Chasing Each Other Read online

  Chasing Each Other

  a novel

  J.D. Rivera

  Chasing Each Other

  Copyright © 2015 by J.D. Rivera

  Cover Image Copyright © Aleshyn_Andrei 2015

  Used under license from Shutterstock.com

  Editor: Monica Black, Word Nerd Editing

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All rights reserved. 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 prior written permission.

  Chasing Each Other is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, business establishments, or locales is purely coincidental. The author recognizes the copyrighted or trademarked statuses of all established companies and brands mentioned in this work.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Miranda

  “This is going to rock!” Baylee exclaimed from beside me.

  I nodded, but didn’t say anything as I took in the scene before me. Kurt Smith’s parents were out of town and he had decided to throw a crazy ass party. People were everywhere, on the lawn, in the house, passing joints, and music was blasting from somewhere inside the house.

  “I’m going to find a drink,” I told her, pushing through the entrance toward the kitchen. I wasn’t against partying or drinking, but Baylee was annoying the hell out of me. She had starting drinking from her parents stash around noon and while she annoyed me most of the time, drunk or not, tonight she was being particularly grating.

  I found the keg and immediately filled a plastic cup, taking stock of everyone I knew inside the house. “Woohoo! Miranda Clark!” someone shouted from the other side of the room. I glanced around until my eyes landed on Kurt. He lifted his cup. “Now the party has started!”

  I rolled my eyes and nodded in his direction, a grin spreading across my face. I may have had a reputation for having fun at these parties. I said hi to a few people on my way back outside. “There you are! I knew Miranda Clark would be here!” Carson hollered, walking toward me as I settled in on the porch. There was a slight slur in his voice, but I could tell he wasn’t drunk—yet.

  “Hey, loser,” I greeted.

  “Did you come with Baylee?” he asked, resting his arms on the porch railing, ignoring my comment.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Because she’s already tried throwing herself at Hayes and I think he made her cry.”

  “We just got here!” I said, exasperated. Why did she have to do this at every single party? It never failed. She’d throw herself at someone and if they rejected her, she would drink herself stupid.

  He shrugged as his eyes wandered to the girls walking toward us. “Sam’s here. Gotta go. Have fun,” he said, strolling toward the group. Sam and Carson were the most volatile couple I’d ever met. Tonight, they would be lovey dovey, and tomorrow, they would hate each other. Although, it was usually Sam hating Carson for something innocuous he did and Carson begging for forgiveness. I was positive she strung him along just to have someone around while she looked for what she considered to be a better offer. It infuriated me.

  “Why are you over here all alone?” a male voice asked, coming to stand beside me. I choked on my drink as I took in the hot guy before me. His T-shirt was tight and hugged his muscular arms perfectly, leaving little to the imagination about how built he was. My gaze traveled up until I locked eyes with him. He had a perfect face and his messy hair only seemed to accentuate it.

  He smirked as I cleared my throat. “I…uh…I just got here and wanted to get away from my friend.”

  “Ah, the annoying drunk?”

  “Oh, so you’ve already met her? Well, she’s annoying all the time, drinking just doubles it.”

  “Gotcha,” he said with a sexy smile. “Wanna take a walk and find a place to actually talk? It’s really loud.”

  Hell yes!

  “Sure, that would be great.” He grabbed my hand and led me through the maze of people, dropping it as soon as we were alone in the backyard.

  “Are you from around here?” he asked, moving a little closer to me.

  “Yeah. You’re not, though. I know everyone from Maverick.” I tried to sound normal, but his movements stirred up his amazing cologne, making it hard to think.

  “No, I’m from Anglewood.”

  “Oh. Not too far,” I stated. I had never been one to shy from guys, but this guy was making me all kinds of nervous.

  “I’m Preston, by the way.” He gestured toward a glider swing and we sat down.

  “I’m Miranda.”

  “You have the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen,” he said, locking his gaze with mine.

  I swallowed hard at the intensity of his stare. “Um, thanks. I’ve never really liked them though. Brown is so plain.”

  “Trust me, they’re beautiful.”

  “Well, thanks. You’re not so bad yourself,” I breathed. I had meant to compliment his eyes, but it didn’t come out that way. Though, it didn’t matter—he wasn’t bad. He was sexy.

  He smirked and placed his arm around my shoulder. “Do you have a boyfriend, Miranda?”

  “No.”

  He smiled. “I don’t know how that’s possible. You’re beautiful.”

  I smiled in return as I settled my body against his. Preston almost seemed like he was too good to be true. He had to be the most attractive guy I had ever seen, with a great personality to match. I was used to guys who knew they were hot and their personalities reflected that. Preston was a nice change.

  Hours passed as the conversation flowed and we shared a lot of laughs, learning we had a lot in common.

