Emma's Story Read online

  Emma’s Story

  By

  Mitchel Grace

  Other Titles by this Author

  Wrong Place

  Wrong Time

  Wrong Life

  Wrong Regrets

  Wrong Fortunes

  Wrong Mission

  Wrong End

  Strange Visions: The Beginning

  Strange Visions: Yesterday’s Sins

  Strange Visions: False Endings

  Strange Visions: The Calm

  Strange Visions: The Storm

  The Divide

  The Divide: Origins

  Wrong Visions: Lost Memories Vol. 1

  Wrong Visions: Lost Memories Vol.2

  Wrong Visions: Lost Memories Vol. 3

  The Unseen: A Broken Mind

  The Unseen: Shadow Wars

  The Unseen: Watchers

  Destiny

  A Magnolia Romance

  Hollow

  Hollow: Revelations

  Emma’s Story

  By Mitchel Grace

  Published by Mitchel Grace

  Copyright 2016 Mitchel Grace

  License Notes

  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 are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the author and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table Of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: A New Home

  Chapter 2: Love

  Chapter 3: Back To The Basics

  Chapter 4: Tragedy

  Chapter 5: Making Things Right

  Chapter 6: Damsel In Distress

  Chapter 7: Garden Gnome

  Chapter 8: The Date

  Chapter 9: The Long Walk

  Chapter 10: The First Time

  Chapter 11: Belonging

  Chapter 12: Halloween

  Chapter 13: Coming Home

  Chapter 14: Doubts

  Chapter 15: The Last Christmas

  Chapter 16: New Year’s Eve

  Chapter 17: The Call

  Chapter 18: Loving Like There’s No Tomorrow

  Chapter 19: Double Date

  Chapter 20: Happy Birthday!

  Chapter 21: Marriage

  Chapter 22: Approval

  Chapter 23: An Unexpected Romance

  Chapter 24: Morning

  Chapter 25: Running Away

  Chapter 26: A White Wedding

  Chapter 27: New Beginnings

  Epilogue

  Wrong Time Right Guy

  Chapter 1: First Taste Of Love

  Chapter 2: Caught!

  Chapter 3: Stars

  Chapter 4: Use Somebody

  Chapter 5: The Plan

  Chapter 6: The Perfect Date

  Chapter 7: Someday

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Jasper Ellis was pounding on his roommate’s door. Emma Grey had been the girl he loved since before he even liked girls. She didn’t know how he felt, but everything about her set his heart on fire. The only person in this world who could truly hurt him was her, and if he didn’t do something soon, both of them would be hurt beyond repair.

  “Emma, open this door!” he yelled.

  There was no response. Given what she had been through over the last few days and the note she left on the table, he was pretty worried. Emma had never been suicidal, but he couldn’t blame her for temporary insanity in this situation. He knocked once again, but when she didn’t answer, Jasper was forced to take more drastic measures. He kicked the door open and found her lying unconscious on the bed.

  “Emma, wake up,” he pleaded and ran to her side.

  She was convulsing. He didn’t know what to do. The woman he loved was dying right in front of him. How could any of this be possible? Just a few days ago, they were happy.

  “Emma, you can’t do this to me. I love you,” he said.

  He grabbed his phone to call 911. The worst night of his life was almost over, but he might not like how it ended. Emma’s life and his heart held in the balance, and all Jasper could do was pray.

  Chapter 1

  A New Home

  Jasper Ellis had loved Emma Grey since he could remember. There was one problem with that. He lived in New Jersey, and she was in Hawaii. Their parents were old friends, so they used to vacation together every year. It was back then that he started to love her. They even dated for a short period, but it never worked out. With her so far away, it was impossible for it to. He was determined to change that now, though. Against his parents’ protests, he was leaving his home for a whole new life at the University of Hawaii. Most people thought it was crazy for him to move to a completely different place for a shot with a girl who might not even feel the same, but he had to at least try to make Emma his.

  When Jasper’s flight landed in Hawaii on that early morning, he was exhausted. He never could sleep well on planes, and classes were supposed to start the next day. He was a little worried about getting used to the time change, and honestly, he was starting to wonder if this whole thing was a mistake. He had come here with almost no plan. Sure, he had a dorm room, but who would he be rooming with? He came there to get close to Emma, but he had barely spoken to her about things. Did she even care that he was there?

  As he stepped off his flight, the answer to that became readily apparent. Emma was waiting on him at the gate. He immediately smiled and hugged her.

  “How was your flight?” she asked.

  “It was slow and boring. It’s great to see you, though.”

  “You, too. I was thinking, and I talked about it with my parents. Do you really want to live in the dorms? I hear it can be a madhouse in there.”

  “Not really, but I don’t have any other options.”

