Home Again
Page 14
“Oh, and kid? Since I’m here as a guest and not an employee, I thought I’d clear the air.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I gave him a weird look.
“I stole your scale.”
I let out a hearty laugh. “I should have known.”
“I threw it in the trash, so you can’t have it back, but I thought you should know.” He shrugged.
“I don’t need it, anyway. But, John? Thank you—for everything.”
“Anything for you, kid.” He winked.
I laughed and walked off in search of Easton. He had been home for the last month. I just flew in a couple hours ago. He and Becks decided to throw me a coming home party. I would get three months off, and then, once my album was released, I would go back to living out of a suitcase while promoting it.
This time though, I was going to enjoy being home and being with the people who mattered most to me.
And, at the urging of Easton, I was even going to try group therapy again.
“Aisley.”
I turned and shot my dad a fake smile. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him since the first time I left. Maybe it was selfish of me to still be angry with him, but I couldn’t help it. “Hi, Dad.”
“Sweetheart, this is Betty. Betty, this is my daughter, Aisley.”
“Your father has told me so much about you. He’s so proud,” she gushed.
I nodded politely. “It’s nice to meet you.” If my mother could handle seeing her, then I could, too.
“Betty, will you excuse us for a moment? I need to talk to my daughter.”
“Of course. It was nice meeting you, Aisley.”
I gave her a cheesy smile. “So that’s her, huh?”
He nodded. “I tried calling you.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to talk.”
“I’m your Dad. You can’t shut me out forever.”
“Maybe not, but I’m not quite ready to forgive you either,” I replied honestly.
“I love you, and I’m so sorry.”
“I love you, too, Dad. I just need you to give me some more time.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
“Have you seen East?” I asked, scanning the crowd.
“I think I saw him talking to Becks’ mom a little bit ago.”
“I’m going to go find him. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay, sweetie.”
I still felt bad for the way things were with Dad, but I couldn’t bring myself to forgive him just yet. I talked to Mom on the phone a couple times a month and she seemed to be doing well in her new apartment, and with her job.
“Aisley!” Judy waved me over.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Good. Have you seen that son of mine?”
“I’m looking for him now, I’ll let you know.” I waved goodbye and made my way through the restaurant, to the back patio.
“East.” I tapped his shoulder, and he turned around, scooping me up in his arms.
“God, I missed you.” He brought his lips down to mine, kissing me passionately.
“Mmm, I missed you, too.” I laced my fingers through his. “Can I take you somewhere?”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Ditching your own party?”
“We’ll come back. We won’t be gone long. Promise.”
“Okay. Lead the way, Carter.”
I led him down the street. We had been walking for about ten minutes, before he spoke up.
“Ais, where are we going? Maybe we should’ve driven.”
“Shut up, we are almost there.”
“I really hope we aren’t going where I think we’re going.”
“So what if we are?”
“Well, for one thing, it’s called trespassing now.” He stopped in his tracks and folded his arms over his chest.
I rolled my eyes. “Since when do you care about such things in this town?”
“When you’re taking me somewhere I really don’t want to go, Ais.” He groaned.
“Just come on.” I tugged his arm, and he reluctantly followed me.
We got to the property line and I could see our tree house, looking the same as it always had. I hadn’t been here since I bought it, and it looked like no one else had either. The normally short grass was now overgrown. “Come on.” I led him through the knee-high grass and underneath the tree. I sat down at the base and motioned for him to join me.
He did, but with a sigh. “I’ve been wondering why whoever bought this place hasn’t done anything with it yet. Seems like kind of a waste.”
“Do you regret selling it?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes I miss it, but it’s just a piece of grass.”
“I think it’s a little more than that.”
“How do you mean?”
“Come on, this is the first place your dad took us camping. We thought it was so cool, even though we weren’t really even in the woods.”
He laughed.
“You had your seventh birthday party here, and your parents went to the trouble of setting up a little ten foot pool because you had to have a pool party. I remember that part because I also remember your bratty ass trying to hold me underneath the water,” I reminded him
East grinned sheepishly. “Sorry about that.”
“My favorite memory is the summer we built that tree house.” I pointed up at it.
“That was a good summer,” he agreed.
“I think we spent almost every weekend here.”
“I prefer to remember the time we had sex in the tree house.”
“What? That never happened.” I laughed.
“Well, we’re here now.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“You’re such a nerd.”
He crinkled up his nose. “Am not.”
“The point is, it’s not just a piece of grass, East. It’s our childhood. It’s something your dad wanted you to have. It’s your past, and I know it’s where you want your future to be.”
“As much as I appreciate the trip down memory lane, Carter—it’s already sold. I don’t have the luxury of thinking about it anymore.” He kissed the side of my head. “And wherever my future goes, I don’t care. As long as we’re together and you’re healthy, it doesn’t matter.”
I pulled the deed out of my back pocket and held it out. “I want you to have your dreams, too.”
“What is this?” He grabbed it and unfolded it. “Is this… how do you have this?”
“I’ve been holding onto it for you.”
He looked me square in the eye, furrowing his brow. “I don’t understand. You are the one who bought it?”
