Now And Always (Crown Creek)

by Theresa Leigh

  Now and Always

  A Crown Creek Novel

  Theresa Leigh

  Copyright © 2020 by Theresa Leigh

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Acknowledgements

  I know this isn’t often done, but I’d like to dedicate this book to me. Specifically the me of a year ago, who was mired down in depression and anxious self-doubt. Hey 2019 Theresa, hang in there.

  You’re going to be okay.

  In fact you’re going to be more than okay.

  You’re going to thrive.

  The best path for you is the one that comes naturally

  - Holly Vollink-Lent, MDiv, NCPsyA, LP, to me.

  Books by Theresa Leigh

  The Crown Creek Series

  The Kings:

  Sweet Crazy Song

  Jonah and Ruby’s story

  READ IT FOR FREE!

  Cocky Jonah never wanted to come home to Crown Creek. But a chance meeting with kindergarten teacher Ruby has him wanting to stay forever.

  Lost Perfect Kiss

  Gabe and Everly’s story

  A risk taking bad boy. A girl-next-door nurse. And the kiss that never should have happened. Gabe has to convince Everly to take the biggest risk of her life. Him.

  Soft Wild Ache

  Beau and Rachel’s story

  Growing up in a repressive religious cult meant that Rachel always believed the outside world was evil. But when sensitive rocker Beau opens her eyes to life outside the compound walls, she learns that he’s the sweetest sin she’s ever seen.

  His Secret Heart

  Finn and Sky’s story

  Sky was certain she knew everything she needed to know about volatile, unpredictable bad boy Finn King. But when her world turns upside down, she realizes everything she thought she knew is wrong.

  Now and Always

  Claire and Ethan’s story

  Ethan has always kept his love for Claire King a secret. They are best friends, nothing more. But what happens now that his best friend is pregnant with his worst enemy’s baby?

  Crown Creek Standalone:

  Last Good Man

  Cooper and Willa’s story

  Willa hates Cooper. But when she wakes up in a hospital room, he’s the one who’s there waiting - rumpled, frantic… And swearing she’s his fiancee.

  The Reckless Falls Series

  Fool Me Once

  Autumn and Cole’s story

  READ IT FOR FREE!

  Eight years ago, Cole broke Autumn’s heart. But now he’s back in town and asking her to take a second chance on her first love.

  Take Me Away

  Aria and Derek’s story

  After escaping her abusive ex, Aria flees back to her small town and the house left to her by her grandfather. But it she’s not the only one claiming her inheritance. Her rival? A reclusive bad boy from Aria’s past. He’s not leaving his home without a fight…

  and he fights dirty.

  More Than Enough

  Harper, Callum, and Grayson’s story

  Harper knows kissing Callum was a mistake. And kissing Grayson was an even bigger mistake. Now she’s falling for both of her older brother’s best friends. She can’t possibly choose between them.

  But what if she doesn’t have to?

  Hold Me Tight

  Brynn and Everett’s story

  Brynn likes her uncomplicated life as a single girl in a small town. But when a stalker has her fearing for her safety, she finds comfort in a surprising place - tied up in Everett’s bed.

  All Of Me

  Bee, Jackson, and Finn’s story

  Bee risked everything to leave her hometown and open her dream bakery. When her store is targeted by vandalism, she finds surprising support from owners of the four-star restaurant next door. Finn and Jackson are best friends and business partners. And they both want to taste of the little baker’s… buns.

  At Any Price

  Charlie and Jameson’s story

  Single mom Charlie is convinced her luck ran out long ago. After all, she just plowed her car right into billionaire Jameson Tellar’s.

  But he claims it was a stroke of luck that brought them together. And he’s willing to do anything to keep his lucky streak going…

  Visit theresaleighromance.com for more.

  About this book

  She’s my best friend.

  And she’s pregnant with my worst enemy’s baby.

  I’ve always loved Claire King, and it’s always been my biggest secret. We are better as friends. We’ve always said this. And I try to believe it.

  But now she’s pregnant from a one-night stand with the biggest a**h*le in town.

  She needs me now. As a friend.

  That’s it. That’s all.

  No kissing, no cuddling, no getting emotional at sonograms. No killing the guy who knocked her up.

  It’s not my baby...but damn, I wish it was.

  The more she needs me, the harder I fall.

  But I can never let her know my true feelings, or I’ll lose her forever.

  I’ll get her through this if it’s the last thing I do. And I will NOT let my secret slip. Ever. Or else.

  CROWN CREEK is one big series about one special small town, following the lives and loves of interconnected families and friends. The same characters show up in multiple books and each book can be read as a standalone. Or they can be read in the following order for one long series.

