the night and he just drove up, so I’ll see you later.” I toss my phone onto my bed and turn toward the mirror, wondering when
Kat’s finally going to realize she and Cale could have something amazing, like Brock and me. I haven’t said anything to Brock because he would accuse me of trying to mettle—which I am not doing—but if they need a gentle nudge, I’ll give it to them.
The first time I met Brock, I thought he was a cocky jerk, but over our freshman year, I got to know him better. I never thought he’d be into a girl like me: shy and quiet, and my nose was always buried in a book. Kat was the outgoing one, the girl all the guys wanted. Heck, her locker was right next to his. The day he asked me out, that was all she wrote. After that, we were inseparable, and we still are.
My parents were a little worried at first because it was no secret the type of home Brock grew up in, and they didn’t want me around Brock’s dad. It didn’t matter though, because he’s never taken me there. Over the past three years I’ve only seen his mom
and dad a handful of times, usually in a public setting. His mom is a willowy woman who is beautiful, but constantly looks jumpy.
His dad is tall with brown hair that has some silver sprinkled through it, brown eyes, and a bit of a beer belly on an otherwise athletic frame. He would be a good-looking guy if I didn’t know what a piece of crap he was. I hate knowing that his dad hurts him and his mom, and I don’t understand why she stays. I’ve talked to my mom and dad about it, and they’ve never been able to explain it. The only thing they said was that if Brock’s mom ever decided to leave, they would help her in any way they could.
I love my parents. My dad and Brock are close, and I love that he’s taken Brock under his wing. He’s a positive male role model for someone who’s never had one. They’ve just made us promise to wait until after college before getting married and having kids.
I get back to the task at hand and quickly fishtail braid my ash-blonde hair so it falls over my shoulder in a thick plait. I touch up my eye shadow and blush then add a thin coat of pink lip gloss. . It’s hot and humid so I throw on a black cami and a flowy lavender tank top that hangs off one shoulder. I slide on my favorite cutoffs, which are so worn, I’m surprised they haven’t fallen apart. After slipping on my black Chucks, I head out into the living room.
My mom is sitting on the couch reading and I flop down right next to her. “Whatcha reading?” Since I can remember, my mom has always been a reader, always carrying a book around with her, which makes total sense because she’s the head librarian at
Aldridge Public Library. I love to read, but not to the degree she does.
“Nora Roberts’s latest book. You’d like it.”
My mom knows what kind of books I like to read, so if she recommends it, I’m probably going to like it. “You’ll have to let me read it when you’re done.”
“Is Brock picking you up?”
I look at my phone and see that he should’ve been here five minutes ago; he’s never been late picking me up before. “He is, but he should’ve been here by now.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”
