M.C. Cerny: 2014

In celebration of the 12 Days of Bookmas, I'm releasing this free chapter, early for my devout Flashers and fans of One Summer! Lots of things are happening here in Flashland, one of them being that One Summer will become a FULL LENGTH novel in 2015! Are you excited? I know I am! Many of you have asked me to continue Roman and Abby's story, giving you a HEA of what happens to them after the summer ends. Well, here we are several chapters and thousands of words later and they still haven't finished chatting in my head. I wanted to give you an opportunity to hang with these two lovebirds for a little while longer in this extra long chapter before I unleashed the rest of their story in a full length novel.

This will be the final free chapter online.

Don't forget to read all the previous monthly chapters.

September, October & November

#RomanHolliday

I plan to release the "Summer Ever After" complete and fully editied story to y'all, but I do have a few other books and shorts to get out first. I want this story to be one that sticks with you, so I need to give Roman and Abby a little more time to tell thier story, but no worries, they'll be back soon! The begining of their story, One Summer is in Nighttides, I suggest you pick up the awesome anthology (10 sexy novellas) first to see where everything began for these two crazy kids.

Nighttides is available here on Amazon and Amazon KU

50% of the proceeds from NIGHTTIDES will be donated to Animal Ark, a no kill animal shelter.

* This free chapter is currently unedited and subject to change before final publication. *

DECEMBER

CHAPTER 14

ABIGAIL

I barely make it inside the plane as they close the doors and seated passengers spare a glance in my direction pissed off that I may have been the hold up. I toss my one bag in the bin above my seat with the help of a flight attendant and buckle up. The plane hasn’t reached the runway so I reach into my pocket for my phone. I take a look and find another man clicking away on his keyboard still and uninterested in what I’m doing. The flight attendant has walked to the back of our little plane to help another person so I look over my phone again. I slide my finger over the screen and check it. I look at my contacts and missed messages, but my finger hovers over Roman’s contact number.

I could call him before we taxi down the runway... My heart beats faster with adrenaline. I don’t know what awaits me in California except all my unresolved issues. Roman has been the only, the only constant and I miss him from inside this metal bird about to fly away.

My fingers scramble over the text, typing furiously and then erasing and then typing again. I feel sweat on my brow and upper lip from nervousness.

I love you…

In my panic I hit send and then I shut the phone off not ready to see or hear his reply. What if he says nothing? What if he rejects how I feel about him? A million scenarios run through my head and I wait with anticipation for the plane to roll away. I turn the phone off and pocket it leaning back in my seat as far as I can go without annoying the person behind me.

“Would you like a drink miss?” The flight attendant comes to my seat in first class offering me a pillow and blanket for the short flight.

“Thank you, yes, please.” She quickly returns with a napkin and a glass of white wine. It’s chilled but not as cold as I feel leaving a piece of me behind in Seattle.

The plane ride is uneventful and even though Roman arranged for a car service I cancelled it knowing that once I texted my dad my flight information, someone of his choosing would be there to pick me up. I get off the plane and grab my small bag of clothes. LA is still warm and a bit muggy from the smog pollution. I slip inside a bathroom and splash cold water over my pale and drawn face. I take out my phone turning it on. Anxiety rushes through me. I know I dropped a bomb in Roman’s lap with my declaration. I have no idea how he’ll respond and the possible rejection cuts me. No messages… It hurt but I’m sure I surprised him. I texted him to let him know I arrived in LA and head out of the airport.

Safely landed in LA, I sure didn’t miss the air pollution.

I wait a full five minutes.

Nothing.

Sadness creeps up on me and once I exit the gate I see Lucas’ shiny car waiting for me at the curb. I dread having to be anywhere with him but here it is, my reality check. I grab my duffle bag and secure it over my shoulder like a heavy rock.

“Abs. Glad you’ve finally come back.” Lucas rushes over to me and gives me an awkward kind of hug. His hands pat my back and thankful don’t wander anywhere else. I don’t know if we were supposed to be consoling each other or just confirming how shitty things have turned out. He leaves me to get back in the car, letting me stow my own bag.

“How’s Leah?” I wanted to steer clear of any topics regarding our past and instead find out how my sister is faring.

