Forever and Almost Always

by Bennett, Amanda

  Forever and Almost Always

  By

  Amanda Bennett

  Copyright ©2014 By Amanda Bennett

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.

  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.

  Cover art by Robin Harper/Wicked By Design

  Other books by Amanda Bennett

  Faithless

  This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)

  This Trust of Mine (Raine Series #2)

  This Heart of Mine (Raine Series #3)

  Misguided Heart

  Beautifully Broken (Broken Series #1)

  Breaking Beautiful (Broken Series #2)

  Unbreakable Hearts (Broken Series #3)

  Time To Let Go

  Coming Soon

  A New Series/ Title to be Announced Soon

  You can find Author Amanda Bennett at the following:

  www.authoramandabennett.com

  www.facebook.com/authoramandabennett

  www.twitter.com/AmandaBennett81

  www.goodreads.com/author/show/6550967.Amanda_Bennett

  This book is dedicated to anyone who as ever walked away from love, and wondered what if.

  A huge thanks to everyone who constantly supports me and reads my books. You all are amazing beyond belief.

  A special thanks to:

  Jennifer Foor (Author) Rebecca Donovan (Author)

  Thank you for all the support.

  Robin Harper (Cover Artist)

  Cami Krystyniak (Editor)

  You are the one that keeps me moving along, even when I want to give up. You are an awesome editor and even more amazing best friend.

  Thank you to Ena Burnette w/ Swoonworthy Books and Enticing Journey Book Promotions. You are awesome and amazing to work with.

  Thank you to all of my new friends on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. Y'all are amazingly wonderful people.

  Thank you to all the book bloggers that have helped spread the word for all of my books, and that have taken the time to read and review my work. I seriously couldn't have asked for better people in my life.

  Everyone with The Rock Stars of Romance, Denise & Nic with Flirty and Dirty Book Blog, Sugar and Spice Book Reviews, Into The Night Reviews, I Heart Books, Hardcover Therapy, The Secret Book Brat, Morning After A Good Book, Bridger Bitches book Blog, Winding Stairs Book Blog, Falling Into Fall Book Blog, Sandwich Making Bitch Book Blog, Totally Booked, Book Crush..just to name a few. Everyone else who has supported me, you know who you are.

  A HUGE thank you to my amazing beta readers and amazing friends. Y'all are AH-mazing:

  Mechelle Lovell-Jackson, Emma Clifton, Kayla Kennedy and Kristy Davidson

  Table of Contents

  Prolgue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-One

  Thirty-Two

  Thirty-Three

  Thirty-Four

  Thirty-Five

  Thirty-Six

  Thirty-Seven

  Thirty-Eight

  Thirty-Nine

  Forty

  Forty-One

  Forty-Two

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Dax

  I had spent every hour of every day for the last ten years, practically stalking her. She had completely consumed my every waking thought, and I couldn't shake her. And believe me, I had tried. If there were a medal for efforts put into shaking the love of your life from your mind, I would have won gold ten times over. When she first left me, I was crushed. Not just figuratively either, I mean full-blown ran-over-by-a-car, crushed. I swear she had literally dug her fingernails into my ribcage and pulled out my reverently beating heart.

  I had tried to provide her with the life she deserved. Granted, I could have put us up in a better apartment, in a better neighborhood, with nicer things, but...ah hell, who was I kidding. I fell short on everything I ever did for her. I worked my ass off day in and day out, but I would never be enough for her. I should have known it the first day I met her.

  Chapter One

  12 Years Earlier

  Dax

  My buddy Trevor and I had just finished a twelve-hour shift of welding a new overhang structure for the new freeway. I was completely wiped out, but it was the last day I had to move stuff out of my old place. Me and my other buddy Wilton were moving into his aunt's house in Gilbert and it was super fucking nice. It was a dream compared to my shitty ass, rat box of an apartment I had been living in for the last six months.

  The last thing I expected was to move next door to one of the hottest girls I had ever seen in my life. I don't say that lightly either. Trust me, I had been with my fair share of women, but this girl was far more than I could have even dreamed up.

  Trevor had bailed on the last load I had to move in, so I was hoofing it alone. I hadn't seen many of the neighbors, but that wasn't unusual in neighborhoods like these. Almost everyone who lived here were uppity and bitchy housewives, whose husbands spent all day working or cheating, while they stayed home raising their teenage kids. Everyone always ended up being quite nice, but still. The best part about moving into the neighborhood that we did, is that one of my best buddies lived right up the street. Bonus!

  I wiped the beads of sweat threatening to fall into my eye, just as I heard a car door shut next to me. I took a quick peak over my shoulder as I bent down to pick up my TV stand and almost dropped the damn thing on my foot. My eyes were caught up in a sea of beige, as her blonde hair blew behind her in the small afternoon breeze. She was amazingly beautiful, and completely oblivious to my presence. I looked back down towards my feet as she made her way to her front door that wrapped around the side of the house next to where I was. I kept watching her out of the corner of my eye, but never gave away just how much she mesmerized me.

