Forever Together (Forever Love #2) (33 page)

“I love you Cinders.” Brady’s breath sends tingles shooting through me as he whispers in my ear. “You've got no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

“Me too,” I answer, my eyes drifting closed with how relaxed I feel. “Forever together.”

“Pinky promise?” I open my eyes to the sight of his pinky in front of me.

I sit up straight at the sight of something else on his finger.  I look to my left and see Liv and Noah staring at us with huge smiles on their faces. Another glance to the right tells me that Trina and Tucker are doing the exact same thing.

Just as I’m about to grasp whatever it is that’s on his pinky, it’s taken away from me, pulled behind. I sit there numbly with my mouth hanging open as my mind tries to accept what I’ve just seen. No! I must have been wrong. I was probably imagining it. I’m halfway through convincing myself of that when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

I turn to see something that could very well give me a very big heart attack. Brady Cooper, my first love, my only love, on a bended knee.

“Cindy Martin.” He beams.

“Oh my God.”

“The first time I met you I decided you were gonna be my princess and I was gonna be your hero. You were the prettiest little thing I’d ever seen and in that moment, I knew I loved you. I promised myself back then that I would make you my wife one day. Of course I was gonna do it with Spidey web and there was gonna be some really cool Mutant Ninja Turtles as my best men, but apparently plans have to change. The point is that it’s time now. I love you more than I ever fucking thought was possible. You're everything to me and I’m gonna spend the rest of my life, till we’re old and grey and surrounded by grandkids showing you how much I love you. So whatcha say Cinders, will you marry me?”

I nod my head for way too long as everything hits me full blast. Brady wants to marry ME. Brady actually wants to marry me. Oh my God, I’m gonna get married!

“Well, answer him then Cindy.” Liv nudges me.

I throw myself into his arms, tears falling down my face onto his white dress shirt.

“I love you! Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“Say it again Cinders.” His voice is clogged up.

“I WILL MARRY YOU!”

Everyone shoots to their feet and engulfs us in a huge group hug as I sob into my soulmate's arms. This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.

Some moments will forever stick with you. It might be the first moment you notice a cute little boy in his Spiderman costume, it might be the moment that very boy kisses you for the first time under the stars, it might even be the moment he tells you he loves you, holding you close. Or it might be this very moment. The moment he asks you to marry him and be his forever.

It doesn’t matter because no matter how many moments Brady and I have, I know we’re forever. Me and him are Forever together and we’re gonna have so many more.

The end… Until next time.

A note from the Author

Well, here we go again. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be the author of one book, never mind two!

While writing this book a friend asked me if I could describe Brady Cooper in just one word. At the time, I couldn’t answer. Now I can. Brady is one hundred percent a fuck up. I mean that in the nicest way possible of course because no matter the ridiculous situations he finds himself in or the stupid things that come out of his mouth, his heart is in the right place. And isn’t that what all us women want in a man? We want someone who loves us so much they don’t know what to do with it. We want someone who’ll lie in the front seat of a car with a pair of binoculars just to get a single glance at us. Well, maybe not that one but you get my drift. The lobe Brady has for Cindy is undeniable and no matter his methods, it’s been a joy to write.

This book took me seven months to finish. George R R Martin eat your heart out! I used the backspace button so much the print faded and I spent too much time writing and not enough sleeping. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn’t change a second of it though. Not many people can say they are living their dream, but I can. Not many people look forward to getting up in the morning to work, but I do. And without all the people supporting me I wouldn’t be so lucky.

On that note, onto the next part which is by far the hardest. I hate it because I’m scared of missing someone out so if I do, please forgive me.

First off, thank you to my family and friends, you’ve nudged me in the right direction more times than I can count, listened to my constant complaining and been my biggest fans. I love you more than words can say.

Thank you to my fantastic editor, Laura. You have the patience of a saint and I really don’t know what I’d do without you.

Jen/Jacy, I can’t even describe what a help you’ve been to me. You’ve listened to my late night moaning, helped me out of so many messes and always given a friendly ear. I am so happy I met you and I just know that you’re a friend for life.

