Текст книги "Forever Black"
Автор книги: Sandi Lynn
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Forever Black
Forever Trilogy – 1
by
Sandi Lynn
Acknowledgments
To my husband, thank you for putting up with my endless nights on my laptop writing and editing to make this book possible. Thank you for understanding all the times I ignored you and told you to be quiet or turn the TV down so I could concentrate. I love you! To my 3 darling teenage daughters and their never-ending question, “What’s for dinner?” Also, to my beta readers, I couldn’t have done this without you! Thank you.
Chapter 1
I stood in the doorway of the bedroom while Kyle packed his bags.
“I just need some space,” he said as he threw his clothes haphazardly into his large Nike bag.
“Does this have anything to do with that whore you met at Zoe’s the other night?”
“Elle, come on, I told you nothing happened.”
I rolled my eyes at him, “You tell me a lot of things Kyle.”
He threw the last of his clothes in his Nike bag and turned around to face me, “We both knew we were heading for this, things have been rocky for a while now, and you know why.”
“Rocky for you because you are searching for something that does not exist.”
He let out a heavy sigh, “I’m sorry Elle I just can’t do this anymore.”
I followed him to the small space we call the living room as he dropped his bag on the floor. He reached in his jean pocket and threw some money on the table, “This is for the next couple of months so you can pay the rent.” He kissed me on my forehead and headed for the door.
I crossed my arms and stared at him, “I don’t want your money; I want you to stay. Please Kyle; don’t give up on us.”
I was now the most pathetic person in the world, begging my douchebag boyfriend to stay; not because I thought I was in love with him, but because I was afraid of being alone, and being alone was something that was all too familiar to me.
He picked up his bag from the ground and slung it over his shoulder, “Take care Elle,” and just like that he walked out. I stood in the middle of the living room and looked at the closed door as tears escaped my eyes.
Kyle and I have been together since sophomore year of college. We both attended Michigan State University and met at a frat party when he was a Delta Sigma Phi. Kyle was a good looking guy with his 6ft stature and medium build. He was not exactly eye candy, but he was cute. He always kept his jet black hair perfectly combed, and his dark brown eyes reminded me of my one favorite thing in the world, chocolate. Kyle was the person whose presence lit up the room. His charm and romance is what swept me off my feet. He studied accounting while I studied Art. It was not too long after we graduated that his cousin got him a job at the large accounting firm where he was employed. This is how we ended up moving from Michigan to New York. Kyle worked full-time as an accountant and made pretty decent money, so I was able to take on a part-time job at a record company and finish painting the pictures I promised the art gallery.
We rented a one bedroom apartment that was small, but it was our home for the past year and it made us happy; at least I thought it did. I took my teary eyed self and sat on the couch, curled in a ball and cried myself to sleep.
I had not been sleeping long when I was startled by a knock on the door. I sat up and looked around the room, eyes swollen and red.
“Elle, are you in there?” I heard a familiar voice say as she pounded on the door. I got up from the couch and stumbled to open the door. Peyton always seemed to know when I needed her most. She threw her hands up in the air.
“Elle, it is about time, I thought I was going to have to break down the door.” She put her arms around me and hugged me tight. I motioned for her to come in as she pushed her way through and set a large brown bag on the table.
“I come bearing douchebag boyfriend food,” she smiled as she rummaged through the bag. She removed the boxes of Chinese food and set them on the table.
“We have Mongolian Beef, Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Fried Rice, Wonton soup and chocolate ice cream for dessert.”
Her grin went from ear to ear, but quickly fell as I dropped my head and curled back up on my couch. Peyton sighed heavily as she walked over and sat next to me.
“Kyle texted me and said he left. He wanted me to come over to check on you and make sure you were ok.”
I lifted my head from my arms. Who the fuck did he think he was sending my best friend over to see if I was ok? I thought as angered burned inside me.
“He said he left because of irreconcilable differences.”
“What are we married?” I growled.
Peyton gave me a sympathetic smile and walked to the kitchen to grab plates and silverware for the food sitting on the table. I could not stop thinking about Kyle and how he just left. We were never apart for more than a couple of days, and now we’d be apart forever and once again I was alone. I knew why he decided to leave, and for that reason I hated him. I gave him every opportunity to tell me the truth, but he could not even look me in the eye and do that. He was a coward, and I had no room in my life for cowards. Even though I felt sick to my stomach, I got up and made my way to the table as Peyton put some food on my plate.
