The Space Between Read online

  Contents

  Happiness

  Hiraeth

  Dedication

  Intro

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Dream a little dream

  Don’t miss the bonus scene from Nate’s POV after the

  Soundtrack

  BONUS SCENE

  Exerpt from Rebound

  A-thank you

  Untitled

  “Happiness is letting go of what you Think your life is supposed to look like & Celebrating it for everything that it is.” ~Mandy Hale

  Hiraeth

  (N.) A homesickness for a home in which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.

  To first loves, lasting loves, and anyone trying to find their own piece of contentment.

  Her hands hung motionless, reddened knuckles submerged beneath the sparse bubbles. A soft breeze blew the yellow curtain above the sink. The pale fabric framed the world outside her modest kitchen—a yard that held a large dog and two little girls dancing in circles, bare feet hidden in the slightly overgrown grass. Her mouth lifted on both sides. It was a pleasant sight.

  The loud bang of a door shook her out of her thoughts. She wiped her hands on the dish towel draped on the edge of the counter and pushed the wisps of copper hair off of her temples. Another smile graced her pale skin—the one reserved for her husband.

  A warm hand pressed against the silken fabric of her sundress, cupping her just on the edge of forceful. Her back naturally arched in response. The breath at her ear was hot and moist—much like the spot being caressed. The deft fingers lifted the material and gripped her hips, then one against her back, forcing her to lean against the sink.

  The backyard was now an empty expanse of green. The swing creaked and swayed as if ridden by a phantom. Back and forth, back and forth. The sight of the childless view should have concerned her, but she couldn’t grasp the emotion as it flitted away as quickly as it occurred to her.

  Veins and bones pushed against the skin of her fingers, as she gripped the silver metal of the sink’s edge. Barefoot and restless—her mouth lay open, but the noises she was sure she was making had no vibration. The only sound was the panting coming from behind her. The voice murmuring shocking things—things that made her feel dirty and sexy all at once.

  Her body shuddered and shook as she jolted from the pillow cradling her head. The sweat beading on her lower back slid down into her underwear as she sat up. Once she gained her bearings, she pushed the damp hair off her forehead. For the briefest of moments, she was angry at the man laying beside her…for all she’d given up…because he wasn’t the man in her dream. The man from her dream hadn’t touched her in real life in over a decade, but still managed to hold court in her subconscious when least expected.

  Her breath slowed and her anger fell away. The kids from the yard were in their small bedrooms down the hall. Their father snored softly beside her, oblivious to her extra-marital fantasies. Guilt was the next emotion to surface, but she couldn’t control who appeared in her dreams any more than she could control the weather.

  She loved her kids. She loved her husband…She had a pleasant life.

  But pleasant, as of late, left her feeling hollow and wanting.

  ~Chapter One~

  10 yrs earlier…

  Georgia sank into the soft ground, crossing her bare legs. The bark of the large oak she was leaning against felt rough through the thin cotton material of her tank top. On the left, the lake glistened like ink in the darkness, and to the right, bright yellow flames sputtered and cracked. Her curtain of light brown curls shielded her from curious glances—some filled with pity and others, contempt. She hoped folding herself over her drink and keeping to herself would keep anyone from approaching her.

  So far, so good.

  The dirt covered ground surrounding the bonfire was full of bodies—mingling, flirting, and drinking. She heard a shrill squeal and splash behind her. Why was she here again? Why wasn’t she under her covers reading, where she could be living Elizabeth Bennet’s life? In theory, she should be enjoying herself. She was college bound after all, leaving the dregs of this podunk town far behind. But recent events had shaken her confidence. Recent events had made her question whether she had the strength to make it on her own, in college and a new city. A city that had more than a Shell station and a Dairy Queen.

  This new self doubt was grating on her nerves. She’d been dreaming of going to college since she was five. She’d walk around with the toy medical kit her aunt had given her for her birthday. Braids down her back, she’d wrap her stuffed animals in toilet paper and take their temperatures, a badge reading “doktr gorja” pinned to her favorite horse pajamas. When she turned thirteen, she begged the town’s only pediatrician to let her help him after school. He turned her down at first, but when she returned the next day with a chart proving how hiring her would improve his efficiency, he relented.

  Her recent jilted status was the the talk of the town, much to her utter humiliation. Brady Carmichael was her boyfriend. Was, as in past tense. Everyone admired him. He was an above average athlete, kind to old people and dogs. A regular boy scout—a very tall and good looking boy scout. He also made excellent grades. In fact, he’d missed Valedictorian by only half a point. Georgia knew that because she’d been the one to beat him by that half point. They’d always had a friendly rivalry when it came to grades. It started when they met sophomore year in honors Chemistry. It was as if the sea of mediocre minds had parted, and there he was.

  Yep, Brady was going places…She’d thought those places included her. In fact, they were accepted into the same University eight hours away from their small town. She didn’t apply because of him. The school had the best pre-med program in the state, her boyfriend attending was just a comforting bonus. So, why was she second guessing everything, simply because the love of her young life had broken up with her? She’d hoped she would have been above such feelings. Turned out she was as shallow a teenage girl as the rest. He’d been kind when he told her. That was one consolation, if one could be found.