I’d be nothing without all my wonderful readers though. A word doesn’t exist unless there’s someone there to read it. Your amazing feedback has given me such a boost, your kind words have brightened so many days. Thank you for taking this ride with me and may we have many more journeys to come.

Finally, the third book which I can reveal for the first time will be titled Forever and Always and will be out soon. For a sneak peek of Tucker and Lexi’s story turn over. Get ready because I’m gonna give you the feels!

Forever and Always

Prologue

Erin

“Once upon a time in a land far far away there lived a beautiful princess. Do you know what her name was?”

“No.” I answer shyly to my Mommy’s question, holding the My Little Pony comforter right up to my chin.

“Well, I’ll give you a clue.” She taps my nose and I giggle, poking my tongue through the gap where my two front teeth should be. Mommy says they’ll come back soon and I’ll be a big girl then. “She had fiery red hair and eyes greener than all the leaves on the trees. She had the cutest little button nose and I think her name sounded something like… ALEXA!”

“That’s my name.”

“Oh, yes it is. Anyway, one day she met a handsome prince whose name was-“

“HOLLY!” I can hear Daddy’s voice coming from downstairs and Mommy sighs. I hope she can finish the story. “HOLLY, YOU UP THERE?!”

“ONE SECOND DREW!” She turns back to face me. “I’m sorry sweetie, we’ll finish it tomorrow night, ok?”

“But who’s the handsome prince? Is he charming? Is he handsome?” I ask.

“Oh my darling, your prince is going to be the most charming, handsome prince you could wish for. He’ll love you forever and believe it or not, that is the most important thing.”

“Forever and always Mommy?”

She smiles a smile that looks exactly like mine. I know because I test it out in the mirror every morning while I’m brushing my teeth.

“Forever and always Alexa, just like Mommy loves you. Even after all the stars fade in the sky and the moon goes to sleep, Mommy will always love you.”

I stare out of the entrance to the huge white tent towards the empty field, blanketed by hundreds, maybe thousands of tiny little flowers. The sun has not quite set yet, instead making its slow descent and bathing everything in a romantic warm glow. The scene is perfect, only made better by the tea lights bunched together on every table and the pillar candles strategically placed around the space, all at different heights.

It’s as if it’s been taken right from a storybook. Two people completely in love having one of the most beautiful weddings imaginable. It really is gorgeous.

That’s why it’s so bad that I can’t help but hope for something to go wrong. I know, I know I’m a terrible person. But there’s seriously not a being alive that doesn’t secretly hope to see the bride trip on her way down the aisle or for the groom to start projectile vomiting all over her pretty stark white dress. The girl sitting at the back with the cackling laugh if ever that does happen? That’s me.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” My Mom sighs for the thousandth time tonight.

“Sure is.” I nod in agreement, looking towards the dance floor filled with couples pressed together and swaying to the sound of Ed Sheeran.

“It’ll be you soon honey. I can’t wait. You should have a wedding just like this one.”

My head snaps round at my Mom's words. I don’t have a boyfriend, never mind a ring. Unless of course she’s expecting me to become one of those strange people that falls in love and marries a tree. Actually, that’s looking to be a very viable option at the moment. I’d have as much sex as I do now which is nada and I wouldn’t ever have to worry about a man answering me back.

“Oh look,” She nudges me in the ribs almost knocking me off the white wicker chair that’s so surprisingly comfortable I’m considering sneaking it home with me. “They’re dancing. Oh look at her dress, isn’t it beautiful?”

“Incredible. I’ll be dreaming about it for the rest of my life.” I roll my eyes. “Hey, you think they’ll have some entertainment on later?”

“Entertainment? Lexi, it’s a wedding!”

“Yeah, I know but I thought they’d at least put something interesting on like a magician or a Power Rangers dance act.”

I bite the inside of my cheek when my exasperated Mother throws her hands up in the air, probably wondering where she found me. I’ve been asking myself that question for the last nineteen years. If we didn’t have the exact same red hair, I’d be looking into adoption records.

“Oh, don’t look now but a very handsome young man is coming over.”

