Full Circle

by Jennifer Simpkins

  Evernight Publishing ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2015 Jennifer Simpkins and Peri Elizabeth Scott

  ISBN: 978-1-77233-452-4

  Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

  Editor: Melissa Hosack

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To my coauthor Jennifer Simpkins. We said we'd write a book together and we did! Thanks for being so patient with me as we found our way.

  To my lovely friend and coauthor Peri Elizabeth Scott. I consider myself blessed to have gone on this adventure with you.

  FULL CIRCLE

  Jennifer Simpkins and Peri Elizabeth Scott

  Copyright © 2015

  Chapter One

  The hesitant rap at the door of Bodacious Blooms at this time of night sent Ellie Scott’s heart racing, almost to the point of exploding in her chest. A stranger had apparently been seen wandering the streets late at night, putting the locals on edge. She’d yet to come into contact with him and didn’t know if the rumors were even true, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

  She grabbed the closest weapon she could find—a glass, heart-shaped vase. Clutching the container, she turned toward the glass door to see her best friend, Mia Granger, visible on the other side. She let out a shaky laugh, thankful no one had been up close to see her ridiculous behavior.

  Turning over the lock, the door chimed as Ellie pushed it open. “This is a welcome surprise. What brings you by? Aren’t you supposed to be at family night?” Ever since the engagement of Mia’s dad and future stepmom, Wednesday nights had turned into Granger family night. She’d never known Mia to miss.

  “Yeah,” Mia said, shifting in her stylish gladiator sandals.

  She and Mia favored the same styles. Maybe their fresh and casual looks were influenced by their simple upbringing. Neither of them wore too much makeup, and they’d long agreed high heels were for the birds. But while Ellie wore sundresses and small pieces of jewelry, Mia had a more bohemian style.

  It looked like she’d put a lot of thought and energy into her short shorts and strappy tank top with the entire back cut out, but Ellie knew the outfit was probably put together last minute. Her hair most likely hadn’t been washed since yesterday, even though her curls were big and bouncy. She probably had put more energy in finding the right pair of big hoop earrings than anything else in her attire.

  “So what’s up then? Did you lock yourself out of the apartment again?” When Mia moved back to Seaside after her stint in San Francisco studying photography, and Mr. Roy was on marriage number two, Ellie suggested Mia move into the small, studio apartment above her flower shop, Bodacious Blooms. Ellie had bought her parent’s two bedroom cottage in the historic district part of town and had no further use for the space.

  “No, that’s not it.”

  Few things put Mia in a glum mood. She was one of those annoying people who almost always woke up on the right side of the bed.

  Mia fell back into a chair situated next to the checkout counter. “I have something to tell you.”

  Now they were getting somewhere.

  “What is it?” Ellie moved back behind the counter, stacking the order forms she’d received throughout the day.

  After an extended breath, Mia finally said, “Heath is coming home.”

  Ellie’s hands stilled and her spine went rigid.

  At first she wasn’t sure she’d heard Mia correctly, given the speed with which her friend delivered the news. But when Mia didn’t say anything else and only gave her a sympathetic gaze, Ellie knew she’d heard her perfectly.

  Heath? Her Heath.

  Okay, so he had never technically been hers, no matter how much she’d wished he had been, more years ago than she wanted to count. But she’d held onto her feelings for him for so long that in some way she would always think of him as belonging to her.

  It had taken Ellie longer than she liked to admit to get over Heath. And by “get over” she really meant she could go days and sometimes weeks without her mind wandering in his direction. All those years—thirteen of them—should’ve been sufficient time to move on, but there was something about him and their almost relationship that kept him in her dreams. And boy, did she have some dreams about Mia’s older brother. The three years that separated them weren’t necessarily that big of an age difference, unless those years happened to come between Heath being an adult and Ellie, in the eyes of the law, being considered a teenager. They were dreams that left her waking wet and aching between her thighs. At times the intensity of her need for him became too much to bear. So much so that she was forced to take her pleasure into her own hands with the vision of his face and the feeling of his fingers doing the stroking in the forefront of her mind. The last dream actually happened three nights ago, not that she was keeping track.

  No man in her life had measured up to Heath in her eyes—not that he deserved adulation. She had been nothing more than a yoyo he could toy with when he was bored.

  In public, he was only her best friend’s brother. His choice, not hers. Because it would have looked suspicious if they didn’t, they exchanged pleasantries when everyone was looking. When they were alone it was a different story. His intentions were clear to her in those moments. He wanted her. She wanted him too. But as if there was a war going on inside of him, between desire and guilt, he never fully gave himself to her even then. A few stolen kisses on his grandfather’s dock—one of their meeting spots—seemed to be all he could let himself give. Well, there were two very intense make-out sessions where he taught her some things about not only her own body, but his too.

  Ellie was brought out of reverie by the snapping of Mia’s fingers near her face. “Ellie? Ellie, did you hear me?”

  “Why…” Ellie swallowed back the lump in her throat, unable to find her words.

