IMAGINE US: by:

by Kidman, Jaxson

  She squirmed and laughed louder. She put her hands to my chest and pushed off me.

  “I think I finished the book.”

  “Oh yeah?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” she said.

  “So, you figured out the perfect ending?”

  “I’m not going to say it’s perfect, but it’s the right ending for the book.”

  “When can I read it?”

  “Since when do you read?”

  “If you write it, Elena, I’ll read it.”

  “I’ll get you a signed copy. After you pay for it, of course.”

  “So, I’m not going to get the dedication?”

  “You get your dedication in bed,” Elena said with a wink.

  I felt like my body was going to turn into ooze right there.

  She turned and reached back for my hand.

  I watched carefully as my hand touched hers. Realizing there had been countless times I wanted our hands to touch, but never could. The feel of her smooth and small hand in my rough hand. All these little things I would never take for granted and I would forever remember and memorize. Maybe I wasn’t a writer like she was, but I was damn well penning the longest and greatest love story of all time in my head. And the only one who would ever read it and live it was me. And that kind of greed I was totally okay with.

  “Come on,” Elena called out as she pulled at me.

  I walked, letting her take the lead.

  I just wanted to watch my hand holding hers. I just wanted to watch her hair dance behind her. I just wanted to watch the way her bare feet moved against the ground.

  We walked down to the lake.

  I stood next to Elena and put my arm around her waist.

  We watched the water.

  It was calm, and it was quiet.

  I almost couldn’t wait for winter. To get that first bit of snow and be stuck in the house with her. There was nothing like watching the snow hit the water. Or when the lake finally did freeze over, watching it collect on the ice.

  Then again, there was nothing like looking at Elena.

  The girl of my dreams. The woman of my future.

  “When did you fall in love with me?” Elena asked. “I mean… true love.”

  “True love?” I asked. I grinned. “When you offered me a piece of gum and I saw your bag was stuffed with candy.”

  “Adam…”

  “I’m serious, sugar,” I said. “You were just… I don’t know.”

  “Come on.”

  I turned and faced her. “I’m serious, Elena. You were wearing a green dress with flowers on it.”

  “I hated that dress,” she said. “After that, I swore off dresses. I had no boobs to wear a dress and if it was windy, the way it pressed against me, people would call me fat.”

  “Well, you can wear a dress anytime you want now,” I said. “Because you are all woman now. And in that moment, way back then, that’s when I fell in love with you. And I don’t give a shit how old I was. You were in that green dress, sitting on the curb to the teacher’s parking lot. You kept moving your hair out of your face as you tried to find a piece of gum for me. And I ended up stealing a handful of gummy worms. The ones covered in sugar. Not the crappy plain ones.”

  “That’s when I knew too,” Elena said.

  “What?”

  “You took the right worms.”

  “So, our love began in middle school over sugared gummy worms?”

  “Is there any other way to fall in love?” she asked.

  I leaned in and stole a kiss from her forever sweet lips. “No, Elena, there’s no better way to fall in love.”

  We kissed again.

  She teased the tip of her nose against mine. “Now I’m in the mood for sugared gummy worms.”

  “I’m in the mood for you,” I said.

  “And here I am,” Elena said with the prettiest smile I’d ever seen on a person.

  I took a deep breath. “Yeah, sugar, here you are…”

  * * *

  I snuck back into the house and locked the door carefully.

  When I spotted the light on upstairs in the loft, that’s where I went. Sometimes Elena would fall asleep and wake up a couple of hours later and go write. I’d wake up to an empty bed but could hear the sound of the keys on her keyboard clicking. It was as soothing as rainfall.

  I loved everything about her.

  I loved her in a way that was just impossible to describe.

  I loved her enough that in my hand was a bag with packs of sugared gummy worms.

  Driving after midnight to a convenience store for Elena…

  At the top of the steps, I turned and she was nowhere to be found.

  But the lamp on the desk was still on.

  I went to turn the light off and I saw the full printed copy of her book. A giant stack of papers. Amazing to see. All those words she created with her heart and her mind.

  It was the top page that caught my attention.

  Handwritten with the following words…

  Dedicated to the only one who ever truly loved me and the only one who ever kept their promise to me. To the only one who made me crazy enough to jump naked into a gross lake. I love you, Adam.

  I wasn’t sure if that dedication would make it into the printed copy of the book or not.

  I dumped out the packs of sugared gummy worms and turned off the light.

  I walked down the steps from the loft and through the house in almost complete darkness. My heart was so heavy, but full of love.

  As I crawled back into bed, I slipped an arm around Elena’s body and pulled her tightly against me.

  She let out a soft purring groan.

  I kissed the top of her head and shut my eyes.

  I had nothing to dream about.

  Everything I ever wanted in life was right there in my arms.

  Epilogue

  All The Walks to Come

  ELENA

  (one month later)

  I walked behind the counter carrying dirty plates.

