Sapphire (5 page)

“What are you talking about?  Permission for what?”

Robbie turns to me, putting his hand on my thigh where the dress has ridden up, “Well, I would like to ask you on a date, but I felt like I needed to make sure that it was okay with Jack.”

My mouth drops open, shocked that we’re actually having a conversation like this.  Not only is it awkward to have someone
asking
Jack for permission to date me, but Robbie thinking he needs to ask me on a date
after
we’ve had sex comes as a surprise.

“Well, what did Jack say?”  I need to buy some time here.

“I said yes, of course,” Jack chuckles.  “Personally, I find it extremely funny that he’s asking you on a date, especially after the entire neighborhood heard the theatrics the morning I came to pick you up.” 

My face instantly heats and it’s not just my face that’s turning red; I can see the flush creeping up my legs. 

“Jack,” I whisper, shocked that he hadn’t said anything sooner.

“Oh, come on.  I knew you weren’t in the shower when I was knocking.  I knew exactly what was going on.”  Jack raises his eyebrows repeatedly. 

“Oh my gosh, Jack.  Stop it.”  My hands fly to my mouth, covering it before I say something about the night prior, when Robbie paid me for sex.

Robbie is laughing hysterically when my aunt brings over a serving plate of steaks and baked potatoes.

“What’s so funny?” she questions.

“Nothing, Mom.  We’re just telling a funny story.”

I take my fork and stab a steak off the plate, transferring it to mine while Robbie eyes me suspiciously.  I’m trying to ignore his looks, but I can feel his gaze even though my hair has fallen in front of my face, creating a makeshift shield.

“So?” Robbie asks.

“What?” 

“Would you like to go on a date with me, Dallas?”  When he whispers that in my ear, my senses are on full alert and that all too familiar shiver going down my spine would make me fall to my knees if I wasn’t already sitting.

“I would love to go on a date with you.”  And there you have it, folks.  I’m officially a reformed woman.  Not only am I going places in life, I’m going to go on a date.  And not the kind of date where a John picks me up on a corner, fucks me in the backseat of his car and gives me my sixty bucks.  A real date—where a boy is going to pick me up, probably with flowers, and take me to dinner. 

The moral of the story is this; not all fairytales have the typical, cliché start and finish.  Boy meets girl, they fall in love instantly, get married, get the white picket fence and two point five children and drive a minivan.  More times than not, someone is fucked up, has a shitty life and all it takes is one gesture of genuine care and concern to change everything.  Robbie did that for me.  He found me in the gutter, cared for me, turned me over to the people that love me more than anything and brought me back to life. 

Robbie put the sparkle back in my sapphire blues.

TO BE CONTINUED ….

Abo
ut the Author

Ashley Suzanne has been writing as long as she can remember. As a youngster, she was always creating stories and talking to her imaginary friends. Thankfully, her parents also carried this love of fiction, and helped her grow into the writer she is today.

Ashley is a bestselling author and spends equal amounts of time writing and reading. Being the true book whore she is, Ashley would rather dive into a good book before going out of her house. Giving up her career in Real Estate, Ashley has officially moved to hermit status.

When Ashley isn't coming up with her next story, you'll most likely find her on the couch with a kindle in her hand (probably watching some crappy reality show while annoying her husband by telling him all about her new book boyfriend or spending quality time with her two gremlins ... Sorry, I mean adorable children.)

OTHER WORKS BY ASHLEY SUZANNE
*All works can be found everywhere ebooks are sold.  Please visit
www.booksbyashleysuzanne.com
for a complete list of Ashley’s books.

THE DESTINED SERIES
Mirage (book 1)
Inception (book 1.5)
Awakening (book 2)
Façade (book 3)
Epiphany (book 4)
Inescapable (book 5) – COMING SOON

FIGHT OR FLIGHT SERIES (Random House—Loveswept)
Raven (book 1)
Cutter (book 2) (Coming 2016)
CLAIM SERIALS (Also available in Korean Translation)
Claim: Volume 1
Claim: Volume 2
Claim: Volume 3
Claim:  The Complete Collection (box set)
THE UP IN SMOKE SERIES
Rekindle (book 1)
Smolder (book 2) (coming soon)
STAND ALONE NOVELS
Calling Card (Also available in Portuguese Translation)
Breaking Noah (Random House—Loveswept) (Co-Authored with Missy Johnson)
Dallas (coming soon) (Continuation of Sapphire:  A Short Story)
Ashley’s Facebook
Ashley’s Website
Sign up for Ashley’s Mailing List

Ashley Suzanne is represented by Marisa Corvisiero with Corvisiero Literary Agency.