  “Maybe you do. My dad bought these lots in our neighborhood a few years ago, and he built me a house on one of them. That was their plan all along, but I didn’t know if they would actually do it. To make a long story short, I have this big house that also has a huge electricity bill. I’m working part time to pay the bills, but I could use someone to pitch in and maybe even just keep me company. What do you say? I can probably get you a job at the diner where I work after you get settled in.”

  Emma’s parents were well off. Jasper’s weren’t doing too bad themselves, but sometimes he wondered what it would be like to grow up with parents who could just give you a house. Emma didn’t know how lucky she was.

  “I don’t know,” Jasper said hesitantly.

  “It’s okay. I just thought I would offer because I wouldn’t want to stay in the dorms if I had another option.”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that I’m wondering if your dad would like you living with a guy, even if that guy was only me.”

  “I talked to him about it already. I have a boyfriend, and he knows that we’re just friends. He trusts me, and just as importantly, he trusts you, too. So what do you think?”

  “I think I’m in. Thank you for this. I loved the idea of moving here, but I hated the thought of having to deal with all new people. Having at least one person close who I know and trust will make this so much easier.”

  “No problem. Now, let’s go home, roomie,” Emma said and smiled.

  Jasper had noticed that Emma said she had a boyf
riend, but that was okay. He would be her friend and wait for the right opportunity to come. When it did, he would never let her go again. That much he was sure of.

  Once they got out to her car, one question kept weighing on him. Who was she dating? Sure, she had dated many guys through the years, and he was never jealous because he was so far away, but now he was finally with her. Jasper knew he could eventually get her back, but this certainly put a kink in his romantic plans. Still, he was living with her. Didn’t that give him an advantage?

  “So who are you dating?” he asked after getting into the car.

  “He’s no one you would know.”

  “Oh, come on. Just tell me.”

  “All right, it’s Chip Wake.”

  “And you said I wouldn’t know him,” Jasper said sarcastically.

  “What? A lot of people don’t know who he is.”

  “He’s a track star who’s on the short list to compete in the Olympics in two years. I would say most people have at least heard of him. I guess it makes sense for you to be with someone like that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re gorgeous, and from what I’ve heard, most girls find him charming, to say the least. I mean, if you’re into that kind of thing, then you have my support.”

  “Kind of thing? What are you saying, Jasper?”

  “You know, how he bulked up in only a little over a year. Steroids can definitely help a guy get a rock hard body, but they can also mess him up in a certain region, if you know what I mean,” he joked.

  “First of all, at least try to hide your jealousy. Secondly, I wouldn’t know if he’s on steroids or what’s going on in that certain region.”

  “Really? Now that’s interesting.”

  “Why? I’ve only been dating him for a month. Do you think I would jump right into bed with some guy just because he’s a sports star? That’s not who I am, and of all people, I thought you would know that.”

  “I do. I’m just messing around with you. For the record, I was never jealous. I was just trying to prepare you for the horrors of steroids,” Jasper teased.

  “Sure. Well, thank you for the concern, but I think I’ve got it covered. What we should really be talking about is what we’re going to do with our new place. I have furniture already, but it’s not decorated. We should make it our own.”

  “Isn’t it technically your place?”

  “Yeah, but if you’re going to be living with me for the next four years, then I expect you to make it your own. I guess what we should really be talking about is what we’re going to do today, though. You just got off a long flight, so I know you don’t feel like shopping right now. We could hang out by the pool and relax for a while.”

  “Let me get this straight. Your parents gave you a house, an almost brand new car, and you have a pool. All of this was free . . . yeah, you’re not spoiled at all,” Jasper said sarcastically.

  “What are you trying to say?”

  “Just that the simple girl I once knew is quickly turning into a spoiled rich kid,” he teased.

  “Hey, this spoiled rich kid is your best friend, and she’s offering you a place to live. I might kiss up to her a little. She could change her mind about everything in an instant.”

  “You know what? You’re right. I’ll lay off the spoiled rich kid talk. I can’t ruin my shot at free rent and a place with the best and most beautiful roommate in the world.”

  “That’s more like it,” Emma said and smiled.

  After they got home and Jasper unpacked, he joined Emma by the pool. He had been impressed by the size of Emma’s house, but when he saw her lying out near the pool, he truly remembered why he had come to Hawaii. She was breathtaking. She was a little taller than the average girl with long blonde hair and deep green eyes. Her toned body and bronze skin got his attention immediately, but it was Emma’s lips that truly looked inviting. He remembered their first kiss four years ago and wondered how he had ever gotten lucky enough to make this girl like him. As he stared at her in a fog, Emma noticed him.

  “What are you looking at?” she asked with a grin.

  “Just you. I forgot how pretty you are. Do you remember back when we dated and I took you out to the pool? I thought you were the smartest and most beautiful girl on Earth then. I just had a little flashback was all.”

  “Those were the days. Things were so simple. We were friends before, but I think our time together back then sealed us as best friends. I do have to tell you that if you keep staring at me in my bikini, I might have to tell Chip there’s this pervert who watches me every time I go swimming,” she joked.

