“It’s good to see you, too, Charlie,” Rory laughed. “I missed you guys.”
Charlie pulled back and smiled at Rory. “We missed you, too.” She side-eyed me. “Alistair was a disaster when you moved away.”
“Is nothing sacred?” I grumbled.
Ford barked out a laugh. “Nothing in this group.” He smiled over at Rory. “I remember you from freshman year. We had Algebra together.” Rory sat back down, but she blushed at Ford’s memory. “So, since we go way back, I feel compelled to warn you that your secrets are now our secrets, and our secrets are now your secrets.”
Rory choked on a laugh. “Oh, really?”
“Don’t listen to him,” Amelia said as she took her place next to him. “He’s crazy.”
The door sounded by a, “We’re here!”
“Talk about crazy,” Raiden chimed in.
“I think Raiden just called you crazy,” Willow remarked as she took a seat in one of the armchairs.
“Really?” Duke exhaled. “You’re picking one of the seats that sits only one.”
Willow’s pretty face blushed. “Christ, Duke. We just…”
Duke’s grin was pure evil. “Yes, we just did,” he drawled out.
Ford looked back at Rory. “See? No secrets.”
“You guys are going to scare the poor girl,” Mackenzie chided. “Least you can do is pretend to be normal until it’s too late for her to make a run for it.”
“It’s already too late for that, Mack.” I winked at her.
Samson nuzzled her neck. “Yeah,” he joined in. “It was pretty much wrap when he texted us asking what our opinions were on stalking a woman you’re in love with.”
Rory gasped. Her grey eyes flew to mine. “Tell me you didn’t, Alistair.”
“What the hell I was I supposed to do?” I asked her. “You didn’t seem compelled to tell me where you were housed.”
Rory looked over the guys, and my heart warmed that she was comfortable enough to address them. “What did you guys tell him?’ Charlie snorted, while Amelia rolled her eyes.
“I told him to follow you the fuck home,” Ford admitted.
“I told him to hold you hostage until you gave up the info,” Samson added.
“Samson!” Mackenzie shrieked. “That’s horrible advice.”
His head reared back. “Says who?”
Before she could answer, Raiden said, “I told him if you were going to be stubborn about it, to drag you to his place and keep you there. To live forever.” Rory’s eyes rounded.
Duke shrugged a shoulder. “I told him to stalk you. And if that didn’t work, stalk your family.”
“Oh, Sweet Baby Jesus,” Rory breathed.
“See? Now she’s scared,” Mackenzie grumbled. “And rightfully so.”
“Don’t knock a man in love, Dee,” Duke remarked.
Rory looked confused. “Dee?”
Mackenzie rolled her purple eyes as Duke clued Rory in. “Yeah. Dee as in Delilah.”
She looked over at Mackenzie. “I thought your name was Mackenzie?”
“Does no one read their Bible?” Duke asked exasperated.
“Yeah, but…didn’t Delilah betray Samson?” Rory shook her head. “I’m so confused.”
I sat back and was completely in love with the way she was fitting in. I knew having Amelia and Charlie here to break the ice was helping, but everyone was really welcoming her, and I was thankful to my friends.
When she had gone to work Sunday morning, I had texted everyone and told them the short version of who Rory was and what she meant to me. The guys had remembered her from a few shared classes, but because Duke had never met her, he had called me for a one-on-one rundown of my relationship with Rory. That was one of the special things about Duke; for being the youngest of us all, he saw way more than the rest of us did. He had an old soul.
“That’s what I said when he first called me that,” Mackenzie said.
Duke hitched his thumb in Mackenzie’s direction. “And like I told her, it’s Samson’s love for Delilah that I’m referring to when I call her that. Not that messy betrayal stuff.”
“So…the legendary love of the story,” Rory clarified.
Duke pointed at Willow. “I love that girl, right there,” he said. “I’d give her both my kidneys if she needed one-”
Raiden leaned forward. “Why give her both if she only needs one?”