And a little surprise just for you guys!!

Inescapable (Destined Book 5)

by Ashley Suzanne

Prologue

Mira

“Mira, you about ready?  We’re gonna be late,” Skylar calls from the kitchen.  I swear, it’s not as easy as you’d think getting ready, plus making sure two kids look halfway presentable.  Thankfully Adalyn is seventeen and can manage on her own, but poor Liam, that kid, he’s a mess.  He may be eleven, but you’d think he was no more than six.  Minecraft shirts cannot be worn everywhere.  Someone please tell that to my child.

“Give me five.  Need to check on Liam.”  Walking from my bedroom to Liam’s, the sound of Skylar’s grown man huff and the car keys clattering together puts a little pep in my step, but not much.  Sometimes it’s funny stressing him out.

Stepping into Liam’s room, my sweet man boy is lying on his bed, playing with his phone … in his underwear.  “Liam Chaos, you have five minutes.  Get up.  Phone down.  Dressed.  Now.”

“Mom, I don’t want to go.  Can’t I just stay home?”  All of this with his eyes glued to the screen.  Withholding every urge to snatch that pretty new phone out of his hands and stomp on it repeatedly, I take a deep breath and walk over to him casually.

In the softest voice possible, which is code for “I’m going to choke you if you don’t listen” I reiterate my earlier statement, “Honey, we have to leave.  You can’t stay home.  This is important.  It’s not every day your big sister graduates high school.  Please get up and get dressed.”

Thankfully, he does as I request.  Albeit, he’s stomping his way to the dresser for a decent outfit, but he’s doing it.  It’s the small things, right?

Ten minutes later, Liam and I are waiting in the kitchen for Adalyn to emerge from her bedroom.  Sky’s already in the car honking the horn, letting us know that he’s ready.  “Ada, hurry up.  Your dad’s gonna get the cops called on us.”

“Coming,” she yells, and shortly after, the clicking of her heels as she barrels down the stairs ring through the house.  When she peeks from around the corner, my heart stops beating for a few seconds.  She’s stunning.  I don’t know how she’s so damn beautiful, but she just is.  I wish she wouldn’t cake on that makeup, because her true beauty shines so brightly, but a young woman is gonna do what a young woman is gonna do.

“Can you tell him to stop, please?” she says with a hint of an attitude.

“Just come on.”  I ruffle Liam’s hair and put my arm out toward Adalyn. 

*****

The ride to the restaurant is quiet; Adalyn and Liam on their phones, Skylar brooding in the driver’s seat and me, unable to get over the fact that I’m the mother of a high school graduate embarking on her college adventure.  It feels like just yesterday Kylee and I were headed to U of M.  We were so young, so naive.  If we wouldn’t have met the boys, God knows what kind of trouble we would have gotten into.

Adalyn got her acceptance letter to U of M a few weeks ago.  She also got one from State, but already knew that was going to be a no-go from her father and me.  Unless she was awarded a scholarship, there’d be no way in hell she’d attend Michigan State University.  Born and bred, our family … and extended family … bleed maize and blue.  For better or for worse.

Of course Sky refuses to valet the car, so we’re parking a few blocks away from the restaurant and walking.  The boys are okay with this, as they’re not wearing heels.  I’m alright since I’ve been doing this thing for years, but my poor Ada, with the exception of dances and a few weddings, the girl lives in sneakers.  For example, earlier today at graduation, she was wearing the most adorable sun dress under her gown … with a pair of chucks.  That’s my daughter—gives zero fucks about how anyone sees her.

We make it without any injuries.  Adalyn and I take a seat while Skylar and Liam head to the hostess to check in for our reservation.  “The other members of your party have already arrived,” I hear her say over the light music playing in the vestibule.  Ada and I rise and follow our boys to a table in the back.

“Look at you, beautiful girl.  Or should I say woman?”

