The Fire Between High & Lo

by Brittainy C. Cherry

  “These two individuals are superheroes of love. They showcase how when things get hard, there can always be smiles to be found. They sacrifice for one another, because they know that their love is real. Even when it’s dark, their love somehow shines. These two individuals taught me to embrace love. To believe in happily ever afters. To give my all, unconditionally. So to that, I raise my glass.” He lifted a glass into the air, and stared at his brother and Erika. “To the good days, to the bad days, to the unconditional love that these two taught me to believe in. May we all search for that kind of love, may we all discover that kind of love,” his eyes moved over to me, and a single tear fell down his cheek, as one rolled down mine. “And when we find it, may we hold onto it for always, and always, and always.” I blew him a kiss, and he caught it in his heart before turning back to the couple. “To Kellan and Erika, and their forever kind of love.”

  Everyone cheered, everyone drank, and everyone loved. Logan wiped at his eyes and laughed. “Now, please, everyone clear the dance floor as the beautiful married couple share their first dance.”

  I joined Logan onstage and took the microphone from his hand. “Your hair is gone,” I whispered, running my hands over his bald head.

  He shrugged. “It’s just a haircut.”

  “No.” I kissed his forehead. “It’s so much more than that.”

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you,” I replied. He moved over to the guitar and picked it up, sitting on top of the stool as I moved to the piano, placed the microphone near me, and waited for him to begin strumming. When I heard the sounds that he only recently learned to play, I smiled, joining him as I played the keys and began singing the intro to Ingrid Michaelson’s song, “The Way I Am.”

  Their song.

  Kellan and Erika swayed back and forth on the dance floor, falling deeper in love, minute by minute. During the guitar solo, Logan spoke into his microphone as the front door opened to the restaurant. “Please welcome the mothers of the bride and groom to the party.”

  Everyone’s eyes widened and cheered as Julie and my mom entered the room together. My heart started pounding against my ribcage as I turned to Logan, shocked. “How?”

  He shrugged. “I made a few stops before coming over here.”

  You’re my world. My whole, wide world.

  ***

  The wedding was going amazingly well, with more laughter and happy tears than I’d seen in a long time. When everything wound down, we all walked out to the parking lot of the restaurant, Kellan and Logan still in their suits, and Erika and I still in our dresses.

  “Thanks again, Logan and Alyssa. For everything. Tonight was everything I ever dreamed of,” Erika said. The way she looked at Kellan and the way he stared her way showed me what true love really looked like.

  “No problem. Kellan, I know you have your doctor’s appointment tomorrow, and I’ll be there. But I think tonight I’ll stay at Alyssa’s, so the newlyweds can have the night to themselves,” Logan said.

  He smiled and agreed, but Erika yipped. “No!”

  “What?” I asked.

  “We have to make one stop before anyone goes their separate ways,” she explained.

  “Okay. Where’s that?” Logan asked my sister.

  A wicked grin fell against Erika’s lips, and that smile told me exactly where we were about to go.

  ***

  The four of us stood in aisle five of Pottery Barn, staring at the different plate sets. Erika’s eyes were narrowed, deep in thought, as the rest of us swayed back and forth.

  “Did you really have to break all of my things?” She questioned, tilting her head to the left, looking at something that cost more than my bridesmaid dress.

  “It was Logan’s idea,” Kellan said, throwing his brother under the bus.

  “Alyssa went along with it,” Logan replied.

  “Kellan told me you wouldn’t mind,” I chimed in.

  “Whatever. I blame you all equally.”

  “You can’t blame me!” Kellan said, defensively. “I have—”

  “Cancer, we know!” Logan, Erika, and I moaned in unison. He laughed.

  “Okay. On the count of three, everyone point at which set I should get before we move on to the glasses. One, two, three!”

  “That one!” we all shouted, pointing at different items, then we all began to argue, shouting over each other, laughing, and smiling.

  Once the plates were chosen, there was a sense of peace that washed over the once hectic aisle five. I looked around at the people who knew all of each other, the good, the bad, and the destroyed. I saw it. It was still there. Through all of the pain, tears, and destruction, somehow our love for one another survived. Somehow we were all still connected.

  My people.

  My family.

  My tribe.

  Somehow, we were unbreakable.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Logan

  TJ’s office was cold. Colder than it needed to be. But I was used to it by now. I hadn’t missed one appointment with Kellan since I returned to True Falls.

  On the left corner of his desk was a jar of jelly beans along with red licorice sitting on the right side. At least he got rid of the black licorice.

  I crossed my arms, pressing them against my body for heat. Shit. I was freezing. My eyes moved to the chair right next to me, where Kellan sat.

  When I looked up to TJ, I saw his lips moving pretty quickly. He kept explaining the situation over and over again. I couldn’t be certain though, because I wasn’t listening anymore.

  I didn’t know the exact moment when I stopped hearing the words flying from his mouth, but for the past five or ten minutes I was simply watching his mouth move.