  The Kings:

  Sweet Crazy Song - Jonah’s story (FREE)

  Lost Perfect Kiss - Gabe’s story

  Soft Wild Ache - Beau’s story

  His Secret Heart - Finn’s story

  Now and Always - Claire’s story

  Crown Creek Standalone:

  Last Good Man - Willa and Cooper’s story

  Contents

  1. Claire

  2. Ethan

  3. Claire

  4. Ethan

  5. Ethan

  6. Claire

  7. Claire

  8. Ethan

  9. Claire

  10. Ethan

  11. Claire

  12. Ethan

  13. Claire

  14. Ethan

  15. Claire

  16. Ethan

  17. Claire

  18. Claire

  19. Ethan

  20. Ethan

  21. Claire

  22. Claire

  23. Ethan

  24. Claire

  25. Claire

  26. Ethan

  27. Claire

  28. Ethan

  29. Ethan

  30. Claire

  31. Ethan

  32. Claire

  33. Ethan

  34. Ethan

  35. Claire

  36. Claire

  37. Claire

  38. Ethan

  39. Claire

  40. Ethan

  41. Claire

  42. Claire

  43. Ethan

  44. Claire

  45. Ethan

  46. Claire

  47. Claire

  48. Ethan

  49. Ethan

  50. Ethan

  51. Claire

  52. Ethan

  53. Claire

  54. Claire

  55. Ethan

  56. Claire

  57. Claire

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Sweet Crazy Song

  Ruby

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  Chapter One

  Claire

  I believed in the power of dressing up. A sharp suit and a bold slash of red lipstick were all it took to put me into ass-kicking mode before a big client meeting. Even if my knees were shaking and I was about to sweat through my blouse, when I looked in the mirror, I felt confident.

  Yes, if I wanted to feel good, looking good was the first step.

  And if I felt horrible?

  Then I tried to look even better.

  Now, I felt worse than horrible. I felt sick with regret and hated myself right down to my core. I felt like an actual devil woman for what I'd done.

  So before leaving to meet my friends, I'd dressed up as an angel.

  Luckily it was Halloween, so this didn't seem too weird.

  “You look adorable!” my friend Ruby squealed as she leaped from our usual table to give me a quick squeeze. She pulled back and fixed my halo. “But I thought you were going with the ninja costume. What made you change your mind?”

  I shrugged, which knocked my halo askew again. “I wasn’t feeling it." Then I grinned. “Wait, who said I’m even in costume?” I adjusted my halo, then folded my hands in mock-prayer. “Isn’t this how I always look?”

  Ruby snorted. “Of course. The angelic Claire King. How silly of me.” She rolled her eyes and stepped back to let my other friends crowd around.

  It was the usual Thursday get-together at the Crown Tavern, but tonight’s gathering fell on Halloween. The place was packed. "Excuse me! Coming through!" I called, jostling through the crowd as I called out greetings. I hugged my girlfriends and exclaimed over their costumes. Then I hugged my guy friends and gave them shit for theirs. All while glancing at one still noticeably empty chair.

  My stomach flopped like a gasping fish. I touched my halo, then pulled my hand away so fast I knocked Ruby on the shoulder. "What?" she asked, thinking I had tapped her.

  "Um." Since it was the only thing I was thinking, the question just slipped out. "Where's Ethan?"

  She glanced at the door and then shrugged, setting the tassels on her flapper dress to dancing. “Maybe class went late?”

  “Damn,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

  “Why?”

  Goose bumps broke out over my whole body. Did I want to see him? No, of course not. Not after the monumental fight we had last week. And definitely not after the...uh...

  Let’s call it the aftermath.

  But he was supposed to come. He always came out for Thursday nights. Being able to face him was the whole reason I'd changed costumes at the last minute. I was ready to put this behind us and have everything go back to normal.

  I couldn't actually say this, of course. So I pulled my gaze away from the door and back to my friend's wide eyes. “Because I have news!” I whispered.

  Everyone whipped their heads around. I had a surreal moment of why are they all staring at me until I remembered that I was, well, me. What I considered whispering was what most people called a conversational tone of voice. And what I considered a conversational tone of voice made everyone else cover their ears and wince.

  I'd thought I'd whispered to Ruby, but I may as well have stood on the table with a megaphone for all the good it did. I sighed and waggled my fingers at my expectant friends.

  "And?" Ruby prompted.

  "And what?"

  "Uh, your news?" She sounded incredulous. "Are you really not going to spill it right now? Since when do you have news and not tell me immediately?"

  I glanced at the door again. “I thought I’d wait till everyone was here?”

  It sounded lame. Because it was lame. Ruby was right. I wasn’t one for giant, dramatic announcements. As soon as I knew something, I shared it, and I expected my friends to behave the same way.

