Chasing Forevermore

Chasing Forevermore

(a novella)

J.D. Rivera

Chasing Forevermore

Copyright © 2015 by J.D. Rivera

Cover Image Copyright © Prochkailo, 2015

Used under license from Shutterstock.com

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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 prior written permission.

Chasing Forevermore
is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, business establishments, or locales is purely coincidental. The author recognizes the copyrighted or trademarked statuses of all established companies and brands mentioned in this work.

My life was perfect. I had the perfect boyfriend, the perfect daughter—I can honestly say I’d never been this happy in my entire life.

Rolling over, my heart leapt at the sight of my man. Hayes was sleeping peacefully, the sheet flung below his hips, showing off his impressive chest. He had always been hot, but since he came back into my life, he’d gotten hotter, if that were possible. His chest and six pack were very impressive, along with his biceps. But that wasn’t what made my heart leap. It was his new tattoo. A huge star between his pecs with “Harley” written inside. Mac, his nickname for me, was over his heart, but that tattoo had been there for a while.

“Why don’t you stop checking me out and kiss me instead?” Hayes rasped, pulling me on top of him.

I giggled and let my lips seal over his. He immediately deepened the kiss and I sighed. Not only was he great looking, he was also a great kisser, among other things.

“Happy birthday eve,” he whispered against my lips before kissing me again.

“Thanks,” I said, pulling back and looking at the clock on the nightstand. “I better get up and get dressed. Why did I sign up for a morning class?”

“I don’t know, babe. Can I join—”

“Dadddddyyyy!” Harley yelled from her room.

“Never mind.” He sighed and we both got out of bed.

I stood still for a minute, listening to him talk to Harley. Hayes was such a good father. He had been since the moment he laid eyes on her, and it still shocked me. He had always been a player and a big partier, but I guess that just goes to show, if you really love someone, you’ll change.

I headed into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and took a quick shower before digging out a long sleeve black t-shirt and ripped jeans. I placed my wet hair in a bun and didn’t even bother with makeup. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

When I stepped into the kitchen, Hayes was feeding Harley and he had a bowl full of cereal waiting for me. “I didn’t know how long you’d be and didn’t want it to be gross, so I left out the milk.”

“Thanks,” I said, grabbing the milk out of the fridge and adding it to the bowl. After placing it back in its spot, I walked to the table and sat down. I scooped up a big bite and chewed the sugary goodness. “So, what are your plans for the day?”

He shrugged. “Same as always. Although, I was thinking about going over to Carson’s and hanging out before I pick Harley up from the sitter.”

I smiled and shoveled more cereal into my mouth. I’d never actually asked, mainly because I’m scared of his answer, but I’d been worried Hayes only sticks around because it’s the right thing to do. He’d been hanging out with Carson a lot over the last month, and I had overheard Hayes and Carson talking about old parties. Once I heard Carson refer to them as the “good ole days”, I felt that maybe Hayes’ “change” was only because he felt obligated.

I mean, hell, he had replaced me quite easily. When we had reconnected, he had been dating a girl who looked similar to me for several months. Hayes had claimed he dated her because she was as close to me as he could get, but maybe he’d be better off with her. Young and carefree, not strapped down with a child.
Stop it. He loves you. He loves Harley.
Of course, I knew that, but insecurities died hard.

“Babe, are you okay?” Hayes asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. I’m good,” I said, glancing at him. “I was just thinking about class.”

“You sure that’s all you were thinking about?”

I took one last bite of my cereal and stood before heading to the sink. “I’m sure.” I rinsed the bowl and placed it in the dishwasher. “We still leaving tomorrow morning for your parents’ house?” Tomorrow would be my birthday, the day before Thanksgiving. Hayes had planned a big celebration for me.

“Of course.”

“Since you want to hang out with Carson, I’ll pick Harley up from the sitter after my last class.”

“Babe, I’ll pick her up. I have one class today and I’m only going to stop by his place for an hour or so.”

