Impossibly True (Impossibly Duology)

TRUE

An Impossibly Novel

IMPOSSIBLY
#2

Copyright
© 2014 Shane Morgan

TSW
BOOKS

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in
any format. Please do not partake in or encourage piracy of copyrighted
materials. Purchase authorized editions only.

ISBN-13: 978-0615976334 (paperback)

Cover Models: Carmen Inongo & Reider Robert

© Luna Vandoome & Viorel Sima.
Signed model release filed with Shutterstock, Inc
.

Formatting by S.
Morgan

This is a work of fiction and is a product of the author’s
imagination. Anything mentioned that relates to actual names, events, places,
or institutions are used fictitiously.

Other Books by the
Author:

Impossibly Love

Finding Narragansett

The Unresisting
Trilogy:

Unresisting

Unfearing

Unending

This book, like all the others, is dedicated to my wonderful
family, and all the readers and fellow bloggers who send me positive vibes
every day. This journey has not been easy, but because of your support I press
on and hold my head high. Love
is
true.

CHAPTER
ONE

Branden

  
There are three things in my life which make me happy
. I mean Leonardo DiCaprio kind of
happy, complete with a shout-out about being “king of the world!” Those three
things are my health, my girl and hockey.

  
After surgery, that annoying pain in my chest was gone. I mean, I felt good.
Not a speck of pain or shortness of breath.
Nothing.
I
was back to being the old Branden McCarthy before getting sick. I’d begun my sophomore
year at college and fell in love with a beautiful girl.
A
girl who remained by my side, even when I was hospitalized.
  I won
her heart and love.

  
Finally.

  
Yes, things were definitely working out. My life was mine again. Playing hockey
was a possibility too. I contacted the Athletics Department at Easton
University and inquired about joining the team next fall. Of course, I had to
provide medical documents—proof I was no longer sick and could handle the
exertion and stress of a demanding sport—but like I said, happiness was mine.

  
It was almost three months now, since I had surgery to correct my aortic
dissection, and almost three months since dropping the m-bomb on Moya that I
intended to give her the McCarthy name. Of course, after some careful
consideration, we decided to spend more time getting to know each other since
I’d fallen for her last semester, before taking such a huge step. Actually, it
was more of her decision. Not mine. I’d marry her today if she wanted.

  
Christmas was right around the corner, so she’d be on winter break soon. I was
excited for that because I’d been planning a weekend getaway for us. She could
use some relaxation after finals, and I needed to get out of this house.

  
When I first came home from the hospital, I spent my days slowly recuperating:
doing physical therapy, and checking in with Doctor Henderson ever so often.
Mom turned into my full-time nurse—as smothering as ever—and Dad went back to
his usual self, burying his head in work. I didn’t let anything bother me
anymore though. I only focused on getting my strength back.

  
Crap
. If I hadn’t gotten sick again, I would have been wrapping up my
first semester as a sophomore like Moya, instead of preparing to repeat it.
Still, I can’t complain. The other alternative I faced was grim—I could have
died.

  
Aside from getting healthy, there were a few things I hadn’t expected. Like
Ashton deciding to join his college’s study abroad program. My older brother
would be traveling to Spain at the start of the New Year. But the one surprise
that shocked the hell out of me was the return of someone I never wanted to see
again.

  
Samantha.

  
My ex-girlfriend showed up at my house.

  
I hadn’t checked to see who had rung the bell before answering the door. And
when our eyes met, my healing heart felt as if it shot up my throat. After she
dumped me, I’d been pissed at her for a long time. I’d called her so many
things inside my mind.

  
Her sorrowful gray eyes, brimming with regret, failed to faze me today. If
anything, her staring at me only made me tighten my grip on the door handle,
fingers threatening to slam the panel of wood closed in her damn
face.         

  
“What are you doing here?” I asked bitterly. “Did my mother put you up to
this?”

  
A gush of December wind followed my question. Samantha hugged herself, gripping
her jacket against her small body. If she believed I was going to let her in
out of the cold, she thought wrong. I had no remorse left for her.

  
‘I just…” her voice cracked. “I wanted to see how you were doing. Your mom told
me about the surgery. She stopped by the bank where I work a few days ago and—”

  
“I don’t care,” I hissed.

  
Samantha edged closer. The intense smell of her perfume burned my nostrils.
She’d always put on so much when we were dating. I hated it.

  
“I know you’re still mad about what happened, but Branden, what would you have
done if you were me?”

  
“What would
I
have done?” I repeated. Irritation pulsed through my veins.
“I wouldn’t have said ‘you’re gonna die, and it’ll hurt too much for me so I’m
breaking up with you.’”

