Chasing Ever After Read online

  I knew most of the time I came across as a super bitch to him, but I couldn’t help it. If he knew how badly I wanted him, how much I still thought about those nights we spent talking, and that other night; the one I spent in his arms, he would use it against me. He would use it to take everything, and I would let him. I would give it all to him, including my heart and I couldn’t let that happen.

  Jax thought otherwise. She thought we could be good together, but she wasn’t exactly impartial. She was living in her love bubble with Ky and wanted to believe that every reckless, arrogant, womanizing bad boy was redeemable and just needed a nice girl. I wasn’t so naïve, but that’s who Jax is. She always sees the best in people and believes in them, even when it’s not realistic, but I love her for it. We all do. It’s one of the things that draw people to her.

  At the time that I met Jax, ordinarily I wouldn’t have paid any mind to someone moving into my apartment building, no matter how much they were struggling with boxes. I minded my own business, stayed out of people’s way and expected them to stay out of mine. I was used to being on my own, had been for a long time, and I wasn’t looking to change that. Yet, within minutes of meeting her, not only did I help her carry her stuff up to her apartment, which ended up being the one across from mine, but I found myself inviting her over for dinner that first night. Within a month she knew pretty much my entire life story. Now I couldn’t imagine my life without her friendship, which is why I wasn’t surprised in the least that Kyden had seen something in her too that he couldn’t stay away from.

  That wasn’t going to mine and Ace’s story though. He was trouble for girls who expected anything more of him, and I didn’t do trouble. I tried to steer clear of trouble. Trouble usually meant heartbreak, and I’d had enough of that to last a lifetime. The Marine Corps tattoo on Ace’s chest was enough to remind me of everything I’d lost and why I wouldn’t sit around waiting for another guy to come home to me.

  That thought brought me back to the present and I let out a deep breath to clear my mind. Come on Sade, pull it together. You’re in Hawaii for crying out loud. Don’t let Ace or the past ruin this. I promised myself right there not to waste another minute of this vacation entertaining anymore thoughts of him or dwelling on broken dreams. Easier said than done.

  It was ten minutes before Jax and Ky strolled back outside, hand in hand, ready to direct us to our rooms. Rather than everyone try and coordinate reservation bookings, we’d left it up to Jax, just like we had the car rentals. If I’d have known she was going to stick me with Tweedle Dumbass and Tweedle Deceptively charming, I might have reconsidered and rented my own car. Not that I could really afford it. If it weren’t for the fact that my plane ticket and room were covered, I would have found myself pitching a tent on the beach and shaking trees for coconuts to eat. Looking around at the resort, I knew I couldn’t afford to stay five minutes here, let alone two weeks.

  There was the main hotel, a huge building that appeared as royal as its name suggested, and behind it, right off the beach, were little bungalow huts, and my understanding was that we were staying in those. I didn’t even want to think about what the total hotel bill must be for all of us. Our group numbered fifteen right now, and then Vi’s parents and the rest of the guests would be flying in on Friday and staying just through the weekend for the wedding. The rest of us, with the exception of Dr. Cross who was flying back on the Monday after the wedding with Vi’s parents, were here until the following Sunday. Two weeks in paradise. I was ready for this. I just didn’t know if I was ready for two weeks straight of Ace and pretending like he didn’t completely make me lose my mind.

  Jax and Kyden led us around the side of the hotel, along a path that took us to the little cottages. They were dispersed in a long line, surrounded by beautiful gardens and palm trees. The back doors led right down to the beach, and there was a large outdoor swimming pool and hot tub between the cottages and the beach. Jax stopped in front of the first cottage. “Okay, Shane, this one is you guys.” She handed them two keys and Shane let out a low whistle while his wife, Lucy, gushed over how beautiful it was. I think they were the only other ones in my financial boat. We weren’t poor, but Shane had a family to support and I barely made more than minimum wage. We definitely weren’t living the life of rockstars or the privileged. The last time I’d been on a vacation like this was when I was fifteen, before everything in my world changed. That was a lifetime ago, an entirely different lifetime.

