Unwanted Stars (39 page)

"That flight was brutal. I don't do well with turbulence," I said as we stepped onto the tile floor of customs, prepared to present our passports.

"I noticed. We should call your brother and Hadley. Let them know we've landed."

"Good idea," I said, removing my phone from my backpack and sending them a quick text.

"I hope they were being honest," Campbell said, his brow furrowed.

"About letting us stay? Don't be silly. They're thrilled. Free babysitters. And I'm excited to help out when the baby arrives."

Campbell laughed. "True. I'm excited to see Marty."

"Hadley said he's a holy terror now. And he's not quite ready to be a big brother."

"I'm sure he'll get used to the idea when she arrives. He has time, and so do we," he said.

"I'm sure we'll find a place soon, but they said their new house is plenty big for all of us. It'll give us time to find the right house. Or apartment. Or whatever."

"Or whatever," he said with a wink.

We continued through customs and braved the harsh Chicago winter. Freezing winds blasted through me and my body immediately began to shake. We'd gotten awfully used to the blazing heat of Kenya.

Quickly, we hopped into the black Lincoln Continental that awaited us outside of baggage claim. Luckily the driver had turned up the heat and was happy to load our luggage into the trunk while we defrosted.

"You're shivering, come here."

Campbell pulled me close, rubbing my arms with his hands. It wasn't working. I was chilled to the bone.

"Can't wait for summer," I said through chattering teeth.

"For more reasons than one," he said with a nerdy wiggling of his eyebrows.

"Eager for your green card, eh?" I teased.

"You know it, minx."

Truth was, I was just as excited as he was to tie the knot. I'd allowed my mom and Hadley to plan the wedding while I was away, mostly communicating through email and Facebook, but I knew there was much to do after arriving. Dress fittings, tastings, meetings with Debbie the wedding planner, and trips to the florist.

"When do the invites go out?"

"A couple more months."

"Have you decided yet?"

"Yeah. I'm going to invite her."

He was, of course, referring to Tabitha. She was devastated when Campbell and I left London for Nairobi, shipping the rest of our belongings to Chicago. We'd met for lunch a few times and were finally headed towards a decent friendship. And then I broke the news to her. I felt awful hurting her like that, but not terrible enough to stay. I missed my family. I missed the Kellys.

"Do you think she'll come?" Campbell asked.

"Yeah, I do. At least, I hope she will."

Even though she'd been devastated, we maintained contact while we were in Africa. We were slowly getting to know one another as individuals. She'd never be my mom. That role was filled twenty-five years ago when Charlotte brought me home to Chicago. She was accepting her role and seemed to be getting her life in order. In many ways, I was proud of her for finally moving past her grief and her guilt. I had a family, I had a life, and I was happy.

"And your mother. What does she think?"

"Charlotte just wants me to have the wedding of my dreams."

"Ahem," he cleared his throat dramatically.

"
Ou
r dreams. Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes.

My parents and I were healing. I had let go of so much of my anger, and that helped. Being in Africa, helping others who needed the basic necessities, orphans who'd lost their mothers or fathers to sickness...it really gave me perspective. Like, a lot of it. I was pretty damn lucky to have my parents.

"And your sister?"

"She'll be there."

Maya and I had finally put everything behind us. We emailed daily while I was in Kenya and were finally on the right track. Then she told me the news that broke my heart. She and Riley were moving to Washington D.C. and would be leaving in the coming weeks. I was devastated. I wanted more time with my big sister. We finally had a relationship worth fighting for and she was leaving me.

I knew being in Chicago was painful for her. Her ex was no longer living there, but there were memories everywhere of them together, of their life with Riley. She needed something new, something different. She needed an opportunity, and it came in the form of a job offer in our nation's capital. She was excited so I'd done my best to hide my disappointment, knowing she would only be a short plane ride away.

The car pulled into the driveway of Jason and Hadley's new home. In front of us stood a gorgeous brick house. Peeking out from under the snow and nestled next to the front walk, stood a wrought iron owl wearing hipster glasses with a sign that said, "WELCOME."

"They're ridiculously cute," I said, admiring the large owl staring back at me.

Campbell stood next to me in the driveway, pulling our luggage behind him.

"Home sweet home," he said.

"You say that now. You've never lived with a preschooler."

"I can handle him. I have a little experience with kids, you know."

"True. I almost forgot," I said with a chuckle. "And Marty loves you."

Campbell grabbed my hand, pulling me to face him.

"Wait, don't go in yet."

"Why? It's freezing."

"I have something for you."

"What is it?" I asked, growing curious.

He unzipped his carry-on bag and took out a simple box. A box I hadn't seen since we left London. I thought he'd shipped it to Jason and Hadley's, but it had been with us in Nairobi the whole time.

"Our box?"

"Open it," he said, placing it in my ice cold hands.

The hinges creaked as I opened the familiar box. It was filled with new matchbooks from our experience in Kenya.

"Seriously?" I asked, overwhelmed by how damn thoughtful this man could be.

"I want you to keep it with you, no matter where we are. When you have a bad day, are stressed out with family stuff or wedding planning, take one out and read my words to you. Read how much I love you."