  She couldn’t rid her body of the mix of emotions flowing through her. Starting with anger. More at herself for still caring than toward Heath. He’d made his choice to leave and apparently had moved on. It was her who continued to live in the past when it came to relationships. Next was curiosity. How was he? What had he been up to since leaving Seaside? Oh God, had he married? He probably shared his bed with a smoking hot blonde with model good looks. Ellie didn’t want him back; she just didn’t want him to be that happy. The last emotion rushing through her was desire, which then brought her full circle back to anger. Grrr.

  “Why is he coming? I mean, why now? This will be your dad’s third wedding after him and your mom divorced. What makes this one so special?” She mustered up a smile, struggling to hide her frustration over him being back because she knew how important this was for Mia, but by her friend’s expression she’d failed miserably.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “I know. You can talk to me. I’ll listen with an objective ear.” No matter how impossible her promise sounded in her own head, she would try her damndest for her friend.

  “I actually like this one, Ellie. Renee is perfect for dad. She’s kind and really loves him. She’s also good to me. Ever since mom, it’s been a long time since I’ve had an older woman to look up to.”

  Ellie’s heart broke for Mia. Although Mia’s mom had made mistakes, she was still her mom, if only in the memory she knew Mia clu
ng to. It had to be hard to lose that, no matter the situation. “I’ve never seen your dad so happy,” Ellie said.

  Mia’s eyes brightened, and Ellie couldn’t ignore the moisture there. “I know, right? Although I’ve always tried to be supportive of dad, I was skeptical of his past two wives. But not this time. I have no doubts with Renee.” She shrugged. “I guess I just want Heath to see what I see. That Renee is good and dad is not the monster he’s made him out to be.”

  “Why is Heath so mad at your dad?” Ellie asked. She hadn’t meant to show any interest in the man she despised, but the strained relationship between father and son made her curious.

  Mia arched one eyebrow, looking surprised herself in Ellie’s question. “I don’t know really. Well, I guess I do, I just don’t agree with him. After mom walked out on us for that prick, her history teacher, Heath became angry. His anger was directed toward dad. Why, I’m not sure. It wasn’t dad who walked out on a twenty year marriage and two kids.” Mia shook her head, a look of disgust coming across her face. “That was her. He only became worse after she died. He felt guilty being mad at her, so he took it out on the only living parent.”

  “Did he tell you that?”

  “He didn’t have to. I know him better than anyone else.” Mia’s tone went flat. “At least I used to.”

  “If he still feels this way, then why is he coming back to Seaside? What’s made him have such a change of heart?”

  Was it possible time had healed all wounds? If Heath was coming back to fix his relationship with his dad, would he also want to see her, maybe explain why he up and left? She clamped down on that thought, because she wasn’t interested. Curious about his leaving, maybe. Their time had passed though. She couldn’t go through the heartache again.

  “Don’t you want to get off your feet for a bit?” Mia suddenly jumped out of the chair she’d occupied since arriving. “Here, take my seat.”

  “Are you okay?”

  Mia didn’t even make eye contact. Now she was just pacing around the room, looking like she could pass out at any time.

  “Mia.” When her friend still didn’t answer and it seemed she was now talking to herself, Ellie raised her voice. “Mia!”

  Mia’s head snapped up. She stopped in her tracks, but she still didn’t look in Ellie’s direction. Instead she kept her focus on an arrangement of wildflowers Ellie had made up this afternoon for Mr. Buckley to pick up tomorrow and give his wife for their twentieth wedding anniversary.

  Whatever was going on, Ellie had a feeling it was more than Heath coming back home.

  “I think I’m going to vomit,” Mia said.

  Ellie knew the feeling.

  “Do you need me to get you something? Some water maybe?” Ellie hustled to the back where she had put in a small kitchen. She took out a glass from the cabinet and filled it. “Here, drink this. And maybe you should take your seat back. It looks like you need it more than I do.” And that was saying something, considering the bomb Mia had just dropped on her a few minutes earlier.

  Mia stared at the water. “You don’t have any wine by chance, do you?”

  “No. I try not to drink on the job.” Her little crack, in the hope of lightening the mood, didn’t calm Mia.

  After draining the half-full glass, Mia wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Thanks.”

  Ellie took her by the hand and dragged her back to her chair. “Sit and tell me what’s got you sick. Where is all this coming from?” Mia’s odd behavior came out of the blue. It had to be something big to get her this wound up and looking like she was about to jump out of her skin.

  “I don’t want to,” Mia said, sounding like a whiney kid.

  Ellie almost cracked a smile, but thought if she planned on making any progress she needed to keep it together. Taking her friend by the shoulders, she eased her into the chair. She then pushed herself back on the checkout counter and mentally prepared herself for what was to come next. “Now spill.”

  Mia rubbed her hands up and down the sides of jean shorts. “Once I do, everything is going to change.”

  “Between us?” Ellie asked.

