by Tara Lee
Taking Chances
Pleasant Grove Series Book 1
Tara Lee
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, be it electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
Book Cover illustrated by Kellie Dennis: http://www.bookcoverbydesign.co.uk/
Edited and formatted by Mara A. Miller.
Copyright © 2018 Tara Lee
All rights reserved.
ISBN-10: 1986883574
ISBN-13: 978-1986883573.
FOR MY HUSBAND
Thank you for taking a chance on me all those years ago. I love you forever and always.
Prologue
ELI
12 years old
IHIDE. MY CLOSET FEELS safe in the darkness. He can’t touch me here.
I hold my breath and try not to be loud. My entire body shakes. Where is my mother? The door to my room opened
and I dig my nails into my palm and bite my lip, so I don’t make any noise by breathing.
“You can’t hide forever, boy I’ll find you,” he slurs.
I swallow despite my raw throat.
He is always worst when he drinks. First, he goes after Mom. When he finishes with her, he comes after me.
I put my head in my arms and try to block him out.
The closet door swings open. A rough, calloused hand yanks me to my feet. My arm screams in pain, as if it might detach from the socket. “There you are, boy. Hiding from me will only make it worse for you.”
His stinky breath blows into my face.
“You’re hurting me,” I say.
He slams his open palm into me so hard I fall to the ground. I wipe my face across my sleeve to get rid of the tears. His cackles send shivers down my spine.
I know what’s coming.
Malcolm is the worst.
He yanks out his belt, and then beats me until the leather leaves bleeding welts on my back.
The blows come hard and fast. He hits harder if I cry or fight back. I hear his excited breath—he is enjoying this. I squeeze my eyes shut tight, and pray someone will save me.
My prayers are never answered.
Mom probably can’t move.
He beats me so bad I pass out.
When I come to, I am covered in welt marks. I sneak out, like I do every night.
I run to my best friend, Jensen’s, house. I sneak into his window and see him asleep in his bed. I’m always welcome here. Jensen knows to keep his window unlocked for me just in case. Most nights when I sneak in he is already asleep.
I crawl on top of the bean bag and he shifts when I do.
“Eli?” Jensen asks in a voice is deep from sleep.
“…Yeah?” I whisper back.
“You okay?”
I sniff.
“Eli, do I need to get Dad?”
I shake my head in the dark room.
“No.”
I release a soft, sad sigh. Jensen was no stranger to my situation. He curses softly under his breath before he turns to face me.
He leans down and places his hand on my shoulder for comfort. Jensen is my best friend. We have been best friends since we were little kids. If anyone else touched me, I would have scrambled from the bean bag. Jensen is the only person I trust.
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
I listen as his breathing changed and his soft snores fill the room. I slowly close my eyes and fall in to a deep sleep, forgetting
the pain my body is in. e
I WAKE TO AN EMPTY bed. Jensen must have already woken. He lets me sleep in after the nights I climb through his window. I roll out of bed, wincing. My back screams. I haven’t seen it yet, but I can only imagine how horrific the welts from the belt look.
I head downstairs in search of my friend. I pass Jensen’s younger sister, Charli’s, bedroom. Her door is ajar. I hear music and singing. A small smile escapes my lips. I only know the song Charli sings because she plays it nonstop due to an obsession she has with some boy band. I only know of the band because she has taped posters all over her wall.
I slowly push open her door and catch a glimpse of her. She brushes her hair in front of her dresser and does a little dance as she sang to the song. Charli is three years younger than us. She can be annoying like any little sister, but I try to be nice to her because she is a sweet kid.
“When the lights go out.” She hasn’t noticed me yet. I lift my hand to my mouth to hide my chuckle. I don’t want her to think I am spying. She sees me through her mirror and turns toward me. Her mouth drops open— she’d been caught. She blushes, and I admit to myself that she’s adorable. I chuckle some more, and her cheeks grow redder before she hides her face.
“How long have you been standing there?” she asks. I swear she’s an angel.
“Not long…Just long enough to hear your amazing voice,” I
tease her. “So, what’s the song?” I ask curiously, even though I know I’ll regret asking. Her face lights up over my sudden interest. “It’s When the Lights Go Out by Five,” she says.
Her massive smile lights up her face.
I love that Charli gets excited about telling me details about her favorite band. I glance at her bed. Plush toys are piled on top of each other. She must still sleep with them. I sometimes forget how young Charli is.
She still believes in Santa.
How can I not expect to see such a huge pile of stuffed animals?
“Are you staying for breakfast?”
Charli stands up from her seat, and then reaches over to turn off her radio. She pulls a lock of her hair between her fingers and tugs it while twisting around on her feet. I have figured out that she does this when she is nervous. I think it’s adorable, but I’m not sure why I make her nervous.
I nod. She follows me downstairs and we talk as we walk. Charli is used to me being at her parents’ all the time. I must be like an extra big brother by now with how much I’m over here.
“You okay?”