  
Trembling, she brushed her long, shiny blonde hair behind her ears and said
lowly, “I was scared…I didn’t have the strength to watch you suffer.”

  
“I called you after the first surgery,” I reminded her. “I told you I was all
right, that we could try again. And what did you say then?”

  
Her eyes watered, tears fighting to escape. “I…I wasn’t sure if—” 

  
“What did you say?” I asked through clenched teeth.

  
Samantha quivered at the harshness in my tone. She peered down at her hands
while murmuring, “I couldn’t go back.” Her words were like whispers.

  
I laughed.
“Exactly.
So what the hell do you want
now?”

  
Glancing up at me, she lifted a hand to touch my cheek. I stepped backwards.
Samantha drew a deep breath before saying, “I miss you, Branden. I’ve been
thinking about you…about us. I want to talk and try to work things out. I’m
sorry I ran away when you needed me most. But, I really want to fix things
now.”

  
I folded my arms across my chest, trying to tame my anger. “You’re too late.”

  
She blinked. A single tear fell down her cheek. Shaking her head, she wiped it
away fast. “It’s not too late. What we had was real. We both love each other,
and if we try to be friends at least, then maybe we could get past—”

  
“No. I’ve already found someone else.”

  
Astonished, her eyes widened like a deer in headlights. Samantha screwed up her
face in confusion.
   “What do you mean?” she asked. “I don’t understand.”

  
I scoffed. “What’s not to understand? There’s someone else in my life now. I’ve
moved on.”

  
She hugged herself again. Her lips twitched as she searched for something to
say.

  
I started to close the door. “I have stuff to—”

  
“I’m not giving up,” she blurted, stopping the door with her hand.

  
“What?”

  
“I’m not going to run away again. This time, I’m going to fight.”

  
Looking her straight in the eyes, I said for the last time, “Samantha, we’re
over.” Then I closed the door in her
face,
and on that
chapter in my life. What made her even decide to show up now? I hadn’t seen her
in months. Was my mother the mastermind behind this?

CHAPTER
TWO

Moya

  
A sudden and sharp pain ran through my neck
when I woke up. I’d fallen asleep at
my desk again. Sitting up on the chair, I smoothed out the creases I’d made on
the pages of my textbook. Then I stretched my hands over my head, released a
yawn, and checked my cell phone for the time. There was a text message from
Branden.

  
Good
luck today, babe.

  
I sent him a quick thank you, seeing I had only an hour to shower and get
dressed for class. Professor Samson was running a sample test today—my reason
for procrastinating on theory concepts and problem solving in Financial
Management all night. And to think I was starting to like my major.

  
After showering, I hurried back to my room and hauled a gray, knitted sweater
dress over my head, pulled on thick black tights, brown boots, and finally
slipped into my favorite wool coat with the houndstooth pattern and oversized
buttons.

  
A woolen cap kept my ears warm and curls under control. I looked at myself in
the full length mirror on the closet door. It wasn’t officially
winter
yet, but the weather had gotten colder, and I
disliked the cold.

  
When I locked up and went downstairs, Vanessa was waiting for me in the lobby.
She didn’t seem like her usual glamorous self. Her eyes were puffy; they barely
looked as if they were open, and she was dressed rather…average. Like me. There
wasn’t anything stylish. Nothing like what she was known for.

  
“Hey, Nessa.”

  
“Hey girl,” she croaked, her voice sounded dreadful.

  
“Uh-oh.
What happened?” I asked, touching her arm
lightly as we stepped outside the dorm.

  
“I went to Calvin’s game last night, screamed my lungs out for him, and
celebrated into the late hours. Then I got soaked in the freezing rain on my
way back to my dorm.”

  
“Ah
,
I see.” I draped my bag over my shoulder. “That sucks. You gonna
make it through the rest of the week?”

  
She shrugged. “I’ll live, just as soon as finals are over and I can get some
rest.”

  
Hooking her arm around mine, we turned down the concrete path towards the
School of Business. Vanessa had Communications a few rooms from my Financial
Management class. Thursday was the only day of the week my bestie and I walked
together to the same building, that’s why she’d meet me at my dorm.

  
“So, I take it your relationship is doing all right then?”

  
“Yeah, I mean, we have our days. But we’re like any other couple. How are
things with you and Branden?” she’d been dodging the topic of her and Calvin
for the past few days now.
Weird.
She used to spill
everything to me, even when it was another argument.   

  
Letting it go, I smiled and answered, “We’re great. I’m going to his house
again this Saturday for dinner.”