Duke cocked his head as if Raiden had asked the stupidest question in the world. “So that she has a spare, Raiden. Keep up.” Rory looked at me and laughed.
My heart skipped a beat.
“Aaaaaaassssssss I was saying,” Duke continued. “I’d give that girl both my kidneys. But B.B.-”
Rory put her hand up. “Wait. Who’s B.B.?”
“Duke had trouble saying big brother when we were little,” Samson supplied.
“Anyway, B.B. would slaughter an entire state, rob the murdered masses of their kidneys, and present each one to Mackenzie for a match if she needed one. And if none matched, he’d move on to the next state, and then the next, and then the next.” Duke grinned at Rory. “Is that legendary love enough for you?”
Rory’s head snapped towards Samson and Mackenzie. She addressed Mackenzie though when she asked, “Is that true?”
We all looked over as Mack sunk farther into Samson’s hold. Her purple eyes glowed, and if Amelia looked radiant in love, Mackenzie in love matched the power of the sun. She nodded at Rory’s question. “It’s true,” she answered softly.
Samson wrapped his arms around Mackenzie, and we all turned away to give them their moment. When I turned my head, I found Rory looking over at me.
My heart kept skipping that beat.
“Wow,” she mouthed.
I grabbed her and pulled her onto my lap until she was straddling me. “I’d totally give you both my kidneys, baby.”
We heard Charlie laugh. “So, we’re all bypassing flowers and chocolates next Valentine’s Day and signing our organs away?”
Then Raiden embarrassed the shit out of her. “Need I remind you, you’ve been getting a very specific organ every Valentine’s Day, Charlie.” Everyone let out whoops and hollers at that, and it was incredible how much I missed this group, but how everything felt so much more complete with Rory here. It felt almost too good to be true, but I wasn’t about to jinx it.
I pushed a few loose strands of her hair from her face. “Told you they were going to love you,” I said low enough for her ears only.
She surprised me when she said, “I feel like it’s possible for me to be happy again.”
It was hard not to get choked up because I knew exactly how she felt. Life was too precious to settle, and having Rory back in my life, I knew that’s what I would have been doing had I moved on without her.
“I know what you mean, baby.”
Rory climbed off my lap and snuggled next to me. I looked around the room, and knew it was only going to get better.
For all of us.
Epilogue
Samson~
“Samson, we’re going to go to jail,” Mackenzie hissed.
“No, we’re not,” I reassured her.
“Even if we’re not, we’re supposed to be behaving like grown adults these days,” she complained in a whisper. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
The ‘this’ she was referring to, was sneaking onto the football field at Ridgeview High School at close to midnight. It was the middle of June and the school should have been locked up, but with the Eastwood/Ridgeview rivalry being what it was, I knew this place as if I had gone to high school here.
“Whatever surprise Raiden has for Charlie, it better be good,” she mumbled. “Or, at least, worth spending the night in jail for.”
“My dad will bail us out,” I replied, pulling her behind me as we snuck around one of the school buildings. “Besides, we’re almost there.”
“Are we going to have to jump the fence?” she asked behind me.
�
��Possibly.” I wasn’t sure if the stadium field fence was locked or not. Eastwood’s football field was opened for track members during the summer, but anyone could use it, really.
Once we got to the field, I pulled Mackenzie behind me as we got to one of the bleacher gates. It was open, thank God. I didn’t need Mackenzie hurting herself trying to climb the fence.
“Where is everyone?”
I’ve never lied to this girl, but tonight, the lies just kept on coming. “They’re over there.”
“I don’t see anyone,” she muttered, and that was probably because no one was out here with us yet.
Ignoring her mutterings, I kept pulling her behind me until we were standing in the middle of the football field. It was completely dark except for the light of the moon. There were security lights surrounding the outside of the stadium, but they only lit outward.