I nodded. “Please don’t be mad, East. I just didn’t want you to regret—”
His lips crashing onto mine stopped me mid-sentence. “God. I fucking love you, Carter.”
“Good. Cause I love you, too.” I giggled.
“So about the tree house…” He winked. Before I could get a word out, he started to kiss me again, stirring the butterflies, and I knew, without a doubt, this is where I belonged.
Right here, just East and me. Together.
This was home.
Back in Time
Every time I come across your old picture
Or think I spotted you in a crowd
My heart still races ‘til I realize you’re not around
And every time I find myself all alone
I can still hear your laugh
From across the room, you’re trying to hold it back
I wish we could travel way back in time, time
Hash out the details of our old love affair
Back when we each had a partner in crime, crime
We would fight, make up, and still be in love
Back when we had it all and we took it for granted
Lost in the moment nothing was planned
We’d lie under the stars, and sometimes we’d dance
I remember our long goodbyes at the end of the night
And our f
irst “I love you”
Oh, you had me spinning around the room
I wish we could travel way back in time, time
Hash out the details of our old love affair
Back when we each had a partner in crime, crime
We would fight, make up, and still be in love
I can still feel the rain, like it was yesterday
Falling like teardrops on my face
I look at you wishin’ I could press freeze frame
With your sad eyes, you tell me you’re leaving
I replay the moment, calling for a rewrite
I should run after you, instead, you fade into the night
I wish we could travel way back in time, time
Hash out the details of our old love affair
Back when we each had a partner in crime, crime
We would fight, make up, and still be in love
Oh, let’s turn back the hands on every clock
Time is all we need to recall
When the memories weren’t memories at all
Oh, every time I come across your old picture
I can’t help myself, I go back in time with you.
Imperfect Princess
I’m a mess, I’ll admit, I go back and forth no commitment
Sometimes I’ll say the wrong thing
Or laugh aloud in the middle of a business meeting
Oops, I’ve done it again, another almost ending
Another shot in the dark, wishing on a lucky star
Hoping prince charming will come rescue me
Whisk me away like a knight in a story
Wouldn’t I make the most imperfect princess?
Oh, yeah, the most imperfect princess
And I’ll have to agree, I’m my own worst enemy
Sometimes I’ll laugh at nothing
It’s just an inside joke, no one else seems to know, yeah
Another shot in the dark, wishing on a lucky star
Hoping prince charming will come rescue me
Whisk me away like a knight in a story
Wouldn’t I make the most imperfect princess?
Oh, yeah, Oh…
At the end of the day, I’m standing in the pouring rain
My hair’s messed up and my make-up’s washed away
All I want is you and me, the perfect end to my fairytale, baby
I’m imperfectly perfect
Oh, wouldn’t I make, wouldn’t I make
I’m imperfectly perfect
Oh, wouldn’t I make, wouldn’t I make
The most imperfect princess.
The Unknown
I’m not really good at these kinds of things
I don’t want to talk about all the possibilities
I’m not the kind of person who’s easy to have
And hold onto but I don’t want to let go
I just want to live in the moment now
Don’t stop and don’t look down
Capture this moment and hold on
We are jumping into the unknown.
Stuck in this free fall and god do I love it
Wind in my hair and you right there with
Oh feeling, feeling completely hopeless
It’s something and I can’t control this
I just want to live in the moment now
Don’t stop and don’t look down
Capture this moment and hold on
We are jumping into the unknown
And I can’t think with these butterflies inside
I’m losing control and I wanna take flight
Come a little closer, baby hold me tight
Oh, we’re jumping into the unknown tonight
I just want to live in the moment now
Don’t stop and don’t look down
Capture this moment and hold on
We are jumping into the unknown.
About The Author
Lisa Fisher lives in the Seattle area with her boyfriend, kids, and five dogs. When she’s not writing New Adult Fiction, she can be found hanging out with her family or grooming dogs in need. In addition to making dogs look beautiful, she loves reading, writing, and all things musical.
www.lisafisherbooks.com
www.facebook.com/lisafisherbooks
Acknowledgements
This is my second published book, which sounds entirely surreal. (Can I just take a moment to squeal?? Eeek!) I want to thank each and every person who helped me make this happen. The beta readers who helped me make this story better, by offering their thoughts, suggestions, and encouraging words. Chauna, Nicola, Leta, Leidy, Argie, Ashley, Crystal, Christie, Bethany, and Tammy. (Hopefully, I’m not leaving anyone out…) You guys are the best! Thank you. Oh, and Jessica, thanks for not getting mad when I kept asking “are you done yet?” haha. Angie, thank you for making me an amazing cover! It’s beautiful.
Rogena thank you for editing my books. Without you I make too many mistakes… and since this is the only part you didn’t edit, I’m sure it’s littered with them! Ha. (Sorry!)
I’d also like to thank my family for their encouragement and support. Without them, none of this would be possible. H&E—I love you.
And to everyone else who helped me navigate my way through this crazy self-publishing journey, thank you! I am very grateful that I have been able to meet so many wonderful and supportive bloggers, readers, and other indie authors.
THANK YOU!