Текст книги "Strictly Temporary Volume One"

Автор книги: Ella Fox

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Текущая страница: 1 (всего у книги 7 страниц)

Strictly Temporary

Copyright © Ella Fox 2015

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior express, written consent of the author.

This book is intended for mature adults only.

ISBN 978–0–9904309–7–1

Cover Design by Sommer Stein with Perfect Pear Creative Covers

Cover Photography by Sara Eirew

Cover Models Jennie Lyne and Philippe Lemire

Editing by Gemma Rowlands

Formatting by Champagne Formats

Table of Contents

dedication

chapter one

chapter two

chapter three

chapter four

chapter five

chapter six

chapter seven

chapter eight

chapter nine

chapter ten

about the author

strictly temporary playlist

acknowledgements

Other books by Ella Fox

To anyone that’s had to deal with small town idiocy. Always remember that small-minded haters tend to congregate together.

Then, at the first available opportunity, get away from that kind of toxic crap.

Change is good. Taking big chances results in big rewards.

I’m living proof.

IT WAS A TYPICAL and uneventful Friday night that found me behind the register at Book Me, Babe. My job at the local bookstore might not have seemed like much to anyone else, but to me it was a great fit. Aside from the obvious—being surrounded by books and people that loved them—the biggest perk was the employee discount. Having been a book addict practically since birth, being able to get twice the number of books for the money was a reason to get excited.

At the time, I was finishing up my second year of college but unlike the other college kids my age, I actually enjoyed working on Friday nights as opposed to doing keg stands and making questionable choices. My grandpa had always claimed that I was an old soul, and I guess the fact that I worked the way I did and avoided awkward social interactions meant that there was some truth to those words. I didn’t feel old, but I also didn’t feel the need to be flat on my back working my way through the football team in order to feel good about myself.

My lack of desire to let loose and go wild like that was absolutely a direct result of having been born, raised and judged in a town that was so uptight that mining for diamonds in someone’s ass cheeks would very likely have born fruit. What made me such a target in the town? The fact that my mom had gotten pregnant by a boy who came to work on one of the town farms one summer. Although there were other pregnant girls in her high school, she was the only one that had made the mistake of carrying on with someone not from Small Towne. That basically earned her a scarlet letter and meant that I was born with one too.

Prejudice and shitty behavior run through Small Towne like a plague so of course I had to hear pretty much every day of my life that I was trash. Bullying is infectious—when no one speaks up or steps in, people get the idea that they should join in. I was an easy target and the kids I went to school with basically saw treating me like shit as a way for them to earn cool points.

After high school I’d moved twenty miles away from Small Towne—yes, that’s really the name of the town, I’m sure you’ve been wondering—and I loved finally being able to relax after having spent eighteen years being talked about, looked at and judged almost every day. Interestingly enough most of the kids that I went to high school with didn’t move on to college and the few that did had gone to State College. I was relieved not to have to see anyone from Small Towne and I flourished.

My mom and I didn’t have what you would call a super close relationship—which isn’t to say that she was abusive, because she wasn’t—but the one thing she had always made sure of was that I knew that there was a life for me outside of Small Towne if I just had the courage to reach for it.

She provided for and took care of me, but she hadn’t been ready to be a mother at sixteen, plain and simple. It wasn’t like we didn’t get along—like I said, she did her best—but I knew what the sacrifice of having me cost her so I always tried to be as low maintenance as possible. In a lot of ways, our relationship was similar to that of sisters.

The one thing that the two of us agreed on was that we both hated living in Small Towne—her more than me, for good reason. When she got pregnant with me and my sperm donor did a runner, it wasn’t like she was overrun with opportunities. Even after she got her G.E.D and had the opportunity to leave, she stayed because that’s where my grandparents lived and they loved having us both there. There were a few times over the years when it seemed like maybe we might move, but then life would happen and that would be that.

There was one time we actually started to pack boxes in preparation for a move. Mom was looking at an apartment for us in Bronson, but then my grandma had passed on and that left my Grandpa Eldon with only us. Moving plans were quickly squashed and we spent nine more years on the farm because he was tied to the farm that he’d been born and raised on.

The farm had been the family business for three generations, but when Grandpa passed away during winter break of my senior year of high school, Mom and I each agreed to sell it without so much as a backward glance. Even though he loved it, Grandpa had known that it wasn’t for us, and he’d given his blessing many times over the years for us to let it go when the time came.

