by A. R. Breck
I turn over, burrowing into the chest of my husband. "Good morning, babe."
"It's a big day, and I can't have you sleeping away the morning. I've got some incentive." Suddenly, I smell the sweet, sweet aroma of coffee. Cracking open one eyelid, I see he is waving my favorite Game of Thrones mug in front of my face.
I roll my eyes at his goofiness and sit up, snatching the cup out of his hand and lifting it up to my mouth and taking a scalding sip.
Suddenly, I hear the sound of whimpering coming from the baby monitor on my nightstand, followed by little wails. I get up and instantly start walking to the room with Alec on my heels.
I set my cup down on my daughter's dresser, walking over and picking her up to give her a big squeeze. "Happy First Birthday, Madeline."
"Happy Birthday, baby girl." Alec says from the other side of me, giving our daughter a wet kiss on her cheek.
Madeline's cute little chubby hand reaches up and grabs Alec's nose as she babbles, "Dadadadada." He chuckles and grabs her hand, bringing it to his mouth and making noises like he is about to eat her hand. Madeline squeals and giggles, grabbing onto me and trying to get away from her Dad's chompers.
"Well, we better get ready. People should be arriving within the next couple hours." I say, adjusting Madeline on my hip.
Today is Madeline's first birthday. We are having a small party with our close family and friends like Aunt Jenna, Alec's parents and siblings, Mya and Lane, Leah and Sawyer, and a few of our other friends.
Alec proposed to me a mere three months after we got back together. He brought me out to Sapphire Pointe Overlook in Breckenridge and popped the question. Sapphire Pointe Overlook is up on top of a mountain with a beautiful, blue crystal lake below. It was absolutely breathtaking. I had no choice but to say yes. Alec literally takes my breath away every day of my life.
We also had our wedding at Sapphire Pointe Overlook with a few of our friends and family. My brother walked me down the aisle, and actually, he broke out into tears when I asked him if he would. We had a little tribute to our parents during the ceremony, and I am thankful that Alec put that piece in there without my knowledge. He really does make me happy, so incredibly happy.
After the ceremony we went back to our home in Boulder and had a small reception there. It was beautiful, and intimate. I couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome of it all.
I stayed living with the girls in our apartment for the first year until me and Alec got married. He wanted me to move in with him right away, but I knew I couldn't do that to my girls. They have been there for me since I moved out to Colorado, and I honestly had a great time living with them.
I don't speak with any of my friends from California anymore. We just kind of… grew apart. That's okay with me though, because I have so many friends here in Colorado, and I know that these people will be with me forever.
I graduated last year with my Bachelor's in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work Child Protection. I help out other kids who are in less than stable homes and help them find safety. It's a really gruesome, brutal job some days. But I love it, because I love the possibility of being able to save others and to give them the life they deserve.
I found out I was pregnant my final year, and had Madeline right after graduation. It feels like only yesterday when I found out I was pregnant. I was off birth control for the last few months, so we were sort of trying, but also not getting our hopes up.
"You like that, baby?" Alec asks, pounding into me from behind.
"Uh huh." I ask, barely coherent beyond my moans of ecstasy.
Within moments, Alec roars his release, filling me up as he reaches forward and grabs my breast, giving it a hard squeeze.
As I'm finding my own release, I feel a burst of pain when Alec squeezes my breast.
Once we both come down from our high, we flop back on the bed and I turn to him. "Ouch." I say, massaging my breasts.
"What's wrong?" Alec asks, concerned.
"My boobs hurt when you squeezed them."
His brows furrow. "I barely squeezed them." He stops for a moment, and then his eyes go wide. "Do you think…"
"Do I think what?" I ask confused, then finally catch on, my own eyes going wide. "Maybe."
We both sit there for a minute staring at each other, hopeful, but also a little nervous. Without discussing anything, we both fly out of bed and get dressed, rushing out to the car and to the drug store to buy at least ten pregnancy tests.
When we got home, Alec was so pushy he wouldn't even let me pee on the sticks in private.
"Just, shut up and pee on the sticks, Callie." His nervous energy was palpable, his eyes glowing with what can only be described as desperation.
So, I proceeded to pee on the sticks with Alec hovering over me. All ten of them. And, all ten of them turned out positive.
"Baby." He said, speechless.
My eyes watered, and I was unable to stop the overflow of tears as they fell like heavy raindrops on a stormy day. "We're having a baby."
"We're having a baby!" He shouts.
So, after a fairly easy nine months, and an easy labor, our beautiful daughter Madeline was born.
I had Aunt Jenna, Mya and Leah all waiting at the hospital and eager to get inside the room as soon as I popped Madeline out. Alec's parents, because they live up north, were unable to get to the hospital until the next day. I've grown close with his parents and his siblings; they have become a second family to me.
Aunt Jenna comes over often, and we have even converted our lower level spare bedroom to a Mother-in-law suite for her to stay over. She loves to come and spend time with Madeline, and has bought her more presents than I can count. She really has filled in the shoes for my mom, and I know a lot of that is because she knows her sister would have done the same if she was still alive.
