Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Playlist
Dedication
Prologue
Part One
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Part Two
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Epilogue
Other Books by Briana
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Let Her Go
Copyright © 2017 Briana Pacheco
Cover Design © Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations
Interior formatting by Champagne Book Design
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be produced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, brands, media, resemblance to events or persons, living or dead are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, brands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Playlist
Dedication
Prologue
Part One
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Part Two
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Epilogue
Other Books by Briana
Acknowledgments
About the Author
I Don’t Want To Live Forever—Zayn & Taylor Swift
Heavy In Your Arms—Florence + The Machine
Little Do You Know—Alex & Sierra
Demons—Imagine Dragons
Way Down We Go—Kaleo
Life Support—Sam Smith
Firestone—Kygo & Conrad Sewell
Hold Back The River—James Bay
Not Afraid Anymore—Halsey
Photograph—Ed Sheeran
Mercy—Shawn Mendes
Faded—Alan Walker
Into You—Ariana Grande
Be Together (feat. Wild Belle)—Major Lazer
Let Me Love You—DJ Snake & Justin Bieber
A Thousand Years—Christina Perri
To every Zoë (male or female) out there,
Do not let them win.
Do not let them silence you.
Seven years ago…
Smoke was starting to surround me, slowly filling my lungs, suffocating me. I could feel my heart beating, trying to pump the last bits of blood throughout my body but it was futile because I knew with every fiber of my being that I was going to die. I was only fourteen years old and my life was over. In fact, it ended years earlier if you can only fathom what I went through. My childhood was anything from normal. I thought I was loved by light but I was kissed by darkness; its ugly teeth sank into my skin poisoning me. When I had a chance to stop the venom running through my veins I took it. It was not an easy decision. I knew there was a risk of ending my own life in the process, but when I saw the way he looked at that young girl, I knew she wasn’t safe. He’d ruin her too.
And I couldn’t let that happen.
I took a slow, shaky breath, feeling my body trembling as the shock started to wear off, and I could only think about the events that led to this moment.
The moment before I ended two lives.
They say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re dying. They’re wrong. I only saw the horrific moment that ended mine.
I could only see him.
Present Day
I stand in a room full of sexy Cinderellas, nurses, sailors, and schoolgirls, wearing a goddamn Pikachu onesie because my best friend is an asshole. She said this would be a onesie costume party and, like the good friend that I am, I believed her. Not one soul is wearing a onesie. When Echo gets here I’m going to strangle her with her own damn hair.
Someone bumps into me, slurring an apology as they pass by. I take a few steps back until my back is against a wall and I can look around the crowded room. Everyone is busy drinking and dancing because it’s Halloween and we’re supposed to live it up and have fun. Owen is somewhere getting us drinks. He wants to get as drunk as he can tonight so he doesn’t have to think of what tomorrow is; his twenty-second birthday also known as the day his father died seven years ago.
I keep my eyes on the front door of a stranger’s apartment looking for Echo.
My phone vibrates from inside my bra. I unzip my onesie until I can slip my hand inside.
Echo: Minnie mouse or Minion?
Me: Whatever covers more skin
Echo: Okay, be there in 15
She’s in charge of getting me a costume because believe it or not this party has a two thousand dollar cash prize for the hottest costume. Echo wants to win, hence why I’m dressed as a Pokémon, but the people in charge changed the rules and said the winner’s roommate has to have a sexy costume too in order to win. I’ve never seen girls run so fast to take off their clothes.
Fucking horny, stupid men always thinking with their dicks. They disgust me.
Fifteen minutes later, Echo walks in and pulls me into the bathroom. I take one look at the short outfit she’s wearing and the one she picked out for me. I give her a pointed look. She’s supposed to be a schoolgirl with her off-the-shoulder tie top and pleated skirt. We’re the same height but her legs look even longer now, thanks to the four-inch heels she’s wearing. She rolls her blue eyes and helps me change into my costume. It’s even shorter than I realized as it sticks to my body.
I have evolved from a Pokémon into a Despicable Me minion. The yellow top is more like a sports bra, and the navy overalls that only succeed in covering my belly button to my hips barely cover my ass cheeks. The scar on my side is visible but I’ve lived with it for so long it doesn’t both
er me. I curse my best friend as I slip the black thigh-high boots on because this is not what I told her to get. I complete my look with black gloves and the goggles, which I keep on top of my head. Like hell I’m wearing those things out in public. My light brown shoulder-length hair manages to draw attention away from them.
