Just One More

by Heather D'Agostino

  Just One More

  By H. D’Agostino

  Just One More

  H. D’Agostino

  Copyright © August 2019 by Heather D’Agostino

  All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. The following story contains mature themes, profanity, and sexual situations. It is intended for adult readers.

  Cover Design by Pink Ink Designs

  Editing by Kellie Montgomery

  Photography by Golden Czermak @ Furious Fotog

  Cover Model: Shaun Caswell

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  Just One More’s Playlist

  Other Works by H. D’Agostino

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Present Day

  Max

  It’s been six years since I’ve been home. Staying away seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but now that the dust has settled, I’m not so sure I was right. My parents’ house still has the same white porch swing, and my mom’s tulips are in full bloom. The air has that same sticky hot feeling that I remember, and I laugh when I glance to the side and see the remnants of the tree fort Hailey and I built when we were twelve.

  Hailey. I haven’t thought about her since the day I drove away from this place; her wedding day. The grass is always greener, they say, but I don’t know if they’re right. I’m more partial to “there’s no place like home”.

  As I climb the steps of my childhood home, I’m reminded of why I’m here. I can hear my mother’s whistling in the kitchen. The smell of fried chicken wafts through the air, and I sigh. Some things never change, and I’m glad that this is one of them.

  “Hey, Mom.” I walk over and wrap my arms around her in a bear hug as I attempt to grab a piece of chicken off the pile on the stove.

  “I don’t think so.” She swats me with the towel she’s holding. “Your dad will be mad if you get to it before he does.”

  “Aw, Mom,” I grumble as I puff my lip out in a pout.

  “Ok fine, but just one piece,” she relents as I grab a wing. “The Sullivans are coming over tonight and I need to have enough for them.”

  Her words hit me square in the chest. I haven’t seen Hailey since she got married. “I may have some things to do tonight.” I cough as the chicken tickles my throat. I wasn’t ready to face her. Childish, I know. At a time when your best friend needs you most, you should be able to overlook the hurt that you feel.

  “Nonsense.” My mother rolls her eyes as she moves back to her place at the stove. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but you need to let it go. You were best friends for the better part of your lives. Just tell her you’re sorry.”

  “What makes you think it’s that easy?” I scoff as I step over to the fridge and rummage for a beer. “It’s not my fault that she married Jared. It’s not my fault that things ended this way, and it’s certainly not my fault that we’re not friends anymore.”

  “I know how you feel about her, Max. I know that you left to save your heart. A mother knows these things.” She pats my cheek with her clean hand before shooing me out of the kitchen. “Go say hi to your father, and bring your things in,” she scolded.

  “Yes, ma’am.” I salute before heading toward the back door. As I step back outside into the warm evening air, I take a deep breath. It sure feels good to be home even if being fifty feet from the one thing I want and can’t have, nearly kills me because it seems that I can’t avoid seeing her. My mother always was the social butterfly, and tonight her Southern hospitality is going to bring me face to face with Hailey Sullivan-Benton, the woman I can never have.

  Chapter 1

  Hailey- age 8

  It’s been a terrible day today. First, Jimmy Andrews pushed me off the slide at recess, and then when I got on the bus this afternoon, he got everyone to tell me that I smell. I hate him. I want to punch him in the face, but I can’t. Mama says it’s not nice to hit, but boy do I want to.

  “How was your day?” My mama waved from the front steps as I dragged my backpack behind me.

  “Fine,” I muttered as I stomped up the steps.

  “Just fine? You seem upset. Want some cookies? I made cookies today.” She followed behind me.

  “Double chocolate chip?” I couldn’t help but smile. Double chocolate chip was my favorite, and I really needed something good to happen today after what Jimmy did on the bus.

  “Is there any other kind?” Mama grinned at me as she reached for the plate on the counter. “Why don’t you grab a couple for Max?”

  I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t think he should get any. He wasn’t nice to me today.”

  “Really? That doesn’t sound like Max.”

  “Jimmy Andrews said I stink.” I stomped my foot before turning my head, leaning my chin down, and sniffing my shoulder. “I don’t know what he’s talking about. I took a bath last night.” I rolled my eyes. “Max didn’t stick up for me though. No cookies for him.” I grabbed two more in one hand, and then began dragging my backpack up to my room.

  “I still think you should take him some,” she called after me. I heard her laugh, but I didn’t know at the time what it was about.

  As I sat in my room, I thought about what I wanted to do before dinner. Most days, I walked over to Max’s house and played baseball or went swimming in the pond in their backyard. The Stantons had lived on the farm next to ours since before I was born. My daddy didn’t use his land for farming, but Mr. Stanton grew corn. There was a path that ran through the woods between our houses, and I walked it daily.