  She had to be at least five feet eight, and man she had legs for days. It was the middle of summer in Arizona, so like every other girl, she was wearing a pair of short ass denim shorts and a thin white tank top. I could see the outline of a lime green bikini top, but questioned whether or not she had the matching bottoms on. I caught a perfect side view of her full and rather large breasts as she turned the corner. My breath hitched in my throat, and my pants suddenly became a little tighter. As she walked away from where I stood, I couldn't help but watch her small ass swaying back and forth with every step she took. Damn, she was something else.

  When I heard the metal screen door slam shut, I was brought back to my current reality. I adjusted my pants and jumped out of the back of the bed of the truck. I grabbed the wood TV stand and hefted it inside. After placing it in my room, I made my way out to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The blinds we
re open and it just so happened that our kitchen window faced her kitchen window. I was more than a little bit curious, so I made my way out back.

  Our backyard was nothing but rocks all throughout, except for the covered slab of concrete right outside the back door. On the opposite side of our house, of course. There was a small paver wall that traced along the perimeter of the brick wall, but other than that, all rock. Man, I hated Arizona yards. I was from Florida, and I missed the luscious green grass and trees. I heard a small splash coming from over the wall as I lurched through the small parts of exposed dirt, trying not to be heard if anyone was outside. When I reached the brick wall that separated the two homes, I heard the splashing of water again. I was silently praying that they had a pool, and even more, that I could catch a glimpse of her in that said pool.

  I stepped up onto the small retainer wall and chanced a glance over the wall. I suddenly found myself stuck in place. I couldn't have moved even if I had tried. If I thought she was beautiful before, she was absolutely fucking gorgeous now. She was stepping up and out of the pool, heading towards the lounge chair in the corner. I was right. Her bikini was a lime green and white swirled print and hung very low on her hips. Holy shit! Her voluptuous breasts were encased in a sea of lime green that led down to her tiny, toned belly. Her legs were long and lean and she looked like she was either a swimmer or a dancer. Either one I would take. Hell, I would take about anything I could with this girl, if she would ever give me the time of day.

  I stood like an idiot watching every move this girl made, up until I felt someone grab my shoulder. I stumbled back and fell off of the small wall I had been standing on. I looked up to see Wilton smiling down at me like an asshole.

  "What the fuck, Wilton?"

  "Sorry bro, I couldn't help myself. I see you found our neighbor." His laugh started out quiet, but grew in volume when he heard the lounge chair move next door.

  "Dude, shut the fuck up and get inside." I all but shouted as I hauled ass back inside, so she wouldn't notice me. The last thing I needed was for her to catch me spying on her like some sort of creeper.

  Wilton joined me inside a few minutes later, and I wondered what the hell had taken him so long. "What the hell were you doing out there?"

  "Saying hi to the neighbor. Seriously Dax, you need to get a grip. I met her yesterday when I was moving some of my stuff in. She's nice and fucking H-O-T!"

  "Trust me, I noticed." I laughed. "Hey since you're here, can you help me get the rest of my shit unloaded? Trevor bailed on me earlier."

  "Yeah, no worries. Let's go."

  We both walked out of the front door, making our way down to the driveway. Wilton ran into the back of me as I found myself immobile yet again, as I watched her make her way back out to her car. She had her tank top and tight shorts back on again, and she gave a small wave as she pushed her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose. Wilton and I looked at each other, and then waved back. Man, I was gonna get into some mother fucking trouble with this girl living next door, I could feel it, literally.

  Chapter Two

  Charlee

  I had thought of every excuse in the book to use, before I left my house. I had met Wilton, one of the new neighbors the other day and was waiting patiently to meet his roommate he had told me about. When I first pulled into the driveway, I caught sight of a strong, tanned, muscular back and almost came in my panties. The minute I caught sight of his face, I knew I was in trouble. He was what I like to call, panty-dropping gorgeous. His face was round and his chiseled chin and jaw were enough for me to want to see the rest of him. He had his dirty blonde hair cut in a military style buzz cut and from where I stood, pretending not to see him, I caught a glimpse of piercing blue, staring right at me.

  The sweat glistened off of his sweaty body in the midday sun and if I hadn't felt the urge to go swimming before, I was feeling the urge to do it now. Or maybe a cold shower was more appropriate. I walked up the pathway trying to pretend like I didn't notice him, but when he flexed his biceps to pick up something, holy hell.

