Collin (A Forever Novel) Read online

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Let’s just eat,” I sighed.

  Now I was angry. I was angry at Hailey for showing up at my family’s party. Who the hell did she think she was after all this time? Not only did she piss me off, but she upset Amelia, and I was afraid that her being here was going to cause an argument. As I looked across the patio, I saw her talking to Julia. Peyton walked over to me and gave me a hug from behind.

  “I’m so sorry, Collin. I told her not to come, but she wouldn’t listen,” she whispered in my ear.

  “It’s okay, Peyton. Don’t worry about it.”

  She gave me a squeeze and walked over to where my mom and dad were. I looked at Hailey and noticed she had a different look about her. Not physically, but emotionally. She looked unsure and sad. After everyone ate, we sang “Happy Birthday” to Jake and had cake. I tried to get Amelia to have some, but she wouldn’t. The happiness she displayed earlier was gone and now she was in a somber state.

  “Hey, do you think we can have that talk now?” Hailey asked as she walked up to me.

  I looked over at Amelia. “Go ahead. Go talk and get it over with so we can go on with our evening,” she said.

  “Amelia, do you want to go inside and play some X-box?” Jacob asked.

  “Sure, Jacob. I’d love to.”

  Before Amelia walked away, she gave me a kiss and told me that she’d be waiting for me. I didn’t want to talk to Hailey, but I didn’t have a choice.

  “Let’s make this quick, Hailey. What do you want to talk about?”

  “Can we at least go somewhere quiet? Like down to the beach?”

  I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Fine.”

  We walked down to the beach and Hailey sat down in the sand. I sat down next to her and asked her what she needed to talk about.

  “I’m pregnant,” she said as she looked down.

  My heart stopped for a split second and I didn’t know what to say. “Wow. Do your parents know?”

  “No, not yet. I don’t know how to tell them.”

  “What about the father? Does he know?”

  “Yeah, he knows and he wasn’t happy. When I refused to get an abortion, he broke up with me.”

  “Nice guy,” I said.

  She reached over and placed her hand on mine. I immediately pulled my hand away from her. “Listen, Hailey. I’m sorry for what you’re going through, but I have a girlfriend who I care for very deeply and she’s the priority in my life.”

  “I’m sorry, Collin. I’m so sorry for hurting you.” She began to cry.

  I stood up and, when I started to walk away, I stopped and turned to her. “Sorry isn’t going to cut it this time, Hailey. You made your choice the minute you got on that plane.”

  I turned around and walked back to the house. I grabbed a beer from the fridge and told Amelia to meet me up in my room when she and Jacob finished their game. I went upstairs and sat on my bed with my back up against the headboard. As I took a drink of my beer, Amelia walked in and climbed on the bed next to me.

  “How’d it go?” she asked nervously.

  “She’s pregnant.”

  “The baby’s not—”

  “God, no!” I interrupted. “Supposedly, the guy she was with wasn’t happy about the baby and he wanted her to get an abortion. When she refused, he kicked her out.”

  “That’s terrible. How could someone be so cruel?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s not my problem,” I said as I threw back my beer.

  She put her arm across my chest and snuggled close to me. I put my arm around her and gripped her shoulder firmly. Everything felt right with her. I was happy and no one was going to ruin that for me.

  ****

  I woke up holding Amelia in my arms. We both fell asleep last night after we talked about Hailey. I carefully moved my arm and quietly rolled out of bed so I didn’t wake her. I stood there and stared at her as I pulled the sheet over her. I was falling in love with this girl and I wanted to tell her so badly, but I was scared. I walked downstairs and made a pot of coffee. As soon as the coffee was done brewing, Julia walked in.

  “Morning, Collin.”

  “Morning, Julia. You look bigger than you did yesterday.” I smiled as I poured her a cup of coffee.

  “Thanks, and I feel it too. Did Hailey tell you?”

  “Yeah, she told me.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

  “There’s nothing to talk about. It has nothing to do with me.”

  “It doesn’t bother you at all that she’s pregnant?”

  “Why the hell would it? She dumped me and told me to move on. So I did. I don’t have feelings for her at all. I’m happy with Amelia. She’s the girl I want. Hailey will have to deal with this baby on her own. It’s not my fault she got knocked up.”

  “Whoa. Tell me how you really feel.” She laughed.

  “I just did and I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bring my girlfriend some coffee.”

  I made Amelia’s coffee exactly how she liked it: one part cream and one part sugar. I walked back up to the bedroom and, when I opened the door, she was lying there, staring at me. I smiled as I set the cups down on the nightstand.

  “Morning, beautiful.” I smiled as I leaned over and kissed her.

  “Morning, handsome. I can’t believe we both fell asleep last night.”

  “I brought you some coffee.”

  She sat up and I handed her the cup. “Thank you.” She smiled.

  I climbed back on the bed and she leaned her head on my shoulder. “I don’t want to go back to the city. I love it here.”

  “I know. I do too. But, you have school tomorrow and clinicals, and I have work. We don’t have to go back until later, so we’ll do whatever you want to do today. It’s your choice,” I said as I kissed her head.