  “The second one will be Bas, Lissa, Vi and Jake,” she handed them their keys and we followed them down the line, the group splitting off as we passed the second cottage and then came to Jas and Ky’s. He took their bags inside while Jax pointed the rest toward our lodgings. “The next one is you two,” she told Chris and his dad, then looked at the remaining four of us. “You guys are all the way at the end of the line, in the last two. Obviously you three guys in one, and I’m sorry Sadie, but with the number of bedrooms in the cottages and the way we paired people up, that means you’ll have one to yourself. I figured you’d rather have your own space anyway.” She handed us our keys and I wasn’t going to complain about having a cottage to myself, even if I had to have the guys for neighbors. It seemed I just wasn’t going to be able to escape Ace this trip.

  He was still pulling my luggage along with his own as we made our way down the path. I offered to take it, but he ignored me. We passed a couple more cottages, just before a small courtyard with a fountain and stone benches all around, which separated the remaining bungalows. We passed two more that were occupied by other guests before we reached ours.

  I walked up the few steps to the smallest of the cottages and put my key in. Ace followed me in, only long enough to set my bags down and then dart back down the steps and over to his before I could finish saying thank you. I shut the door behind him and took in the room around me.

  There was a small kitchen area just inside the entrance, off to the right. Behind the kitchen, a large four poster bed with a canopy faced the opposite wall and took up most of the room. The room was bright, everything done in light browns and creamy whites. The bed was fitted with the softest looking, dark chocolate colored sheets and a beautiful cream colored duvet. The bathroom was to the left, and everywhere there were big windows that looked out over the property. The whole hut was surrounded by palm trees and bushes with exotic flowers to provide a sense of privacy.

  Jax had been right about me preferring my own space. I was used to being on my own. Even though I’d been living in her house since I moved to Boston, between her work and traveling with the guys whenever she got the chance, it was a lot like having my own place, and I’d been living on my own the last four years before then. Still, I felt a little pang of loneliness looking around at this beautiful place, knowing I didn’t have anyone to share it with.

  I pushed it aside though and moved toward the back wall of the cottage. Just beyond the bed, big French doors opened up onto a little patio deck area that overlooked the beach. I looked forward to walking barefoot through the sand and going for a swim, but that could wait. Instead, I dug through my bags and found my shower stuff and some shorts and a tank top to throw on. Twenty minutes later I felt clean and refreshed again and I plopped down on the comfy bed. We’d all agreed that today we would have to ourselves to explore, or sleep or whatever we wanted and then we’d all meet up for breakfast in the morning and discuss plans for the next few days.

  It wasn’t long after my head hit the pillow that I drifted off to sleep. I was so exhausted that I slept through Jaxyn’s text that came just before seven, asking if I wanted to go find dinner with them. Shortly after that, she came to knock on my door, but I didn’t hear that either. The sun was down when I finally woke up hours later. I grabbed my cell to check the time and that’s when I noticed Jax’s text. I shot her back a quick reply. Sorry, was sleeping. Thanks for the invite though.

  It was less than a minute before her reply came back. I figured you were sleeping. No p
roblem. We’re all at a little bar on the water just a few miles from the resort. Want to meet up with us?

  I think I’ll just stick around here and find something to eat and then hit the sack again. Still pretty tired, but you guys have a good night.

  Okay. See ya in the morning. We’re doing breakfast at 9:30!

  My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since the in-flight meal on the plane. The hotel kitchen closed at ten, and it was now only a few minutes before, so room service was out. I wasn’t feeling very adventurous on my own, so I decided just to rummage through my carry-on bag and see what snacks I had left. I found some trail mix with dried fruit and decided that would have to do until morning. I took my sad little dinner outside and sat down in one of the deck chairs. The ocean was only about thirty yards from the back door and it was relaxing to sit there and listen to the calm waves break on the shore. There were a few lights from the hotel, but otherwise everything was dark and quiet.

