Forgiven (Touched Series #2)

Forgiven

Touched Series #2

VICKI GREEN

Forgiven

Touched Series #2

VICKI GREEN

         ‘You can’t always protect the one you love’

            ‘But you can forgive them’

Bo Dunway’s young life has been fortunate. His parents are wealthy, and they provided him and his sister a loving environment growing up. He’s never wanted for much, but he has a heart of gold. With his good grades and basketball scholarship, he’s able to attend a prominent college, but he doesn’t want to live out of state. He can’t bear the thought of leaving behind the one thing he loves more than basketball. Stormy Reece.
 

Stormy Reece grew up in the most unusual conditions. Meeting Bo and his family was the best thing that ever happened to her. They met behind the Mexican Restaurant he and his family frequented when he was seven, and she was five. Her single mother worked there most days and nights so Stormy was always there hanging out in the kitchen or in the back alley. Without a father figure in her life, she rebelled in her late teens. She went to parties with the friends she had made that were horrible influences, stayed out till all hours of the night and worried her mother sick.
 

Bo and Stormy became inseparable until he reluctantly left for college. He promised he’d never leave her. She believed him. Never again will she trust anyone but herself. He knew from the moment he saw her that he was going to marry her one day. Being forced to attend a college away from his home town, his promising career hangs in the balance as his concentration is only on one thing. Stormy.

Will Bo follow his dreams or his heart and will they ever be able to live out their dream of being together?

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Vicki Green Copyright 2014©

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form with authorization of the Author Vicki Green©

Editor: Kathy Krick @K2 Editing:

https://www.facebook.com/K2Editing

Cover Design by Cover to Cover Designs:

https://www.facebook.com/CoverToCoverDesigns

Formatting
:

http://e-and-f.webs.com/

Zac Aynsley:

https://www.facebook.com/ZacAynsleyOfficial

Furiousfotog Photography (Zac Aynsley’s picture):

https://www.facebook.com/FuriousFotog

*Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18+.

“
You can’t have true, unconditional love without forgiveness. Vicki reminds us of that and then some. She can tell a heart wrenching story like no other. Bo & Stormy will touch your heart and make you laugh and cry. I love Bo! You will not be disappointed!”
- Jasmine Cardi

“I really enjoy reading Vicki Green’s work it’s always intense and the guys are soooo smexy, you just wish you could reach through the pages and get your hands on them LOL. I can’t wait to read the next book, I have already asked Vicki about it and am so siked to see what she has in store for us next!!
- LadyAmbers Reviews

“This is a must read. You will not be disappointed. Once I started, there was no putting it down.”
– Joy Whiteside

“I absolutely loved Forgiven, you can add another mind-blowing book to the list! Vicki is a phenomenal author and never disappoints.”
– Ashley Grimes

“Another phenomenal book by Vicki that will completely melt your heart.” –
Quimataz Quimataz

“Emotional roller-coaster of fabulousness! Love this book….great read!”
– Faith Godard

Dedication

As always, to my loving husband (of 18 years) and my two sons, Charles (CJ) and Cole. Thank you so much for all your support as I started my writing journey almost a year ago, your love and patience of my endless hours of my writing, pot luck dinners and all your support when I go to signings. You fill my heart with love and happiness and for that I’ll always be truly grateful.

To those who are with their childhood sweethearts, found your love or have yet to find them, may you find this story a remembrance of that, find hope that your love is out there for you or just be taken away, for a short time, in experiencing Stormy and Bo’s undying love and find some happiness in their story.

Prologue

Sometimes being oblivious is bliss, but sometimes it causes you to miss things that later in life you should have stopped. Things that would make even a grown man cry. Things that would make you want to commit murder. I should have stopped it. I should have stopped him. Why was I so blind? Why was I so selfish? Because I was out for one thing; to be successful. If only I had been around. If only I’d stayed there so this wouldn’t have happened. Had I stopped him, she wouldn’t be the way she was now. She would have made something out of herself and be the person I know she could be. She deserved more. More from life. More from me.

I loved her and I let her down…. so many times. I will never forgive myself. Never. But I’ve already forgiven her. She just doesn’t know it, yet.

Chapter One

It’s getting harder and harder to concentrate on my studies when all I can think about is Stormy. With only a few months left before I graduate, I wish I knew what I could do to find her. Where is she? Is she okay? She’s been missing for over a month now and no one seems to know where she is. I’m really worried. When was the last time we talked? I shiver when my mind thinks back. A year. Can it be that long? Damn! Leaning back in my chair, clasping my hands behind my head, my mind wanders back to the time when we first met.