So, Aunt Jenna and her dog, Lucy, often stay over and watch Madeline so me and Alec can get out of the house for a date night every once in a while. Yes, Aunt Jenna only waited about a month or two before going to a shelter down in Colorado Springs to pick up a goldendoodle. I'm in love, and so is Madeline. Lucy is very gentle with her too, always snuggling up near her and being a good big sister dog.
I walk into the bathroom that is attached to the master bedroom, securing Madeline in a bouncy saucer before taking a quick shower. Afterwards, I get dressed in a floral maxi sundress and get Madeline ready in her birthday tutu and tiara.
Walking downstairs, I see that Alec has already gotten ready and is preparing the food for today. I walk up to him and give him a big kiss on the lips. "Hello, handsome."
"Hello, baby. People should be arriving here any time."
I look at the clock, surprised that it's that late already. "Wow. Okay." I put Madeline into her high chair and grab some cut fruit from the refrigerator for her to eat.
"Okay, how can I help?"
Although Alec is the main cook in the kitchen, he lets me help every once in a while. I've tried to make him something a few times, but my cooking skills are about as bad as they come. The meals usually come out overcooked or very, very bland. So, Alec has taken over the meal making, and he lets me help with the easy things such as cutting fruit or making the salad.
Alec gives me a few simple tasks, but I eventually just start hanging the balloons and decorations around the room and playing with Madeline.
By the time people show up, everything is ready to go and Madeline is bouncing with energy. It's almost like she can tell this is a special day for her. She also loves laughing at the floating balloons, so there is that.
"Hello!" Comes from the front door as Aunt Jenna walks in with two bags full of presents.
"Aunt Jenna! She doesn't need all this!" I exclaim, helping her take some of her things and ushering her into the house.
"Of course, she does, don’t you sweetie." She says, putting her things down and picking up Madeline to give her smooches.
One by one, our friends show up and the party begi
ns. Madeline gets more presents then I know what to do with. Madeline also tries her first cake, and she absolutely loved it. Although, more of it ended up on her dress then it did in her mouth.
Leah and Sawyer got her a rocking horse and a baby doll. She has been carrying that thing around since she opened it. Leah and Sawyer got married about two years ago. They have a little boy, Jayson, who is running around in the backyard with Sawyer.
Mya and Lane got her the loudest toys they could, and Mya gave me an evil smirk as we opened them and Madeline started banging on the drums and xylophone. Mya and Lane are engaged and are due to be married in the next few months. They don't have any children yet, but Alec gives Lane a lot of shit that it's time to put the bun in the oven. I think Lane will do just about anything for Mya.
Both Sawyer and Lane came around pretty quickly to Alec going from teacher to friend. Alec was worried they would look at him funny, but I think that Mya and Leah sat down with them and told them everything, and they had enough time to work it over in their minds before we starting hanging out with them. Within the first month, the boys were all going out for beers down at the local bar during game day.
A few of Alec's other friends are here from work too. He got a job at a local elementary school, and is now working with fifth graders. He seems to really enjoy it, and I think he even does a little bit more than working at the high school.
By the time everyone leaves for the evening, Madeline is face down on the living room floor, curled around her blankie. Her face has a pink stain on it from eating her slice of cake, and I even think I see a tad of frosting still in her golden blonde curls.
Sitting down on the couch, I just watch her, loving her breathe and live life. Her chubby litter fingers curl around her blankie, and her new baby is down by her feet. I have a feeling that thing will be well loved.
Alec comes over, curling up next to me on the couch and wrapping an arm around me. "This was a successful day, don't you think?"
"I think it was great." I say, laying my head on his shoulder.
He grabs my chin and tilts my face up, giving me a gentle kiss on the lips. "I love you so much, Callie."
"I love you too, Alec. So much."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
THE END
Read more to get a sneak peak to my next book, a high school bully romance!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.R. Breck lives in Minnesota with her husband, two children and two dogs. She enjoys reading, writing and sharing her stories with the world. When she isn’t working, A.R. Breck loves to watch horror movies, road trip around the country and read forbidden romance novels.
FOLLOW ME
Instagram: @ar.breck
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Email: [email protected]
Sneak peak to my new bully romance!
PROLOGUE
I don’t care if I fall in love with the devil, as long as that devil will love me the same way he loves hell. –Unknown
Love.
That pestering word so many of us go through life in hopes of finding. Of receiving.
Is it worth it, though?
The pain, fighting and heartache that accompanies love... is it worth it?
Will your love even last?
Maybe it will... maybe it won’t.
Although - what happens when love hits you when you don’t even want it to?
What happens when you have no choice but to go through the pain, fighting, and heartache of love?
What happens when the person who loves you is the one who you least expect to love at all? The one you don't even want to love?
What happens when you fall in love with the devil?
CHAPTER ONE
Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness. -Anne Frank
People say that you are a recreation of your parents.
I fucking hope not.
My dad? Fuck him.