“Listen Elle, Kyle is a douchebag, and I’m sorry you wasted the last four years of your life with him. You need to focus on something else. You need to finish your paintings and get them over to the art gallery so people can find out who Ellery Lane truly is,” she said waving her fork around. I lightly smiled because I knew she was right; if there was one way I could escape the hurt and loneliness, it was through my paintings. She reached over and put her arm around me and gave me a squeeze, “Don’t worry I’ll be here for you.”
I met Peyton at the art gallery the day I stopped by to talk to the owner about displaying my paintings. The minute she asked, “May I help you,” we clicked and have been best friends ever since. One thing about Peyton is her personality, its way bigger than her 5’2”, Size 0 body. She always sports the perfect look with her long straight brown hair and perfectly placed makeup that enhances her bright blue eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her dress in a pair of sweatpants; for her it is all about style with skirts and cute little tops. There isn’t a shortage of guys when Peyton is around. They’re always flirting with her, but she has yet to find the perfect man to give her heart to.
I didn’t feel like eating, but I knew I had to appease Peyton or she would not leave me alone.
“Do you want me to stay with you tonight?”
I set my fork down, “Nah, I just want to be alone. I think I’ll go take a bath.”
I got up from the table and headed to the bathroom. I turned the water on and poured a capful of bubble bath in its stream. I twisted my long blonde hair up and clipped it to prevent it from getting wet. I climbed in the bubble filled tub and slid down until my head was resting on the bath pillow behind me. I laid there, closed my eyes and tried to think of a plan, but I was to grief-stricken, and I needed the proper amount of time to wallow in self-pity before moving on with my life as a single female.
By the time I got out of the bathtub, Peyton had everything cleaned up. She had left me a text message saying, “Elle, get some rest and call me if you need anything. I’ll call you tomorrow, love you always.”
I smiled for she was about the only family I had left. My mother passed away from cancer when I was six, and my father died right before my eighteenth birthday. I had an aunt and uncle back in Michigan, but I have not seen or heard from them since my dad died. I always considered Kyle’s parents my family, but now that we’re broken up, it would be more than awkward to talk to them.
I made sure the door was locked. I turned off the lights and snuggled in my bed, burying my head under the covers to escape the reality of my life, at least for tonight.
Chapter 2
The next few days I did nothing but stayed in my pajamas and concentrated on finishing my paintings. I called work and told them I had the flu. They told me to take the rest of the week off, which was something I didn’t have a problem with. I was afraid I couldn’t afford it, but I needed to get my paintings finished and off to the art gallery. I wouldn’t have been good company to anyone anyways.
I made my third pot of coffee of the day and checked my phone to see if I had any messages. Kyle had not made any attempt to contact me since he left. How does a person just forget about someone after being with them for four years? A fire stirred in my blood just thinking about it. The way I saw things I had two choices; I could sit in my tiny apartment and let my life die out, or I could suck up what happened and go out into the world and live. I opted to go out and live. I was not ready to die yet; I had too many things I wanted to do.
I frantically cleaned my apartment, which was long overdue, and I was ashamed that I let it get that way. I took a garbage bag and started tossing everything out that reminded me of Kyle. I was determined to rid this apartment of any sign of him. By the time I was finished, my little home was practically bare. The shelves in the bookcase that housed pictures of me and Kyle now sat empty reminding me of the emptiness I felt in my heart.
I finally showered and stood in front of the bathroom mirror. I took my hand and wiped the steam that formed over it. I looked at myself for the first time in days. My ice blue eyes, which Kyle used to tell me, reminded him of the sea, looked tired with bags that formed underneath them. I ran a brush through my long blonde hair, and then fingered mousse through it, so it dried wavy. I put on some makeup to try to hide the fact that I’ve been depressed and locked in my apartment for a week. I stepped into my favorite jeans and was surprised they were loose in places they never were before. My 5’7” size 4 body appeared to have shrunk a bit since the breakup. I tore through my closet for my favorite pink shirt. Once I was ready, I took in a deep breath and called a cab. It was time to step out into the world and start my life again.
Manny pulled his yellow cab up to the curb of my apartment as I walked out the door. Seeing me struggle with the three paintings I was carrying, he got out of the cab to help me.