"You wrote notes in all of these?" I asked, digging through the matchbooks. There were dozens of them, documenting our last eight months together on another continent.

"Perhaps," he said, rubbing my arm with his hand.

"You amaze me, you know that?"

"The feeling is mutual, my love. Completely and utterly mutual."

"Can I open one now?"

"Of course." He nodded to the box. I grabbed a familiar matchbook. My very favorite restaurant named Talisman. Best food in Nairobi. Opening the cardboard, I saw the note.

"It's unfinished," I teased.

"No, it's not. You know I can never express my love for you. Not completely. Words just aren't enough. But I'll never stop trying."

"Good. I don't want you to."

He kissed me in that driveway. My freezing fingers and toes turned warm from his touch. He was my saving grace, my safety net, my
peace
. He was everything I'd waited for, everything I'd searched for, everything I
needed
. And our future was about to begin.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped me to create this story that I love so much.

I am really lucky to have the BEST people reading my books and giving me feedback before I send them to my editor.
Megan O’Connell, Lindsay Sparkes, Pamela Carrion, Maggi Myers, Andrea Randall, Sally Bouley, Laura Wilson
and
Kate Mathias.
Each and every one of you gave me valuable feedback and helped to shape the story into the final product.

Mom
(Deb Bresloff), you were absolutely instrumental in the story of Auden and Campbell. Thank you for all of the fabulous brainstorming sessions which helped to shape quite a few scenes in the book!!! I am so grateful for your insight and enthusiasm.

Beth “Pooks” “Pookalicious” Ehemann,
thank you for being “picky” when reading. You had such great feedback for me and your play by plays were positively marvelous. I’ll write (translate: gossip, eat, drink diet pepsi, brainstorm and, oh yeah, write a little bit) with you at Panera any time, Pooks! Also thank you for the hours and hours of brainstorming—titles, covers, plot ideas,etc. I loved it all and am so grateful for you.

Janna Mashburn
, thank you so much for your feedback and excitement about this story. Your support means so much to me!!!! Thank you also for always making the most beautiful book trailers imaginable!!!!

Calia Read
, thank you for your awesome track changes and suggestions. I love that you “got” Auden…you really got her and you enjoyed her and that meant the world to me!!

Regina Wamba
, thank you for the perfect cover. It fits the story perfectly. You are so talented and I feel proud to have this cover represent the story. Thank you also for being so accommodating and easy to work with!

Thank you
Tami
from
Integrity Formatting
for transforming my e-book and paperback and doing it with so much creativity, enthusiasm and grace. I am so in love with the final product and I had FUN working with you to get it here!!! Thank you so much!!!!!! I will recommend you to everyone I know who's looking for a patient, consistent and thoughtful formatter!!!

Kara Malinczak
, thank you for being such an insightful editor. I’m so happy that we were able to work together again. You have such an incredible eye. “Chuckles” loves you.

Thank you to
Lisa Hintz
and the ladies of
The Rock Stars of Romance Promotions
for organizing my cover reveal and blog tour/release day blitz. You were professional, accommodating, affordable, enthusiastic and prompt with everything and I look forward to working with you again in the future, as well as recommending you to everyone I know who’s looking for help with promotions! You ladies rock my socks!!!!

Thank you to
ALL of the bloggers
who participated in the cover reveal and the blog tour. I am so grateful to each of you for all that you do for indie authors!!!!

A huge thank you to my hubs,
Chris Brown
. Your support, your belief in me and your awesome final proofreading skills are such a blessing to me. I’m so lucky to have found the love of my life…and knowing you enjoy my books is the icing on the cake!! Thanks, honey! I love you!

Thank you to my ‘
Sprinting Sisters
’ for all of the encouragement, support and energy filled sprints!!!! I love you, ladies!!!

Thank you to my
BBB
’s—I feel so blessed to have a group of readers who appreciate my voice as a writer. I love sharing things with all of you and learning more about your lives.

A special thank you to Pamela Carrion for running the BBBs as well as all of the other author groups that you manage every single day. We are all so lucky to have you!!!!!

And finally, I’d like to thank
Mr. Henry Cavill
for being an incredible muse for me while writing the character of Campbell Hutchins. I had to do a lot of research (poor me) by observing Henry’s mannerisms and speech patterns during interviews and interactions with his fans (otherwise known as watching youtube videos). What I found from all of my research is that Mr. Cavill is not only talented and handsome, but he is a gracious, funny and polite man who treats others with kindness…just as I imagined Campbell Hutchins would be. Thank you for the inspiration, Henry.

Coming Spring 2014…

SORORITY OF THREE

A New Adult series from Melissa Brown

Turn the page for a preview ...

Chapter 1

SUNNY

G.D.I.s and Proud

Freshman year. October. An average Friday night.

Agenda: beer from the dorm fridge as we debated what clothes to wear, make-up touch-up, pre-party in Claudia’s room, party at Alpha Sig (if we get in—if not, drink some more with the guys on our floor).

There were three of us. They say that three’s a crowd. Whatever. Of course, at times, it definitely was. We had more than our share of arguments between the three of us. Usually caused by petty jealousy and surrounded by miscommunication. But, the three of us made it work. No matter what.