“What, where?” I spin in my seat, so not wanting to hear some weirdo try and hit on my Mom.

“Don’t turn around, just look natural.” I can barely see her mouth move and if it wasn’t for the shifty eyes she was giving me, I’d be convinced there was some kind of tape recorder hidden under the table.

I stare straight ahead, hoping beyond hope that my Aunt Trish comes over and saves me. Of course, she flounced off with some tattooed guy half her age half an hour ago and I haven’t seen her since.

I hear a throat being cleared behind me and I turn around, internally shrinking back when I see who’s there.

“Um, Hi.” He flashes his perfectly white, straight teeth and looks from me to my Mother.

Now, I know she’s newly divorced and all for living every day to its fullest at the moment, but if she ditches me for Luke Martin who happens to be the same damn age as my sister, I’m gonna pitch a fit. There’s gonna be table flipping and a mighty tantrum at this wedding. Not that I think she’d ever do that but newly divorced Mom is new to me. Who knows what she’ll do.

“Well, hello dear. Luke isn’t it?” She smiles.

“Yes ma’am.” I’m temporarily calmed by the respectful manner in which he speaks to her. You don’t call a woman who you’re hoping to get down and dirty with ma’am.

“How’s your Mother?” I turn away, fazing the boring conversation out and take a sip of my Pina Colada.

As beautiful as this wedding may be, it's also the most boring. I was hoping to dodge it but when Aunt Trish nestled me with doing the bride's hair I had no choice. When someone’s paying you three hundred dollars to simply stick a couple of rollers in and then pin it up, you snatch the money then sit and pretend to swoon over their wedding dress like any broke ass person would do.

“Lexi.” My Mom hisses, another elbow hitting my ribs.

“Yes Mother?” I smile, plastering a wide and completely fake smile on my face.

“Luke was talking to you.” Did I just hear that right? Me?

I look up at him and sure enough his eyes are trained on me rather than my Mother.

“Um, hi.” I sink lower in my seat as if it would make me less visible.

“Hey, I was just wondering if you wanted to dance?” He shrugs his shoulders and I don’t miss his eyes straying a little too far downwards. 

“Oh, I-”

“She’d love to!” Before I even have chance to refuse, I’m yanked up from my seat and pushed towards Luke.

“Yeah, I’d love to.” It comes out as more of a threat than an agreement as I shoot daggers from my eyes to my Mom. She ignores it and winks.

He sends another one of those toothy smiles my way and takes me by the hand towards the lit up dancefloor. A dark haired little girl no older than seven is busy spinning around smack bang in the middle of it, her arms outstretched and pale pink satin dress sweeping across the floor.

“Shit! Where the hell’s my Mom?” I hear Luke mumble before he looks apologetically towards me. “It’s my little sister. She’s a bit of a handful.”

I nod in agreement, not sure what else to say. I can’t help noticing how different they look. The little girl has long jet black hair, wavy and thick compared to Luke’s bright blond. Even her eyes which I can see from here are unbelievably dark and couldn’t be more different to the light blue of her brothers.

“She's cute.” I say simply, noticing that we completely avoid her and navigate around her.

“She’s a nightmare.” A horrified look overcomes his face.

I know from my own experience how much of a nightmare siblings can be. I have my own older sister and younger brother. I’m hard work and I’m the good one so you can just imagine what they’re like. Amber’s a free spirit, travelling around the country and giving the men of America hell and Max, well Max is a different kettle of fish entirely.

We come to a stop at the corner of the dancefloor nearest the bar and I’m secretly thankful. This way, if things go pear shaped I can make a quick getaway and get a drink at the same time.

“So, Lexi isn’t it?” I’m not at all offended that he’s unsure of my name. I’m pretty forgettable.

“Yep.” I nod once and smack my lips together.

“You still live in town or you at college?” He asks.

“I work at the salon.”

“The salon?” He frowns before perking right up. It’s as if he just this second had a lightbulb moment. “Oh fuck, you work at the salon!”

“Um yes.” I narrow my eyes.

