Unbreakable (Accidental Crush #3) (25 page)

ASHLEY

Casey steps closer to me. “I’m sorry, really. I didn’t know we were coming here. I mean, I knew I’d see you, but I had no idea she was actually going with you guys. Honestly, I didn’t know until we pulled into Brian’s driveway.” He steps even closer.

“Stop. Just stop.” I shake my head. “You should not have said yes, not after everything. Casey, you knew it wouldn’t be good, even if we weren’t all going together. You knew Todd would be there. It’s his senior prom, and you know we’re together. I love him.
Him
. You know that. Why did you do it?”

He looks down at the ground and places his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know. At the time, it seemed like a good idea.” His eyes stay on the ground.

“Casey, it will always be him. Even when he’s not here and away at school, it will be him. There will be someone for you, but
not
Rebecca,” I say with a stern, motherly tone and laugh at how passionate I feel about that. “But there will be someone. I know it. I know you are a good person, and I feel lucky that you let me in enough to see that. But I will always choose Todd. A thousand times, I choose him.”

Casey’s bright green eyes lock with mine, and he gives me his flawless smile with his hands still stuffed in his pockets. “I get it, Ashley. I do.”

I smile up at him. “Good.”

TODD

I started to walk in during Ashley’s speech, but her words grabbed me and stopped me in my tracks. I’m standing off to the side, hiding behind the doorway to the living room, listening to every word. I think I just fell even more in love with her.

I clear my throat to make my presence known and pretend I’m just entering the house.

“Um … Casey, I think Rebecca needs you outside.”

Casey turns in my direction. “Thanks, man,” he says with a small smile then starts to walk toward the back of the house, but before he passes me, he stops. “Hey, I’m sorry.” His eyes study mine, and there’s a moment of silent understanding between us. “For everything.” Then he turns and walks away.

I watch him for a second and smile to myself at the chaos he’s about to unknowingly walk into.

“What are you smiling about?” I feel Ash’s arms wrap around my waist from behind.

“Let’s just say there was a little accident outside.”

She pulls her hands away and comes around so she can read my expression. “What happened?

“Never mind that.” I take her hands and pull her close so she has no choice except to re-wrap them around me. “So you’d choose me a thousand times?” I smile down at her.

The smile that breaks onto her lips is unforgettable. “You heard?”

I wrap my arms around her. “I did.”

She looks down at the ground to avoid my gaze. “It’s true,” she says on a whisper.

I touch her chin to guide her eyes back toward mine. “I feel the same way.” I lean down to kiss her. It doesn’t matter what else happens tonight; the night is already perfect.

“Hey, hey, save it for later,” I hear Ryan’s voice, but we both ignore him. “There’s mass hysteria out there, and you are both in here making out?”

We stop to look at Ryan who’s holding a wet towel, and his ruffles have definitely deflated. He looks defeated.

Ash looks at me with raised eyebrows as if to ask, “What’s going on?” I just give her my best innocent smile and then we both turn back to Ryan.

“Yup,” we say in unison and go right back to where we left off.

“Nicely played,” Ryan says as he walks back outside.

As we kiss, I think about all we have been through this year. We finally figured it out—all that really matters is us. We can conquer anything together. Together, we are stronger, better, and we will always be …

Unbreakable.

EPILOGUE

TODD

Ash and I are finally alone in our hotel room. This night couldn’t be more perfect. Holding her in my arms, seeing her in her gorgeous dress. Though, I do like it even better now that it’s on the floor.

The contours of her body drive me crazy. Her hip bones are like tiny mountains to conquer as I slide my fingers over them. I love seeing the pleasure spread across her face as my fingers tease her, lightly gliding over her most sensitive areas. I know her body so well—the places that make her laugh, the places that make her smile, and the places that drive her just as crazy as she drives me. I could lie here forever with her, but I need to tell her. I want her to be the first to know.

“Ashley?” I say softly.

She’s in pure bliss right now with her eyes closed, which gives me a sense of peace that nothing else in the world can give me. I love making her as happy as she makes me.

On the third time I say her name, her eyes open, and her warm, brown eyes meet mine. There is an energy that surges through me every time our eyes meet.

“I want to tell you something.”

“Now?” she says with a smile. “This is so nice; can’t we talk later?” She closes her eyes again.

I pull my hand away from her stomach, knowing this is the only way I will get her full attention. Then I slide up so my face is now resting on the pillow next to hers.

She opens her eyes again and turns her body to face mine. We’re both lying on our sides.

“Hi,” I say as I run my hands over her loose curls and place them behind her ear to get them out of her face.

“Hi,” she says back with a warm smile.

“Guess what? I want you to be the first to know. It’s important to me, and you’re important to me, and—”

Her finger comes up, and she gently places it on my lips to silence me. “You got in?” she asks, the genuine excitement on her face making my heart soar.

I nod my head since her finger is still over my lips.

Then she bolts up so she’s sitting. “You got in?” she asks with more excitement.

I smile and nod again, sitting up to match her.

“Oh, my God. You got into the theater program! That is incredible!” She wraps her arms around me. “Congratulations.” She presses her lips into mine as she pushes me down onto the bed.

And the rest is history.

ASHLEY

Today is graduation day. I can’t believe how fast this year flew by. My heart feels like it’s going to burst as I watch the boys pose for pictures in their caps and gowns. They’re all leaving soon for summer training, and I’m trying hard not to count the days, but of course I am. Knowing they will be together in college gives me a sense of peace. I still hate the idea of them going away, but at least they will have each other.