He is what I refer to as sperm donor. Once upon a time he was a wealthy man who kept enough cash in me and my mom's pockets to keep our mouths shut about the miserable old shit he is. We never even see him – he would just wire that monthly payment with enough zeros on the end of it to keep smiles on our faces and allow us to keep our cushioned lifestyle.
Now?
Mr. Sperm Donor has decided to lose his job and is now what we like to call a broke sperm donor.
That is when all hell broke loose.
My dad, a/k/a Broke Sperm Donor, has left us without payments for the last few months. It has gotten to the point where we don't even talk with him anymore. He is a shit – not even sure where he is living, honestly. My mom tried and tried to stretch out the balance in our bank account, but with the lifestyle we were living, the house we owned, and the school I went to?
That money went fast.
Too fucking fast.
This has led to my mom having to sell our wonderful, spacious five-bedroom home in the burbs and move us to the ghetto in a little two-bedroom rambler.
By moving, my mom was able to get a job – for the first time in ten years – and use the proceeds from the sale of the home to buy us our new house, a/k/a The Shack. I call it The Shack because… well – it's not much bigger than one. At least to me.
There are some homes that are way worse and a hell of a lot more run down than the one we moved to. We actually moved to a nicer home in our new town, Cottage Grove, Minnesota. But, compared to living in the suburb where I used to live? Yeah, this place is trash.
Not only do I have to be uprooted from my home, I also had to be pulled out of the private school I have been attending for high school. I now have to go to the high school in town, home of the Wolf Pack.
Yuck.
My mom tried so hard to figure out a way for me to continue going to my old school, but with the costs and the transportation, it just wasn't in the cards. Now I will be going to school with a ton of low-class, petty kids who probably smoke weed in the bathrooms.
My mom found a job at a local dentist office as their receptionist. This will hopefully be enough to provide for us. To keep us going. She never went to college, just found my dad right out of school and scored herself a rich man to have a baby with and keep her pampered her entire life. They were never married, just dated for a while until my dad couldn't keep up with the family life, and had to move on from the both of us, I guess.
I have to give my mom credit though. She put up with all of this bullshit from my dad throughout the years and still is able to keep her reputation squeaky clean.
She used to love her book clubs; her spa dates with her other hoity-toity friends and all that.
Since we moved?
Her friends don't speak with her anymore. They can't handle the tarnished image that comes with being friends with someone so low-class.
So, my mom found a new best friend. Wine.
Not a glass of wine, oh no.
A bottle – a big ol' bottle of wine to keep her company throughout her sad, lonely nights.
I can't completely blame her. Her life has been uprooted just as much as mine has been. She just doesn't seem to give too many shits about her life anymore.
And me?
I give even less shits about life. At seventeen years old, I feel like I should be eighty. At this point, I do what I want, when I want it, and how I want it.
If you don’t like it? Fuck you.
I know, I’m a pretty positive person, right?
Wrong. Most of the time, at least.
I enjoy being alive, I just don’t enjoy my life.
I'm sure I would have run away or something else at this point if I didn't care about my future. Luckily for me, I would like to go to college and not end up like my mother who is suctioned to a heartless man for the rest of my life.
I’m currently getting situated in our new home, which doesn’t take much effort considering we had to down
side considerably when moving into The Shack.
Once I have unpacked my few boxes, I decide to head to the kitchen to find something to eat. While outdated and small, it’s at least clean so I don’t have to worry about catching any disgusting diseases or cockroaches crawling throughout our house.
“Hey Mom,” I say as I’m walking up the stairs, “What are you planning to make for dinner?” When I get no response, I look off into the living room find her and see her sleeping on the couch.
Rolling my eyes and groaning in irritation, I walk over to her and nudge her with my arm.
“Mom!”
Nothing.
“Mom! Are you making dinner!?” I shout, aggressively shaking her.
She makes a small grunt and a snore, but otherwise makes no indication she heard a word I said.
Looking at the coffee table, I see a cup sitting underneath the table. Rolling my eyes at her effort to be secretive, I pick it up and give it a whiff, wrinkling up my nose at the scent of cheap wine.
“Fucking drunk.” I say, and not quietly either. What used to be my beloved mother who cherished her pearls and fancy dinners has regressed to a shell of a woman who drinks out of boxed wine. I almost question if this is the same woman, but when I glance over at her – I know it's her.
I frown, feeling bad for the person she has become. She has always loved me and given me anything I have ever asked for or needed. I think it pains her to know she has maybe a dollar to her name.
I walk over to the kitchen sink with her cup of wine and pour it into the sink before tossing the cup into the sink, making it clatter around. I’m glad it was a cheap, plastic cup. Definitely not in the mood to clean up shards of glass.
I give up on having anything substantial and settle for toasting a bagel and slapping some butter on it. Walking back to my room, I chow down my warm bagel as I hook up my camera to my expensive laptop, one of the few good items I was able to keep.
In my old school, my art teacher let me loan one of the student cameras when she noticed my talent. I started taking portraits for people and doing a lot of small side jobs, and eventually was experienced enough that I just decided to purchase my own camera.