  My hands gripped the side of my chair and I held on tight.

  Erika sat on the other side of Kellan’s chair, tears falling against her cheeks. “It’s working?” she said, breaking me from my daze.

  “It’s working.” TJ’s voice was filled with hope, he even had a smile on his face. “The chemotherapy is working. We’re not out of the dark yet, but we are moving in the right direction.”

  The overwhelming feeling of hope took my breaths. The panicked heartbeats that rolled through my system were terrifying.

  “I—” my voice started but then it paused. I felt like I should say something, because Kellan wasn’t talking at all. Yet I didn’t know what the right words were. Were there any right words in a situation like this one?

  My fingers griped the chair deeper. My right hand brushed against my cheek and I cleared my throat. “It’s working?” I asked.

  He started speaking but, I stopped listening again. I took Kellan’s hand and squeezed his left, while Erika squeezed his right.

  My brother, my hero, my best friend was fighting cancer.

  He was beating cancer.

  And I could finally breathe.

  ***

  That night Alyssa and I climbed up to the billboard and stared at the stars tossed across the sky. We shared raspberry Oreos, and kissed until we needed a breath, remembering everything we’d been through, and dreaming of everything that was coming our way.

  “I liked the DVD you gave me about the Greek mythology of the phoenix,” I said, as our legs dangled off of the ledge of the billboard. “I loved the idea of the bird dying, but then somehow rising from the ashes, reborn, receiving a new chance at life.”

  She smiled. “Yeah, you’re the phoenix, Logan. You’ve come so far, seen so many things, and you’ve been reborn.”

  I shook my head. “I looked deeper into different mythologies and different beliefs on the phoenix and what it stood for. Although I appreciated the story of the Greeks, it was the Chinese beliefs that got me the most.”

  “What did they believe?”

  “The phoenix was commonly seen in two, a male and a female. The two phoenixes together stood for yin and yang. They were two parts of a whole. The female phoenix was the passive, gentle, intuitive one
, while the male was the assertive one, the one who took action. Together they stood for unforgettable partnership. In parts of the world, the two phoenixes symbol is given as a wedding gift—a sign of forever and happily ever afters.”

  “That’s beautiful,” she said.

  “I thought so.”

  We took a moment to stare back up at the sky.

  “High?”

  “Yes?” My palms were sweaty as I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small box. She took in a small breath when her eyes fell to the box, then her eyes locked with mine. “What are you doing, Lo?”

  “Truth or lie?”

  “Lie.”

  “I’m doing absolutely nothing.”

  Her bottom lip trembled. “And the truth?”

  “I’m beginning to rise from the ashes. I’m only in the early stages of rebirth, but I know as I ascend, I want you to be locked with me forever.” The small box opened, and I pulled out the wedding ring, which showcased two phoenixes coming together, intertwined with a diamond in the middle of their wings. “You’re my healer. You’re my strength. You’re my ever after, and if it’s all right with you, if you’re okay with it, I’d love for you to be my wife.”

  “Really?” she softly spoke.

  “Really,” I replied.

  Her voice was shaky as she moved in closer to me, resting her lips against mine. “For always, Lo?”

  I took her hand into my hand, and slid the ring onto her ring finger, kissing her gently. “For always, High.”

  Epilogue

  Logan

  ~*~

  Seven years, one wedding, one full recovery, two babies, and a stronger love later

  ~*~

  I was happy.

  I didn’t have much to my name, and I didn’t have many stories of success to pass on to my children. I wasn’t some millionaire genius. I didn’t have three bachelor’s degrees. I’d probably be working most of my life to make ends meet, but I’d always make them meet because I had love. I had three people counting on me to keep going when times were hard. I had three people believing in me and my faraway dreams.

  Alyssa and I were able to start one of our dreams together: High&Lo Restaurant and Piano Bar. We’d been running it for two years now, and after my children, it was one of my greatest accomplishments. Still, I strived for more.

  One day I’d give my children and my beautiful wife the world. My children would never know what it meant to be unloved. They had been cherished before they’d even entered the world.

  Alyssa, my beautiful love, she had saved my life. She had given me a reason to live, and it was an honor to be loved by her. I promised her heart I’d never forget the way she gave me all of her when I had nothing left to give in return. She promised me I wasn’t the product of my yesterdays, and knew I was destined for amazing tomorrows.

  She was the fire in my soul that kept me warm at night.

  “That’s too high,” my five-year-old son Kellan cried, as we walked over to the billboard ladder. He was named after his uncle, who still was chasing his dream of becoming a successful musician, and was getting closer each day.

  His younger sister Julie sat on my shoulders, looking up. “Yeah, Daddy! Too high!” she agreed. She was named after her grandma, the woman who knew more dark days than light, but now was able to walk in the sun and for the past seven years kept her demons at bay. Not every day was easy, but each day was a blessing.