“Hey Elle, let me help you there.”
“Hi Manny, thanks,” I smiled at him.
Manny was my favorite cab driver, and I’ve known him since I moved to New York. When I call a cab, I always ask for Manny, sometimes he‘s available and sometimes he’s not. He stood about 5’10 with a muscular build. He always wore his black hair in a ponytail, and his brown eyes always sparkled when I’d ask him about his kids. He was a family man and one of the nicest people I have ever met. His cab was the one that first picked me and Kyle up when we arrived in New York. I sat in front of the cab with him so my paintings could sit comfortably in the back.
“How’s Mr. Kyle doing, Elle?”
“Kyle moved out over a week ago Manny,” I sighed. The expression on his face was sympathetic.
“I’m so sorry Elle, are you ok?” I looked over at him, and a light smile came over my lips.
“I’m doing ok. I was a mess last week, but now I’m adjusting.” Was I really? Or was I just a good actress.
He pulled up to the art gallery and helped me take the paintings out of the cab. I paid him the fare and thanked him for his help.
“If you need anything, call me Elle and I mean that,” he pointed at me as he got into the cab and slowly pulled away.
Peyton saw me from the window of the gallery and came outside to help me bring in the paintings. She called the owner, Sal, and told him that I arrived. He came down from his office and kissed me on both cheeks.
“Ah, let me see what you have done here Ellery,” he said as he took the paintings one by one and laid them up against the wall.
I was contracted to submit three painting to his gallery as a trial. One of the paintings was a romanticism of a man and woman dancing under the moonlight surrounded by clouds. The second painting was of a garden with a fountain surrounded by beautiful flowers. The last painting was of a child sitting in a field of flowers in a white dress as three angels look down upon her from the sky. All three paintings spoke something about me.
“Wow Ellery, these are gorgeous. I’m sure I won’t have any problem selling these,” Sal smiled.
I felt a little embarrassed because this was the first time I was going to be showing my work to the world. He led me over to a small wall that was sitting bare.
“This is where your paintings will be displayed. I will call as soon as one or all of them sell.” I thanked him and as soon as he walked away, Peyton started jumping up and down clapping her hands.
“Let’s go out and celebrate tonight,” she squealed.
Going out was the last thing on my mind. I was not ready to do the single girl, out at night thing, but Peyton was persistent, and I knew I didn’t stand a chance against her. So, I hesitantly agreed.
I left the gallery and started walking down the street. I fumbled through my large purse to find my ringing cell phone. I grabbed it and looked at the familiar number that found its way to my phone a little too much lately. I hit ignore and decided to walk the six blocks home. It was not long before the new voicemail alert lit up my phone. By the time I made it home, I was exhausted. I threw my keys and purse on the table next to the door and listened to the message that so annoyingly remained on my screen.
“Hi Ellery, this is Dr. Taub calling. I noticed you have cancelled the last two appointments since our last visit. I want to make sure you are still coming to see me. It is vital that we talk about this. I can help you Ellery. Please call my office to set up an appointment A.S.A.P.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head as I hit the delete button.
I walked to the bedroom and decided to lay down for a while as the six block walk home took its toll on me. I had only been sleeping about an hour when I awoke to the sound of my ringing phone.
Chapter 3
“Hello,” I sleepily answered.
“Were you sleeping?” Peyton asked rather loudly.
“I was just taking a little nap,” I yawned.
“Get up; I’m on my way over to your place to get ready for the club.”
I heavily sighed, “Club? You said we’d go celebrate; I thought maybe that meant dinner, not clubbing.” I didn’t feel like going to a noisy crowded club tonight.
“Elle, snap out of it, you have been a hum drum since douchebag Kyle left. Reclaim your life, have fun like you used to; you are the most fun person I know.”
“I don’t know Peyton; I’m not feeling the club scene tonight.”
“You’ll feel it once you get there and who knows maybe you will meet your Prince Charming tonight.”
Did she say Prince Charming? I don’t want a Prince Charming. I don’t want anything to do with men period. It was important to Peyton that we celebrate, so I agreed to go.
“Ok Peyton, I guess I’ll go, but I do not want to be out late, I’m tired.”
“Yay,” she shrieked. “Oh, my friend Caleb is picking us up at your place, bye.”