  It was a Friday evening. They were lying in the bed of his truck watching the sunset. It was the cusp of spring and summer, so the air was just on the side of hot. Brady’s long muscular legs were hanging off the tail gate and Georgia was curled into his side—content. Her life was just how she wanted it, the love she’d always wanted. Everything was going according to plan. That should have been her first sign that the other shoe was about to drop.

  She was kissing his neck below his ear as her leg inched over his thigh. She brushed her hand below his shirt. His warm skin felt good against palm.

  “G…”Brady grabbed her hand and squeezed her fingers. She paused her kissing and lifted her head, marveling at the sparkle of gold in his brown eyes and the full plump of his lower lip. The breeze ruffled his dark hair and her thin cotton dress.“I’ve been thinking about college next year. About you and me.” He paused, looking grim. “I just…I just think it would be best if I had a fresh start, you know? No distractions…I plan to double major, maybe join a fraternity.”

&n
bsp; “Distractions? What are you trying to say, Brady?” She sat up and frowned.

  “I’m afraid…ugh, I don’t know how to say this…I just don’t think I’ll be able to give you the time and attention you deserve.” He kissed her on the head, breathing in the scent of her curls. Then whispered, “I love you, Georgia. Please don’t hate me.”

  It took her a moment to realize she was getting dumped.

  She was stunned into silence—the seemingly romantic moment crushed under his out of the blue confession. She rested her chin on her knees, looking away from him. She found herself unable to speak, the lump in her throat was so thick she could barely swallow. The only movement was the tremble of her lips.

  The tears and pleading came seconds later, but to no avail. He’d stood firm in his decision and once that happened there was no going back. She humiliated herself for weeks; sending texts, baking him three dozen oatmeal chocolate chip cookies—his favorite, leaving a Hallmark store worth of mushy cards under his windshield wiper.

  The peak of her groveling happened just three nights before. She’d snuck over to his house in the middle of the night. Her outfit, minimal, her plan, devirginization. She cringed at the thought now. How low could one person go? Trying to sex your ex into taking you back. What was she thinking? He politely turned her down, saying it wouldn’t be right. Damn him and his chivalrous gentleman tendencies.

  That was the moment she’d officially hit rock bottom. She decided she’d done enough begging and hadn’t contacted him since. And shocker, no incoming calls or texts from him either. Maybe he lost his phone, or maybe he was out of the country and had no signal…or maybe, and more likely, he was done with her.

  Well, maybe she was done with him, too. She took a long drink, cringing as she choked it down.

  Getting drunk in a dark corner, way to stick it to him.

  She rolled her eyes at her idiocy.

  The party was starting to get rowdy. There’d already been one fight—testosterone and alcohol driven. One break up—cheating asshole driven. Apparently Aiden Hayes was caught making out with Jen Roberts. His girlfriend Sarah didn’t appreciate that, of course, especially since Jen was supposed to be her best friend. Sarah would’ve garnered more sympathy if it wasn’t a well known fact that she’d been messing around with Anthony Davis since the day he’d arrived home for summer break.

  Georgia thought it was all ridiculous. The most ridiculous was her hiding in the shadows like a bridge troll—legs covered in dust and a large stick threatening to impale her backside. She grabbed said stick and threw it into the water just as her prayer for invisibility was at last thwarted.

  “Hey, Georgie Porgie. I thought you looked lonely over here all by yourself.”

  She tried not to roll her eyes at the nickname she’d been saddled with since the second grade, nor the invasion of her private self-loathing session.

  “Hey, Nate,” Georgia replied without turning her head. Nate Bristol. Nice guy, handsome too, if you liked blue eyes and sandy blond hair, most girls did. But she preferred dark hair, brown eyes, no, not brown, that would be a paltry description. More like melted caramel…Holy hell, she needed a twelve step program.

  She knew she wasn’t being very friendly, but she was is no mood to be cheered up. She wanted to wallow in her self doubt and pity. Talking would only cut into the nice buzz she’d been working on for the past two hours. Oh, yes, that’s why she was here—to get blissfully inebriated. Everyone else seemed to enjoy getting wrecked with alarming frequency, so she thought she’d give it a whirl. If she could only get past the horrid taste. But interestingly enough, with each cup, she minded it less than the one before. And when ‘The Reason’ started playing from someone’s stereo speakers she didn’t have the urge to cry like she usually did.

  Yay, alcohol.

  “You need a refill?” Nate asked. That got her attention. It was time to have some fun.

  She vowed that Brady would play no part in tonight’s festivities, imaginary or otherwise. She gave herself a mental high five and took another swig.

  “Now that you mention it, I would love a refill, Nate. Thanks.”

  “Why don’t you come with me? I heard Bingham’s scored a bottle of tequila…If you think you can handle it.”