  She couldn’t imagine anything coming between them. They’d been best friends since elementary school. Second grade. Ms. Morton’s class. They’d bonded over a timeout session during recess. Mia had gotten into trouble by punching a boy in the gut for pulling her long braid, and Ellie had been punished for drawing on her desk. Mia took it like a champ. Ellie on the other hand had secretly cried. She couldn’t even remember what made her destroy school property. Ever since sitting together on the sidewalk, watching the rest of their classmates play, they’d been friends. Now, she couldn’t imagine life without her sidekick.

  Mia nodded.

  “You’re talking crazy. I can guarantee you nothing will ever change between us. You’re stuck with me, girlie.”

  “I would hold off on the promises. You haven’t heard what I’m about to tell you yet.”

  Trying to calm her own fear, Ellie reached out and took one of Mia’s sweaty palms. “Talk to me. It can’t be worse than telling me your brother is coming back.”

  “Heath is coming back home because of me. I’ve been begging him to attend the wedding ever since I found out dad and Renee were getting married. He’s skipped out on the other ones. I don’t blame him. Those women were a waste of time. But like I mentioned, this one is different, you know.” Mia let out a long breath. “Aren’t you glad you sat down?”

  Although she didn’t mean to, Ellie laughed. “You think I’m going to be upset at you for wanting to see your brother?”

  Eyes wide, Mia asked, “So you’re not mad at me?”

  “Of course not. Why would I be? It’s not like it was you who—” Ellie managed to stop before revealing just how far she and Heath had taken their relationship. They were moments she kept close, not even confiding in Mia. “It’s not like you kissed me, filling me with hope, and promise of something more, knowing I was in love with you, and then broke my heart as if I meant nothing. That was your asshole of a brother.” She shook her head, realizing she’d probably gone a little too far with bashing Heath in front of Mia. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” So yeah, it was safe to say she still held an overwhelming amount of anger toward the jackass. “You have a right to want your family whole again. In that regard I’m happy for you, hon.”

  “I hate you’re having to go through this, though. I’m torn. But don’t get me wrong, I was pissed at him too. He shouldn’t have done that. He was older and should’ve known better. I will not make excuses for him. I would kick his butt for you, but I’m afraid he’ll skip town again. I really want him here.”

  Ellie got that. Being an only child, growing up she was envious of Heath and Mia’s bond. They had each other’s back no matter what. For Mia she could tolerate Heath for a couple weeks.

  “I hope Heath and your dad can finally resolve all of their issues.” There, that sounded grown-up.

  “I worry about you though,” Mia said.

  “Don’t.” Ellie waved off her concern. “I’m going to be fine. It was a long time ago. I’m over it.”

  “I know when you’re giving me a line of bull crap.”

  “Okay, I might not be over it, but I will be. Maybe seeing him again is what I need to put it in the past. This might be a blessing.”

  A blessing in that she could torture him a bit. Make him see all he’d missed out on. She’d taken care of herself over the years. She ate somewhat healthy and exercised several times a week. She thought she looked good enough to make Heath sweat a little, if the way the male tourists came on to her was any indication. She might as well try to have a little fun. What else could she do to keep her pride? That was if he wasn’t involved with anyone.

  She was tempted to ask Mia about his relationship status, but decided to keep a little bit of her dignity. Mia had seen her at her worst. The night Heath left and Ellie was distraught, Mia was the one to pick her up and tell her she
could do better. It didn’t matter he was her brother. She was always there for Ellie. No questions asked. Mia was the one person Ellie didn’t have to worry about judging her, but that didn’t mean her friend needed to know everything. Just like Mia didn’t know exactly how far she and Heath had almost gone. Kissing was one thing, almost having sex was another. At the time, Mia hadn’t needed to know Ellie had come close to having sex with her brother—that she’d seen every square inch of him.

  “Being involved with the wedding means you’re going to have to see him,” Mia said. “I would completely understand if you don’t want to do the flowers anymore. I mean, I would need you to put me in touch with another florist who can work at short notice, but—”

  “What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t I still want to do the flowers?” Ellie interrupted.

  “I just thought…”

  “What, that because of Heath I would leave your dad and Renee hanging out to dry?” Heath had hurt her, true, but she would never let him run her off. This was her town and her friends too. “I’ve always thought of your dad as a second father to me. Nothing will keep me from this wedding. Nothing.”

  She’d especially looked to Mr. Roy for fatherly advice after her own parents decided to retire, sell out, and travel around the country. They talked weekly, but it wasn’t the same as having them close by. Mr. Roy had always been an easy person to talk to. She respected him deeply and prayed this would be his last wedding.

  “I kinda knew you would say that,” Mia said, looking relieved. “I wanted to give you an out if you needed it.”

  “There is no denying I loved your brother. But that was a long time ago. Although it didn’t feel like it at the time, it was more like a crush. I was a kid. I mean, it has to be some kind of rule that you have to have a crush on your best friend’s hot, older brother.”