  “You know, I’ve asked for a refill twice now,” Brian said with a cocky smirk on his face.

  “Yeah?” I asked.

  I turned and put the dirty plates down on the counter. I reached for a full pot of coffee and put it down in front of Brian.

  “Have at it,” I said.

  “Oh, Jesus,” Joe said. “Careful with this one.”

  “I like her a lot,” Shannon said from the opposite side of the counter as she carried a tray of freshly cooked food.

  “Anyone need something else?” I asked.

  “I think I’m good,” Tony said. “I was going to ask for something else to eat…”

  “I’ll be back in a minute,” I said.

  I took the stack of dirty dishes to the kitchen.

  Chris hurried to take them off my hands. “Let me grab those.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  The bell started to ring for another order.

  I reached into my apron and took out my notepad, making sure I knew what food was going to what table.

  The diner was busier than I realized.

  But that was good.

  It was fun.

  I loved getting up early with Adam and coming to the diner with him. I loved opening the place and waiting for the regulars to show up. I loved the smell of the fresh coffee and that first hint of food from the kitchen.

  It helped to break up the time between writing.

  Lucy loved the entire book, including the ending. If everything went to plan, the book would be published within the year. Until then, I was writing another book and helping out at the diner.

  “I’ll get this out,” Judy said to me, touching my arm.

  “Thanks,” I said. “I need to get behind the counter. The regulars are driving me nuts.”

  “You’ll get used to it,” Judy said. “Just wait until you’ve heard every single story fifteen times.”

  “Great,” I said. “So far, I’ve heard about their fishing ad
ventures, hunting, someone breaking down in the middle of a highway where there was no cell service…”

  “Oh, that’s all nonsense,” she said.

  “What a place, huh?” I asked.

  “You don’t know the half of it yet. But you will. Just stick around.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Judy laughed and left the kitchen.

  The back door opened and in stepped Adam.

  Just seeing him was enough to make my heart somehow skip a few beats and race at the same time. I always found myself needing to check my balance when I first saw him.

  “Hey you,” I said.

  He curled his lip.

  If he couldn’t get any sexier, he let the scruff on his face keep growing. He looked sloppy and messy, but I loved it on him.

  “How did it go?” I asked.

  I pointed to his arm in the sling and he said, “I’m still here.”

  “I see that,” I said.

  Part of the reason I started working at the diner was because of Adam’s surgery. I was so happy he got the surgery his shoulder needed. And that meant following through with the rehab therapy too. That part he hated, but I had my ways of convincing him to do what I wanted.

  “Hey, boss man, can I make you something to eat?”

  Charles stepped from behind the grill and smiled.

  Who would have thought Charles would become one hell of a cook?

  Adam caught me off guard when he said he was ready to clean out the apartment above the diner. But there was a stipulation behind it. He didn’t want to rent it to just anyone. He wanted to give it to Charles. Charles refused to take it for free, so Adam jokingly told him to work at the diner. That’s how it happened. Charles cleaned the diner, but one busy day Adam asked if he could cook. Next thing we all knew, he was cracking eggs, making toast, chopping up potatoes for crispy hash browns… and he was there every single day.

  “I’m good for now, Charles,” Adam asked. “Thank you though.”

  “Shoulder looks good, man,” Charles said.

  “Thanks,” Adam said with a laugh.

  “Come on,” I said to Adam. “Let’s get you a coffee.”

  As he walked to the door of the kitchen, he gave Chris a pat on the back.

  “How’s the wing?” Chris asked.

  “Still can’t fly,” Adam said. “How’s yours?”

  Chris lifted and lowered the arm he had been shot in. “I’m good. Still not ready to fly though.”

  “Someday soon,” Adam said. “This isn’t your career.”

  “I know,” Chris said.

  Whatever bond they had, it was something special. Built off pain, tragedy, and an understanding that made it hard for either one to really make the big decision… which was to have Chris quit the diner so he could find out what he wanted to do in life.

  When Adam walked out of the kitchen, Tony, Joe, and Brian all stood and applauded. They always did that when Adam came back from his therapy. Just to get under his skin.

  “Why the hell do you have a coffeepot, Brian?” Adam asked.

  “Because Elena threw it at me.”

  Adam looked at me.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “He was annoying me.”

  Adam smiled and leaned toward me for a kiss.

  In a few hours we’d close up the diner. Together, we’d clean the place up. Together, we’d lock the doors and drive back home. We’d walk to the lake, holding hands, talking about life. Adam would always ask me what I was writing and where I got my ideas from. He pushed at me in a way that always made me feel like I mattered. When he looked at me, I felt beautiful. When I looked at him… I just wanted to jump him and make him take me to bed. Which he always did.

  We’d walk along the edge of the lake, saying we were going to watch the sun set.

  But that never happened.

  We always ended up staring at each other.

  Randomly laughing.

  Randomly kissing.