“You look so fucking hot.” Echo twirls a blonde curl around her finger and giggles. “The guy this apartment belongs to loves the minions. We are so winning!”
“You can see my ass in this,” I comment, looking at my back in the mirror. “Coco, I can’t wear this.”
“Yes, you can. Please.” She bats her lashes at me, and the next thing I know, I’m being pulled out into the hallway, toward the living room.
This chick. I can’t help but love her.
I met Echo freshman year of college here at the University of Washington. She’s originally from Indiana, and has guys tripping over themselves left and right wherever she goes. She’s gorgeous with her silky blonde hair (professionally dyed because she hates her natural brown) and stunning blue eyes. Her bubbly personality just adds to her attractiveness. No, I’m not in love with her or something. I just think she’s hot and I’m glad to call her my friend.
Echo was looking for an apartment and a roommate who would give her some privacy. I happened to be in the market for the same thing. A week after living together we clicked and have been the best of friends since. Now, we’re seniors, so close to graduating and living on our own. I love that girl like a sister. She deals with my crazy. The crazy that Owen doesn’t see.
Owen appears in front of me looking like James Dean, his lean body on display from the white t-shirt that is hugging his every muscle. He didn’t want to dress up but the second I saw the white t-shirt I gave him a little nudge to put on the blue jeans. The fancy watch I bought him for his eighteenth birthday sits on his left wrist, adding to his sexiness. I styled his dark hair to perfection. It makes me want to run my fingers through every strand.
I know that no one can make this five-foot-eleven man do anything he doesn’t want, but for me, he’d drop the world if it were in his hands and I needed him.
His eyes widen as he stares at my body. “Fuck.”
Fuck is right.
He hands Echo two red cups as she hands my folded onesie over to him. “Come here. I can’t let people see you like this.” He pulls his arm holding a red cup back so it doesn’t spill on us and then he wraps his free arm around me, using his body as my shield.
He’s always been overprotective of me. Ever since we were five. If I’m honest, I love it. He makes me feel safe.
If only he protected me from the real monster…
Do not do this, Zoë. Do not fucking do this now!
Owen squeezes me against his chest, and I swear I feel his cock rub against my ass. He would never touch me inappropriately but he has made it known that he has feelings for me so his touches do linger a bit. I have feelings for him too, but it’s complicated. Like, super fucking complicated. I don’t even understand why we’re not together. Well, I do know but I would never tell a soul. And keeping that secret weighs everything down.
I hate that I love him because I’ve always felt that if I ever love someone, I’ll ruin them. I’ll break their heart, shattering it into a million pieces. And I don’t want to do that to Owen. I never want to hurt him, and this secret that I’ve kept for so many years will destroy him. Loving me will kill him.
Every second that I spend with him sends the butterflies in my stomach soaring. It hurts like hell to have to always lock them back up in their cage.
My therapist said it’s time to let them be free. For the last three weeks she’s been trying to help me pursue a relationship with Owen. We’ve been together (as friends) for so long that me keeping him at a distance is only hurting me. You love him, Zoë. You can’t see him with other people. Why don’t you try being with him? Start out slow. Hold his hand and see how it feels. She said it might help me live with my past no longer keeping me from the man I want. I’ve tried adding a little more physical touches here and there when Owen and I are together. Owen smiles and looks away shyly every time I grab his hand.
It’s adorable.
“Echo, what the fuck is Zoë wearing? She is practically naked,” Owen comments gruffly.
Echo shrugs her thin shoulders, a mischievous gleam in her hypnotizing eyes. “I think she looks hot. Maybe she’ll finally score a date with a hot guy.”
She’s always egging him on. Echo has this obsession with both Owen and me. She needs us together. She says a love like ours is hard to find and she’s pissed that we’re not in love with each other yet. “Were you dropped on your fucking heads as babies? You two belong together. Put him out of his misery and date him already!” she tells me when I’m having one of my moods.
Owen drops his head next to my ear. His warm breath fans against my neck as he says, “The only date you’ll be scoring is with me. Just tell me when.”
I look over my shoulder, our lips less than an inch apart.
Our eyes connect, light emerald green on forest green.
I don’t say anything but I try to tell him that I’m sorry he has to go through this with me. I’m so damn sorry that he had to fall for me; a girl that is scared of his touch, his words, his eyes.
