The Finish

by Jade Eby

  There has never been a time in my life that I've felt as strong. The last day I spent in Minnesota was the day I decided I wouldn't let my life be weighed around by the past. Carter will always be apart of me. He'll live in my heart as long as I live, but he'll never determine my future again.

  I am finally free.

  As I call out for a cab outside the airport, I swear the light is playing tricks on me. I see a familiar shape across the street. A smile burned so deeply in memory, I could trace it in my sleep.

  The Carter-Mirage stares back at me, a replica of the boy I fell in love with. He nods and I nod back.

  "You need help with that?" the cabbie asks.

  I shake my head no and put the suitcase in the trunk.

  "That's it?"

  "That's it," I say and get in the front seat. A tiny bag for such a big life change. There is no material thing from my past that I need to carry with me. Everything important starts today.

  * * *

  The cab drops me off in front of a small apartment complex tucked away in the heart of San Diego. I thank the cabbie and head for the main building. A tall, blond woman greets me when I enter. Luanne is spelled out on her name tag and I think she's the woman that helped me secure a place here.

  "Hey there! How can I help you?"

  "I'm Tawny Owens. I'm here to pick up my apartment keys."

  "Tawny! Of course, I have them right here. I'm glad to finally put a face to the voice. I hope you enjoy your home," she says.

  I smile. "I'm sure I will, thank you."

  "Do you need help with your bags?"

  I hold up my single suitcase. "Nope. It's all right here."

  "My kind of girl. Well come along, I'll show you which one is yours."

  Following Luanne, she takes me up a few flights of stairs until we're on the third floor.

  "Here we are. 319. This is yours," she says.

  "Thanks, Luanne."

  Her smile is warm and genuine and I can tell she and I will get along just fine. "Of course. See you around, Tawny."

  She leaves me alone and when I step inside I am already in love. I have nothing. Not a damn thing to my name except the suitcase in my hands but this is how it's supposed to be starting out fresh, right? Clean slate and all that?

  I lay down on the plush caramel colored carpet and look up at the ceiling and laugh.

  "You see me, right?" I ask aloud, as if Carter and my mother are here, with me.

  "I'm doing it. I'm finally becoming who I want to be," I say.

  The silence is a beautiful, glorious response.

  I am free.

  Afterword

  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please consider taking action. There IS help available.

  The National Domestic Violent Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE | www.thehotline.org

  The Finish Playlist

  Listen to the playlist on Spotify

  Ron Pope – A Drop In The Ocean

  Maria Mena – A few small bruises

  Sara Evans – A Little Bit Stronger

  Paramore – All I Wanted

  Banks – And I Drove You Crazy

  Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen

  Skylar Grey – Back From The Dead

  The Spill Canvas – Battles

  Banks – Bedroom Wall

  Banks – Before I Ever Met You

  Tracy Chapman – Behind The Wall

  Labrinth – Beneath Your Beautiful

  5 Seconds of Summer – Beside Me

  Maggie Rose – Better

  The Band Perry – Better Dig Two

  Imagine Dragons – Bleeding Out

  Carrie Underwood – Blown Away

  Lorde – Bravado

  Rihanna – California King Bed

  Banks – Change

  Zedd – Clarity

  Tegan And Sara – Closer

  Laura Welsh – Cold Front

  The Spill Canvas – Connect The Dots

  OneRepublic – Counting Stars

  Kelly Clarkson – Dark Side

  The Dresden Dolls – Delilah

  Imagine Dragons – Demons

  The Band Perry – DONE.