“Wait, who is…”click… I silently chuckled and hopped in the shower. Peyton’s exuberance attracted a lot of different people. I believe that’s why we connected with each other so quickly.
As soon as I got out of the shower, Peyton walked through the door and threw a bag from Forever 21 at me.
“What’s this?” I asked as I peeked inside the bag.
She looked at me and smiled as she flitted to the bathroom, “Just a little pick me up I bought for you to wear tonight.”
Peyton was generous like that; we always bought each other things we thought the other would like. I opened the bag and took out the most spectacular silver, glittery knit tank top.
“Peyton, I love it,” I smiled.
“I knew you would. I thought you could wear it with your black leggings and black boots,” she mumbled as she brushed her teeth.
I went to the bedroom and put on the top. The length was long enough to cover my ass, which made it perfect for leggings. I walked to the bathroom where Peyton was doing her hair. She looked at me through the mirror and whistled, “Look at you miss thing; every guy at the club is going to want to tap that hot ass,” she smiled as she lightly smacked it.
I rolled my eyes. Peyton is one of those people who does not have a filter; she says what’s on her mind, at that moment and never gives it a second thought. Her mouth spits before her brain thinks.
I smiled as I hugged her, “Thank you; it’s perfect.”
“Awe, it’s nice to see you smile again Elle,” she continued straightening her hair.
I asked Peyton about Caleb, and she said he was a friend of a friend, and they went out a couple of times. I found it odd since this is the first time I’m hearing his name. She said she started seeing him right when Kyle left me. She didn’t think it was appropriate to talk about her dating life so soon. To be honest, I was touched by her thoughtfulness not to mention it, but at the same time I was pissed she didn’t.
I looked at myself in the mirror one last time before going out. I decided to throw some soft curls into my blonde hair that I already straightened and rubbed off some of the eye shadow Peyton painted on me. I was starting to feel glad I decided to go tonight; I needed some fun.
Caleb came to the door and whistled at the both of us as Peyton opened it. He gently kissed her on the cheek and walked over to me holding out his hand.
“I’m Caleb, nice to meet you.”
I shook his hand and told him the same. His grip was firm, and from what I could tell so was his body. He wore his short brown hair messy but in an attractive way and his black eyes were piercing. I could see why Peyton was attracted to him. The three of us slid into the cab that was waiting for us outside. Peyton had her arm around Caleb’s as they nuzzled each other. Suddenly, I felt like a third wheel.
“So, what club are we going to?” I asked. Caleb broke his gaze from Peyton and looked over at me.
“I thought we’d go to Club S.”
I frowned trying to think of how I knew that club, and then it hit me, my friend from the soup kitchen, Frankie is a bouncer there. I gasped.
“Isn’t that a sex club?”
Peyton looked at me and smiled, “Elle it’s a normal club; it just so happens that some people go there to find others to have sex with.” She said it so casually as if it was no big deal. I rolled my eyes and sighed.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the S stand for sex, as in Club Sex?” Peyton and Caleb both smiled at me. “Great, now I’ll have to be on the defense all night.”
“Live a little Elle,” she laughed.
I crossed my arms and looked out the window as they started making out. I was not about to live a little by having a one night stand with some random guy; that wasn’t me. I only had sex with one guy in my life, and that was Kyle.
Chapter 4
The cab dropped us off in front of the club, and I was astounded by the line of people who wrapped around the building for at least 2 blocks. I smiled, for I knew there was no way we were getting in tonight, which was OK with me. I preferred to go out for a quiet dinner.
Caleb slumped his shoulders, “Fuck, look at that line; we should have gotten here earlier.”
As the crowds of people in line were patiently waiting to be let in, and I was wishing to get the hell out of there, I heard someone yelling my name. My eyes grew wide as I cautiously turned my head.
“Elle, is that you? Hey Elle, over here.”
I looked over in the direction where the voice was coming from, and it was Frankie waving his hand and motioning for me to come over. The three of us walked to the entrance and stood in front of the large, burly man named Frankie Lasher. His 6’4” wrestler body was enough to intimidate anyone. I could see why the club hired him as a bouncer. He put his arms around me and gave me a squeeze.
“Good to see ya Elle; you guys clubbing here tonight?”