Once I was in college, my mom got busy traveling across the country with her new husband—who also happened to be her former boss, Henry. She’d been working for him in Bronson for years as his housekeeper—because of course no one in Small Towne would hire her for anything—but things changed for them when he was home recovering from knee surgery, and now they were married and on the move, and they were even talking about having a baby or two. Henry was a professional poker player, so he went where the tournaments were. I could barely keep up with them, but I was more than happy to see my mother so happy and in love.

As for me, my way out came in the form of going to college in Bronson, and I was enjoying being far enough away from Small Towne to breathe. My new life might not be setting the world ablaze, but it was the most content I’d ever felt. I was in college at Bronson University and I lived in a dorm with a girl named Heather. For the first time in my life I had a real friend who didn’t drop me like a hot potato whenever the popular kids demanded that it be so. I’d been screwed over by fake friends my entire life, so having Heather was a Godsend. Being away from Small Towne had opened a whole new world to me, and I was so happy I practically skipped through each day.

I thought I’d gotten away from Small Towne for good, but back then I still had too much sweet in me and I didn’t fully realize just how evil people could be.

That particular Friday night I was in my usual perch—the stool behind the counter—devouring the new Sylvia Day book when it happened.

“Hey Ardy.”

Just the sound of the name alone annoyed me. Lifting my head I found myself face to face with Ricky Greenway. Ricky had been the object of my teenage affection—more like obsession—and once he and his friends figured that out, they had gone out of their way to make jokes about all of the things that Ricky was more likely to do than me. It was humiliating beyond belief and I’d long since learned to stop playing their games and falling for their nonsense.

Even before they found out about my crush, Ricky and his crew had always picked on me. Because of them, very few people in Small Towne called me by my full name. Instead, the name Arden had been turned into a joke. RetArden, Larden and Ardy the Retardy were the most popular of the names. The adults did nothing to stop it—so much for bullying being something that was considered bad. No matter how many times my mother or grandparents complained to the teachers and principals at my schools or went directly to the parents of the children who did it, nothing ever changed.

Instead, the adults had taken to calling me Ardy as well, and I’d grown somewhat used to it, even though I didn’t like it. It drove my mother and grandpa crazy, but after a while, it was what it was and I just had to stop letting it get to me. I’d succeeded, but it hurt. The fact that Ricky was standing in front of me calling me Ardy was actually an improvement on the things that he normally called me. Still—I was in no mood to be tortured by anyone from Small Towne anymore. I was out and they couldn’t do anything more to me.

At least that’s what I thought.

“Ricky.”

His pearly whites gleamed when he grinned at me, and I cursed genetics that the two years since I’d seen him last had only made him more handsome. The problem with Ricky was that even though he was a bully and a jerk, he was so damn cute.

“It’s not the same without you in Small Towne, Ardy. How’re things in the big city?”

The very last thing I wanted to do was converse with Ricky Greenway and my response spoke to that. “Bronson is hardly a big city, Ricky. What can I do for you? I have to assume that you’re lost because I know darn well that you don’t read.”

There was a moment where I thought that I saw a flash of annoyance pass over his face, but before I could be certain, it was gone, and he was smiling again.

“I came here to see you, Ardy.”

My immediate response was to call bullshit, but I wasn’t a trouble starter. “Why?”

After running a hand through his perfect hair, Ricky graced me with one of his signature smiles.

“Cause I missed you, silly girl. I know I wasn’t a good guy in high school Ardy, but I done changed. You leavin’ Small Towne and movin’ on out into the big city was the wake up call I needed. The past two years have growed me up right. Didn’t know what was right in front of my nose til’ you left and moved on. Now that I know, I’ve come to court you.”

I want to tell you that I didn’t get soft inside, but I’d be lying. My heartbeat sped up to triple what it had been before—but at least I wasn’t dumb enough to buy what he was selling on the spot. I waffled though, because I couldn’t help but think that it was the kind of thing that happened in books. Why couldn’t it happen to me? Maybe Ricky had finally grown up and realized what was right in front of him the entire time.

Still, I’d been through it with him enough to know not to jump in and believe it.

“You can’t really believe that I would fall for this after two years, right? If you think I’m really that dumb, you’ve got another thing coming. Where’s your gang of followers? They can’t be far because I know for certain that they’re in on this charade. I left Small Towne behind, Ricky—and that includes you and your “jokes.” Thanks for dropping by—the door’s over there. Find someone else to mess with.”

Letting out an exaggerated sigh, Ricky’s shoulders drooped dejectedly. “I shoulda figured you wasn’t gonna give me a chance right off.”

Having been the subject of Ricky’s games and manipulations before, I said nothing. He looked surprised by my lack of participation, but it didn’t deter him.