“Wanna hep me build a sand castel?” It was such an odd sight, seeing a little girl in an alley beside the Mexican restaurant. Leaning against the brick wall, I cross my arms over my skinny build and watch her. She’s filthy, playing in a small sandbox at the far end of the alley, the sand all caked in her long dark hair, smudged on her face and under her fingernails. Why would her parents let her be out here by herself? “Com’on. Come hep me.” Shrugging my shoulders I walk over, get down on my knees and start to smooth the sand into a heap. My eyes can’t help but look over at her, but they shy away when her eyes move to mine. Her long dark eyelashes almost cover her light green eyes completely but not enough that I didn’t notice the sparkle in them or what an unusual shade of green they are. Ok. So she’s kind of cute. For a girl.

I’m broken out of my memories from my phone ringing. Unknown. Hmmm. “Hello?” Silence. “Is anyone there?” Silence. “Look, I’m gonna hang up if you don’t….”

“Bo.” My heart begins beating fast as I hear the voice I haven’t heard in such a long time only it’s different now.

“Stormy? Stormy, is that you?” Silence again except I can hear her ragged breathing. “Stormy, you’re scaring me. What is it, what’s wrong? Where are you?”

I’m alarmed when I hear a little cry. “I’m…. I’m not sure. I…. I think I’m….”

My phone beeps indicating there’s another call trying to come through. Pulling the phone away from my ear I look at the screen. Mom. I place the phone against my ear, quickly, “Stormy. Don’t hang up. Stay on the line. I’ll be right back, I promise.” I click over to Mom, almost yelling, “MOM! I can’t talk….”

“Bo. Bo, listen to me. It’s Stormy…. Her mom just passed away. Bo?” My hand lowers the phone, my arm straightening and I just leave it there, in a daze. Celia? Dead? “BO!” Shaking my head, I bring the phone back up to my ear.

“Mom? Celia died? How? When? Wait!” Damn, I forgot Stormy was on the other line. I click over but get a dial tone. She’s gone. Sighing I click back over to Mom. “Mom. Stormy was on the other line and now she’s gone.” Mom starts crying, and I have no idea what to do to. I need to find Stormy. “Mom, I’m on my way home. Tell Dad.” I click the phone and throw it on my desk. Scrambling around my room, I begin throwing clothes into my small bag. I run over to my laptop and send a mass email to my teachers and coach, telling them an emergency has come up, and I’ll be gone for awhile. I ask them to forward all assignments to my email, and I will catch up as soon as I can. Then as I stand I freeze. How will I find her? Looking at my phone again I find her call, in the log, and the unknown number and hit ‘dial’. It rings and rings and I’m about to hang up, contemplating how I will ever find her, when it stops. I pull it away and it shows it’s still connected. “Stormy?” Nothing. My heart is caught in my throat when I hear a sniff and a muffled cry. “Stormy. Thank God. Can you tell me what’s around you? Help me find you, baby.”

A whimper sounds in my ear, my heart breaks and my body tight in alert. “Sandbox.”

I hear a crash and the line goes dead. Sandbox. Shit! She’s in the alley by the restaurant that’s been closed for years. Grabbing my bag, I walk out my door, locking it behind me and run to my car. I only hope she stays put until I get there. Just another millionth time I wish I wasn’t in a school out of town, but thank God, it’s only an hour away. I drive the car like a bat outta hell and finally, I’m on the highway. My mind once again fades back at another memory as I stare at the open road in front of me.

“Damn, Stormy! When did you grow up and get breasts and a girly figure?” I smirk as she gives me her famous eye roll, with her hand on her hip, and I notice how much more beautiful she is since we last saw each other. What has it been? A year now? A whole year has gone by and I remember when I couldn’t stand the thought of being away from her, not even for a day.

“Whatever, Bo. I could say to you how much buffer you are now. Looks like someone’s been working out. You’re not the string bean I remember.” She laughs while cocking an eyebrow at me, trying to act all tough, her emerald eyes glistening in the sunlight and her teeth extremely white against the deep tan of her skin. The summer has been good to her.

It only takes me two big strides to reach her, my arms around her quickly and pulling her close to me. The smell of honeysuckle from the small backyard of the apartment building she lives in with her mom, enveloping me. My lips press against hers. Her breathing begins to accelerate as I lick her bottom lip, her mouth parting slightly and my tongue not hesitating to go exploring. A small moan leaves her luscious mouth, traveling into mine as my hand finds out just how big her breasts have grown, my hand kneading one over her bra and my thumb rubbing over her nipple. Damn, she’s fine.

Her small hands push against my chest, and I release her mouth with some difficulty, my arm moving back around her when I look down into her beautiful eyes. I’ve always been so much taller than her, me with my six feet-three inches and her at five-five. But I like being bigger, more powering than her and her tiny frame.

She smiles shyly, why I don’t know. Even though it’s been a year we’d been stuck like glue for most of our young lives. We had only kissed before now, a little touching and her breasts were definitely smaller the last time we’d been together. We stare into each other’s eyes for a beat longer then she raises on her tiptoes, her mouth crashes against mine and my heart takes off, beating a mile a minute as our lips press harder, our kissing becoming frenzied.