“Okay,” I replied, then kissed Harley before walking into the living room to grab my bag. “I’ll see you tonight.” I knew it wasn’t fair, he deserved to hang out with his friends, but I couldn’t help the tightness in my chest.

“Are you not going to tell me goodbye?” Hayes asked, spinning me around. “I won’t push you to tell me what’s wrong, but you better at least give me a kiss.”

I smiled weakly, then placed a kiss on his lips. “Sorry,” I whispered. “I’m not sure what’s wrong with me.”

Hayes smashed his lips against mine, giving me a hard, lingering kiss before pulling back. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I said before opening the door and leaving.

***

Heading to the union after leaving my second class of the day, my cell began ringing.

I smiled at Miranda’s name on the screen. “Hey.”

“Hey, isn’t today when you have that big gap between your second and third class?”

“Yeah,” I replied, weaving in and out of people walking along the sidewalk.

“Brad and I were wondering if you’d like to come have lunch with us. He’s picking me up in front of the union.”

“Yes. I was on my way there anyway. I’ll see you in a minute.”

“Great. I’ll be waiting.”

We disconnected and I couldn’t help the sudden pep in my step. Maybe having lunch with my two best friends was exactly what I needed.

I picked up my pace, walking as fast as I could until I reached the front of the building. Miranda’s long blonde hair waved in the wind, making her easy to spot.

“Hey, you,” I said, coming to stand beside her and placing my arm around her.

“I have missed you,” she replied, wrapping her arms around me. Miranda was my very best friend, aside from her boyfriend and my adoptive brother, Brad. And, of course, Hayes.

“You just saw me like three days ago.”

“I know, but I still missed you.” She looked down the street. “Brad should be here any minute.”

“Okay.” I took a deep breath and tried to relax. I had no idea what had me all messed up inside, but I needed to get it under control. I knew Hayes loved me, and I knew he loved Harley. Maybe it was our impending trip back to Maverick and knowing I’d be there for more than a couple days. Running into my parents was a high possibility…if they still lived there. I was sure Hayes’ parents knew, but I never asked. I didn’t really want to know.

“Here he comes,” Miranda said, stepping closer to the street.

I glanced up and saw Brad’s big black truck pulling up in front of us. I walked closer and opened the back door, pulling myself up and in. “Hi,” I said. “I hope you don’t mind me crashing your lunch date.”

Brad gave Miranda a peck on the lips before turning to face me. “Mackenzie, you know you are always welcome.”

I smiled. “Thanks.” Brad could always make me feel better with just a simple sentence. He was my confidant, and basically, my and Harley’s savior. I had a deep love for him.

“Where do you two pretty ladies want to go?”

“Anywhere,” I replied as Miranda said, “Pasta House. I want lasagna.”

I shrugged. “Fine with me.” Brad nodded and pulled away, but not before catching my eye in the rearview mirror. He knew something was wrong.

“How was class, beautiful?” he asked Miranda, and I checked out. They hadn’t been dating long, but I knew they were it for each other. They were both blissfully happy, and neither of them felt beholden to the other.

I was so gone in my thoughts, I didn’t even realize we had parked until Brad opened my door with a raised brow. “You coming?”

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I said, “Sorry. I’m just spacey today.”

“You will tell me what’s wrong. You know that, right?”

I nodded. “I know. But I promise I’m okay.” I looked around, noticing we were alone. “Where is Miranda?”

“She had to pee so she raced inside. Tell me what’s wrong.”

I sighed. “Sometimes I just wonder if Hayes sticks around because he feels like he has to.”

Brad’s eyebrows bunched. “What the hell, Mackenzie? That boy loves you.”

“I know he does. I do. But I feel like I’m making him give everything up. He doesn’t get to have fun anymore.”

“I can promise you he is perfectly happy. You need to stop worrying.”