Todd eventually told his parents about the theater program, and they were incredibly supportive as long as football comes first. I guess his dad’s priorities will always be a little out of whack.

I can’t help sitting back and taking everything in. Although it’s not really my day, I’m so excited for everyone who graduated, and their excitement is almost tangible.

I start to laugh when I hear Gretch squealing before I see her. She runs across the lawn then jumps up into Ryan’s arms. I love seeing them both laughing.

As it turns out, Gretchen actually has pretty great grades, and she got into Penn State, too. Ryan never let on that she was even applying there, but he seems to be thrilled that they will be together.

They are the first couple I witnessed who proved true love can happen in high school. In the beginning, I didn’t think she was right for him, but after everything, I now see just how perfectly they fit together.

Blythe and Brian are off to the side, concentrating on only each other. My heart sinks for them a little. Blythe is going back home to go to the University of Tennessee. They are going to try long distance, and I really think they can make it. Blythe has truly changed Brian for the better, which is an incredible feat when you think about it. Turns out, she loves him as much he loves her. That still surprises me sometimes, but they are good for each other. They even each other out. Brian knew right away; it just took Blythe a little longer to figure it out.

Then there is Todd. I know he started this year full of uncertainty, but he looks so relaxed, his smile so genuine now. He can’t wait for the next chapter of his life to begin, and he wants me to be a part of it as much as possible. We will only be a few hours away from each other, and we’ll have lots of weekends, because we already made a pact that I’m going to all of their home games. So there’s that to look forward to, at least.

“Hey, you,” Todd says as he walks up to me.

I know I have said this before, but he looks incredible in everything he wears, and you can definitely add a cap and gown to that list.

“Hey, I like your tassels,” I say, grabbing the cords  draped around his neck that represent honor society and varsity sports.

“Oh, yeah?” His look takes my innocent comment to a dirty place.

I smack him. “You are so bad.”

He pulls me closer. “Come on, we need to make the most of the time we have left. You’re the one who said it.” He leans down and kisses the top of my head.

“Dude, check out the new starting QB,” Brian interrupts us.

Both of our eyes follow the direction of his gesture, and there is Johnny in full make-out mode with
SHANE
!

My heart stops; my breath catches. I don’t know what to say. I’m not sure what they are thinking, but clearly, they know what they are doing because they can’t get any more out in the open than they currently are. I guess whatever Shane said to Johnny finally put them in the same place at the same time.

I feel Todd’s arms tighten around me. “Good for them,” he says with a smile.

I study his smile.
He knew?

“You knew?” I ask.

“You knew?” he returns my question, just as shocked. “Johnny,” he answers a question I didn’t actually ask.

“Shane,” I say with a shrug.

“Wait, I’m lost. What did you guys know?” Brian asks, oblivious.

Todd and I both shake our heads at Brian as we give each other I-can’t-believe-you looks.

“Well, I think it’s awesome!” Brian shouts as he runs over and pats Johnny on the shoulder.

“Nicely done, Shane-y. You landed yourself the star quarterback,” Brian says loud enough for just about everyone to hear.

Ryan and Gretch come up to join us.

“Man, this year is full of surprises, huh?” Ryan says with a smile.

“Out with the old, in with the new,” Gretch agrees.

I’m so happy no one is questioning it; they just accept it.

Shane looks so content and comfortable. Finally.

“Well, I guess that secret is out.” Sid comes up to join us.

“I guess so,” I say as I wrap my arm around her shoulder.

Then I feel Todd’s fingers intertwine with the hand that’s not currently wrapped around Sid.

“I need to see you over here, Ms. Taylor,” he says with a wink.

Sid gives us a headshake and eye roll as she releases me.

“Yes?” I ask as we step away from our group.

“I love you. I just needed to say that.”

I look up at him and drink him in. Seeing him in his cap and gown is such a period at the end of this part of our lives. No longer will I see him in the halls every day; no longer will we get to eat lunch at the opening; no longer will we get to have secret meetings in the janitor’s closet. But, as sad as I have been all year because I knew this was all coming to an end, today is the first time I’m excited for all the new things to come.

Todd’s eyes study mine as his thumb rubs over his class ring on my finger. “We did it.” His crooked smile breaks onto his lips. “One step at a time.”

I think back to the beginning of this year when that became our motto. “We did, didn’t we?” I step up on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around his shoulders to show him just how proud I am of him, of us, through my kiss.

Being here with all the people I care about most in the world, this moment couldn’t be more perfect. Things are going to change—things are always going to change—but I guess that’s what makes life exciting. You never know what is going to happen next, and I can’t wait to find out.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank the readers who have reached out and asked for more. You are just as passionate about the characters as I am, and you have no idea how much that means to me.

I also want to thank a few amazing people who read the book before it was even edited. Thank you for your constant words of encouragement, advice, and tolerating all of my typos, Dema, Rick, Ratha, Melissa, and my mom. You have each made the book better.

Thanks to Alizon and Kris, the best editors a girl could ask for. I truly love reading your comments. They keep me going throughout the sometimes not so fun editing process.

And I want to thank
YOU
for reading this book. Thanks for taking a chance on an Indie author. I hope you enjoyed Ash and Todd’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it.