  “Miranda!” Carson yelled from somewhere behind me.

  I rolled my eyes, knowing what he was going to say. “I guess my drunk friend is now completely trashed,” I told Preston. “What?” I hollered toward Carson.

  He marched toward us as fast as he could in his drunk state. “Come get your dumbass friend. She puked and fell off the porch.”

  “I really need to get a new friend,” I complained, glancing at Preston. “I guess I better go. It was nice meeting you.”

  “Let me walk you back around.”

  Carson glanced between Preston and I before shrugging and jogging off.

/>   “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” He pulled me to a stop. “Can I get your number? I’d love to…ask you out sometime.”

  “That would be great,” I told him, my stomach flipping.

  We strolled back to the front of the house where I found Baylee lying in a flowerbed, passed out. Preston helped me get her to my truck and tucked inside. We stood outside my door, staring at each other, neither of us wanting to say goodbye. “I better get her home before she pukes in my truck,” I finally said, breaking the silence.

  He didn’t look away. “Yeah, I guess you should.” After a beat, he leaned in closer and placed a small kiss on my cheek. “Be safe.”

  I drove home that night with a goofy grin on my face as I listened to my friend snore beside me.

  After helping her into my house and lying her down on my bed, I grabbed a pillow and blanket and made my way to the couch. As I lay down, my phone beeped with a text. It was from an unknown number but my face lit up, knowing exactly who sent it.

  Unknown: I was going to be cool and ask tomorrow or the next day, but I don’t want to wait. When can I take you out on a date?

  Chapter 1

  Miranda

  {2 years later}

  What the heck do you get a kid for their first birthday? What the heck do you get Hayes Morgan’s kid? I thought, trying to buy my best friend Mackenzie’s little girl, Harley, something for her birthday. Little Harley was the cutest kid ever and her daddy made sure she had everything, which was why I was freaking out in the middle of the toy aisle.

  I was excited to pick something out and hurry to the party. Brad, Mackenzie’s adopted brother, would be there. When she ran away from her foster home a year and a half ago, Brad and his mother had taken her in and treated her like family.

  I knew nothing could ever happen between Brad and I, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t ogle him. He was a homicide detective, which I guess is why he stayed fit. Or maybe he was into being healthy. I didn’t know or really care, I just liked to look at him.

  It was laughable, really. A hot guy like Brad would never want anything to do with me. I was broken. And I didn’t know if I would ever be fixed, or if I could be. Why would a wonderful, attractive guy who takes in a pregnant teen mom ever want anything to do with me?

  I stepped into another aisle, an explosion of pink and purple meeting my eyes. I glanced up and down each shelf, trying to find something cute. Something she might not already have.

  My eyes landed on a small doll wearing a pink princess dress and a very large tiara. The doll had brown hair just like Harley, so I snatched her up. It was a princess party and Hayes always called his daughter princess—this doll would work. If she already had it, Mackenzie could exchange it for something else.

  After picking out a few accessories, I headed to the gift bag aisle. I’d just finished summer finals and hadn’t had time to breathe, let alone buy and wrap gifts.

  I rounded the corner and came to an abrupt stop. Standing at the end of the aisle was my ex-boyfriend, Preston Wilson. He had once been gorgeous—built, with huge biceps and a nice six-pack. Now, he was too thin and his eyes were sunken into his face.

  I backed up a few steps, ducking around the corner. He had been so amazing and attentive in the beginning, but in less than a year, he had taken a happy, confident, party girl and turned her into a shell of her former self.

  I shuddered as the memory of our last encounter clouded my mind.

  I pulled out of my parents’ driveway on a mission to see Preston. I had just graduated and spent the entire day with my family. I only had a small amount of coke on me, but it wasn’t enough. I needed another line—badly.

  I pulled into his driveway and hopped out of my truck. As I ran toward the door, a red sports car parked on the side of the house caught my eye. I halted abruptly, knowing who the car belonged to. After I had caught them having sex, Preston promised me he wouldn’t see Tara again. He said he was sorry. That he was messed up and drunk. She had come onto him and he didn’t really remember anything until I caught them.

  It was stupid to believe him and deep down, I knew he was lying, but I loved Preston with all my heart. I didn’t want to see the truth.

  I yanked open the door and ran toward his bedroom—empty. I marched toward his nightstand and yanked out his stash. I needed something to calm me down—help me feel in control. I lined up the coke on top of the nightstand and inhaled, letting the calm settle over me. I turned back down the hall to check the living room, but it was empty as well. Confused, I looked around, noticing the door leading to the garage from the kitchen was open. With my stomach in knots, knowing what I would find, I crept forward.