  But I wanted to see Ethan’s face when I shared this story.

  And I needed people around us when I saw his face. I needed a buffer in case he was still mad at me.

  I needed to see his face, but also have a reason to look away.

  “Wait." A melodious voice wafted down from the far end of the table. "You guys aren't still fighting, are you?"

  I took a deep breath before turning to Sadie. She was looking up at the ceiling, her gaze fixed on nothing that I could see, and radiating her usual Zen-like calm. Her one-shouldered toga dress and woven flower crown made her look even more ethereal than usual.

  But I wasn’t fooled. Sadie had a child’s innocence about her, but just like a little kid, her bluntness could leave you feeling gutted.

  And I was feeling pretty gutted already.

  It sucked.

  “We didn’t really fight,” I protested.

  Rookie mistake. Sadie’s gaze flicked off of the ceiling and onto my soul. “You fought,” she corrected. “Hard.” She tapped her flower crown. “And I hate when you guys fight. It’s like my mom and dad are fighting.”

  “We didn’t fight,” I said again. “We just….”

  I trailed off as I tried to find the word for what had happened between Ethan and me last Thursday. “And anyway, it’s over,” I finally said. “At least for me.” I touched my halo again. “I forgive him for being a dick.”

  “Was he a dick?”

  “He yelled at me.” I touched the rim of the beer glass that had appeared in front of me. “Like, fully yelled. I’d say that’s pretty dickish.”

  In truth, I wouldn't say it was "dickish" at all. If I knew the word for how it felt to have Ethan—quiet, unflappable Ethan—lay into me the way he had, I would use that word.

  I grew up in a house full of brothers. I could hold my own in a fight. But when Ethan’s voice rose, it was like someone had pulled the rug out from under me and sent me sprawling to the floor.

  The Germans probably had some long compound word for soul-shattering-and-rage-inducing-at-the-same-time. But I didn't know the word in English for how he'd hurt me so badly I'd wished I were someone else.

  So all I had was "dickish."

  “But I’m over it,” I went on. “If he’s still mad, that’s on him.” I folded my hands again. “And if he is still mad, I shall pray for his dickish soul.”

  In that moment, I decided the angel costume was the right choice. Like my red lipstick, it was armor, but it also served a different, more important purpose. It made me feel like last week's screw-up was someone else's fault.

  Who me? Nah, I didn't make a terrible decision in a fit of blind rage. I'm an angel.

  I straightened my halo one more time. Then glanced at the door.

  “Ryan, did he text you?” I called across the table.

  Ryan reached into his back pocket and checked his phone. “Nothing tonight. Last I heard from him was yesterday.”

  “So what did he say yesterday?”

  “You’re the nosiest person on the planet,” Naomi observed dryly. Her black curls were teased out into a wide Afro, and she’d painted her eyelids in glittering gold.

  “Diana Ross?” I guessed.

  “Oh my God, why didn't I think of that?” Naomi widened her eyes at Ryan and then turned back to me. “I was just going for generic disco queen, but Ms. Ross is a much better choice. Diana Ross it is.”

  “Glad I could help.” I felt a flood of satisfaction that she'd taken my advice. I liked helping people. I’d been trying to help Ethan last Thursday.

  My eyes stung again at the memory. Which pissed me off. Goddammit, when did I turn into a chick who cried all the time?

  “What did he say?” I prompted Ryan. “In your text with him yesterday. Was he complaining about me?”

  Ryan rolled his eyes. I widened mine innocently. He rolled his again, and leaned over his phone. “He said, and I quote,” he recited, “The bridge over Mill Street has a big-ass pothole. I nearly broke my fucking axle. Watch out.”

  I licked my lips. “That sounds like Ethan all right.”

  Ryan gave me another look, one tha
t I had seen before. Usually on my brother Gabe’s face right before he said, “Not everything is about you, Claire.”

  But Ryan was too nice of a guy to say it. He just...looked it.

  Blushing, I nodded. Then turned back to listen to Ruby. She was in the middle of a story about the costume parade at the elementary school. As I listened, I thought about how lucky her kindergartners were to have her as their teacher. I also ignored how hot my cheeks had gotten.

  “You feel so bad for the kids whose parents don’t have the money," she was saying. "I hate how elaborate costumes are getting. When we were kids, you cobbled things together from your parents’ closets, right? Nobody actually spent money on costumes.”

  Ryan looked up. “And Ethan still doesn't!”

  The second I caught sight of him, my brain started scrabbling. Skidding and flopping around, trying to get its feet underneath it. Exactly the same way our dog Duke did when confronted with hardwood floors.