Forever Devotion (Forever Safe Romance Book 10) by Samantha Rose
Cover by Pop Kitty Designs
Editor, Missy Stewart
Copyright 2019 © Samantha Rose All rights reserved.
This book is protected under Copyright Laws. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact the author.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This book is dedicated to my two boys, Ethan and Austin; for having patience with me, I love you both.
One
Jamie
The heat of the sun was exhilarating as I pressed the lock key on my car. I couldn't resist raising my chin to allow the warmth to soak into my skin. All around me people rushed to get their belongings that were packed tightly inside their vehicles.
My mind was focused on other things though, so I paid them no mind and set out across the courtyard to take care of the first task on my list. I'd return for the two suitcases still in the car once that task was finished.
Today was my first day of college. Some would say this was the first day leading up to the rest of my life. It was a good analogy, but to me this wasn't just about building up my career, this was the first day to a new start where I'd get to experience living life on my own.
After turning nineteen two months ago, I’d moved out of my parents’ home from my small hometown, Enterprise, and moved to Atlanta.
I was thriving so far. I had my own job at a coffee shop a block away from campus, and now I was off to college for the next year. This would be my time to shine. The only thing missing was a friend, a hole in my life that I hadn't been able to fill again. I shook my head and cleared the thoughts from my mind.
A huge smile firmly in place, I clenched the faded piece of paper I held in my grasp and passed groups of other students walking along the sidewalk. My sandals tapped along the ground with my busy pace, and the flower print yellow and pink sundress I wore floated around me.
Humming a happy tune, I observed every inch of what would now be my new home for the next year. I already loved being here. I tried to smile at a few of the other women I saw, but no one noticed me as I passed by. They were too busy being involved with the men beside them.
Memories of my old best friend floated through my head. All the times we had spent together… I should have moved on, it had been a while since I’d heard from him, but I couldn’t, and I didn’t want to. I missed him like crazy, but I still held out hope that one day he would find his way back to me. I could have sworn we’d been meant for one another; then it was gone — or I should say, he had left, taking my heart with him.
God, I missed him…
I should have expected this, but it still caught me off guard, and my heart stung. Clearing my thoughts, for what was likely the hundredth time that morning, I continued onward. Most of the people surrounding me were in the same position I was in — just trying to get through the first day — but I seemed to be the only one alone.
Striding down the sidewalk with a skip in my step, I headed to the dorms at the back of the campus; it showed on my map that the large building was placed near the center.
A small breeze brushed over me. Summer. It was my favorite season, and though it was humid as heck in the south, I still loved it to death.
Stepping off the path I took a shortcut between two tall buildings. The large grassy strip had been cut recently, and it brushed at my ankles as I walked, the smell of the freshly cut stalks soaking into my senses. The green blades gave way to an older style pebbled road. It was worn down with time from all the other students that had been here before me. I would be someone that would also leave footprints on this road, and that thought made my smile widen.
My gaze swept the area and I spotted my first stop — the building at the center of the dorms, where most of the offices were kept. There I would meet with the counselor who would assign me to my room and give me a student buddy to show me around for the day, as I had requested one.
My steps quickened and I neared the first building that held dorm rooms. Winding my way around to the second building I had been aiming for, I crossed the threshold, looking down at the small printed map I held in my hands.
Room one should be right around the corner. I tried to contain my excitement inside my head. Inhaling a deep, calming breath, I made my way to the door and knocked twice.
When the high-pitched voice called to me from the other side of the old, worn wooden door, I took hold of the brass knob and let myself into a surprisingly old fashioned, mellow green room that was lined with kitten and puppy posters all over the walls.
My eyebrows rose with shock. I, myself, was an animal lover, but even this seemed a bit extreme. I did have to say I was quite enjoying the eighties theme going on around here.
A kind older woman’s face, lined with laugh wrinkles around her lips and crow’s feet at the corner of her eyes, smiled boldly at me. Her pepper striped hair was done up in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a yellow dotted, spring themed dress, with a darker golden ribbon tied around her waist—like the style you'd see back in the sixties, with the tight bodice and flared bottom. I couldn't quite place my finger on it, but something about her drew me in. Maybe it was the kindness that rolled off her in waves. I immediately knew I liked being in her presence.
“Hello there, Ms. Jamie Elliott, it's so nice to finally meet you! I'm Counselor Abbey Green.” Her hand shot out to take hold of mine even before I could smile back at her. “How do you like the campus so far?”
Her question threw me off a little. I had just gotten onto the college grounds, as had all the others just starting. “Oh, well, I actually just arrived. I haven't gotten the chance to look around yet.”
She frowned before her face lit back up. “That's right! I have a guide set up for you! He should be here shortly, if you wouldn't mind waiting a few more minutes.”