“You know what I’m gonna do, Ardy? I’m gonna prove to you that I’m a changed man. You’ll see. I’m not givin’ up on what we might be, Arden Winger. I’ll be back.”

I had doubted it very much—but he proved me wrong. He came back every day that I worked. A few weeks later I found out he’d called my boss and begged to know what my schedule was. Every time he came, he had one long stemmed red rose in hand from the grocery store. He emailed me several times a day and made my heart go pitter-patter from his charm.

It took him nine weeks to wear me down. By that time I was certain that it wasn’t a joke because Ricky had the attention span of a toddler. He refused to give up, and that more than anything changed my mind. I finally agreed to let him take me out to the local steakhouse, but I’d kept my guard up. At least, I had it up on date one. By the end of two months of dating I was sure that I was in love with him. When Ricky kissed me, I believed that I’d fallen into a fairytale. I had visions of seeing the people in Small Towne that had been so cruel to me, and I knew that if that ever happened, they’d be nice to me because I was Ricky’s girl. No more jokes, hateful taunts or downright cruelty.

Our one disagreement had been about going all the way. He got frustrated because we’d been together for over two months and I wouldn’t even let him near my panties. I explained that I wasn’t ever going to do anything like that before marriage and that if he didn’t like it, he could lump it. He left in a huff that night but then called me the next day and apologized.

“I got respect for you Ardy-girl. You’re so much better than the Small Towne trash I’ve been with. You keep those legs closed baby—you aren’t losing me.”

The following weekend Ricky dropped to one knee right in the middle of the bookstore and asked me to be his wife. We were too young for him to have a ring, but he gave me a promise that someday he’d buy me a rock that would weigh my hand down. I didn’t care one bit about the lack of the ring because I was sold on the fantasy, the happily ever after.

I couldn’t believe that I was going to be Mrs. Ricky Greenway. I daydreamed about our future and completely wrote off our past. It was just like all the best books, where the heroine and the hero get a second chance and fall in love. We talked about our future together and made plans. I had two weeks left in my sophomore semester and we decided to get married after my last day of classes. As soon as I finished college for the year the plan was for Ricky to move up to Bronson. We were going to get a two-bedroom apartment so that I could keep Heather as my roommate. She wasn’t gung ho about Ricky to begin with, but over time she came around and was at least friendly to him.

There was one thorn in my rosebush, and that was my mom. She didn’t like the Greenways and, after years of listening to me cry over how mean Ricky and his friends were to me, she was suspicious of his motives. I got mad at her for being just as judgmental and pigheaded as the folks back in Small Towne and went off. It was the first big fight Mom and I ever had, but I was a stubborn ass, mad at her for being less than supportive. As far as I was concerned, even though we didn’t have a typical relationship she was still my only remaining family and I needed her support. No matter how much I argued, she didn’t back down from her position that something wasn’t right, and I hung up on her one night in a huff.

I had such a burr in my saddle about it that I didn’t tell her that Ricky and I had decided to elope right in the Bronson County Courthouse—and that’s how I wound up becoming Mrs. Ricky Greenway one Friday afternoon with Heather as my witness and no family around me. Ricky told me that his parents weren’t supportive either, but he was adamant that the two of us were going to prove the world wrong.

I wore a white dress I’d gotten at the local Dress Barn and Ricky wore khakis and a white button down. I cried when he handed me a small bouquet of three red roses—just like the single stems he used to give me, and a judge married us in less than five minutes.

That night, on the bed of a room at the Motel 6, I lost my virginity to my husband. It hurt like hell but I was so set on the fairytale that I didn’t care. Plus, it took less than three minutes from start to finish, so that was bearable. It didn’t get any better for me the second time that we made love that night, but Ricky’s grunts and groans signaled that he enjoyed it, and that was what mattered to me. I assured myself that it would get better once we had time to really get to know each other’s bodies.

The following morning I woke up to the sound of voices in the room. Opening my eyes, I found myself in the middle of my worst nightmare.

The room was full of Ricky’s friends—otherwise known as the people that had terrorized me during high school. All the offenders were there; Hank, Jeb, Frankie, Thomas, Ivan—and Ricky’s high school girlfriend, Rhonda. Of course she was the first person to notice that I was awake.

“Aw look—little miss white trash is awake. What’s up, Retardy? Thought you were too good for us didn’t you, ya little bitch? It was worth lettin’ my man fuck you just to have this moment right here. We done showed you!”