Charli is so innocent, and that’s how I wanted to keep her. She doesn’t need to know want I’ve gone through. I’ve lost my innocence; I long to protect hers.
I hide my face from her and give her a smile. Charli always liked fixing things. She knows when I hurt and she never asks why. I can’t explain how she does it. She has always wanted to take care of me. Charli is nine. I’ve never had someone care for me that way; my own family is worthless.
No one in my family shows affection—we barely speak. There have been many days I’ve gone without food, and I would still be starving now had Jensen not figured out what was happening. He brings me extra in his lunch or he invites me over to his house for meals. I’ve never been so thankful for him since he figured out what was happening. I owe him so much. He still tries to take care of me and now, so does his sister.
Charli turns and grabs me for a hug before we go into the kitchen.
I slowly wrap my arms around her. The smile on my face grows as she places her head on my chest. I gently squeeze her, not wanting to upset her parents by them thinking I’m trying something with their nine-year-old daughter. The connection we share is strong.
She pulls back and smiles up at me. I smirk at her and her cheeks go red.
Yeah, she’s innocent. She doesn’t need to know the fucked-up details from my life. I’ll get out one day. I know if I tell Jensen and Charli’s parents, they would let me stay here in a heartbeat…but I don’t want to be a burden. I can’t do that to them. I eat my breakfast with the Parker family and then head to school with Jensen, trying to forget the nightmare I know will be waiting for
me at home. E
“WAIT FOR ME.”
Jensen rolls his eyes at his sister. I stop so she can catch up. “Charli, we’re doing boy stuff! Go away!” he says. I smile at her as she slows down in front of us.
“I can do boy stuff,” she says. The smile on her face is huge. “No, you can’t! Go away, you’re a girl, go do… Girl stuff,”
Jensen says. He stomps toward the tree we are about to climb. It’s the same one we keep climbing no matter how many times his parents yell at us not to do it, no matter how often we fall out of it because of one tricky branch.
Charli stands in front of me, her head down her hands in front of her.
“Hey,” I say, grabbing her hand.
Her beautiful green eyes sparkle.
“Eli! I can hang out with you guys, I can do boy stuff too, you know.”
She pouts—I sigh.
Her eyes fill with tears.
Like I’d ever say no to her. I hate the thought of saying anything negative to this girl. It’s physically impossible.
“You could, but I think Jensen just wants to hang out with me today.”
I’m trying to be gentle.
My heart squeezes in my chest for her smiles. She truly is beautiful—even I’m not that blind.
I have only started to feel these things for her in the past few months. I try not to, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Mine won’t stop feeling these things.
She brushes a piece of hair behind her ear and looks up at me with those big beautiful eyes of hers.
The unshed tears are almost heartbreaking.
“We could play later,” I say.
I never want to make Charli cry.
She nods, excited, like I’ve just given her the moon. She skips off towards the house.
Charli looks back at me one last time with a wide grin on her face. She leaves me standing there staring at her, mouth agape. I blink my eyes rabidly to break myself out of my sudden trance.
“Dude, are you coming?” Jensen yells.
I whip around to find him at the top of the tree. He made it over the tricky part. I’ve got my good shoes on today—hopefully it won’t catch my laces.
“Yeah, coming!”
I sometimes forget how adorable Charli is.
I end up keeping ice on my arm for the next three days, all because I can’t stop thinking about my angel.
Chapter 1
CHARLI
Sixteen years old
IT IS MY SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY. Not that I feel like celebrating. My parents were taken from me only a few months ago.
Why?
How?
All I want are answers.
I will never get them.
The drunk driver that killed my parents gets to live. Mom
and Dad don’t. I can’t comprehend why. My parents were good people. They never spoke ill of anyone and they never caused trouble. Yet…they’re gone. They’ll never be back.
I sit on my bed with my arms wrapped around a teddy bear Eli bought after it happened. It is grey, fluffy and so cuddly. I sleep with my teddy every night. I named him Marshal—it’s not very original, but the bear just looks like a Marshal. The name is wellsuited.
I dread going downstairs. My Nana put together a birthday party for me. I told her I didn’t want one, but she insisted. I will only turn sixteen once. Nana is convinced I need to celebrate. I decide I’ll go so it makes her happy. My friends will be here but they really don’t know what to say to me about my parents’ death. I know it is hard for them when they awkwardly tell me they’re sorry. The hugs that come after are even more uncomfortable, but it helps. A little.
I never dreamt the last conversation I would ever have with Mom would be about what she wanted to order for dinner before her date with Dad. My parents went out on date night once a week. Dad told me it was their grown-up time.
Mom was gorgeous. I hope I look like her when I finish growing up. My father was my hero, but aren’t all Dads heroes to their little girls?
Now, all I have of them are memories and photos to look back on. Fragments of how happy we once were. Memories of ghosts.