  “I want to go horseback riding.”

  “Seriously?” I asked.

  “Yes. That day we went was amazing and I would love to do it again.”

  “Then horseback riding it is.”

  “Great. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take a quick shower,” she said.

  “Go ahead. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  She kissed my lips and then got up from the bed. I grabbed her hand and pulled her back. She laughed as she fell on the bed. I leaned into her and kissed her again. This time, it was deep and passionate and I didn’t want to let her go. I broke our kiss and she smiled at me.

  “I just felt the need to do that.” I smiled.

  “Feel free to do that anytime.”

  “I will. I promise. Now go get in the shower.”

  She got up and I lightly smacked her perfect ass. She giggled as she left the room.

  When I went back downstairs, my mom and dad were sitting at the table with their heads down. I looked around the kitchen. My mom had started to take out the ingredients for her hangover cocktail. Oh my God; this was perfect.

  “GOOD MORNING, PARENTS!” I yelled.

  “Oh my God, Collin. Shut up!” my mom said as she put up her hand.

  “Son, be respectful.”

  “What’s wrong? Did you drink too much last night?” I whispered in my mom’s ear. “Are you hung over?” I whispered in my dad’s ear.

  Julia walked into the kitchen and I brought my finger to my lips, motioning for her to be quiet.

  “Let me help you out, dear parents, and make you something to help ease your pain.”

  Julia silently laughed as she helped me put the ingredients in the blender. I turned it on full speed and both my mom and dad jumped.

  “Jesus Christ, Collin!” my dad exclaimed.

  “Sorry, Dad.” I laughed.

  I poured the drink in two glasses and handed them to my parents. They just sat there and stared at me.

  “Well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and drink it.” I smiled.

  Julia sat down at the table next to them. “I sure hope your
grandson never sees you like this. What would he think?” She smiled.

  “Let’s do this, Connor,” my mom said as she held up her glass.

  They both drank it as Amelia walked into the kitchen. She had the look of fear in her eyes when she saw the blender. “You know I don’t need one of those.”

  “I know, baby. It’s for them.” I chuckled as I pointed to my parents.

  “Whew,” she said.

  ****

  My parents, Julia and Jake, and Diana and Jacob all left early to head back to the city. My dad wanted to get back and check on Denny. I told them that Amelia and I wouldn’t be heading back until later this evening because we were going to spend the day horseback riding and then relaxing on the beach. Amelia had an amazing smile on her face the entire time we were horseback riding.

  “I love this so much,” she said as we rode along the shore.

  “It’s relaxing. Isn’t it?”

  “It sure is.”

  I extended my hand out to her and she took it. We rode our horses next to each other and held hands the rest of the ride. Words couldn’t describe what I felt. When we finished with the horses, we drove back to the beach house and got in our bathing suits. I had to bit my bottom lip when I saw Amelia in her string bikini. Fuck, I was getting hard just looking at her. We went down to the beach and lay down on the blanket. I reached over and grabbed her hand while we both relaxed in the sun. I had an idea.

  “Hey,” I said as I turned my head and looked at her.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Stand up.”

  “Why?”

  “You’ll see.” God, I was scared to do what I was going to do, but I felt it had to be done.

  We both stood up. I bent down, placed my arm under her legs, and picked her up. “What are you doing?” she laughed.

  “Do you trust me?” I asked seriously.

  She became quiet and looked at me. The smile had left her face and it was almost as if she knew what I was going to do.

  “Do you trust me?” I asked again.

  “Don’t, Collin. Please,” she said as her eyes began to tear.

  “I’ll ask you one more time. Do you trust me?”

  “Yes, I do trust you. But—”

  “No buts, Amelia,” I said as I began walking towards the water.

  Her grip tightened around my neck. “Don’t, Collin. Please, I’m begging you. If you care at all about me, you won’t do this. PLEASE!” she yelled.

  “I do care about you and that’s why I’m doing this,” I said as I walked into the water.

  I could feel her heart racing faster than the speed of light and the tears started to pour from her eyes. “Please take me back.”

  I reached the point with her where the water was above my waist. She was crying and I felt like a fucking monster. But I knew in the end that this was what she needed to live her life again.

  “You loved the water. You told me it was your life and you can’t let one accident destroy it.”

  “You bastard. I fucking hate you for doing this to me,” she cried as I put her down in the water.

  Her eyes were closed tight and she was shaking. Not because the water was cold, but because of fear.

  “I’ve got you and I won’t let you go. I promise. Please, baby, relax.”

  I was holding her as tight as she was holding onto me. “I hate you,” she said with her eyes still closed.

  “No, you don’t. Feel it, Amelia. Feel the water, the waves; everything you once loved about it. I know you’re scared, but open your eyes. It’s beautiful out here, baby, and I want to share it with you.”

  “Fuck you!” she screamed.

  My heart broke for her, but this was the only way to get her back into the water, a place where she used to feel safe and at peace. She needed to understand that it could still be that way.

  “You can hate me all you want. But you need to do this. I’m doing this because I love you, Amelia, and I want you to get better.”

