Surviving for Us Read online

  Surviving

  For Us

  Lauren Nicole

  Copyright © 2015 Lauren Nicole

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Photographer: Jenny Spears Photography

  Cover Designer: Kari with Cover to Cover Designs

  Editor: Megan – Wild Rose Editing

  Formatter: Paul with BB eBooks

  Dedication

  To my mother,

  Where my love for reading came from.

  I miss you.

  I love you.

  Rest in peace.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Epilogue

  Lauren Nicole Bio

  Acknowledgements

  Prologue

  Angie

  As I lie in bed on this warm November night, my skin damp with perspiration from the Florida humidity, I think back to the last four years of high school. I just graduated this past June and have no idea in what direction my life is headed. My boyfriend, Justin, and I have been together for the past three and a half years. Originally, we planned to get a place together after school and start our life. Then, out of nowhere, he up and moves to another state a month ago without bothering to ask me to come with him.

  I can feel the distance between us growing, and am hoping that when he comes home to visit in a couple of days all will be well. I’m lucky if he even picks up the phone when I call him. Although, it’s never usually good anyway, as he’s often short with me. It makes me feel like a nuisance, and I hate that this is what our relationship has become. As a matter of fact, I’m waiting for his call right now, after leaving several messages to see what our plans are for the Thanksgiving weekend. Finally, my phone starts to vibrate on the nightstand next me.

  “Hey, baby.”

  There’s an uncomfortable pause, like he has to think of what he wants to say, all I can hear is the clock ticking as each second passes by. My gut clenches in the pit of my stomach, I can already tell it’s not going to be good. He finally says ‘hello’ and we get the small talk out of the way.

  “So what time are we going over to your parent’s for Thanksgiving?” I ask him. We have gone over to their house for the past three years.

  He takes a minute to answer. “Well, you’re not coming with me. There is this girl I’ve been seeing, and I’m bringing her down with me to meet my parents.”

  I am speechless; my mouth hangs open as I search for something—anything—to say. The audacity of this guy! After all this time he just flat-out tells me he is seeing someone behind my back and wasn’t even bothered to break up with me first.

  I knew this could happen, my friends told me it would, but never in my worst nightmare did I expect it to truly happen. “What do you mean you’ve been seeing someone, Justin? We didn’t even break up; you’re supposed to be with me!” I’m so pissed, but even more so, I’m terribly hurt. I can feel the tears start to run down my face.

  After telling me not to contact him anymore, the line goes dead. Three years with him—gone. Anger consumes me as I fling my phone across the room and watch it smash into the wall and shatter to pieces, just like my heart. I am so confused. I thought he loved me and we’d spend our lives together. Apparently, I was wrong. What kind of man breaks up with his long-time girlfriend over the phone by telling her he has been seeing someone else? What kind of man needs to move states away just to leave the girl he is with? My feelings never mattered to him, I guess. I gave him everything and he just threw it all away with one fucking phone call. He isn’t a man in my book. No, he is a boy. A boy that can’t deal with his problems face-to-face. A coward.

  I can’t help but wonder what brought this on. Was it me? Something I did? I’m crying so hard and just want the pain to go away. I go to my mom’s room and curl up in her arms. She always makes everything better.

  “It will all be okay, baby, he wasn’t your happily ever after. One day you will find your prince and he will be everything you’ve always wanted. We live and we learn, sweetie. It’s all going to be okay,” she whispers quietly in my ear as she holds me close.

  I promise myself that no man will ever get my heart again. I can’t go through pain like this again. I’m just going to figure out my path in life and live it to the fullest. Taking life one day at a time until the pain goes away. With each promise to myself, and a reassuring breath of air, my tears have finally stopped.

  As my momma continues to hold me in her arms, I begin to feel sleep taking me over. She quietly whispers, “You will find your prince.”

  Chapter 1

  Angie

  Three Years Later

  As soon as I walk through my front door, after a long day at work, I kick off my shoes. Working as a licensed practical nurse can be tiring. I hurl myself on the couch with plans to close my eyes and, of course, at that moment my phone decides to goes off. I look at the caller ID and see Jenn’s name appear. Jenn and I met in college two years ago and is my soon-to-be roommate.

  “Hey, girl, do you want to go shoot pool later?” Jenn asks as soon as I answer the phone.

  Ugh, do I really want to go out tonight? I had such a long day at work, and I have to be back there early tomorrow.

  Sensing my hesitancy, Jenn speaks up and breaks the silence. “Come on, it’ll be fun. My buddy, Chase, is here. He just finished boot camp, plus he’s single and perfect for you.”

  “Jenn, you know I’m not interested in meeting anyone.”

  “I know that, but I haven’t seen him since high school. He just wants to get out and have some fun, plus he’s not bad-looking either,” she adds.