“Ahem.” We both step back quickly and turn our heads. Celia is standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, foot tapping but she has a big smile on her face. My eyes move to Stormy and catch her rolling her eyes.

“Mom! A little fair warning would have been nice. I thought you were at work,” Stormy mimics Celia’s stance, pushing up those large breasts even higher with her arms underneath them.

I check the clock on the radio and notice I only have about another twenty minutes before hitting town so my foot presses down on the accelerator harder. I have to get to her. Damn, I hope she’s still there. Once I see the familiar streets I turn off onto a road that I haven’t been down in so many years, but I remember it well. I become a little nervous as I park beside the curb next to the alley but my anxiousness pushes me out of the car. The alley is unkempt as I walk through, kicking cans and trash out of my way as my eyes scan for Stormy. I stop abruptly when I get closer to the end, the old sandbox still there but almost unrecognizable all covered in muck, trash and dirt. My head snaps over to the back corner when I hear a sniff and a whimper and I immediately take off in a run.

My heart breaks when I find her huddled in the corner. Her long, wavy black hair is a tangled mess, her legs and bare feet covered in dirt as well as her arms that are covering her face. Squatting down in front of her I get prepared for her to bolt as soon as she sees me but instead one of her arms uncovers her equally dirty face, and she’s in my arms immediately. “Oh, Bo!” she cries and begins sobbing into my chest. There are no words spoken, I simply stand with her in my arms and carry her to my car. Once I get her buckled in her seat, I run around the front of the car and hop into the driver seat. It’s only a fifteen minute drive to my house from here and as I drive I contemplate calling Mom and Dad but I really don’t want to in front of Stormy since she’s so upset. By the time I get to the front gate and punch in the code, I look over at her, and I see she’s sound asleep. Once I’ve driven up the winding road and parked in the circle driveway, I get out of the car and stop when the front door opens. My parents are running down the wrap around porch steps and I quickly put my finger over my lips. They slow down, nodding at me, and I continue over to Stormy’s door. I ignore Mom’s gasp when I open the door, unfasten Stormy’s seatbelt and lift her into my arms. She doesn’t even stir as I turn around and head to the house, my parents hot on our heels.

“Put her in the room she used to stay in, Bo. Bea just changed the sheets recently,” Mom whispers and I move towards the winding stairs, climbing them as fast as I can and enter her old bedroom. As I lay her gently on the bed, she stirs a little but never opens her eyes and I turn to Mom.

“Can you get me a bowl with some warm water and a wash cloth, please?”

She nods and walks over, kissing me on my cheek as she rubs my arm and I have to try to hold my tears back. Now’s the time to be strong. Now’s the time to be here for Stormy, something I wish I had been able to do for her. I sit down on the bed beside her and look at the doorway where Dad is standing. He gives me a small smile and leaves. Mom rushes in from the bathroom and sets down, on the nightstand, a bowl of water with a wash cloth sitting in the middle of it and looks at me with her own sad smile.

“Do you want me to clean her up? You know I would be happy to,” she asks sadly.

I simply shake my head and look back at Stormy, but I hear Mom close the door quietly when she leaves. Taking the wash cloth from the bowl and wringing it out, I carefully pick up her arm and start cleaning it. She never moves as I continue washing her other arm, her legs, and her feet. I get up and take the bowl to the bathroom, dumping the filthy water into the tub and then refilling it with clean warm water. Once I sit down again I begin working on her face but stop cold when the dirt I remove around her right eye reveals a dark purple bruise on the eye lid and around the corner and continuing underneath. I close my eyes as all my emotions overtake me. Sadness, heartache, then anger and I become so pissed off that I want to hit something. I’m almost tempted to get up and slam my fist into the nearest wall when I hear her sigh. My eyes open and look down to her beautiful green eyes that are staring at me. I try to think quickly of what to say. I’m coming up with nothing but then her mouth opens, and I don’t have to say anything.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

I can’t help the sadness in my heart and continue cleaning her sweet face. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry for, Peaches. Does it hurt much?” I carefully clean around her bruised eye and she flinches.

“No,” she says, a small smile appears as she winces and I let out a chuckle.

“Liar.” That gets a little laugh from her. As I finish cleaning I notice her eyes filling up with tears. “What happened?”

Her eyes close expelling a couple of drops and then they reopen. “Don’t worry. I’m not with him anymore.”