“Uncle Danny, you know I prefer lady,” Adalyn jokes, wrapping her dainty arms around Danny’s midsection and squeezing him for dear life.  He looks up, winks at me, then hugs Ada back. 

“We’re so proud of you, sweetie.  Come sit and tell us all about it,” Maddy, Danny’s wife, says, ushering Adalyn to sit between her and her husband. 

I take my usual seat, between Skylar and Kylee.  “Did we have legs like that when we were her age?” Kylee asks.

“I don’t know about you, Ky, but Mira did.”  Skylar places his hand on my thigh under the table.  Now I’m angry I told Kylee that I didn’t need a sitter for Liam tonight.  The things I would do to Skylar if there were no children in the house …

“I’d like to propose a toast,” Skylar says, clinking the side of his glass.  Everyone’s attention turns toward him as he begins to speak.

“Here’s to my beautiful daughter, Adalyn.  Over the last seventeen years, you’ve made my life worth living.  We wouldn’t be here tonight without the love of our friends … our family.  Kylee and Jacoby, thank you for your sacrifice.  Because of you, we have a daughter and we couldn’t be happier.  Danny and Maddy, thank you guys for flying in.  We love you guys.  And back to the girl of the night.  Ada, I’m so damn proud of you, princess.  You and your brother make all of this worth it.”  Skylar raises his glass and we all follow suit.

“Congrats!” everyone yells with gusto. 

“And Go Blue,” Liam cheers, gaining himself a high five from his father.

In just a few short months my baby is going off to college.  I smile up at Skylar, wink and Danny and nudge Kylee with my knee.  I pray she finds a great group of people to spend her time with like I did.  I hope that when she’s celebrating her first child’s graduation, she’ll be surrounded by those same people.

Here’s to my daughter starting her life.

Here’s to Adalyn finding her place in the world.

Here’s to Ada meeting the love of her life.

Here’s to us.

Chapter One

Adalyn

Three Months later

“Thank God summer’s over,” said no college student ever.  Well, except me, I guess.  I couldn’t be happier to move into the dorms.   Not because I’m pumped for ECON and cafeteria meals, or even because I’m a freshman.  It probably has something more to do with the fact that I needed to get away from him.

If you would have asked me a week ago if I was ready for classes to start, I more than likely would have started crying and whining about how I needed more time.  I would have been worried about how often we’d see each other, with me attending college at U of M and him … well, not. 

That’s how fast things can change, though.  Seven days can alter the path you think you’re life’s headed; where you think you’re going.  Well, it’s more like the span of a few hours, but I had the week to grieve, recover and get myself in check.  Which I did mighty well, if I do say so myself.

So, instead of planning how I’d break out of the dorms or sneak him in, I only have minor things to worry about:  not gaining the dreaded ‘freshman fifteen’, keep my grades high enough so my parents pay for my classes, hang out with old friends, and meet new ones.  Simple enough, right?  I’d say he did me a huge favor.  Remind me to send him a thank you card.  I bet that Hallmark doesn’t make a ‘Thanks so much for fucking me over after I gave you my heart’.  That’s okay, I’ll use Photoshop.  No sweat.

He claimed it was my fault, however.  Said I should have told my dad.  Never mind the fact that my mom knew and was actually supportive of our relationship, it was all about my dad.  Or rather Axe, because Ada’s father or Skylar won’t do in their world.  He’s just Axe—the big bad biker slash greatest man I’ve ever known … probably ever will know.

He’s my daddy.

And this fool wanted me to tell my daddy that I was dating a probe?  He’d never get his patch … hell, he wouldn’t have made it to his nineteenth birthday.  You’re welcome.

It wouldn’t have mattered that our fathers have been friends for twenty years.  The fact that my dad is his godfather would have been the last thought in Dad’s head.  Regardless that we grew up together, the day he chose to put on that vest, he stopped being Manny and turned into Paco. 

So, it ended.  It’s over.  We’re done.  No need to tell my dad anything.  Honestly, if I would have, then he pulled this shit, he’d be dead in a gutter somewhere.

The only one I had to inform of our parting was my mother.  I know it’s not fair to put her in the middle, make her keep secrets from her husband, but she’s okay with it.  “As much as I love your dad, I love you so much more.  I’d kill for him, but I’d die for you.  When you’re a mom one day, you’ll understand this kind of love.  You can always come to me.  We can have secrets.  I’ve spent seventeen years being your mother, I can’t wait to be your friend, too,” she told me.