Now it was my turn to frown. When she had sent me the email two months ago, I had requested a female tour guide. It didn't necessarily matter; a tour guide was a guide after all. I shrugged it off, taking a seat on one of the empty chairs near the door.
Counselor Green scurried around the room, grabbing papers and shoving them into a large white envelope. “Now don't you worry. The student I have picked is excellent! He is a freshman too this semester and signed up to help me show all our new students around, not to mention he is an excellent helper. If you have any questions, feel free to ask him! I promise you he knows almost as much about this campus as I do,” she said with a chuckle, looking out her window. “Oh, before I forget, I needed to discuss your living arrangements.”
“Well, I’ll be staying here on campus.”
Rushing over to her desk, she fumbled with some paperwork near her laptop, handing it to me. It was my new dorm assignment, and I had been put on hold.
“I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t have time to contact you. This just came up the other day. The school has decided to remodel the rooms, so you won’t be able to stay with us for a few months at lea
st, but once everything is done, I will have your dorm room ready for you.”
I groaned inwardly. My lease on the place I had been staying in was done, and someone else was going to move in. I didn’t have a place to stay. That meant I’d be living in a hotel. I didn’t have the money for that.
“There are no other rooms available in the other wings?” I bit my lips.
“No, I’m afraid not. All the other dorm rooms have been filled.”
The slight rap at the door had me jumping back up from my seat. Turning to face it, I clasped my hands together to stop myself from fiddling.
I picked at my thumb nails out of habit. It had been a long time since I'd been near the opposite sex. I was a bit socially awkward which made making friends hard.
Sure, I passed them by daily, but being physically near another for a whole day? Ha, that was impossible. I just wasn't interested in being around others because none of them were him.
If I had to be honest with myself, working at my job was the only reason I interacted with the opposite sex at all. It was a job, something I was paid to do, and it required very little interaction with them. A few pleasant greets, then asking if I could take their order was all I did.
There had only been one boy that I'd been friends with, and he had moved away before we started twelfth grade. I could still remember his face. The dark set of freckles that lined his jaw and cheeks, the short brown hair he kept neatly trimmed. How he shied away from everyone else but me.
David… I sighed, remembering all the good times we had, all the laughter. We'd been two peas in a pod. Heck, why did I have to be the only girl around that was scared to date or try to have a normal existence around the opposite sex?
It was time to buckle down, pull up my big girl pants, and not be socially awkward.
“Oh good! This will be him now.” Counselor Green clapped her hands once with excitement.
I silently watched as she moved quickly over to the door and opened it. I held my breath and concentrated on not letting my feelings get the best of me. This was just like another day at the coffee shop.
All I had to do was act the way I did when I was helping a customer. Cool and collected. I can do this.
Out of habit, I looked down at the gentleman's shoes first when he stepped into my line of sight. As I worked my way up his legs, my first impression was that this man was dressed nicely. His jeans looked as if they had just come off the retailer shelf, and his button down was tucked into his waistline. He clearly dressed to impress.
A throat cleared loudly, making my face flame with embarrassment. I had been caught in the act of ogling the one person who was supposed to give me the grand tour.
I snapped my head up fast, so fast my head spun from the action. Without warning, I was consumed by his gaze. The deep pool of baby blue eyes stared down at me.
My mouth dropped open in shock. David… It couldn't be him, but it was. He was here, and he was standing right in front of me!
Two
Jamie
We stared at each other until we were both forced to look away when Counselor Green started speaking.
“This young man will be your student buddy for the day. David will show you around campus and answer any questions you have.” She smiled sweetly. “Now, if you'll both excuse me, I have another appointment to attend to!” Holding open the door, she swatted her hand in front of herself making us vacate the room before I could even get out my thank you and goodbye.
It was safe to say I was a little shocked to see David here at the same college, and from the pale look on his face, he was just as shocked.
My mouth was glued shut; my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. It had been a year since we last spoke. It was like a bomb of emotions exploded inside my head. I was happy, excited, nervous, shy, and mad.
When he had left, all he had mentioned was that his mom was sending him to another school, one that would test his limits and challenge him. I didn’t know he had been so close...
I followed the line of his tongue sliding over his bottom lip.
His throat cleared, and my eyes snapped up to his. “It's really good to see you again, Jamie. How have you been?”
I could feel the heat rising up my neck in a slow burning blush. I couldn't believe how much he'd grown up from the nerdy shy kid I went to school with. He looked nothing like that now.
In the few years we'd been apart, he had changed dramatically. That was what shocked me the most.