Jensen has been partying most nights. It is now a usual thing for my older brother. He and his friends are always getting in trouble, especially when they go out to drink. Jensen parties more these days. Worse, he snaps at me all the time to get out of his room when I need him. I’ve stopped trying to get close to him. I don’t even know if he has remembered my birthday party.
I have feelings for Eli, the same guy who gave me the teddy bear. He is sweet. He always winks at me. I know he is there for me if I need to talk to someone instead of my brother. Well, okay. I think I have more than just feelings for Eli.
I’m convinced I’m in love with him.
I know he doesn’t have the best home life, so I’ve never said anything to him about it. He never speaks of his awful step-dad. Neither did my parents when they were still alive. They had acted like they didn’t know, so maybe they had no clue what really happened.
I get off my bed when I hear people arriving. I have to be polite, and smile. Nana might get upset if I don’t look like I’m enjoying every minute of the party.
It can’t hurt, right?
Maybe I’ll surprise myself and enjoy it.
The first person I run into downstairs is Eli. I’m giddy that he came, but does he want to be here? Or was he forced to come, like Jensen? Speaking of my big brother, he’s pouting in the corner of the living room because Nana has taken his car keys.
“Hey Charli, you look beautiful,” Eli says.
His dimples from his megawatt smile drive me crazy.
“Thank you,” I say.
He eyes my simple blue dress I chose for the party. My cheeks turn hot. Seriously? Thank you? That’s all I can come up with? Geez, Charli, really intelligent!
“Thanks for inviting me. Here, I got you this.”
He holds out a present for me.
I smile and take it from him. Our fingers brush against each other and my entire body ignites.
If he feels anything, he doesn’t show it.
Eli is the only guy that seems to do that to me. I know I shouldn’t have feelings for him. I know we can never be together. I mean, I’m a kid. What does Eli want with a stupid kid? He has known me for most of my life. He used to laugh at me when he caught me dancing or singing to my favorite boy bands. But he always clapped, like I had put on a show, and it made me ecstatic. It makes me like him more.
His smirk makes me think he feels it too, but he wouldn’t say anything. He’s a good guy. He’s always nice to me and makes me feel special.
I start to unwrap the present he brought me, eager to see what it is.
Inside are copies of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.
I release a giggle.
“They’re some of your favorites, right?” he asks stepping closer to me. He smells like sweat and sunshine.
Okay, maybe I made that last part up. I don’t think anyone has ever gotten close enough to the Sun to know what it smells like… Unless they want to be turned into a crispy critter. I think Eli is sexy. Crispy fried Eli… Not so sexy.
“Yes, thank you! I love these.”
He knows what I love to read! My heart does a silly little flutter thing that makes me want to kiss him.
“I mean, I hope you don’t have them and I’m just giving you extra copies?” he says, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck.
“I saw them, and knew you liked the romance stuff, so—”
I shake my head at his adorabl
e rambling.
“It’s okay, Eli! I haven’t gotten a copy of these yet.”
I give him the biggest smile I can. What I won’t tell him is I have already read them at school, but just hadn’t bought the books for myself yet.
“Alright, let’s go, sweetie. Everyone is out the back waiting,” my Nana says, interrupting us.
Eli holds out his hand for me. He must know this day will be tough on me. I hold his hand as tight as I can. The smile on his face is as charming as ever. He often does this when he can see I’m not coping. Just having that contact with him makes me feel light as a feather.
Eli makes my heart beat so fast that my head spins out of control, making me dizzy. I stop just before he starts walking with me. Eli captures my gaze with his.
“You got this,” he says, grinning.
I nod knowing he’s right as long as he’s beside me, I can do this. Eli doesn’t realize how much this means to me. His being here—it’s the most precious thing he can ever give me.
Well… other than himself.
Of course, a girl can only dream.
We walk outside and everyone cheers.
They sing happy birthday to me. Eli joins in, dragging my brother with him, and smiles. I stare up at Eli, infatuated with how his presence just eases me. He truly makes everything seem better, even if it’s just for a little while.
After I open my presents and cut the cake—red velvet, my favourite—I go to my room for some privacy. I grab The Notebook open it.
I’m so deep in to my book from Eli, I don’t hear the door open. I only notice him when he cleared his throat.
“Hey,” Eli says.
I look up from the book and gave him a smile.
“Have you had a good birthday?” He asks.
I nod with a smile and lay my book down on my lap. I pat the edge of my bed and invite Eli to sit.
“I actually did, I mean it still sucked big time, but it was nice. Thank you for my books. I love them,” I say.
He smirks and winks at me. He always does that. I never see him wink or smile at other girls.
He lays down and stares at the ceiling thoughtfully. Then he places his hands beneath his head. I see a slip of his skin because his shirt starts riding up. It sends tingles through my body. Eli is very handsome and he knows it; he uses it to his advantage all the time to get the girls to flirt with him. His body is incredible. Every inch of him is filled with sculpted muscles, His jeans teased that magical “V” that leads to a promise I will never see.