And she is.  My mom’s my best friend.  So, I ended up crying on her for a few nights until I was ready for ‘Step Two’ in the break-up girlfriend handbook.  We spent the next couple days alternating between sappy romance movies and hilarious comedies.  I cried because I was sad, cried from laughter and cried just because.  It was a great few days. 

Then, she even talked my dad into letting me move into the dorms without him.  He had this grand plan of showing up wearing his vest, open carrying a gun on his hip and putting on his ‘I can kill you and nobody would miss you’ face.  Mom must have known that only one that would have died would have been me … from embarrassment, so Dad took Liam camping with the club for the week, so it’s just me and mom.

And that’s where I’m at now.  Summer vacation is officially over.  The Ann Arbor police and University of Michigan police have blocked off traffic and are allowing only students and parents through the barricades.  Welcome to U of M move in day.  With the exception of registration and move out, this is the craziest day of the year. 

I’m praying that Sammy and I are in the same dorm.  Right after graduation, she left for a summer long adventure in Europe—a graduation present from her parents.  We’ve communicated by email, but it’s not the same as hearing her voice or seeing her.  Next to my mom, Sammy is my best friend … my person … the Meredith to my Christina.

Thousands of students mill the streets, carrying luggage and boxes to move into their home for the next nine months.  Lots of them are new to the area, having come here from out of state.  Then there’s the locals.  I only live twenty minutes from the main campus and had the option of living at home while going to school, but I knew that would be a bad idea.  I really want to try to get out of my comfort zone.  The only reason Manny and I got together anyway was because of the club.  We’d both grown up around it, attending picnics and camping trips like Liam’s on this weekend.  Our families are close so it should have been a given we’d be close too.  They just weren’t counting on exactly how close we would end up.

Mom pulls to the curb, puts on her hazard lights and helps me grab the few boxes I have, my rolling suitcase and I sling the duffle bag around my shoulder.  The good thing about living so close is when I need something, it’s only a quick drive.  As we file into the main corridor of South Quadrangle to seek out my room assignment, the mass hysteria of over a thousand students moving into the building is too much to handle.  For the first time since Manny and I broke up, I’m wishing that it was still summer and I could hang out at my house for a little while longer.

Mom, bring the true spitfire she is, finds an RA and gets directions to my room.  “You just gotta know who to talk to, sweetheart.  Once you figure it out, it’ll get easier,” she says, trying to comfort me.  It’s one of the best things about my mom … she always takes care of everyone else before herself, making sure that we’re good.

We’re able to catch an elevator that’s not packed and ride up to the third floor.  When we’re at my door, I fish the keys out of my back pocket and unlock the entry to my new home for the first time.  Walking inside, it’s a lot like I remember when I did a tour of the campus a few months ago.  Thankfully, I wound up with a double room, instead of a three or four person room like a lot of freshman end up with.  The only question I have now is who will be my new roommate? 

“Looks the exact same.”  Glancing back at my mom who’s toting the rest of my belongings inside, the look on her face is priceless—a small smile, but it’s her eyes that tell the story.  She has to be reminiscing on her time here.

“Was this your dorm too, Ma?”

“Yeah.  Aunt Kylee and I only lived here for one year, and we were on the fifth floor, but everything looks the exact same.  I can’t believe I’m old enough to have a daughter in college.  It feels like just yesterday ...” she trails off, sitting on the edge of the mattress on the right. 

I set down the box and my duffle bag and have a seat next to her, taking her hand in mine.  “Don’t be sad.”  It’s my turn to comfort her.

“I’m not sad, sweet girl.”  She brushes a piece of my sweat soaked hair behind my ear, and pulls me into a side hug, draping her arm around my shoulders.  “It was my freshman year when I met your dad and Uncle Danny.  It was the start of my life.  I hope that you get to experience half the great times as I did.”

I know the story, or at least part of it.  One year at Christmas, mom and Aunt Kylee were talking about college and all that it entailed.  Mom and Uncle Danny used to date, were engaged even, until mom realized it was my dad that she was in love with.  It’s weird to think that Danny could have been my dad.