  “Sure, I guess I’ll go, but I can’t stay out too late. I have to be at work at 7:30 tomorrow.” Agreeing upon a time, I hang up and begin to get ready. I really could use a fun night after the day I had. Right at seven my phone buzzes with a text, telling me they are outside, waiting for me. Making my way toward her car, I open the back door and slide in on her smooth leather seats.

  Jenn speaks up: “Angie, this is Chase. Chase, this is Angie.”

  “Hi, Chase.”

  “Hey,” is all he says.

  On the way there I try to get a good look at him but it’s hard with the only available light coming from the dashboard.

  Jack’s Pool Hall is lit up in all its glory. It’s packed for a Thursday night; even the attached arcade and bar are busier t
han normal. We push our way through the sweaty bodies and find an open table. The music is blaring. Luckily, the table we found is in the corner so it’s a little bit quieter. I immediately order a sex on the beach. From where I am sitting I can finally get a good long look at Chase. He stands about six feet, has a killer body, crystal blue eyes and his dark hair is buzzed short to military standards. Wow! I continue staring, knowing I have seen him before. I can feel his eyes blaze through me, as I slowly take one last sip of my drink.

  “Hey, girl, what are your plans this weekend?” Jenn asks.

  “I don’t really have any yet, I have to work tomorrow and then I’m taking my niece to dinner, but that’s all I have.” Before she can reply, she must spot a friend in the bar.

  “I’ll be right back guys,” she says making her exit.

  Now it’s just Chase and me at the table. I decide to speak up and figure out how I know him. “You look really familiar, have I met you before?”

  He looks at me and those blue eyes penetrate me as he speaks. “Yes, my mom used to live next door to you when you were in high school. Remember she used to offer you rides to school?”

  Ahh, now I know him. I would always see him when I would wait for Justin to come get me for school. Our gazes lock, lost in each other’s eyes, it’s as if we have known each other for a lifetime.

  Jenn returns to the table, looking back and forth between us. “Did I miss something?”

  Quickly breaking eye contact, I tell her that we briefly met a couple of years ago. Chase and I begin a game of pool while Jenn goes back and forth between us and some of her other friends that are at the pool table next to us. I feel his eyes on me when I take my turn. I glance up at him from the other side of the table, and when our eyes meet he jets his away, like he didn’t want me to notice he was looking. I sense I should keep my distance from him. He doesn’t seem like a guy that would be committed to one girl, but instead take his one night and move to the next gal. The burn from Justin a few years ago is still too fresh.

  After about two hours of playing pool, I decide to play some games in the arcade. “I bet you that I win in basketball,” Chase taunts, as we walk over to the games.

  I have to hold back my laugh, deciding not to tell him I played all four years of varsity ball in high school. “Okay, sure. What do you get if you win?”

  He looks me dead in the eyes. “Your phone number.”

  “Not happening, I know your type.” Rolling my eyes, I turn and walk away. He sure is full of himself.

  “And just what is my type?” he whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my neck.

  I turn to look directly at him. “You take what you want and leave.”

  He stops dead in his tracks. “Um, no. Not at all.”

  “Right,” I say under my breath.

  Slinging his arm around my shoulder, he says, “So what do you want, gorgeous? That is, if you win.”

  I shrug out of his hold. “You can buy me another drink.”

  Once Chase and I arrive at the game, he puts the coins in and the basketballs roll toward us. We start shooting the balls into the basket. I’ve got one eye on my basket and one eye on his basket. Shit, he is good. This bet may come back and bite me in the butt. The game is tied up with about ten seconds to go. He shoots his last ball and misses. Yes! Now all I need to do is make my last one and I win. I throw the ball with two seconds left and make it. I just beat him by two points. I turn and look at him with a smile on my face. “Time to pay up, buddy.”

  Chase shakes his head in defeat, but turns toward the bar and walks away. He returns with my drink in his hands. “Here you go.”

  As I’m taking a sip of my drink, eyeing Chase with amusement, Jenn walks up and suggests we grab a bite to eat before we head home.

  “Let’s go over to Wingers, their food is always good.” I suggest.

  Once we get to the restaurant and get seated, we all order a round of drinks. The place is pretty dead, but it is close to midnight. Most people have to be at work early the next morning.

  “So, Angie, what do you do for work?” Chase asks me.

  “I work as an LPN in sports medicine and orthopedics.” I love my job and have been there about two years now.

  “A nurse, huh? I think you need to come help me,” Chase says, holding his shoulder and feigning being hurt.

  Wow, this guy is certainly laying it on thick tonight. But I’m not one of those girls who will just fall at his feet. I will not just jump in bed with him. I don’t even bother to reply.