I pulled from his embrace, “We were going to, but wow, look at that line, I don’t think tonight’s going to be a possibility.”
“Nonsense, you three go in.”
I gave him a dirty look as he lifted the rope for us. Caleb and Peyton were ecstatic and beaming from ear to ear. Frankie lightly grabbed my arm as I walked past him, “If you do not feel comfortable in there or you need me, come out here and let me know.” I smiled at his generosity and nodded.
We walked through the small hallway that led into the main entrance of the club. I’ve been to many clubs, and this is by far is the most crowded I’ve ever seen. I looked around at the tables that filled the place. A massive bar sat off to the side with fluorescent lights that hung down from the ceiling. The oversized dance floor housed large projection screens and displayed a full color laser show. The walls were suede with soft lights that glowed off them. The music was blaring as the floor was thumping beneath my feet forcing my body to move with the beat.
Peyton pulled me and Caleb to the dance floor where we danced for what seemed like hours. I needed a drink, so I left them to dance as I made my way to the bar. I took the only bar stool that was available at the end and ordered a Cosmopolitan. I was sipping on my drink when I noticed a man and woman arguing at a table not too far from where I was sitting. She had her shaking finger pointed at him and then proceeded to poke him in the chest several times. I couldn’t help but shake my head and laugh. I kept looking over at them to see if they would kiss and makeup, but noticed he was yelling now. His finger was pointing at her, and his face looked angered. The tall beautiful woman slapped him across the face, turned on her heels and scurried off. I stared at him and took notice at the look on his face which showed no emotion whatsoever. He just sat there and stared straight ahead.
I kept looking over in his direction because he was one of the best eye candies I’ve ever seen. His light brown, almost blonde hair was shorter on the sides as his longer top had waves to it. I could not help but stare at his prominent square jaw and chiseled cheek bones. I could not tell the color of his eyes because he was too far away, and the lighting was inadequate, but I could tell just by looking, anyone could easily get lost in them.
“Yum Elle, I see someone has stolen your attention,” Peyton smiled as she looked over at him. Oh god I did not need her knowing I was checking this guy out because she would be the first one to run over, tell him, and try to set us up.
“He only has my attention because he was just bitch slapped by some woman.” She let out a loud laugh, and that was my cue to change the subject. She dragged me out to the dance floor where I danced and endlessly fought off horny guys as I kept getting shuffled in the crowd.
It started to get extremely hot in the club, and I needed some fresh air. I told Peyton I’d be back as I headed towards the door. As I stepped outside, I saw Frankie escorting Mr. Eye Candy out of the club.
“Ok Mr. Black, you have had way too much to drink tonight, and it’s time for you to go home.” He was stumbling from side to side and mumbling something.
“Frankie, what’s going on?” I casually asked.
“Hey Elle, this gentleman has had too much to drink, and he started causing a scene when the bartender refused to serve him.”
“What are you going to do with him?”
“I just escort them out, what they do after that is not my concern.”
I looked at him and cocked my head, “He can barely stand, how do you expect him to get home?” My head was telling me to stop immediately because it knew what I was about to do, but my heart was telling me to help him. “I’ll make sure he gets home safe,” I said to Frankie.
“Elle, that is not a good idea, you don’t know whom you’re dealing with here.”
I put my hand up, “I know what I’m doing, and he needs help.”
Frankie shook his head, “You have a good heart Elle, but sometimes I think you’re crazy; please be careful.”
I grabbed my cell phone from my purse and called a cab. Mr. Eye candy was sitting on the cement against the wall. I took notice at his expensive black tailored suit and the white shirt that was partially unbuttoned, showing off his muscular chest. His 6ft stature was lean, but seriously muscular. Like his hair and face, his body appeared to be perfect. I walked over to him and grabbed his arm to help him up.
“Come on, let’s get you home.”
He looked over at me with his drunken green eyes, “Do I know you?” he slurred.
I patted him on the back and walked him to the curb just as the cab pulled up. Before I pushed him in, I took his wallet out of his back pocket. He stumbled into the seat, and I climbed in next to him. I opened his wallet, took out his driver’s license and handed it to the driver, “Drop him off here.” He handed his license back to me, and I took it upon myself to read his name.
I patted him on the arm, “Nice to meet you Connor Black.”
He looked at me and put his head on my shoulder. I let a small smile escape my lips.