“And you’re a redhead.” He smirks and shakes his head.

“Apparently so.”

“I’m sorry, I know I sound like a complete fucking weirdo-“

“Pretty much.” I interrupt and laugh awkwardly, eyeing the bar.

“No, you don’t understand…” His eyes widen when he looks over my shoulder. “Oh fuck it, you’re about to find out.”

I’m about to back away and make my excuses. Luke Martin always looked so sane walking round town but I guess looks can be deceiving. I don’t have the chance to even open my mouth though.

“Luke!” There’s a growl behind me, low and animalistic.

I turn around at the sound and am met with the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I’m not too proud to admit they cause my heart to pitter patter in my chest and the breath to get blown right out of my lungs. They’re the kind of eyes you read about but never see, the kind that are unnatural, like the color on an artist’s pallet.

“Tuck, there you are man. You know Lex, right?” Luke wraps an arm around my shoulders and I can’t help but stare at it.

When those eyes aren’t glaring at the guy who is seriously taking liberties with his arm right now and move over to me it’s like a punch in the stomach. They visibly soften and a small almost shy smile takes over his face, showing off two adorable dimples at the corners of his mouth.

He could pass off as a knight in shining armor, maybe even the handsome prince that my Mom used to tell me about. I know this guy though. This guy is Tucker Jameson and he’s trouble with a capital T. His reputation proceeds him as a notorious ladies’ man. Now, I’m not talking the general guy having fun that you can expect from any college age guy, no. I’m talking about a guy who has literally banged half the female population in town. The other half are either married or of retirement age so they don’t even really count.

“Yeah, I know Lexi.” His voice rolls over me, causing the tiny little hairs on the back of my neck to stand up straight. His eyes snake up and down my body and whereas I’d usually be all sorts of offended, I’m surprisingly ok with it. It’s not as if he’ll find anything to write home about.

I’m just an average girl with boobs a little too big and a butt a little too wide. I’m not a statuesque blond or a perky little brunette. I’m just me. Good old, Lexi Chapman with hair too bright and eyes too murky.

“She works in the salon.” Luke states. I don’t know what his obsession with that is, but it's starting to look really weird. Not that he didn’t come off a total basket case already.

“I know that.” There’s a bite to Tucker's tone and I flinch a little. “Now beat it man.”

I expect Luke to take offense or at least argue the point. Instead, he just burst out laughing, slapping his thigh with the hand that’s not still sitting on my shoulder.

“Oh this is good. This is definitely fucking good. Where’s that dick Brady? I gotta tell him about this.” He pulls his arm away and winks. “Nice to see ya Lexi.”

I stand there speechless as he struts away.

“He’s very strange.” I say, shaking my head.

“He’s a freak what can I say. I gotta say there was me thinking this wedding was gonna be boring as hell. Thought they’d at least stick on a magician or something.”

“I know right?” I throw my hands up in the air, our eyes meeting.

If I was into all the romantic crap my Mom is, I’d maybe say this was the meeting of souls, that this is the moment I fall head over heels in love with Franklin's very own answer to Hugh Hefner. I’m not into all that though so all I’ll say is that maybe Tucker isn’t so bad after all.

Holly

I watch from a distance as Tucker Jameson struts his way over to my daughter, his eyes glued to her. I remember that look well. It’s a look I can remember seeing on a daily basis at one time. I sit up straight in my seat, giddy with anticipation as Luke Martin walks away, shaking his head while silently chuckling to himself. Seems somebody else knows that look too.

“Whatcha doing pretty lady?” I look up to see my sister Trish putting two rum and cokes on the table, throwing a wink over her shoulder towards some young man that’s at about the right age to be her son. “Hey, don’t look at me like that. You could do with some fun yourself. Is that our Lexi with that Jameson boy?”

“Uh huh.” I nod my head as I see my little girl look up to him with stars in her eyes.

“You sure you want him around her? He’s got quite the reputation Hol.”

That’s my darling sister, forever protective of my kids. I love her for it.

“Look at the way he looks at her. You remember that look?” I raise my brows as she squints her eyes.