As she laughed she leaned into Ricky and he wrapped his arms around her. That was the moment that I realized that, once again, I’d been played by Small Towne. It had been two freaking years since we’d gotten out of high school and they hadn’t changed one bit. They were all still cruel, hateful and totally devoid of any decency. What had I fallen for?

Looking me dead in the eye, Ricky laughed darkly as he spelled it out for me. “I guess I gotta give you some credit for makin’ me work for that ugly snatch, but ya only proved you’re as dumb as ever. Everyone was in the other room listenin’ to your stupid ass cry when I busted that cherry.”

Turning to his friends, Ricky held out his hand. “Rhonda and I won the bet, fuckers. We told you this bitch would never learn, but you all said she wouldn’t fall for it! Pay up.”

I’m not being dramatic when I tell you that at that moment I was so sick that everything seemed to happen in slow motion. One by one Hank, Jeb, Thomas and Ivan opened their wallets and handed a bill to Ricky. It wasn’t until Frankie paid that I realized how much each of them had bet. He glared at me as he extracted a twenty-dollar bill, which he then slapped into Ricky’s hand. As he was sliding the wallet back into his pocket, Frankie gave me a look of disgust. “Can’t believe I bet that you wouldn’t fall for this shit. Ya just cost me a case of beer, moron.”

My body ached in places it never had before, my head was swimming, my stomach was churning and never in my entire life had I felt so stupid. It was one thing to call me names, egg my car and start rumors about me—but to marry me? I couldn’t believe anyone had that much hatred for me to do something so vile. What had I ever done to them to deserve being treated so terribly? Tears slid down my cheeks as I looked at Ricky. I prayed that I would wake up from the nightmare I was in. All I could think was that it couldn’t really be happening.

“You married me to win a bet?”

The room erupted in laughter that went on for several seconds. After the laughter died down, Ricky nodded. “Sure did. Gonna make you pay for the divorce though, and a divorce it’ll have to be seein’ as how I got up in your twat twice. No matter where you go or what you do, you’ll always remember me bein’ your first. Figure you owe me seein’ as how I had to pay for all our dates. This was an expensive bet—but it was worth every cent. You’re trash, Ardy Winger. Nothin’ but a stupid whore like your Momma.”

Rhonda let out a harsh laugh, followed by a snort. “You’re not even a pretty whore, fat ass.”

To this day, I can’t tell you what exactly snapped in my head at that moment—but it was huge and I swear to God I actually heard it happen. With no concern for the fact that I was naked, I sprang up from the bed and ran at Rhonda like I was the star Quarterback. I slammed into her so hard that I knew I’d be bruised, but I didn’t care. It took every single person in the room to pull me off of her, and while they struggled with me I pummeled the hell out of her face. By the time they got me off, she was a bloody and sobbing mess. When I saw the damage I’d done, I smiled.

I thought fast and the second I was on my feet and had the chance I kicked Ricky as hard as I could, dead center in the crotch. He went down screaming and crying like a little bitch, and I spat in his face while he was down as I dropped my foot down on his package a few more times.

By then everyone in the room was looking at me wide-eyed in absolute terror and honestly, they were right to be scared because I can’t be sure what would have happened if I’d had a weapon. The only reason I stopped kicking Ricky was because I wanted out. I barely remember getting dressed and gathering my things, but I do remember ripping my wedding dress in half before I walked to the door. No one said anything as they all stared at me wide eyed—Rhonda was bawling her eyes out and Ricky was still shaking on the floor as the rest of the gang tried to clean Rhonda up.

Turning on my heel, I glared at them all. “If you know what’s good for you, each and every one of you better stay the hell away from me. If you ever so much as breathe within one hundred miles of me, I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”

I slammed the door so hard when I left that I swear I felt the shitty little motel shake. When I got to the parking lot, I realized that I had no car. I called my roommate Heather and begged for a ride. I cried most of the tears I had on Heather’s shoulder that afternoon. The rest I cried out when I called my mom and told her what happened. I have to give her credit for the fact that she never once said I told you so.

It was when she offered to come back that I realized that I was done being near Small Towne. I needed to escape, and I decided to take action. Three days later I said goodbye to Heather, got into my car, and headed for California.

Ricky Greenway didn’t just take my virginity—he destroyed my hopes and my dreams. He took my positive outlook on life and turned it into something dark. Where once I was hopeful, after that day in the Motel 6, I was as cynical as they come.

The only positive thing I can say about what happened that day in the hotel room is that I was able to get an annulment because what Ricky had done was fraud. Things are pretty shitty when being able to get an annulment is considered a positive.