“Now, Dean. Stop picking on Riley,” she told him.
Then she turned to me, “Riley, I think that maybe Dean wants to be your friend. Maybe you three can go play on the slide together. What do you think?” Mrs. Mathis was so nice, but why would I want to play with Dean?
I looked at Josh and he shrugged. “It’s okay with me.” He encouraged me to make a new friend.
I huffed, because Josh was the only friend I wanted, but whatever. “Fine, let’s go play.”
Dean smiled really big. “Thanks, Riley. You’re the best.”
When we walked away, Josh whispered in my ear, “I don’t like Dean, Tink.”
I smiled at him and lifted my shoulder, “Me neither.” I mouthed and went to play with him anyway.
By the end of the week though, I had two boyfriends—Dean and Josh. I’d rather just one. Josh.
Twenty days later, my Nana went back home, and I never, ever, ever put on that big yellow dress. Daddy came home too, but he never did give me my something shiny and pretty.
My baby sister was born. She was pretty icky when I first saw her. But, she was just pretty now. Josh had a baby sister too the next month. They named her, Joey. It was short for a long name I couldn’t say right.
Now that Daddy was back, things were back to normal. Except, Mommy and Daddy don’t say nice things to each other anymore, and just like I thought, the baby steals all their attention. Thankfully, I had Josh to play with, because he said the same thing happened in his house.
Daddy didn’t call me ‘his Tinker Bell’ anymore, now he called Tatum his ‘Tater Tot.’ I was just, Riley.
I didn’t know why, but I thought Daddy was mad at me.
“Oh my God, Riley. Why did you do that?” Mommy asked me, after I cut up my Tinker Bell costume with scissors.
“I hate Tinker Bell. She’s stupid.” I pouted.
“Since when do you hate Tinker Bell?” Daddy asked, walking into the playroom holding his ‘Tator Tot.’
She is stupid, too.
I shrugged, “I don’t know. You hate her too.” I said, stomped my feet as I stormed around them going to my room.
Daddy came to meet me in my bedroom without the baby. Stupid baby.
“I don’t hate Tinker Bell, Riley. Why do you say that?” he asked softly.
“Because, you don’t call me your little Tinker Bell anymore, and you left me for a long time?” I began to cry.
My daddy pulled me into a giant hug, hushing my whimpers. “You will always be my little Tinker Bell, Riley. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. Daddy didn’t mean to ever do any of this.” He kissed my forehead.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny silver charm bracelet, and on it was a Tinker Bell dangly charm, a heart engraved with ‘Daddy’s little princess.’ It was my something shiny.
I cried and hugged him so tight. I will always be his little girl, his little princess, his Tinker Bell.
Always.
Embrace the Moment (Part Two)
Torn apart by a tragedy, pushed together by fate. Nothing is coincidence.
Riley and Josh have been through it all together, first as best friends and now as a couple.
Faced with a decision that will test their relationship, these two learn to fight harder than ever before to keep their hearts intact. Once the decision is made, there is no going back. With the past creeping into their present, and miles between them, they learn nothing is easy. Every moment matters.
Can Riley and Josh survive the first year of college apart? Will their love remain strong enough to embrace every moment that belongs to them? Or will someone from the past interfere, take what he wants and ruin them forever?
"For each star in the sky, I have a reason why I love you. When you look up at night, never forget this truth." –Josh Parker
Recommended for 17+ due to underage drinking, sexual content and adult language.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter2
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
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
CHAPTER 34
Escape the Doubt Page 23