  I decided to walk down to the water. It had cooled off since this afternoon, and there was a cool breeze coming off the ocean, but I was still comfortable in my shorts and tank. I stood at the edge of the water eating my nuts and dried fruit, the water coming up just far enough to wet my toes before receding. I was so captivated by the ocean that I didn’t hear the soft footsteps of someone approaching me from behind.

  “How’s the water?” The sound of his voice startled me and I dropped what was left of my measly dinner in the sand. He just chuckled, “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. I was sitting on the deck when I saw you come outside.”

  I turned to look at him, and even in the dark he was still gorgeous. For once his hair wasn’t pulled back, but fell in dark golden-brown waves over his shoulders. I loved his hair and the way it had felt when I ran my fingers through it. I mentally slapped myself for thinking about that and turned my frown on him. “It’s fine, you only made me drop my dinner,” I snapped and then cringed at the sharpness of my words. I hadn’t meant to be so harsh with him, he just caught me off guard and I always felt so … unsettled around him.

  “Oh, uh sorry. I’ll just head back in,” he said dejectedly and turned to go back to his cottage.

  I sighed, feeling guilty. “Ace, wait.” He stopped and looked back at me. “I’m sorry. I was only trying to give you a bad time. It was just some trail mix, no big deal.” I watched his face break into a warm smile. It was a nice smile. I hated and loved that smile. It made me weak. It made me want things I had no business wanting.

  “Trail mix, huh. Some dinner.”

  “Yeah, well I just woke up. I missed the dinner bus and didn’t feel like venturing out for food on my own this late. It was what I had left in my bag. What about you? Why aren’t you out with everyone?”

  “I missed the dinner bus as well, unlike you though, I woke in time to order a pizza from room service. I’ve got some left if you’re still hungry.” My stomach chose that moment to grumble and answer for me. Pizza sounded good. “Well then, that settles that.” The corner of his mouth turned up in a smirk. “The question is, what are you willing to do for the pizza?” Typical, he can’t help but be an ass.

  I huffed, “I’m not that hungry,” and started to walk away, but he reached out and grabbed my arm to stop me. My entire body tensed at his touch; his touch that reminded me of another time when he put his hands on me. His fingers were rough with calluses that came from his instrument and I remembered how they felt on other parts of my body.

  Ace chuckled, “Relax, I wasn’t talking about that, so get your mind out of the gutter.” If only I could.

  I felt a flush spread over my cheeks. “Then what are you talking about?”

  “Let’s go for a swim.”

  I glared at him, “I’m not going skinny dipping with you.”

  “Once again, you’re the one who went there, not me. I wasn’t suggesting we go skinny dipping, but I could be persuaded to take off my clothes for you if you’re real nice.” He winked and pushed his body closer to mine.

  “You’re not as smooth as you think you are,” I bit out. “I’m not one of those girls who will turn to putty in your hands with a simple look and a flash of that smile.” I jerked my arm out of his grasp and stormed off toward my hut. Of course he just followed after me.

  “Come on Sadie, I was just messing with you. I swear I’m not really the prick that you think I am. I just always seem to make an ass out of myself around you.” I ignored him, even though I already knew that, but honestly it was easier for me when he was an ass. I practically stomped up the steps onto the deck, more frustrated with myself than him. “I’m sorry. I really am. Please just wait.” I stopped and turned to look at him. That was a mistake. Those winter blue eyes sucked me right in and the sincerity and hopefulness I saw in them softened my feelings toward him. I didn’t want to be a bitch all the time. I didn’t want to be one at all, but how else was I supposed to resist that?

  I took a deep breath and then exhaled it. “It’s fine. I overreacted. I do that a lot around you,” I admitted.

  “It’s alright. I probably shouldn’t have teased you, but I don’t seem to be able to help myself around you. Seems it’s a problem for both of us, but I really didn’t mean skinny dipping. I thought we could change into our suits and go for a swim, and afterward we can finish off the pizza.”