  Banks – Drowning

  Matt Nathanson – Earthquake Weather

  Ray LaMontagne – Empty

  Toby Lightman – Everyday

  The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Face Down

  Skylar Grey – Final Warning

  Ella Henderson – Five Tattoos

  Demi Lovato – Fix a Heart

  Frank Hamilton feat. Lauren Aquilina – Flaws & Ceilings

  Lauren Aquilina – Fools

  Haim – Forever

  Maria Mena – Fragile (Free) - US Album Version

  Ella Henderson – Ghost

  Meg Myers – Go

  Miranda Lambert – Gunpowder & Lead

  Collin Raye – Harder Cards

  Maria Mena – He's Hurting Me

  Iko – Heart Of Stone

  Betty Who – Heartbreak Dream

  Laura Welsh – Hollow Drum

  Lydia – Hospital

  Chris & Meredith Thompson – House Divided

  Christina Aguilera – Hurt

  Adore Delano – I Adore U

  Maria Mena – I Always Liked That

  Maggie Rose – I Know Better Now

  Colbie Caillat – I Never Told You

  Tegan And Sara – I Was A Fool

  Cassadee Pope – I Wish I Could Break Your Heart

  Colbie Caillat – I Won't

  James Maddock – I've Been There Too

  Kelly Clarkson – If No One Will Listen

  Martina McBride – Independence Day

  Aerosmith – Janie's Got A Gun

  P!nk – Just Give Me a Reason

  Parachute – Kiss Me Slowly

  Sam Smith – Lay Me Down - Acoustic Version

  Passenger – Let Her Go

  Kelly Clarkson – Let Me Down

  Avril Lavigne – Let Me Go

  Sam Smith – Life Support

  Maggie Rose – Looking Back Now

  Matt White – Love and Affection

  Eminem – Love The Way You Lie

  The Spill Canvas – Lullaby

  Timeflies – Monsters

  Emeli Sandé – My Kind Of Love - RedOne And Alex P Remix

  Kelly Clarkson – Never Again

  Nickelback – Never Again

  Quincy – New Girl

  Rascal Flatts – No Reins

  P!nk – Nobody Knows

  Birdy – Not About Angels

  Dixie Chicks – Not Ready To Make Nice

  Joni Mitchell – Not To Blame

  Imagine Dragons – Nothing Left To Say / Rocks

  Paul McDonald – Once You Were Mine

  Rhye – Open

  Maria Mena – Our Battles

  Bryce Hitchcock – Runaway

  The Spill Canvas – Saved

  Sleeping With Sirens – Scene Two - Roger Rabbit

  Tristan Prettyman – Second Chance

  Sara Evans – Slow Me Down

  Banks – Someone New

  Rihanna – Stay

  Lydia – Stay Awake

  Sam Smith – Stay With Me

  The Lumineers – Stubborn Love

  Mary J. Blige – Suitcase

  The Neighbourhood – Sweater Weather

  Cash Cash – Take Me Home (feat. Bebe Rexha)

  Birdy – Tee Shirt

  Reba McEntire – The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia

  The Civil Wars – The One That Got Away

  Paramore – The Only Exception

  Kelly Clarkson – The Sun Will Rise

  Kelly Clarkson – The War Is Over

  Mary Lambert – This Heart

  Banks – This Is What It Feels Like

  Maria Mena – This Too Shall Pass

  Casey Donahew Band – Twelve Gauge

  Savage Garden – Two Beds And A Coffee Machine

  Laura Welsh – Undiscover
ed

  Laura Welsh – Unravel

  Skylar Grey – Wear Me Out

  Ben Rector – When A Heart Breaks

  Lizz Wright – When I Fall

  Emeli Sandé – Where I Sleep

  Jana Kramer – Whiskey

  Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball

  Banks – You Should Know Where I’m Coming From

  A Great Big World – You'll Be Okay

  The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Your Guardian Angel

  Acknowledgments

  I won't lie - this has been the hardest book I've written to-date. There were many days, weeks and months that I thought I couldn't do it. There were times I thought "I cannot possibly go on with this book." But I did. And there are A LOT of people I really need to thank for giving me the support, strength and courage to continue.

  Megan D. Martin - You have no idea how much your friendship, advice and support in life and for this book means to me. This book would not have happened without you. Everyone who enjoys this book should really thank you, because without your insistence that I could do it - it wouldn't have been done. I love you to the moon and back and I'm incredibly lucky to have you as a friend and inspiration.