  Deciding that I needed to go tell Max what a booger head he was, I changed into my old shoes, and went back downstairs. As I walked through the kitchen toward the backdoor, Mama held out the plate of cookies knowing I’d grab a few. “Tell Max I hope he likes them.” She laughed as I rushed out the backdoor and down the steps.

  ooooooooo

  As I came to the path that led to Max’s house, I took off in a sprint. I was still mad at what had happened, and part of me was hurt that my best friend didn’t stand up for me. When I passed by the last tree along the path, I skidded to a stop. There, coming toward me, was Max. He was holding something to his face, and his elbow had a scrape on it.

  “What happened to you?” I scowled as I got closer. He was covered in dirt, and had a small cut on his lower lip.

  “Nothin’.” He shrugged as he pulled what I could now see was an icepack down from
his left eye.

  “Don’t look like nothin’,” I scrutinized him.

  “It’s nothin’.” He shook his head as he stared at my hands. “Those cookies?”

  “Yeeeaaah,” I drew the word out as I stared at the bruises that were forming on his face. “Double chocolate chip.” I grinned as I held them up. “Brought these for you.” I held one out for him, forgetting that I was mad, and now more curious than anything.

  “Yum.” He grabbed it and took a big bite. “Jimmy won’t call you smelly anymore,” he mumbled around a mouthful of cookie. “I took care of it.” He flung his arm around my shoulder, and together we walked toward the pond.

  When we reached the clearing where we usually set our swimming stuff, Max tugged his shirt over his head, and tossed it to the ground. My eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

  “Going swimming. It’s hot.” His brow furrowed before he shoved the last of his cookie in his mouth and ran towards the water. “You coming?” He turned around and splashed, sending water in my direction.

  “I don’t have a suit.” I started to panic. I glanced down at my jean shorts and t-shirt.

  “So swim in your clothes.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. “It’s hot. Aren’t you hot?” He grinned at me.

  “Yeah but…” I trailed off. I was hot. It was almost summer time, and we didn’t have air conditioning on the school bus. My clothes were sticking to me from sweating, and the water would feel really good.

  “Are you chicken?” Max shot me a knowing grin. He knew I couldn’t back down from a challenge, and he was most definitely challenging me.

  “I am not a chicken!” I slammed my hands down on my hips as I kicked off my shoes. “I just don’t want to get in trouble when I come home with wet clothes.”

  “So tell your mama that you fell in.” He leaned back and started to swim farther away. “It worked last time.”

  I didn’t tell him that Mama had us all figured out, and knew I was lying through my teeth. I didn’t want him to think that the story he came up with was lame, but whatever. I was not a chicken.

  “I am not a chicken!” I shouted as ran toward the pond. The minute my toes hit the water I flopped forward, submerging myself in the cool liquid. He was right. It felt great, but now I was going to have wet clothes until the sun dried us. If I went home like this, Mama would make me sit outside until I drip-dried just to teach me a lesson.

  “So you really beat up Jimmy for me?” I knocked into Max’s leg with my elbow. We were sitting in the grass on the bank by the pond. After splashing around and exhausting ourselves, we were trying to dry off since neither of us had thought to bring a towel.

  “Un huh.” He grinned at me and then winced as he touched the cut on his lip. “He cried like a girl. It was classic.” He flopped back on the soft grass and stared up at the sky. “You don’t stink, by the way.”

  “I know,” I chewed my lip. Jimmy was always saying mean stuff to me. Mama said boys do dumb stuff when they like you, but boys are gross.

  “I think you smell nice.” Max shrugged before looking away.

  “You do?” I crinkled my forehead. Max was acting weird, and it made me feel weird.

  “You know? Like double chocolate chip cookies, and summer, and how when we play baseball we smell like the dirt. I like those smells.” He rocked forward. “It’s getting late. We better get back.” He stood and held his hand out to help me up. “Race you!” he shouted before taking off in a sprint in the direction we’d come from.

  As my feet pounded on the dirt path up to Max’s backyard, I could feel the wind blowing my hair off my face. The sun was starting to set, and I could see Mrs. Stanton peering out the back door looking for us. She waved before disappearing back inside, and we skidded to a stop.

  “See ya tomorrow.” Max smiled as he offered a wave.

  Yeah, see ya.” I turned toward the path that led to my place. After taking a few steps toward home, I turned around. “Hey Max?” I yelled. “Thanks for teaching Jimmy a lesson.”

  “No problem. It’s what best friends do.” He shrugged before turning back toward his house and rushing up the steps. I stood there watching until the screen door slammed shut, signaling that our afternoon was over.

  I turned with less enthusiasm, and trudged down the path to my place. My dad would be home from work by now, and Mama would have supper almost ready. No matter how much time Max and I spent together in the afternoons, I always found myself wishing for just one more minute. One more jump in the water. One more race, and one more moment shared together. He was my best friend, and nothing would ever change that.

  Chapter 2

  Hailey- age 14

  “How did you do on the test?” my friend Zoey asked.