  A little while later, after I had heard footsteps in their backyard, I looked back to see if anyone was there. Wilton stood above the brick wall laughing, as I turned and waved. I wasn't a very modest girl, so I strutted over to him in my tiny lime green bikini to say hello. Wilton was a mix of Tyrese and Idris Elba, but younger. He was definitely something to look at as well, minus the huge afro he was sporting at the moment. When I climbed up on the small retaining wall, he reached across to give me a hug. We exchanged pleasantries, and then he told me about a party that him and his roommate were planning on having tomorrow night. I told him I would be there, and that I would be bringing a friend. After we said our good-byes, I jumped down and pulled my clothes back on. I knew exactly where I needed to go, and I needed to go, like now.

  I locked the screen door behind me and made my way down the sidewalk to the driveway. I knew the two of them were outside the minute I walked out. His voice was like sunshine on a cool winter day. It engulfed all of my senses, causing me to become light headed, and leaving me a little off kilter. His voice was deep but melodic, and oh so soothing. That, mixed with his off the charts good looks, and I was a goner.

  I could feel his electric blue eyes on me as I made my way to my car. Knowing I affected him, gave me a strange sense of power, so I gave another wave before entering my car. They both stood there, stunned, but waving back.

  The drive over to Taylor's house seemed to take extra long, this time. I had made the drive a million and one times and the ten minutes always seemed like seconds, but not today. As I hit the last stop sign before her dirt road, my mind flittered back to thoughts of the delicious looking guy moving in right next door to me.

  A honking horn behind me pulled me out of my revelry. I quickly pushed down on the gas pedal and sped down the dirt road. Taylor was waiting outside for me, as I knew she would be. I had told her that I would be back later to pick her up; I just didn't think it would be so soon. I all but jumped out of my car before even putting it in park.

  "What the hell, Charlee. My granddad just called to see why you were hauling ass down the road." She looked pissed, but I didn't care. I was always careful not to kick up too much dust when I came down their road, but come on man, pave the damn thing.

  "Sorry. You are never going to believe me when I tell you, so I need you to grab your swimsuit and come with me right now." I threw a sly smile in her direction, before walking into her house.

  Taylor's family lived on their own private drive in Chandler. It reeked of all the dairy farms around, but the pungent odor was just one you learned to get used to. I still haven't. Taylor, her mom, her step-dad and her little sister all lived in the house at the end. In between them sat her granddad’s house and then her aunt's. Apparently her granddad had purchased all the land back when it cost next to nothing. He built all the houses for his girls, and now that was where they all resided.

  Taylor's mom was extremely nice and welcoming. The minute Taylor and I started hanging out when we were seventeen, we became inseparable. She was my sister from another mother, that's for sure. Her mom all but adopted me into their family and now here we were.

  "Okay, I'm ready, I think. Where are we going?" I had seen that hesitant look in her eyes before, but I wasn't about to spoil the surprise.

  "Not far. Come on let's go." I tugged her arm over to the car and threw her inside.

  Of course, the drive back lasted maybe all of five minutes. When I turned onto my street Taylor gave me a quizzical look, but I just laughed. Midway down my street, I caught sight of my mom's car and I almost started choking on my own spit. She wasn't supposed to be home yet, and I sure as shit didn't need her interrogating our new neighbors before, I even got a chance to meet the delicious one.

  "What's your mom doing home?"

  I slowly turned my head in Taylor's direction before giving her the usual eye roll. "Because my mom loves to be home at the most inopportune times." We both
shared a small laugh, as I pulled into the driveway next to my mom's car.

  Don't get me wrong, I love my mom very much, but we have always had a tumultuous relationship. We rarely, if ever agreed on anything. We argued to no end, and she just loved to get involved in everything I did. The stubbornness runs deep in our blood, is basically what it boils down to.

  I noticed that the maroon truck that had been in the other driveway earlier, was now gone. Disappointment fell across my face and my whole demeanor changed faster than lightening. Damn it! We made our way towards the front door of my house and entered, just as my mom was apparently leaving.

  "Well hello there, daughter of mine. Where have you been?"

  "Hi Mom. I ran to pick up Taylor, we're just going to lay out and swim for a little bit." As I gave her the play-by-play, like she always expected, I silently prepared myself for the inevitable lecture coming my way.

  "Maybe you should spend less time "laying out" and more time finding a job, huh?"

  My mom ladies and gentleman, Isn't she a gem? My mom and I literally had this conversation on a daily basis. For crying out loud, I was only twenty. I had graduated from high school two years ago, applied to a couple of colleges and when I didn't make it into any of them, I decided to take some time off. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to be just yet anyway, so the time off had been helpful. As far as a job went, I had only just left my most recent job that I had for four years, due to cut backs. This was the time to explore my options and discover myself, wasn't it? I let out a small giggle. When my mom's head shot straight up, I stopped.

  "Well have a great day then girls. I'm off to work." Her words dripped with sarcasm and I couldn't help but give her the middle finger as she headed out the front door.

  "Man, your mom is on one today. What the hell is her deal?"

  "Who knows. Let's grab the stereo and head out back." We both nodded in agreement as we made our way out the back door.