  Jenn’s phone vibrates on the table and she starts smiling. “Who is that?” I ask. I have a feeling it’s Chris. Chris is her on and off again boyfriend of two years. Those two can never seem to get their timing right. They make a great couple but every time something happens that breaks them apart.

  “Chris. He’s having a party Saturday night and wants us to come,” she says. She can’t stop smiling.

  “That sounds like fun, I don’t have any plans.” Jenn and I make plans to meet up Saturday at my house around eight to get ready then head to the party. It’s getting late so we pay our bills and head home.

  On the way home I’m trying to think of something to wear Saturday. “Hey, Jenn, do you want to go shopping Saturday afternoon and get a new outfit for the party?”

  Jenn immediately replies. “Hell yes, girl. I’ll pick you up at three.”

  Awesome, maybe I will find a sexy little pink dress to go with the hot pink heels I bought last weekend.

  “So, Chase, what are you doing this weekend? I know you are only here for two weeks,” Jenn asks.

  He looks over at Jenn. “I have to head out to my dad’s first thing in the morning. I have to help him with his ranch. I got the message about the party too, just not sure if I can make it.” He glances back at me with a smirk on his beautiful face, seeming to gauge my reaction on his appearance at the party.

  Hmm, I wouldn’t mind watching him work in tight jeans and boots. I shake my head to get the thought out of my mind—I can’t have these thoughts about Chase.

  She pulls up to my house and I say goodbye. As I’m removing my shoes, my mind wanders back to Chase. There is just something about him that intrigues me, I can’t figure out what it is. Maybe it’s the one dimple he has when he smiles or those gorgeous blue eyes. Ugh, I need to get him off my mind for good. I don’t need that distraction. I get up and head for the bathroom to shower and get him off my mind. But even as I climb into bed, I fall asleep with Chase dominating my thoughts.

  Chapter 2

  Chase

  Once we drop Angie off at home, Jenn and I head toward my mom’s house where I’m staying. “So, Angie seems cool.”

  “She is and one of my best friends. We’re actually moving in together around Christmas,” Jenn replies.

  I can’t help but not smile at that. Maybe when I’m home around Christmas I can come over and see her. I just got out of boot camp and have to head over to finish schooling in about two weeks. When Jenn called me earlier tonight, asking if I wanted to go out, I agreed, thinking it was just going to be the two of us. Never did I expect this beauty to come along.

  As soon as I saw Angie I knew exactly who she was. I remember seeing her every morning outside the house, waiting for her ride. I always wanted to ask her out but she had a boyfriend at the time. It’s been around three years since I’ve seen her. And, wow, did she grow up. Her auburn hair falls to the middle of her back. She has beautiful blue eyes and a gorgeous smile. She stands about five feet four inches, and I can tell she has an athletic body. She has definitely turned into a bombshell.

  “What has you deep in thought over there?” Jenn speaks up.

  I try not to smile when I answer her but it’s hard. “Just thinking about Angie. What can I do to get her phone number from you?” I look over to her, waiting for her reply.

  We sit in silence for a couple of minutes before she speaks up. “I don’t know, Chase, she has been hurt before, pretty badly, and you�
�re getting ready to head back to school.”

  Damn it, I’m going to have to work for this. “I know I’m getting ready to leave, but I just want to be her friend. Yes, I like her and think she is gorgeous, but right now I’m not looking for a girlfriend, just a friend.” Hopefully, that will get me her number.

  It is true what I said—I don’t want a girlfriend. I like to be single and have a great time. No, I’m not a man-whore as most people think. I tend to stick to one woman at a time. Being in the military makes it hard to have relationships, or so I have heard from family members that are enlisted. It’s partially because you’re always moving, and secondly, it would be too much work to have a long-distance relationship. I’m just out here looking for a good time, but I can tell Angie is not that kind of girl. I am going to have to work on her just to loosen her up.

  “Okay, fine, I’ll give you her number. But, Chase, if you hurt her in any way I will kill you,” Jenn says with venom in her voice, as she pulls into the driveway.

  “Thanks, Jenn, I promise not to hurt her. I’ll see you in a couple of days when I get back from my dad’s.” Jenn gives me Angie’s number, which I save into my phone. Saying our goodbyes, I get out and walk into my mom’s house.

  No one is home when I walk in, so I decide to head toward my bedroom. I sit on the bed and reflect back on the night. Thoughts of Angie invade my head. There is something about her that makes me want to know more. Despite seeing her years earlier, I really only met her a couple of hours ago and she already has my mind all twisted up. I’m not typically one to sit around and think about women. I get up and head toward the shower, turning the water on hot and get in. I stand there with the water beating down on me, thinking of what I’m going to do with her phone number.

  After my shower I realize I have a missed call from Chris. As soon as I go to call him back he sends me a message.

  Chris: Hey, man, are you going to be able to make it Saturday night? I know I asked earlier but just trying to get a head count.