  “Speaking of him, how is he going to feel about a guy living with you?”

  “We haven’t talked about it yet. I don’t imagine he’ll be happy, but he’ll get over it. We waited a long time to be close to each other, and it just makes sense for you to stay with me as long as you’re here. By the way, why did you pick Hawaii? You could’ve gone to school anywhere.”

  That was a difficult question to answer. What was Jasper supposed to say? He couldn’t tell her that he came because he loved her, could he?

  “It’s a good school, and I know a few people here, so it just made sense,” Jasper finally said.

  “And here I was thinking that my best friend just wanted to be closer to me. My bad,” Emma joked.

  “Well, that is the real reason. I came here to experience my college years with you, and to be honest, it is a plus to know you’ll be walking around in a bikini about half the time,” he said with one eyebrow raised.

  “Perv,” Emma said and winked.

  “Hey, I’m just being honest.”

  “What other honesty do you have for me, Mr. Ellis?” Emma asked while walking over to him.

  Before he could say anything, she pushed him into the pool. After Jasper surfaced, he reached up and pulled Emma into it with him.

  “I can’t believe you just did that,” Emma said.

  “Hey, you pushed me first. Besides, I seem to remember a lot of good memories between us in a pool.”

  “That was back when we were dating. We’re just friends now.”

  “Yeah . . . friends,” Jasper said to himself.

  He hated that word. Emma was his best friend, but she was so much more than that. Chip was a big deal, so that put a kink in his plans. He wondered how long it was going to take to win Emma back now.

  “Speaking of friendship, I wanted to talk to you about something,” Emma said.

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t want to make my boyfriend jealous, even if I don’t really think it’s any of his business if you’re living with me. I would be pretty suspicious if he had a girl living with him, so I want to put his mind at ease. I have this friend from high school, and I was thinking I could introduce you to her. We could all go on a double date, and if nothing else, that would make Chip feel better about you being my roommate. What do you think?”

  “I’m not really looking to meet any girls right now. I don’t know.”

  “Come on. You would be doing me a really big favor,” Emma pouted.

  “I don’t really have a choice now, do I?”

  “What do you mean? Of course you have a choice.”

  “No, you’ve already given me the look.”

  “The look? What does that even mean?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about. I’ve never been able to do anything but what you wanted after you looked at me that way.”

  “So you’ll go out with us?”

  “Yeah, if it’ll make it easier for you.”

  “Great. I know you’re going to love Sadie. You deserve someone amazing, and you two have so much in common. I know you don’t feel like going out tonight, but we can go tomorrow after school, if you want.”

  “That sounds good.”

  In truth, it didn’t sound good at all. The only girl he wanted to be going out with was Emma. Why had he said yes? Jasper felt lost. He had come to Hawaii for on
e reason, and that was to be with the love of his life. Instead, he was helping her smooth things over with her boyfriend. Then again, Jasper knew if he wanted a shot with her in the future that he needed to play things cool for now. Odds were that he would get his shot sooner or later.

  “Are you all right? You look like you’re thinking about something pretty deeply. If you don’t want to meet Sadie, that’s fine. I can . . .” Emma said before Jasper interrupted her.

  “It’s okay. What I was really thinking about was going inside and fixing you some of my world famous spaghetti. What do you think?”

  “I don’t know. A girl has to watch her figure, you know.”

  “Emma, you’re gorgeous. One heavenly meal isn’t going to change that.”

  “Oh, so your cooking is heavenly, huh? You’re not a little conceited, are you?”

  “Just a little bit, but you already knew that. So what do you say?”

  “Lead the way,” Emma said.

  Jasper fixed her a great lunch, and they spent the rest of their time relaxing on the last day before classes started. As day turned into night, they decided to watch a movie on the couch. It was kind of lame for Jasper because it was a sappy love story, but it was something that Emma really wanted to see. Sitting close to her under a blanket while watching a movie about true love wasn’t so bad for him in the long run, though. As he watched Emma hang on every word of the story, he started to wonder if she had found the type of love you see in the movies. It was obvious that she wanted it. When the movie went off and Emma started to get up, Jasper stopped her for a minute.

  “Hey, I know we need to go to bed, but I want to ask you something. Why do you like movies like that?” Jasper asked.

  “What do you mean? I’m a girl. Of course I like romances.”

  “That’s not what I’m talking about. You hung on every word of it. You seemed a lot more into it than any other girl I’ve met.”

  “You wouldn’t get it.”

  “Try me. I think I might.”

  “Okay. That’s what I want. I know the love you see in movies isn’t real, but I want that. I want a guy who lives for only me, and I need to feel like someone is my whole world, too. I think my parents have that kind of love, but I’ve never seen another couple like them. I don’t think I’ll find it, so I lose myself in movies and books about what I wish I had.”