His eyes are the hardest thing for me to look at. They are kind and beautiful. And they remind me of his father’s. Eyes that were bottomless pits of depravity.
I am not God. I don’t get to choose who lives or who does, but that day it needed to happen.
I’m so sorry, Owen.
“Let’s dance then we can leave. I know you’re dying to head home and finish your book,” Owen murmurs, running his thumb over the scar on my right wrist.
I smile, swatting away memories of eyes just like his from my memory. “You know me so well.”
Owen brings his red cup to his lips, tips his head back, and finishes his beer. He puts the cup down, stuffs my onesie into a drawer of a nearby table and then slips his hand in mine, walking me into the crowd of people taking up most of the living room.
“You look amazing by the way,” I hear him say.
His eyes stray every few seconds, making my body feel a little hotter when they stare a little too hard on certain parts of me. His hands on my hips tighten when he closes his eyes, bringing me closer to him.
I’ve always liked the way I feel pressed against him. I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes. I breathe in his cologne, the same one he’s had for years. I’ve never asked what it is. He just smells like Owen, my male best friend/person who owns my heart, regardless if I want him to or not.
We dance for the next thirty minutes, stopping when the guy in charge, Evan, announces that the votes are in and the winner is going to be named. I’m pretty sure he went around looking for girls with the biggest breasts and that’s how he chose who gets to win his money. He comes from money so giving away two grand is nothing to him. It’s nothing for my parents or me either.
“Okay, so can we have this sexy mermaid and that sexy schoolgirl come forward,” Evan says, pointing at a busty brunette and Echo.
Holy shit, Echo is going to win!
This is when she’ll say, “Never doubt the power of the boobies.”
Both women walk up to the blond haired douchebag.
“Roommates of these sexy ladies please come forward now.”
A petite brunette wearing a see-through mesh romper steps forward and stands by her friend. Evan stares at her taped over nipples with his mouth hanging open.
Sorry, Echo. Looks like we’re losing this one.
I take a small step forward, not wanting to go through with this but also wanting to do it for Echo. “Ah, fuck, Zoë. You’re killing me,” Owen growls next to my ear, his eyes dropping to my ass before darting away quickly as I start to walk. I squeeze through some people until I’m standing beside Echo. She winks at me and gives my ass a little slap.
After Evan is done g
awking at Nipples over there, he struts over to me with a shit-eating grin. “I’m liking this a lot.” He runs his finger down my arm.
“Don’t touch me.”
His eyebrows jump and he drops his finger. “Well, what do we have here, a little spitfire?” He turns his back to me, facing the small crowd. “I think the sexy schoolgirl and the sexy minion can take my money.” He turns back to us, getting extra close to me. “We’ve got a winner, people!” And then he slaps my ass. Hard.
So I punch him in the face. It’s not even that hard. He’s just a pansy when he starts to groan.
“What the fuck!” he spews, clutching his nose. His wild eyes dart from me to Echo. There’s a moment of silence before he says, “That was fucking hot. Two grand for both of you!”
He walks off, most likely getting his money.
What a turd.
I turn to Echo, annoyed that just happened, but also glad I got to punch him. “I told him not to touch me.”
She breaks out into a wide grin. “You’ve got catlike reflexes! That was awesome!” Her smile falters a little. “You don’t need your two grand, right?”
I shake my head and she pulls me into a hug. “Tell your mom I say hi when you see her.”
“I will. Thank you, Zoë. This will help her so much!”
Echo’s dad died two years ago from pancreatic cancer and the hospital bills keep piling up. She refuses to take my money to help her mother so whenever we find ways to make some, we do it. Punching a dude in the face is definitely worth it.
Evan comes back and hands us our money. He doesn’t try to touch me and I’m glad.
Owen shakes his head at me, a smile of approval on his lips. I see him grab my onesie from the hallway table and then he comes toward us. He walks up to Evan with his chest puffed out and threatens, “If you ever touch her again I will set your bed on fire while you are sleeping in it, got it?”
Evan holds his hands up, dark eyes jumping to me then Owen. “Sorry, man. My hands have a mind of their own.”
“Fucking control them.”
Echo bumps into me, holding up an envelope full of cash. “Let’s go before we get robbed.” She links her arm through mine, and shouts, “See you later, bitches!” as we walk out of the door.
Let Her Go Page 1