Mackenzie looked up at me and it was hard not to get lost in those purple eyes of her. “What is this, Samson?” At that moment, I turned my face towards the east set of bleachers and blew out a whistle. “Sams-”
The first person to walk out with a candle in her hand was Charlie. Next was Raiden, then Duke, then Mackenzie’s mother, Julie, then Charlie’s parents, Silas and Erin. They were followed by my parents, Samson and Clara, then Ford, Amelia, Willow, Alistair, Rory, and finally Mackenzie’s brother, Jase, who looked just like her with their black hair and rare purple eyes. Each holding a candle, and each placing it on the ground to form a lit circle around us.
Mackenzie’s eyes were a pool of violet as tears poured down her face. “Samson…”
Then I did it.
I got down on one knee.
I looked at the girl who I fell in love with at first sight, right in this very spot, and pulled out the ring as I proposed. “I can’t take it anymore, baby,” I told her. “I can’t take one more guy coming up to me and asking me if the hot girl with purple eyes is really my girlfriend.” Some of the guys chuckled softly around us. “I’m fucking tired of telling them that you are.” Mackenzie’s tears were beautiful. “I want to be able to tell those motherfuckers that you’re my wife, not my girlfriend.”
“Samson…” Her voice was choked with emotion.
“I need you to marry me before the beginning of next semester before I lose my goddamn mind, Mackenzie,” I told her honestly. I stood up and didn’t even let her answer me. I placed the three-carat rare pure purple diamond engagement ring on her finger. I scoured the earth for it, and while our weddings rings will be traditional diamonds, her engagement ring had to be this one.
Even with the ring already on her finger, Mackenzie threw her arms around me and gave me the only answer I was going to settle for. “Yes, Samson. A thousand times, yes.”
I wrapped my arms around my fiancé and vowed to donate a shitload of money to Ridgeview High. After all, had it not been for that game, that night, here at this school, I never would have met the one person in the world I couldn’t live without.
The cheers were loud and warming, and everything was goddamn perfect.
Second Epilogue
Samson & Mackenzie~
Samson gets his degree and is drafted into the NFL.
Mackenzie gets her degree but decides to become a stay-at-home mom.
Ford & Amelia~
Ford gets his degree and is drafted into the NFL.
Amelia gets her degree and becomes a communications executive.
Raiden & Charlie~
Raiden gets his degree and is drafted into the NFL
Charlie gets her degree and becomes a soccer sports broadcaster.
Duke & Willow~
Duke gets his degree and is drafted into the MLB.
Willow gets her many degrees and becomes a non-profit attorney.
Alistair & Rory~
Alistair gets his degree and becomes a media/public relations manager.
Rory gets her degree and becomes a sports physical therapist.
Dallas & Sally
Dallas gets his degree and is drafted into the MLB.
Sally gets her degree and becomes a college professor.
Steele Prescott~
Steele gets his degree and is drafted into the NFL.
Tally & Rachel~
Tally falls in love with an accountant and becomes a stay-at-home wife and mother.
Rachel becomes an accidental fashion mogul and lives the good life.
Meagan & Sarah~
Meagan gets her degree and becomes a political figure.
Sarah marries a football player and becomes a stay-at-home wife and mother.
The End.