  I smiled at Alyssa, who had warned me that the kids would think it was too scary, but I wanted them to see the stars that night from the same place I’d first fallen in love.

  “We have blankets,” Alyssa said. “We can always lay them out down here and look up.”

  “Can we do that, dad? Can we just look up instead of climbing?” Kellan asked.

  “Of course. That’s even better.”

  That night we were quiet, staring out into the star-lit sky which was fading into darkness. My arms were wrapped around Alyssa’s waist, and she leaned back against me, allowing me to be the one that held her up. Each night we watched the sun set no matter where we were, and we’d wake early to witness it rising again. That was the thing about life: even when the days faded to black, you were always given another chance, a second moment to try again to rise from the ashes.

  The kids ran around, playing, as Alyssa and I stared at the lives we’d created. They were our happily ever after, the gifts that brought us so much joy.

  My gosh, I was happy.

  I was so damn happy, secure, and loved.

  As the sky became black and the cool winds brushed against us, I whispered against Alyssa’s ear, pulling her closer to me. “For always, High?”

  “For always, Lo.”

  I shrugged.

  She shrugged.

  I laughed.

  She laughed.

  I parted my lips.

  She parted her lips.

  I leaned in.

  She leaned in.

  Our lips locked, and even though my feet were planted firmly on the ground, I’d never in my life felt so high.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  So many people helped bring this novel together, and I don’t know where to start thanking people. So I’ll start with my best friend. To my mom: You helped me get through writing this book. I don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for you. You make life better for so many souls, and I’m so happy to call you my best friend.

  To Alison, Allison, Christy, and Beverly: Thank you for taking the time to help beta read Alyssa’s and Logan’s story. You’ve helped me figure out so many issues with the storyline, and gave me the best feedback. You are all so close to my heart and I can never thank you enough.

  Thank you to my amazing editor Caitlin at Edits by C. Marie: You are so gifted beyond words.

  To my other editor Kiezha: Thank you for not only helping me with edits, but talking plot with me day after day. You’ve made this story tighter, and I love you for that.

  To Danielle Allen: You’re my world. Seriously. We spoke each day for the past two months, and you held my hand when I cracked. You gave me your always inspirational words when I needed them most. You made me laugh when I felt like crying. I love you, friend. SS/KS.

  To Staci Brillhart: For the hours you spent on the phone with me, talking storyline. For the hours you spent on messenger with me (MONTHS!) making sure I was okay. The world needs more beautiful souls like you. Thank you for existing, and thank you for allowing me to call you my friend.

  To my tribe: You all know who you are. My heart beats with yours. Always.

  To Ryan: You’re sleeping right now, a few inches away from me as I type these words in the early morning. My heart is so full. Thank you for holding me in the middle of the night when I woke up in a panic, afraid of the unknown. Thank you for making me smile each and every day. Thank you for loving me. You’re the fire that keeps me warm.

  To my proofreader: Judy, you saved me last minute, and your skills are mind-blowing. I’m crazy about you!

  To those who made my novel beautiful: My cover photographer. Franggy for the lovely cover image, and my cover designer, Staci, from Quirky Bird.

  To my agents who believe in me when I can’t even believe in myself. You’ve made all of my dreams come true. Thank you.

  To the readers: Thanks for taking a chance on me and my novels. You changed my life more than you’d ever know.

  Lastly a big thank you to my family. For the good times, and the bad, I’d always choose you.

  XoXo!

  About the Author

  Brittainy C. Cherry is a #1 Amazon Bestselling author who has always been in love with words. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing. Brittainy lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her family. When she's not running a million errands and crafting stories, she's probably playing with her adorable pets.

  Other novels by Brittainy C. Cherry include: The Air He Breathes, Loving
Mr. Daniels, Art & Soul, and The Space in Between.

  You can find her on Facebook at:

  www.facebook.com/BrittainyCherryAuthor

  www.twitter.com/brittainycherry

  The One by Danielle Allen

  The One Blurb

  The cattiness.

  The fights.

  The shaming.

  I don’t generally watch reality television, but I definitely don’t watch reality dating shows. Besides the fact that it’s completely staged, it’s a horrible depiction of people—women especially.

  Women are pitted against each other to compete for the affection of a man they “fall in love” with after a week or two.

  I call B.S.

  It is complete crap.

  So when my best friend, Koko, was hired as a makeup artist on the set of the most popular reality dating show, The One, I teased her mercilessly.

  She told me that if I didn’t stop teasing her, she would get me back.

  And she did…

  Which is how I ended up as a contestant on The One.

  Chapter 1

  “What?” I screeched aloud in the empty room.

  I reread the congratulatory letter stapled to the top of the confidentiality agreement and other contractual forms to be a contestant on The One. “This has got to be a joke. This has something to do with Koko.”

  Although I didn’t let my best friend forget that she was working for a television program that set women back decades, I was so proud of Koko for following her dreams and landing a big time job on a network TV show.