  I heard them before I ever saw them. Moans filled the air, along with “Harder!” and “Faster!” As I stepped into the doorway, I heard the worst of all. “I love you,” Preston panted, and I closed my eyes at the sound. The knots in my stomach turned into lead, making me immediately feel sick. He wasn’t saying those words to me.

  I breathed in deeply before opening my eyes, steeling myself to what I would see. Tara was sprawled across the hood of Preston’s dad’s beloved corvette, Preston moving in and out of her at a fast pace. I thought I had braced myself well enough. Thought I would be prepared. I knew what I was going to find, after all. But the visual was too much. I felt my heart shatter and gasped at the overbearing ache in my chest. They both looked up at the same time, locking eyes with me.

  “You like what you see?” Preston asked, slamming back into her as a sick smile spread across his face.

  I couldn’t speak, but the pain that had flooded my body was quickly replaced with anger. A burning, hot anger that almost felt tangible. I ran toward them, pushing at his chest as hard as I possibly could, making him stumble a little. I knew I would pay for it, knew I would suffer the consequences I deserved, but I couldn’t stop myself. “You fucking asshole!” I roared.

  He pushed me back, causing me to stumble, almost tripping on a tool on the floor. Ignoring the whore still spread out on the car, he pulled his pants up and slowly walked toward me. His eyes were murderous as he spat out, “You dumb bitch!” He pushed me back again, this time knocking me into a rusty toolbox. He began laughing, a sadistic sound resonating through the garage. “Did you really think you could tell me not to fuck someone else? You are pathetic.” He slapped me across the face. “You are good for one thing only. And that’s sex.” He slapped me again. “I strung you along for fun and you were too stupid to know. You are the most gullible girl I’ve ever met.”

  He then punched me, forcing my side into the jagged corner of the rusty metal. Pain shot through my side, but it was the punches that followed and the vile words that hurt the most.

  I blacked out from the pain at some point, waking to an empty garage—alone.

  I was pathetic. A despicable excuse for a human being. I knew that now. Knew how far I had truly fallen. What I would endure for just one more hit. It was disgusting. I was disgusting. But I had to power through, let everyone see the person I wanted them to see. Let them all think I was happy and excited about life. One day at a time, I thought, just take everything one day at a time.

  I took a few more deep breaths, willing myself to calm down as I watched him pay for his items and leave. My hands shook and the urge to use became more powerful than I had felt in months. It was always there, somewhere inside of me, but it was more like a thought off in the far distance—almost unattainable. Now, I struggled to push it away, my skin almost itching with need and my palms sweating. I can do this. Just get the gift bag and get out of here.

  Quickly, I found a pink gift bag and paid for my items before sprinting to my car. I knew it was probably crazy, but I couldn’t help but think he might see me in the parking lot. Might even approach me. Or worse, I might see him and lose my carefully built control.

  I tossed the items in the passenger seat and shook my head. My breaths came in short pants and my skin was crawling. Tears pricked the back of my e
yes and the need to get somewhere safe, somewhere I knew I would feel more normal, had me pushing forward. I made sure nobody was behind me before I placed the car in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot. I flipped the gear into drive and sped away, feeling calmer with every bit of distance I put between myself and the store—and him.

  Mackenzie and Hayes didn’t live far—maybe fifteen minutes—but it felt like it took forever before I pulled up in front of their cute new rental house. Cars lined the driveway and street, which probably meant I was the last to arrive.

  Not bothering to knock, I pushed open the front door and soaked up the air conditioning before enduring the hot July heat. My body was clammy and my nerves felt like a live wire. One hit and I knew I’d feel better. My eyes kept glaring at the front door, knowing my relief was out there, waiting for me somewhere. I shook my arms and tried to calm down, letting the memories assault me, remind me of why it was best to walk out the back door into the party and my future.

  I opened the back door and stepped onto the deck, placing the gift bag on a small table as I took in the partygoers. Hayes’ best friend and my friend, Carson, Hayes’ brother, Luke, and his fiancée, along with Mackenzie’s adopted family was all there, but I really only cared about one: Brad. He was giving Mackenzie a hug and if I didn’t know they thought of each other as brother and sister, I would have been jealous—which was absolutely ludicrous.

  Brad turned around, his eyes locking on me as I took cautious steps down the deck. I tried not to be obvious, but it was hard not to check him out. His loose jeans hung low on his hips and he wore a tight T-shirt, showing off his defined chest. His dark blonde hair was shaggier than normal, but it was his yummy face that did it for me. He had a slight beard paired with the prettiest hazel eyes I had ever seen. The temptation to run my fingers over his jaw and feel that scruff beneath my fingers as I stared into his eyes was strong.

  “You made it,” Mackenzie said as I closed the distance between her and the patio.