LOVE’S SECRET TORMENT
Copyright © 2015 by Stacy L. Darnell
Published by Infinity Books, LLC
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, including photocopying, recording or by information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locations is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design: Robin Harper, Wicked by Design
Editor: Nancy S. Thompson
Cover Photographer: Mandy Hollis, MHPhotography
Interior Designer: Integrity Formatting
To my husband and son, Mike and Austin Darnell
for the endless hours I’ve had my laptop with me wherever I go
~ your support, encouragement and belief in my dream has meant the world to me.
Dedication
Chapter 1—How It All Began
Chapter 2—Captivating Brown Eyes
Chapter 3—Hello My Name Is
Chapter 4—Those We’ve Lost
Chapter 5—The Sky, Balloons And Other Things
Chapter 6—Strange
Chapter 7—Fresh Air And Happiness
Chapter 8—Much Needed Family Time
Chapter 9—The Swimming Hole
Chapter 10—Firsts
Chapter 11—Bliss
Chapter 12—I Didn’t See That Coming
Chapter 13—Light Switch
Chapter 14—Cold Depths Of Crystal Blue
Chapter 15—Goodbye Atlanta, Hello Auburn
Chapter 16—In For A Penny, In For A Pound
Chapter 17—The Aftermath
Chapter 18—Frustrated
Chapter 19—Happy And Content
Chapter 20—The Time Of Our Lives
Chapter 21—Lightly Salted Air
Chapter 22—It’s A Small Awkward World
Chapter 23—Putting The Pieces Back Together
Chapter 24—Torn
Chapter 25—I Wish I Was Selfish
Chapter 26—Some Things You Can’t Take Back
Chapter 27—Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid
Chapter 28—2230
Chapter 29—Emptiness
Chapter 30—Can’t Be Together
Chapter 31—Emmett’s Letter
Chapter 32—Hope
Chapter 33—New Beginnings
Chapter 34—Saying Goodbye
Chapter 35—Fun In The Sun
Chapter 36—Emmett’s Gift
Chapter 37—Healing Hearts
Chapter 38—Packing Up
Chapter 39—Getting Settled
Chapter 40—Life Isn’t Always Black and White
Chapter 41—Reality Sucks
Chapter 42—Adjusting
Chapter 43—Friends Are Amazing
Chapter 44—Shattered
Chapter 45—Empty
Chapter 46—New Realities
Chapter 47—One Day at a Time
Chapter 48—In Between
Chapter 49—As Days Go By
Chapter 50—Mine
Chapter 51—A Bright New Day
Chapter 52—Once Something Is Said, It Can’t Be Unsaid
Chapter 53—I Didn’t Expect That
Chapter 54—Healing Doesn’t Happen Overnight
Chapter 55—Helpless
Chapter 56—One Day At A Time
Chapter 57—Lost In A Good Way
Chapter 58—Good Tidings
Chapter 59—The Next Step
Chapter 60—The Stars In The Sky
Acknowledgements
About the Author
It was the summer before my junior year of high school, five years since the worst day of my life, the day my cousin died, taking another life with her. My family had experienced a great deal of sadness and heartache in those five years, not to mention guilt and that everlasting question—what if?
But as awful as that day was, as painful as the knowledge that Jolie’s decision to drink then drive had not only robbed our family of a loved one, but another’s as well, if it weren’t for that worst day, I never would have experienced the best day of my life.
Since her death, members of my family have volunteered to help raise funds for drunk driving awareness. I’d always wanted to help, too.
One afternoon while walking our chocolate lab, Gage, I saw a flyer on a telephone pole advertising a charity event for the cause. I snapped a picture of it with my cell phone. Later that night, I called the number listed and signed up to help. I wanted make a difference.
Making jewelry was one of my passions. Susan, the foundation president, said they were having an auction and needed items to bid on. I was so excited, I signed up right away.
As I organized my supplies scattered in piles on the table, the wind blew across the park, knocking down my sign. Thankfully, it wasn’t my charms. I bent down to pick up the sign when I saw a flash of light in my peripheral vision.
I looked up and saw it was sunlight reflecting off the leg of a chair being carried by a hot guy. My heart stopped for a second. He stood with his back toward me, picking up stacked chairs. The way his muscles moved under his skin was so sexy, I caught myself holding my breath as I stared.
It was a hot, sunny day. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and as the sweat dripped down his back, I could see he had a strong muscular body. His fine ass was attached to sexy, long legs. When he turned around, my eyes focused on his toned abs, my skin tingled, and I completely lost track of what I was doing.
As my attention traveled up his body to his face, I immediately recognized him from school.
Alec Morris.
He was in my junior class. My friend Heather, and I always lusted over Alec, but I was shy, and neither of us ever had the nerve to talk to him. There was always something about him that just wasn’t approachable.
The three of us had gym together last year, but other than that, we’d never had any classes together. And let me tell you, that class was definitely my favorite of the day. It fast became my favorite class of the year. Maybe of all time.
As I struggled to tear my gaze from him, I finished my jewelry pieces. But I couldn’t keep from peeking up at him. I felt like such a creeper. His messy hair and crystal blue eyes made my cheeks feel hot, and I dropped my pliers when I noticed him walking in my direction.
“Hi. Samone Lang, right?”
I blinked several times, not quite believing he was standing only a few feet away, shirtless, sweaty, and talking to me. Swallowing hard, I attempted to speak, but apparently, the English language had become a distant memory. Thank God my instincts kicked in and I nodded.
“I’m Alec, Alec Morris. We had gym together last year.”
He stared at me like I was his favorite dessert, his gaze roaming from my lips to my eyes. It made me squirm in my chair. I’d never experienced someone looking at me the way he did.
“You can call me Sam. All of my friends do.”
“Well, I really like your name. It’s pretty. Unique. So . . . if it’s okay with you, I’d like to call you Samone,” he said as he put his foot up on the bench, wiping his forehead with a wet towel.
“Umm yeah.” I nodded. “That would be kind of cool actually.”
I smiled up at him. I prayed that the sesame seeds from the bagel I’d eaten earlier weren’t stuck in my teeth. That would be my luck.