He wore his brown hair short — shaved on the sides and longer on top. It looked like his wardrobe had become more sophisticated, replacing the rock band shirts with short sleeved button downs, and pairing them with khaki shorts. I couldn’t help but admire his slightly muscular body that filled his clothing nicely. My old friend really had grown up. He was, what? Nineteen and a half, almost twenty? The only thing missing was his glasses.
His chuckle brought me back to reality. I blushed even harder, I couldn’t seem to stop ogling him, and he'd been waiting for a response.
Clenching the papers, I still held onto, I tried to shake it off. “Oh, I've been great! It's good looking — I mean, it's good to see you here, David. How have you been? I haven't heard or seen you since the summer before twelfth grade, well over a year ago.” I gave a small laugh, doing my best not to mess this up. I wasn't sure why I was being so emotional with him. “You look great, David. I didn't even know you were nearby.”
His arm raised and his hand rubbed the back of his neck. A tight smile crossed his handsome face. “Yeah, about that. I've always wanted to tell you sorry — you know, for leaving on short notice.” He sighed, looking completely uncomfortable. “You see, I worked like crazy over the summer, and after I graduated, I signed up for college... My mom pushed me a lot, she got me an internship where I barely had time to breathe… So, here I am. This is what I've been doing… I’m so sorry, none of that justifies my actions for not contacting you. Hell, I was going to contact you; several times actually, but I thought you had probably forgotten about me by now,” he rambled on.
Wow, I didn't know what to say. I had known his family was big on education, but I never knew any of this. I thought he had moved and that I'd never see him again. I had missed him terribly. If I'd had known he was only a few hours away, I'd have tried to see him from time to time.
“Well, I am glad that you’re here now, David.”
“Same here, Princess.”
I bit into my bottom lip at the old nickname he’d given me in high school. Coughing lightly to hide my excitement, I tried to think of something else to say. “Your parents must be so proud of you!” Not what I was going for… but at least it was something.
He grumbled. “They're over the moon happy. They’re talking about having me move closer to them once I graduate college.”
I frowned a bit. He didn’t seem as thrilled. I shouldn't have been so concerned, but I had just found him again. I wanted it to be like the old days, but then that was unrealistic. I should be happy for him. He had pushed himself to prepare for his future, and that was the adult thing to do.
We stood there in awkward silence for a few minutes just staring at one another.
“So… Um, the dorm rooms…” I fumbled for words to say. I should have had a flashing ‘Send Help’ or ‘S.O.S’ sign stuck to my forehead. I had no idea how to talk to a guy. We'd been friends at one time, but that seemed like a lifetime ago now.
Being around him at this very moment was new.
“Yeah, sorry. It's just really great to see you again, Jamie,” he blurted out. A pink hue dusted his cheeks and the underside of the shadow of scruff covering his jawline.
Turning, he started to walk but kept it at a slow pace, waiting for me to catch up to him. The retreating view of his backside was almost enough for me not to want to catch up to him at all. I was perfectly fine standing in one spot watching him. The only thing that had me moving to catch up to my old friend was the questioning look he shot me from over his s
houlder.
God, I was just going to keep embarrassing myself.
Dang hormones.
When I caught up to him, we walked side by side to the first building I had come across. “The first rule you need to learn is, each building is set up for males or females. They try to keep it old school here, so the only time you will see another guy in your building is if it's to work on a school project, to tutor someone or in my case, be a student buddy.”
I wanted to snort at how proper this place sounded, and we were only on rule one!
“How many rules are there?”
He hummed in the back of his throat, taking his time thinking. “Not many, but those that are enforced are the law here. You can get in a lot of trouble if you don't follow them.”
That made me naturally curious. “What happens if you're dating someone here and you want to spend the night in their dorm?”
I looked up at him. I hadn't noticed before how tall he'd gotten. He had to be at least six-three to my five-four in height. His throat did that funny bobbing motion, and his eyebrows slumped over his eyes.
“Is there someone here you're seeing?” he asked, with a hint of hurt in his tone.
Was that jealousy I heard coming from him?
“No,” I replied quickly. “I was just curious, that's all.”
The look that he'd displayed seconds before vanished and was replaced by something similar to relief.
“Good… or I mean that's good. You can have a couple’s dorm, if you're with someone. There aren’t many of them, but some people that attend this college are older couples. They're either married or have had a long-term partnership. The professors and administrators understand this.”
Huh, this must be a new thing.
“Or you can live off campus,” he continued. “I live in a two bedroom a block away. It's also near my office job.”
David surprised me at every turn. He had his own place nearby and an office job.
Me, I'd been renting a basement apartment month to month since moving here, and I had moved out today. Living on the campus grounds was something I had planned to save money, now I couldn’t even do that. If he had a two bedroom, he must have it made. I was happy for him. He was going places in life.
Forever Devotion (Forever Safe Romance Series Book 10) Page 1