  
“Ooh. Another dinner with the fam. Things
are
getting
serious, huh?” the question came out in a cough.

  
“We just really like each other and want this to work.” I hadn’t told Vanessa
just how much Branden wanted our relationship to progress. The talk of marriage
would freak her out.

  
She released my arm to fix the long, burgundy scarf around her neck. Then she
gave me a glance over and shook her head slowly. “I can’t believe this is the
same girl who used to say she don’t need
nobody
.”

  
“Stop,” I nudged her arm. “You keep saying that.”

  
“I
know
, but it’s so hard to believe you’ve changed this much. I’m glad
you found Branden.”

  
I smiled.
“Me too.”

  
As we approached the building, we both searched in our bags for our student IDs
to open the door. There was a beep. Someone else beat us to it. Peering up, I
saw it was Tobias.

  
“Hello, ladies,” that deep, silky-smooth voice and overconfident grin had
become all too familiar now—He’d been pursuing me for the past few months after
transferring to my Financial Management class.

  
“Thanks,” I muttered flatly, pushing past him to enter the building.

  
“Thank you, Tobias,” Vanessa said in a nicer yet gritty tone as she entered
behind me.

  
“Oh no, honey. Are you all right?” he asked Vanessa.

  
“I’ll make it,” she answered.

  
I towed her along and hastened ahead to keep him from starting his usual
pestering. Only, my evasion was pointless since we had the same class and he
chose a seat next to mine.

  
“So, are you ready for this test?” he asked, catching up to my pace.

  
I kept my eyes straight ahead, replying with, “I’m always ready.”

  
“Of course,” he smirked. “You’re one of the top students in the class.”

  
“Ahem,” Vanessa piped in. I slowed down and looked over at her. “Catch you
later, girl. I’m going to head to the little girls room before my class
starts.”

  
“Okay,” I waved at her. She turned right and headed for the bathroom.

  
Ignoring the fact that Tobias was waiting for me, I treaded past him down the
hall. Professor Samson was already at his desk arranging papers when I entered
the room.

  
Tobias sat down, and I could sense him watching me as I got out of my coat and
prepared for class. Students trudged in and took their seats.

  
“Are you ever going to forgive me?” he asked.

  
I sat, taking blank sheets of paper out of my bag. “Forgive you for what?” I
didn’t spare him a glance.

  
“For calling you a…lesbian?” he whispered, so no one could hear.

  
Letting out a satirical laugh, I placed the papers on top of the desk and
folded my hands in my lap. “I’m over that. What I don’t like is that out of all
the FinMan classes at Easton, you just had to transfer to this one to torment
me.”

  
“Torment you?” he smirked. “Don’t get it wrong. I mean, you’re fine as
hell
,”
he stretched the word in a romantic way. “But I transferred because Professor
Samson is the best. I didn’t even know you were in this class. Still, it’s a
nice treat, even though you can’t stand me for some reason.”

  
I scoffed, finally looking at him. “No. There
is
a reason. I told you I
have a boyfriend, yet you still continue to hassle me to go out with you.”

  
“That’s because I haven’t seen this phantom boyfriend of yours,” he retorted.
“Who is he? Does he go to this school? Does he go to any school? Is he even
working?”

  
I sucked my teeth.
“None of your business.
Just leave
me alone.”

  
“Man, you’re so hard to get through to.”

  
“Damn right.”

  
“How about dinner tonight?”

  
“In your dreams.”

  
“Let me guess,” he sighed. “It’s because of this boyfriend?”

  
I rolled my eyes. “Please, even if he wasn’t in the picture, I still wouldn’t
go out with you.”

  
“Ouch,” he touched his chest. “That hurts.
How come?”

  
“Three words: Not. My.
Type.”

  
Professor Samson stood from his desk and began issuing out the test.

  
“Alright, class. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  
He was right on time, because it seemed like Tobias was about to continue
annoying me, and I was getting riled up from his never-ending pursuit.

  
I couldn’t help think how ironic this was though. Like déjà vu, me being in a
situation where a guy was completely fascinated with me. Hadn’t Branden and I
started out this way? I used to be evasive, pushed him away before giving in to
my obvious feelings. But Tobias was in no way comparable to Branden. There was
no attraction. The thought of him and I was just laughable. Branden’s the only
guy for me.

  
Thinking about my boyfriend clouded my mind so much I nearly missed the test
now on my desk, and Professor Samson had started his timer.
Geez
.
It had been only five days since I’d last seen Branden, yet I missed him a lot.
I could hardly wait for the weekend to taste those sweet lips of his again.