I shake my head quickly. “I mean with Celia. How did she die?” She moves to sit up but winces, so I put my hands under her arms and help her until she’s siting back against the headboard. My anger rears up, and I can’t hold it back. “What the fuck else did he do to you?” Her eyes close and she jumps a little at my voice. Closing my eyes, I try to calm my breathing and my heart then when I open them, her arms are hugging her middle, and she’s turned her head towards the window. Again, she startles when I touch her arm but her head turns to me, her tears now dripping down her face, and I sigh. “I’m sorry. I know now’s not the time for me to get my anger up, but I do want to know where else you’re hurt. Please tell me. I promise to try to keep my anger in check.” My mouth turns into a smile but inside, I’m still fuming. If I ever get my hands on who hurt her, there’ll be fucking hell to pay.

“My ribs are a little sore, that’s all. I swear.” Her eyebrows crease and her chin quivers slightly.

As my hand moves from her arm to her face, I rub a couple of tears away, gently and my smile begins to feel more real. “I’ll have Dad call Dr. Phillip.” She begins to protest, but I cover her mouth with my finger quickly. “No, buts.” I cup her face, my thumb stroking her cheek and her eyes close. “Let me take care of you. Let me be here for you. We’re your family now.”

She takes my hand and pulls herself up, throwing her arms around my neck and mine fold around her quickly, her face burrowing into my neck. “Can he do it tomorrow? I’m really tired.” I only nod as I hold her tighter but when she starts to move back I release her, and she takes my hand as she lays down, moving over and pulls me down with her. I lay behind her. My arm wrapped around her side. Our hands clasped together with our fingers intertwined, and as we lay in the moonlight from the window, all that comes into my head is how her hair doesn’t have the familiar smell of peaches, how she feels smaller than the last time we were together and how I’ve continually let her down when she needed me the most. Right then I make a decision. A decision that will change my life forever but one that must be done. I’ll never leave her again.

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

I close my eyes, but sleep evades me. With Bo’s arms around me, the soft skin of his hand in mine, I’m lost in him again and don’t want to be found. I begin softly rubbing his arm with my other hand and stare out through the blinds on the window, thinking about all the times I’ve messed up my life. All the times that my mom had to get me out of trouble, leave work early to take me to the hospital to get stitched up, a broken bone set or x-rays on parts of me that were feared to be broken. I feel a tear drop off my face and onto the pillow as I think about how hard she worked, never tiring to make money to keep food on our table or to buy me clothes, and all I did was find trouble and cause her worry and heartache.

“You should try to sleep, Peaches,” Bo whispers in my ear. His breath blowing my dirty hair a little, and I snuggle back into him closer.

“I can’t sleep,” I whisper back.

He leans his head up, and I turn mine to him. “Why?” he sighs, closing his eyes. “I’m an insensitive fool.”

I turn over, carefully, the pain in my ribs causing me to wince with my movement, and lay my hand on his face. “No, you’re anything but insensitive. You’ve had to run to my aid more times than I can count.” His eyes open and my heart hurts with the look in his pale blue eyes that are full of concern and worry. Something I always seem to cause for him.

“Not enough times. I should have never left you. I promised….” This time I stop him and place two fingers over his full lips.

“We were young, just children and made promises that we couldn’t possibly keep. You have a great career ahead of you. I would never stop you from following your dreams. You mean too much to me.” I move closer, my arm moving around his waist and his around my shoulder as I lay my head on his warm chest. His head rests against the top of mine, and I feel so safe, so comforted that I might just be able to get a little sleep.

“You deserve to follow your dreams too you know.” His arm tightens, and I nestle into him more. “Everything will change now for the better. I’m going to make sure of it.”

I want to ask him what he means, but I’m too tired and can feel it will lead into an argument, something we seem to do whenever we talk anymore. Closing my eyes, my body relaxes, and I fade away as I listen to his heartbeat and feel blanketed in his warmth.

The sun is shining bright when I open my eyes. My body is stiff and sore as I move my legs over the side of the bed and stand in front of the window. My fingers push between the blinds opening them enough that I can look out. The ocean is beautiful, the sun causing spots of sparkles in the ever moving water. I think about all the times we played in the ocean growing up. The many sand castles we built on their private beach and the stories his mom told me about how she and his dad used to do the same thing in a park’s sandbox when they were little. How they found each other again as adults and fell in love all over again. Envy swells inside me as I think of how lucky Bo and his older sister Pearl were to grow up in a loving family with both a mom and dad but then my heart stops when I think of my mom.

“Stormy?” My head snaps at the sound of Bo’s moms voice, and I smile when I turn and walk around the bed, across the room and into her arms. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry about your mom. She was a great woman and she loved you so much.” The comfort of her hand rubbing my back causes my fresh tears to unleash, and I shudder as I cry on her shoulder. “There. Let it go, sweetheart. It’s good to cleanse ourselves when we feel loss.” I don’t know how long we stayed like this but finally, my tears begin to stop, and I look up at her beautiful face and smile. “Why don’t you go and take a nice hot shower and I’ll fix you up something wonderful to eat.” I only nod as I step out of her embrace and head into the bathroom, looking back at her caring face and smile as she closes the door.