I looked to the ground. “It’s just—”

“Don’t you dare even go there.” He took my chin in his hand, forcing me to look at him. “You are good enough for him. You and Harley are all he wants.”

I nodded. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just feel like I’m holding him back…with everything.” I shrugged. “Thank you for being here. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I wrapped my arms around him and closed my eyes as he hugged me back.

“I’m always going to be here, kiddo.” He released me, flashing a smile. “Now let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

After my morning class, I stopped by Carson’s apartment to talk to him about my plans for Mac’s birthday. I was happy. So fucking happy. But I still needed something more. I needed to be married, or, at the very least, engaged to Mac. And I needed help. I didn’t want there to be any problems.

“What time should I drive out there? Six?” Carson asked from the couch.

I thought about it for a minute. “Yeah. You can just say you have to do something at your parents’ house.”

“And where will I find everything again?”

I sighed and placed my ankle over my opposite knee. “I told you already. Everything I need is at my parents’ house. At some point during the party, I’ll help you take everything out of the garage and put it in your truck.”

“How much shit are we talking?” he asked, cramming his hand in a bag of chips.

“Not a lot. Just promise you’ll do this for me. I want this to be perfect.”

“I don’t understand,” he said, munching on chips. “You already live together. Why ask her to marry you?”

“Because, I just…want to be married to her, okay?”

“You’re terrified she’ll run?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. I just want to marry her.” I stood up. “I have to go get Harley from the sitter.”

“I’m starving. Why don’t we pick her up and then go grab some lunch?”

“Fine.” I had no idea why I was so irritated with Carson. It was probably nerves over the proposal. I had racked my brain for a way to ask, and honestly, I had no idea why I hadn’t thought of taking her out to Kurt’s dad’s place in the beginning. The place where we both stared at the stars together for the first time.

Carson grabbed his wallet and opened the door. “Just for the record, I think you have turned into a pussy.”

I shrugged, not caring. So what if I was a pussy? I was happy. My world was right.

We climbed into my Jeep and pulled out onto the road. “You’re sure you can do this for me?”

Carson sighed. “For the love of God, yes. What is so difficult about setting up a blanket and some candles on a rock? I’m not a moron.”

“That’s debatable.” I laughed. “Sorry. I’m just…
fuck
…”

“You need to calm the fuck down, Hayes. She’s going to notice something is up by the way you’re acting.”

“I know.” I pulled up to a stop light and flicked the blinker on. “It’s just…I worry she’ll say no. It’s been a few months since we even talked about marriage and she hasn’t brought it up once. I thought girls talked about shit like that.”

He shrugged. “I have no idea. I just fuck ‘em. No time for talking.”

“I hope to shit you wrap your dick up,” I muttered, turning down another road. “Look, I know I’m being an ass, but I appreciate you helping me.”

“When are you not an ass?”

“Good point.” I turned into the driveway of Ms. Abberson’s house. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

I got out of the Jeep and walked up the sidewalk. Harley’s sitter was an older lady Mac’s friend, Connie, recommended. She used to be a teacher and got bored with just sitting around the house, so now she watches kids as a sort of hobby or some shit, I guess. I didn’t really care about her reasoning. She took good care of my daughter and Harley loved her, that was all that really mattered to me.

I knocked, and a minute later, Ms. Abberson opened the door, cradling a baby.

“Hayes.”

“Hi,” I said as I entered the house.

“Harley was a doll today. She even ate her vegetables without any problems.”

“What?” I asked, shocked. Harley hated eating her veggies.

“Yes. Like I said, just a doll today.”

If the lady didn’t take really great care of my daughter, I’d roll my eyes at her perkiness. I walked into the converted play room and found Harley playing with a small kitchen set. “Hey, princess.”

Harley glanced in my direction and let out a squeal before running toward me. Almost as soon as she learned to walk, she’d started running. “Daaddyy!” she yelled as I picked her up and placed a kiss on her cheek.