  Briana Pacheco - Thank you so much for the time you took to read the early draft of this book and tell me honestly what you thought. Thank you for letting my brainstorm with you and for believing in this story.

  Cousin Carla - Though this version of The Finish isn't initially what I thought it would be, our conversations about the early drafts is what led me to a wonderful friendship with you. I don't know anyone as interesting and special as you are. I'm so happy we are connected through blood and long chain emails :)

  Amy Schaeffer - Without the hours and hours of chatting and crying about my struggles, I don't think this book would be done. You have been the voice to bounce ideas off of and have taken my crazy rants/ideas/brainstorms in stride. Thank you, friend, for always being there for me.

  Megan Grimit & Kate Tracy - Without either of you, I highly doubt I would be where I'm at. Becoming friends with you two was a gift I don't deserve. I don't know what I did to deserve you two, but I'm glad I did. Love you guys. Retreat in London, next?

  I would like to thank Whitney Barbetti for being the best writing soul sister a girl can have. No matter what is going on in my life, I know that you are there for me and I can't tell how much that means to me. You're there for laughs and cries and everything in between. I love you more than you know and I want to grow old with you ;) I would also like to thank Andrea Hopp for being a tried-and-true friend throughout a majority of my adult life. You have been a constant friend in my life and your faith in me is so much more than I could ever ask for. I love you! I have to give a shout out to my wonderful, amazing Grandmother who read Whiskey and loved it and was put to the task of being my last proofreader. Grandma - thank you. You're amazing and I'm lucky to have your blood in my veins. To the love of my life, the holder of my heart and every other cliche phrase - Eric. You, of everyone, had to deal with the craziest parts of me throughout the process of this book. I know it wasn't easy. I know there were days when you probably thought that having a writer for a wife was the worst idea ever, but I'm the key to your Ferrari and if you just keep supporting me the way you have, I promise you, I will try my hardest to get it for you! To the RT, Barbetti's Babes and Hemmerlies Group girls (you all know who you are), THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. You girls have been the glue that holds me together. I love talking with you girls and you are always supportive, loving and ready to do anything for anyone. I love you girls so much. To my writing friends, Emerald Perpete, Lex Martin, Elisabeth Grace and B.A. Wolfe. You guys all give me inspiration and I look up to you as writers.

  To my incredible family and in-laws who never cease to amaze me with their support. You don't know how much it means to know that you're on my side, cheering me on and pimping my books!

  Lastly, I'd like to thank some people who have made writing and publishing The Finish one of the most rewarding experiences ever. The bloggers and readers. None of this would be happening without you. There are a couple of people that have gone above and beyond to show their support and excitement and I'd like to thank those people now.

  Jenny & Gitte from TotallyBooked

  Stacia, Roxie and Alexis from Three Girls and a Book Obsession

  Jennifer from Schmexy Girl Book Blog

  Jenna Schmitt & Jenna Schmitt (yes, there's two of them!)

  Angelica J.

  Silvana Reyes

  Tracie Bledsoe

  Laura Jahns

  Terri LeBlanc

  Denice Enfield

  Victoria LoBue

  Abbie Baker

  Misty Kramer

  Also By Jade Eby

  The Right Kind of Wrong

  Whiskey and a Gun (The companion novella to this book)

  Dirty Proof (Whiskey and a Gun + The Finish Bundle)

  Back to Bad Series:

  Capricious (Book 1)

  Voracious (Book 2)

  Malicious (Book 3)

  Audacious (Book 4)

  Tenacious (Book 5)

  Lacey: The Back to Bad Series Collection

  Stuck (A FREE short story for newsletter subscribers)

  About the Author

  Once upon a time there was a little girl who fell in love with books then she grew up to write her own.

  Jade has participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) seven times and enjoys copious amounts of coffee. When she's not writing, she enjoys trashy reality T.V. and reading everything she can get her hands on.

  For More Information:

  @jade_eby

  authorjade.eby

  www.jadeeby.com

  jade.eby@gmail.com