  Georgia looked at him for a moment. He had a really nice smile and intense blue eyes. There was a swirl of green in there too—almost like the Caribbean Ocean she’d seen on the Travel Channel. She’d been mesmerized by the patchwork of blues and warring shades of aqua…That was it, Nate had Caribbean blue eyes.

  Drunk.

  “What?” he asked, amused. “Do I have a hanger?” His soft twang was adorable.

  She laughed. “No, you’re all clear. I was just thinking how pretty your eyes are. I’m sorry to say I’ve never noticed before.”

  “Uh, that’s okay. You only had eyes for another guy’s eyes…Shit, you know what I mean.” She liked that he could laugh at himself. Brady took himself and life very seriously, that’s not to say he didn’t have a sense of humor per se. He was intelligent and that’s all that’d mattered to Georgia. He was the only boy she knew who could quote Lord Byron, hell, the only one who even knew he was.

  He would wrap her in his arms and whisper, “She walks in beauty, like the night. Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright. Meet in her aspect and her eyes.”

  Then…swoon. Now…spew.

  The thought of Brady and his poetry regurgitating handsomeness made her jab her nails into her thighs. She was trying aversion therapy. So far, it hadn’t really worked.

  She stood up, brushed off her backside, and with a smile, offered him her hand.

  Revenge was looking pretty hot at that moment. Really hot.

  “Come on, Nathaniel. Let’s go do some shots.”

  “Uh, it’s Nathan, actually.”

  She waved her hand in the air. “Tonight you shall be Nathaniel.” Her voice taking on a slight accent.

  He laughed. “Darlin, I’ll be whoever you want.”

  Alcohol and a broken heart proved to be a toxic combination. In the months and years that followed she’d often wonder how her life would’ve been different if she’d stayed home or turned Nate down and kept to the shadows of the oak tree that night. But pondering the events that had already come to pass was an act of futility and never offered her anything other than frustration.

  ~Chapter Two~

  Lucy and Georgia were best friends, having lived next door to each other since birth. It helped that they had a like mind in almost every situation. Their moms were best friends as well and they all attended the same small Baptist church on the edge of town.

  They shared everything, confided everything. Georgia’s current predicament was no different, although her knee jerk reaction was to take this particular secret to the grave. But when she saw Lucy, the tears fell and the words spilled out.

  That’s how they found themselves in Lucy’s car, driving in silence. That silence was starting to make Georgia’s hands sweat. Finally, she couldn’t take it a second longer.

  “You think this is wrong, don’t you? You think I’m a bad person? Just say it.”

  Lucy exhaled loudly through her nose and shook her head. “No, G. I think you’re doing what you need to do, for you. You’re not supposed to be stuck in this town…like me. You’re supposed to be somebody. So, I get it.”

  “You get it, but you wouldn’t make the same choice.”

  “Hell, I don’t know, Georgia. It could’ve happened to me half a dozen times, but I’ve dodged that bullet by being safe.” Lucy gave her a look. Georgia hoped another lecture wasn’t coming. Beating a dead horse with that one.

  “He pulled out,” she grumbled, hating herself the minute the words came out.

  So smart, yet so stupid. They didn’t call it pull and pray for nothing.

  Lucy sighed. “You did it one time and got knocked up. I don’t know, maybe that means you were supposed to have this baby
.”

  “Don’t call it that!” Georgia refused to call the intruder growing inside her anything but It. She felt if she started calling the cells inside her uterus a baby, then she wouldn’t be able to do it. It didn’t even have a heartbeat yet. So, technically it wasn’t a baby, right? Right…She was going to the clinic and she was going to take back control of her life. She was leaving for college next month. Case closed.

  The waiting room was cold and sterile. A black and white picture of a waterfall was the only picture on the stark walls. She’d seen DMVs more inviting than this place. But it was fitting, she supposed. After all, why would they make it warm and fuzzy, considering what people came here for?

  She checked in, where she had to prove she was eighteen. The payment drained her meager savings. Lucy tried to give her part of her graduation money, but Georgia turned her down.

  “Come on, G. Let me help. What do I need the money for? I’m not going off to college, and I live with my parents.”

  “I appreciate it, Luce, but please keep your money. You may not be moving away, but you’re still taking classes. You can use it for text books, or cappuccinos.”

  “You sure? It’s yours.” Lucy grabbed her hand.

  Georgia pulled her into a hug and said, “I know…and I love you.”

  “What’s not to love?”

  Lucy had to fill out the paperwork—Georgia’s hands were shaking too bad to hold the pen. When they called her name, she froze. When the nurse called it a second time, Lucy nudged her. “That’s us.” Georgia loved that she said that.

  Hand in hand, they walked. Plain wood doors lined the white walls of the corridor. The nurse stopped. “You’re in this one, Ms. Abernathy.” There was a large number eight on the door.

  “Ms. Abernathy?” The nurse placed a hand on Georgia’s arm. Georgia hadn’t moved, she was just staring at that eight, thinking she would never be able to see those connected loops of infinity and not be reminded of this day. Damn, she’d always liked the number eight.