  Taking another step… toward forever.

  Hey darlin’

  If you’re here, you finished the book. For that, THANK YOU. I always write these little notes either the day before the book is submitted for publication - or the day of. So this is real. This is me. This might be here in 20 years because the book file has never been updated. Who knows. The point though is the capture the last second moments of my mind before a book is sent off for the world to see, judge, read, judge some more.

  Those who know me know what I write - at least in these books - are part of me. For this book, the past is really part of me. A lot of what you read was based on my life. And while I’m thinking of it, if you have any questions about the book, email me. I read every single email. I do my best to reply to as many as I can. JaxsonKidman@gmail.com.

  This book is interesting because it’s coming off the huge success of EVERY OTHER WEEKEND. I’m not here to try and sell you that book - that’s not what I do. But each book holds a special place in my life. So I’ll never forget sitting here, working through the edits and rewrites of this book all the while you were reading EOW and turning it into the book is was always meant to be. And, hey, maybe I’ll be able to say the same about this book.

  Truthfully, I care about connection. Your connection to the book. And then our connection together as we talk about the book. Even if someone doesn’t like a book, I respect that connection.

  It’s going to be hard to say ‘goodbye’ to Adam and Elena. I wanted to take a second chance love story and put it to the test. And I did. The book started with a scene. The image of Elena sitting on Adam’s porch steps, knowing this was her chance. If he’d have her. And for Adam… he’s been waiting all his life for this. And wow did it work.

  I look forward to reading your reviews. I look forward to reading your emails. And if you want to get involved even more, please jump into my group and please follow me in Instagram. This is YOUR YEAR darlin’ … I made the promise and I’m keeping it. This entire year is dedicated to you.

  Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for always trusting me. And most of all - thank you for your time. That’s the one thing we don’t get back in life. And you spending your time with me and these books is everything to me.

  Much love,

  - Jaxson

  About the Author

  Stay social with Jaxson:

  Readers List Newsletter: bit.ly/jk-readerslist

  Jaxson Kidman Facebook fan page: www.bit.ly/JK-facebook

  Jaxson Kidman Official Facebook group: www.bit.ly/jk-group

  True Romance Obsession Facebook book page: www.bit.ly/TRO-facebook

  Instagram @kidmanthejaxson

  * * *

  Look for more heart wrenching, emotional upcoming novels including:

  A LETTER TO DELILAH

  GETTING OVER YOU

  * * *

  PREVIOUS RELEASE:

  EVERY OTHER WEEKEND

  TOP 30 IN THE ENTIRE KINDLE STORE!

  TOP 100 IN THE UK, CA, AND AU!

  TOP 10 IN ROMANCE!

  TOP 10 IN NEW ADULT!

  AWARDED AS A ‘KINDLE UNLIMITED ALL-STAR’ NOVEL FOR JANUARY 2019!

  It was only meant to be every other weekend. But now I need him every night.

  As a single mom, a relationship was out of the question. So we had an arrangement.

  The first rule: every other weekend. But that wasn't enough.

  The second rule: he can't meet my son. But he did, and they got along.

  The third rule: I won't fall in love. But I couldn't help it.

  The final rule: I'll never let anyone else break my heart.

  And now that rule is about to be broken too.

  Check out the book here:

  Jaxson’s Amazon Page

  (link may not work on some devices darlin’ … please just go over to Amazon.com and type in my name or the book title … if you need help finding a book, please email me at jaxsonkidman@gmail.com)

  * * *
>
  The True Hearts Collection are all stand alone novels, meaning they have no reading order. They are all different characters, settings, and come with their own complete ending. They are based on similar themes of second chance romances, hard pasts, and love that is real.

  Each book in the series has been Top 100 in its category, with half the collection reaching the Top 100 of the ENTIRE Kindle store, including titles award as ‘Kindle Unlimited All-Star’ novels.

  Start reading the True Hearts Collection

  (in order of date they were published -

  THERE IS NO READING ORDER)

  5 Years Later

  Dear Everly,

  Anna’s Dress

  Let You Go

  When I’m Gone

  What You Don’t Know

  Every Other Weekend

  Check out the books here:

  Jaxson’s Amazon Page

  * * *

  5 YEARS LATER

  When I was 13, he stole my heart

  When I was 18, he took my innocence

  When I was 23, he said he loved me forever

  When I was 28, he broke my heart

  Now I'm 33... and there's a knock at the door. He's back, again. And this time he's not alone.

  Read more here: Jaxson’s Amazon Page

  * * *

  DEAR EVERLY

  Dear Everly,

  We promised each other forever, and now that's gone. My memory of you is our daughter. I said I would never move on, but something happened. Someone moved into the house next door. She works at our daughter's preschool. Everywhere I go, she's there. My forever is changing now... I'm falling in love with her. Loving her means forgetting you. Loving her means letting you go. Loving her... means everything to me.