If you’d asked me a year ago if I wanted a child, I would have laughed my ass off. I was too busy being an ass and drowning in misery. But all of that changed the first time I laid eyes on Harley. She and Mackenzie were my world.

After gathering up all of Harley’s belongings and saying goodbye to Ms. Abberson, we walked out to the Jeep where I placed her in her car seat.

I climbed inside and noticed Carson’s cheesy smile as he looked at his phone. “Why the fuck are you smiling?”

“Because.”

“Is it Miranda’s roommate?” I asked, not remembering the girl’s name.

“It’s none of your business, but yes it is.”

“Interesting,” I replied as I backed out of the driveway. “Where do you want to eat?”

“The Pasta House. It’s cheap.”

I didn’t really feel like driving back to campus, but he did have a point about the food being cheap. “Okay.”

We both remained silent the entire drive, only Harley’s toddler ramblings filling the car.

I found a parking space and checked my phone to see if Mac had texted or called, but she hadn’t. It wasn’t unusual for us not to talk during the day, but I felt uneasy with her silence.

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I got out then unbuckled Harley from her seat as Carson waited at the front of the Jeep. “Hurry up. I’m starving,” he complained.

“Quit being a baby,” I said as I walked past him with Harley in my arms. I opened the door to the restaurant and looked around as I made my way to the hostess stand. Long, curly blonde hair caught my attention from a booth in the back. Mac, Miranda, and Brad were having lunch and I couldn’t help but smile. I’d take any extra time with Mac I could get.

I glanced at the hostess. “Actually, I think we’ll just sit with them.” I pointed to the booth. “Could we get an extra chair?”

“Sure,” she said, and I took off toward the booth with Carson following me.

“Hey, babe,” I called as I approached. Mackenzie wasn’t wearing anything special—a t-shirt and jeans—but she still looked fucking beautiful. And I knew the body under those plain clothes was fucking sexy.

Mac’s face went from shock at seeing me to a face splitting grin. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

“Eating.” She scooted over and I sat down, placing a quick kiss on her lips. “Carson wanted cheap so we came here.”

“Hi, Carson,” she greeted, glancing over at him as he sat down in a chair at the end of the booth. She grabbed Harley from my arms and placed her on her lap. “Hey, baby girl. I missed you so much.”

“Hi,” Carson said, nodding before looking in Miranda’s direction. “Miranda, Detective.” Carson loved to tease Miranda and one of her hot buttons was calling Brad “Detective”. But it was true, he was a homicide detective.

Miranda rolled her eyes. “Don’t be your usual dumbass self.”

“What?” he asked, grinning.

“Have y’all ordered?” I asked, flipping the menu open.

“Just drinks,” Mackenzie answered. “Y’all showed up at the perfect time.”

The waiter came by at that moment and took my and Carson’s drink order, then all of our food orders.

“Who the hell are you texting?” Miranda questioned Carson, her eyes narrowed. If I had to guess, I’d say she knew exactly who it was.

“Kristin,” he replied, not glancing up.

“Well, you are being rude.”

He finished typing, set his phone on the table, and narrowed his gaze on Miranda, who was grinning. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

Those two were like brother and sister. Constantly picking on each other, but would knock anyone else out that messed with the other. In fact, Miranda had knocked the shit out of Carson’s ex-girlfriend. We were all glad.

“Are you bringing Kristin to Mackenzie’s party?” Miranda asked him.

We all looked at him, waiting for his answer. “No. Why the fuck would I?”

“I guess I will then,” Miranda said. “You wouldn’t mind, would you? It wouldn’t bother you to have Kristin see you acting like a man whore with our old classmates?”

Mac’s body went stiff beside me. “You didn’t invite people from high school, did you?” she whispered in my ear.

“No. Just people we hang out with now. I promise.” I leaned over and kissed her cheek.

She smiled weakly. “Thank you.”

I nodded and pulled her closer to me.