Playlist
∞∞∞
Samson
Over My Head (Cable Car) – The Fray
Irresistible (Remix) – Jessica Simpson ft. Lil’ Bow Wow
Fighter – Keith Urban ft. Carrie Underwood
Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
Heathens – Twenty One Pilots
Ford
Love Me Harder – Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd
Give Me Tonight – Shannon
You Drive Me Crazy – Brittney Spears
I Wanna Be Bad – Willa Alistair
I’m Bad At Love – Maddy Benson
Raiden
Hold On – Nightcore
Where You Belong – The Weeknd
Fine Again – Seether
I Hope – Gabby Barrett & Rory Puth
If It Isn’t Love – New Edition
Duke
Fight Back – Neffex
Born Ready – Zayde Wolf
I Love The Way You Lie – Eminem ft. Rhianna
Close To You – Maxie Priest
Whataya Want From Me – Adam Lambert
Alistair
I Still Go Crazy – Paul Davis
Broken – Seether
I Can’t Tell You Why – The Eagles
Love Song – Tesla
I Shall Believe – Sheryl Crow
About the Author
∞∞∞
M.E. Clayton works full-time and writes as a hobby. She is an avid reader and, with much self-doubt, but more positive feedback and encouragement from her friends and family, she took a chance and writing and the Seven Deadly Sins Series was born. Writing is a hobby she is now very passionate about. When she’s not working, writing, or reading, she is spending time with her family or friends. If you care to learn more, you can read about her by visiting the following:
Smashwords Interview at:
https://www.smashwords.com/interview/MonClayton
Bookbub Author Page at:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-e-clayton
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/MEClayton
Other Books
∞∞∞
Please visit your favorite ebook retailer to discover other books by M.E. Clayton:
The Seven Deadly Sins Series (In Order)
Catching Avery (Avery & Nicholas)
Chasing Quinn (Quinn & Chase)
Claiming Isabella (Isabella & Julian)
Conquering Kam (Kamala & Kane)
Capturing Happiness
The Buchanan Brothers Series (In Order)
If You Could Only See (Mason & Shane)
If You Could Only Imagine (Aiden & Denise)
If You Could Only Feel (Gabriel & Justice)
If You Could Only Believe (Michael & Sophia)
If You Could Only Dream
The How To: Modern Day Woman’s Guide Series (In Order)
How to Stay Out of Prison; A Modern-Day Woman’s Guide (Lyrical & Nixon)
How to Keep Your Job; A Modern-Day Woman’s Guide (Alice & Lincoln)
How to Maintain Your Sanity; A Modern-Day Woman’s Guide (Rena & Jackson)
The Enemy Series (In Order)
Facing the Enemy (Ramsey & Emerson)
Engaging the Enemy (Roselyn & Liam)
Battling the Enemy (Deke & Delaney)
Provoking the En
emy (Ava & Ace)
Loving the Enemy
The Enemy Duet (In Order)
In Enemy Territory (Fiona & Damien)
On Enemy Ground (Victoria & William)
The Holy Trinity Series (In Order)
The Holy Ghost (Phoenix & Francesca)
The Son (Ciro & Roberta)
The Father (Luca & Remy)
The Redemption (Nico & Mia)
The Vatican (Francisco Phoenix Benetti & Luca Saveria Fiore)
The Eastwood Series (In Order)
Samson (Samson & Mackenzie)
Ford (Ford & Amelia)
Raiden (Raiden & Charlie)
Duke (Duke & Willow)
Alistair (Alistair & Rory)
The Pieces Series (In Order)
Our Broken Pieces (Mystic & Gage)
Our Cracked Pieces (Rowan & Lorcan)
Our Shattered Pieces (Molly & Grayson)
The Blackstone Prep Academy Duet (In Order)
Reflections (Grace & Styx)
Mirrors (London & Sterling)
Standalone
Unintentional
Purgatory, Inc.
My Big, Huge Mistake
An Unexpected Life
The Heavier The Chains…
Real Shadows
You Again
Contact Me
∞∞∞
I really appreciate you reading my book and I would love to hear from you! Now, unfortunately, because I do have a full-time job, and a family I love spending time with, at this time, I’m afraid it would be very hard for me to maintain a multitude of social media sites. However, for the sites I do participate in, here are my social media coordinates:
Favorite my Smashwords Author Page:
https://www.smashwords.com/interview/MonClayton
Like my Facebook Author Page:
https://facebook.com/claytonbooks
Follow my Bookbub Author Page:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-e-clayton
Follow my Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/MEClayton
Visit my Website at:
https://meclayton2016.wixsite.com/mysite
The Eastwood Series Page 35