  I said it. I told her that I loved her and I meant it. She became still as she had her arms wrapped tightly around my neck. She took her hand and placed it in the water, moving it slowly back and forth. I let out a deep breath because she had finally calmed down.

  “It’s great, isn’t it?” I said.

  She lifted her head from my shoulder and looked at me as the tears still streamed down her face. I gently wiped them away as I smiled at her and then kissed her softly on the lips.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “I don’t know,” she whispered.

  “It’s not so bad, is it?” I asked as my eyes began to water.

  She brought her hand up to my face and softly ran it down my cheek. “You said you loved me.”

  “I do love you.”

  “We haven’t made love yet.”

  “I don’t need to make love to you to know that I’m in love with you, Amelia.”

  “You’re sure? You’re not trying to convince yourself because Hailey’s back, are you?”

  “Of course not. I was falling in love with you after our first date. Hailey has nothing to do with this.”

  “That’s good then, because I love you too.” She smiled as she hugged me.

  I closed my eyes and smiled because she loved me like I loved her. I broke our embrace and kissed her as the waves danced around us.

  “Are you ready to go back to the shore?” I asked.

  “No, not yet.” She smiled. “I want to be here with you in the water.”

  “So you’re okay?”

  “I feel safe with you,” she said as she splashed water at me.

  “Oh, so that’s how you want to play?” I chuckled as I splashed her in the face.

  She let out a playful scream and splashed me back. Then she really surprised me when she started to swim away from me.

  “Get back here!” I said as I swam after her. God, she was fast.

  She slowed down and I was able to catch up to her. I grabbed her from behind and we both went under the water. When we both came back up, she laughed. I was loving this side of her; this side that she had hidden away from everyone for the past two years.

  Her laughter stopped and she placed her hands on each side of my face. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”

  Chapter 24

  We went back to the beach house to change out of our bathing suits because we needed to get back to the city. I went to my room to change and Amelia went to hers. As I grabbed a pair of shorts from the drawer, I heard Amelia call my name from her room. When I opened the door, she was standing in the middle of the room, holding a sheet around her. I tilted my head and smiled as did she. She never looked sexier than she did at that moment. Her blonde hair was still wet and it was starting to dry in waves. The silhouette of her perfectly shaped body was visible under the sheet that clung to her. I walked over to her and stroked her face.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. I’m a little nervous because I’ve only ever had sex with Billy.”

  “You don’t need to be nervous with me, baby. I will be everything you need.”

  Our lips locked passionately as my hand cupped the nape of her neck. This was it. The moment I’d been waiting for since the first day I laid eyes on her. I was going to explore every inch of her body, not only with my hands, but with my tongue as well. Making love to her was going to be slow and gentle because that was what she deserved. She was going to get my full attention to her needs and I was going to make sure that it was something she would never forget.

  She let go of the sheet and let it drop to the floor. I broke our kiss and stared at her beautiful naked body. She was more perfect than I had thought and I didn’t think that was possible. Her blue eyes stared into mine as she took my hand and placed it on her breast. I was so hard and my cock was throbbing for her. I walked her back to the bed, where she lay flat on her back with her legs hanging over the bed. I smiled as I took down my shorts and
my lips covered her supple breast. She moaned as my teeth lightly tugged on her hard nipple and then my tongue licked it to soothe the sting. My hand gripped her other breast, kneading it and getting her more excited, before it traveled down her torso and stopped when my fingers touched her clit. She moaned and threw her head back as my fingers rubbed her in tiny circles. I lifted my mouth from her breast and looked at her.

  “I’m going to make sure you are completely satisfied and I’m going to take my time. I can promise you this won’t be rushed. You deserve every bit of pleasure I have to offer.”

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you too,” I said as my lips explored her other breast.

  I moved my fingers down and felt the wetness that emerged from her. I let out a moan as I plunged my finger inside her and felt how tight she was.

  “I want to make you come like this,” I said.

  “Please do.” She smiled.

  I inserted another finger inside her and, as I moved them in and out, her hips moved up and down with the same motion. Her moans became louder, arousing me more. I planted my thumb firmly on her clit and rubbed it until she couldn’t take anymore and I sent her body to orgasm. She tightened her legs and her body shook as she threw back her head and her voice reached a high-pitched shout. I immediately went down on her and tasted every bit of pleasure that poured from her. She ran her fingers through my hair and then held my head.

  “Oh my God,” she kept saying over and over.

  I stood up and took down my underwear. She smiled as she looked at my full package and licked her lips as she sat up on the bed. She wrapped her lips around my cock and began sucking. She caught me off guard, but I wasn’t going to complain. I fisted her hair as I stood there and watched her move her head up and down. Her mouth felt incredible wrapped around me and I could only imagine what her pussy felt like when it was wrapped tightly around me. I stopped her because I needed to be inside her. I reached over to grab a condom and she grabbed my hand.

  “No, I’m on the pill. I have been for years.”

  She lay back down on the bed and I hovered over her, pushing my cock between her legs. “If at any time it hurts you, I will stop. Just say the word.”

  “Collin, I love how gentle you’re being, but for the love of God, just fuck me already.” She smiled.