  I hesitated, still not sure if I could trust him, or myself. Part of me really wanted to go swimming with him, while the other part screamed that it wouldn’t lead anywhere good. “I don’t know. I don’t think night swimming is recommended.”

  “Come on. You gotta do something crazy every once in a while. It’ll be fun, I promise,” he said seductively.

  “Why do I feel like you’re trying to lure me out into the water for nefarious purposes?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you planning to drown me?”

  He just chuckled, “I promise I won’t drown you. We don’t even have to go out very far. I swear I’m not trying anything, no ulterior motives.” I was still reluctant to agree and he sensed it. “Just forget about how much you can’t stand me for five minutes.” If he only knew the truth. “Just let go of everything and enjoy the fact that we’re in Hawaii, with the beach for our back yard for the next two weeks. The ocean is calling to you Sade. This is one of those moments you’ll look back on-”

  “Okay, shut up. I’ll go. Just let me change,” I said, giving in.

  I pushed the door open and he called out after me, “Ten minutes, and then I’ll come in after you.” I looked over my shoulder to see him grinning. When I got inside I closed and locked the door behind me, just to be safe. When the lock clicked into place, I heard him laugh.

  “Oh Sadie, that lock won’t keep you safe.”

  Trouble. Yep, big trouble and I was wading right into it.

  Chapter 3

  Ace

  I jogged over to my cottage and took the stairs in one step. I wasn’t going to take the chance that Sadie would change her mind. I hurried inside and tore through my bag in search of my board shorts. I discarded my shirt and shorts on the floor beside the bed and quickly slipped the trunks on and then made my way back over to Sadie’s deck. I rapped my knuckles on the glass of the French doors. “Come on. You’re not getting out of this.”

  “Hold your damn horses,” she hollered back and I just chuckled. I didn’t know what I enjoyed more, the rare moments that she was nice to me and I got a glimpse at just how sweet the girl was, or when she was being feisty and cursing my ass. I had to be careful or I would be the one getting drowned tonight. To drown me though, she’d have to put her hands on me, so maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad way to go.

  I was still standing there with a wide grin on my face, thinking of Sadie’s swimsuit clad body pressed up against mine, when the door finally opened and she stepped outside. The grin was immediately wiped away and I’m pretty sure my jaw was hanging open. Sadie in a bikini in my imagination: smoking hot. Sadie in a bikini in reality: holy fucking shit. Maybe
this wasn’t such a good idea, because I had no idea how I was going to keep my hands off all that creamy flesh. I knew she had a nice figure, but she wasn’t the kind of girl to flaunt it, so seeing those curves on display was a nice little surprise, one that was going to make it very difficult to be on my best behavior like I’d promised.

  I realized how long I’d been staring and quickly looked away, but it was too late. Under the glow of the deck light, I saw the blush spread over her fair skin and knew I’d been busted. She didn’t call me on it though, so I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. “So you ready to do this?” I looked back up at her, but she wouldn’t meet my eyes. She was standing there awkwardly and staring at her feet, looking like she wanted to be anywhere else. I made her uncomfortable and that made me feel like an asshole. I just wanted her to relax around me, let her walls down for one night, and it wasn’t working. I needed to fix it, so I did the one thing I thought might.

  “Race you to the water!” I took off down the steps without looking back, but listened carefully, hoping to hear the sounds of her following me, and when I heard her feet hit the steps, I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face. If I knew one thing about the fire ball it was that she was competitive and wouldn’t back down from a challenge. I slowed my steps just slightly, giving her the chance to catch up. I let her think she was going to beat me, and then right before she reached the edge of the water I shot forward and scooped her up, throwing her over my shoulder. She squealed and I charged forward into the waves.

  “Put me down!” She cried. “I’m serious,” she was trying to sound stern, but I could feel the giggles trying to break free from her chest. “Put me down right now, dammit!”