  “I’ll be lucky if I passed,” I groaned as I hiked my backpack up on my shoulder higher. “I just don’t understand it. Why is algebra so hard?”

  “You got me.” She laughed lightly. “Wonder how Max did?”

  “I’m sure he got an A. His dad has had him doing all kinds of math since he was big enough to count. They have to figure out the crops and stuff.” I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to think about Max right now. Things have been weird between us lately. It’s like he’s a different person.

  “You should ask him.” She nudged me in the ribs, causing me to look up.

  “I will later,” I mumbled as my eyes connected with his. He looked away almost immediately, causing my shoulders to slump.

  “Did you two have a fight?” Zoey’s mouth pinched in confusion.

  “I don’t think so. He’s been weird for a couple of weeks. I don’t know why.” I sighed as I unlocked my bike from where it was chained up. I’d been riding it to school this year on the nice days. It meant I didn’t have to ride the bus and deal with Jimmy Andrews.

  “I thought he was your best friend?” Zoey looked even more confused.

  “He is.” I tossed the lock in my backpack and began walking with my bike over to the sidewalk. Zoey’s mom usually picked her up, and I waited with her. She was new this year, and really the only person I hung out with other than Max.

  “I’d give anything to be best friends with him.” She sighed dreamily. I’d seen the look before on other girls’ faces. She thought he was cute. I mean, he was, but that didn’t matter. Max and I were just friends. We’d always been friends, and we always would be. No way would I ever mess that up, although I was beginning to wonder if I already did.

  “So be friends with him.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s not that special.”

  “Do you know if he has a girlfriend?” She chewed her lip.

  “He doesn’t have one that I’m aware of. I don’t keep up with his dating life.” I swung my leg over my bike. Maybe I wouldn’t wait with her today. All this ‘Max talk’ was beginning to wear on me. I had more important things to worry about than if my best friend had a girlfriend or not. I needed to figure out how I was going to pass algebra.

  ooooooooo

  When I got home, I changed into my swimsuit, and rode my bike over to Max’s house. I knew he wasn’t home yet because football practice hadn’t ended. His dad had him given permission to try out for the team as long as his chores didn’t suffer. So far, he was managing both and I honestly don’t know how. He’s at school every day until almost dark, and then he comes home and works with his dad until well after sunset. On the weekends he’s busy too. We hardly ever see each other anymore. I’m wondering if that’s what’s wrong.

  “He’s not coming today,” a voice sounded from behind me, causing me to jump. When I glanced over my shoulder, I was met with a younger version of Max. Micah looks just like Max did when he was his age. Tousled brown hair and piercing blue eyes. His skin is bronzed from spending most of his time shirtless outdoors.

  “How do you know that?” I quipped.

  “He called Mom. Coach is making him stay late. Something about how he needs to run a different passing route.” He shrugged as he moved closer. “What ya doin
g out here alone?”

  “Waiting on your brother,” I huffed before shoving my books back in my backpack. I’d wanted to ask Max to explain the algebra homework, and then I was hoping to get a swim in. It looked like I’d be asking my dad for help now.

  “Maybe I can help?” His eyes looked hopeful as he watched me.

  “You know algebra?” I laughed lightly.

  “Nah.” His lip twisted as he picked at the grass. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Can you tell Max I was waiting for him? I’ll be up late studying if he wants to call me.” I pushed myself to a standing position, and lifted my backpack.

  “Sure.” He gripped the back of his neck. “Hey, Hails?” I faltered slightly. Only Max called me Hails. “Do you think maybe someday you could be my girlfriend? I mean, if my brother never asks ya.”

  “Sure.” I laughed. “Max and I aren’t like that, but maybe someday you and I could be.” I turned and walked away, leaving him there thinking about what I’d just said. I didn’t feel like crushing his heart that day. Micah Stanton and I would never be an item, but his ten-year-old heart didn’t need to know that right now.

  ooooooooo

  Max- age 14

  Exhausted. That’s what I was, plain and simple. I’d stayed late today at practice. I could have left earlier, but I needed to get my head straight. Ever since this past summer, I can’t seem to think straight when she’s around. We’re friends. We’re only friends. She doesn’t see me that way, and I need to make sure that my head understands this.

  This past summer, Hailey changed. I don’t mean the way she treats me, that’s still the same. I mean all the other stuff. When we were little, we made a promise that we would always be best friends. It hasn’t been hard to keep that promise until recently. Now, it seems like every time I’m near her all I want to do is touch her, and not in a friendly way if you know what I mean.

  We went swimming last weekend, and when she stripped down to her bathing suit, I almost swallowed my tongue. She matured over the last year. She has boobs now, and she’s not as boyish as she used to be. Her curves are more noticeable, and all I smell is her strawberry lip-gloss when I’m near her. I almost tried to kiss her, but played it off that I was reaching for something behind her.