“Managing. You know how she gets.” Grunting Lucas pulls the car out onto the highway and heads for my dad’s office downtown.

“Normally or while they’re injecting her with super bitch chemicals?” I sigh looking out the window.

“Abs, that’s not fair. The doctor’s told me she’s been masking the symptoms for a while. I don’t know if she’s the same person anymore.” He looks ahead and smoothly passes by several cars increasing the speed of his own.

“I didn’t mean it unsympathetically. Our mom changed a bit when she started her treatment. I have to imagine it’s taking a similar toll of Leah from what I remember of our mom.”

“This all kind of came crashing down on me when I left you in Gold Beach. Oh and thank your boyfriend for the ticket and the cop chasing me out of town. He’s real classy, Abs.” Lucas is peering at me through his sunglasses. I wave him off ignoring the comment about Roman. I can only imagine that Lucas was a jerk to the cop anyway and deserved what he got.

“Of course she’s more… grouchy… than usual.” We both make a fake kind of laugh sound knowing that intrinsically my sister had to be the worst patient on the planet. Her temperament was something left to be desired under normal circumstances. “Everyone is at the office, your dad asked me to bring you there first. Did you bring anything to change into?” Lucas looked over my casual attire I had thrown on when I left Roman’s boat. His lip curled unhappily as if I might embarrass him with my casual clothes. Some things would never change with Lucas.

“No actually, I’m exhausted with worry for Leah, and the travel. I just want to get caught up and see where I’m needed most.”

“Are you sure? I could stop at one of the shops on the way?”

“No, I just want today to be over with.” I slip my phone out to check it again, still nothing.

“Right, I bet that Roman guy misses you already.” He looks at the phone in my hand, sneering Lucas cuts off another driver and I grab the dashboard of the car wary while the other car honks at us.

“Jesus. Don’t be a dick, Lucas. I’m sure dad has a laundry list of things he’d like for me to do today. Let’s not waste time dressing me up like a damn doll, okay?” Begrudgingly he apologizes and nods. He keeps driving and we park in the garage under my dad’s building. I take my bag and sling it over my shoulder. I will certainly be arranging another way to get home from here as I get into the sleek elevator. It is nothing like the rickety loft elevator in Roman’s building and my heart lurches missing him. I pull out my phone and look for new messages as floors slip by us going up. No messages, yet… It hurts, I’m sure I surprised him with my admission of love but Roman isn’t one to ignore things. That’s my MO, not his.

I brace myself stepping into the offices of Holliday, Barlow & DeWitt. Dad’s office is at the end of the hall flanked by his partners Everest Barlow and Mike DeWitt. I pass my sister’s office and find it eerily empty, the lights off, and the door shut.

“Abigail.” Just before I turn to go into my dad’s office, Everest is there hugging me. “I’m glad you’re back.” Everest has always been a constant in my life. He and my dad attended school together and chased after my mom until she gave in and settled on marrying dad. He’s a large man, built like a football player, but not intimidating. Instead his power comes from a quiet, intelligent place where he often draws on his wit instead of sarcasm and insults like my dad. A small, sick part of me wonders what life like would have been like if she had chosen Everest instead.

“I am, for now at least.” I relish the comforting physical contact from Everest. The closeness has me squinting back tears and he rubs my back. These kinds of hugs were non-existent since my mother died. Her death created this chasm between all of us that I didn’t expect. It’s hard to know who the glue is that holds a family together until they are gone.

“I’m glad to hear it. I missed you and even if you don’t believe it, your dad missed you too.” Snorting is my only polite response I’m capable of at the moment and Everest gives me a good chuckle that rumbles his chest. It’s funny but I wish Roman was here so he could meet him and stranger still that I don’t think of my dad first.

“Abigail. We have a meeting.” A cold voice penetrates the warmth of Everest’s protective arms. I glance behind me to see my dad. He looks worn, probably from stress and worry. He’s dressed impeccably in a full suit and I take in how he looks over my current state of dress. “There’s a spare suit in your sister’s office. Please put that on and join us.” Dad turns away and heads back to the conference room. I’ve been dismissed as usual.

“He’s hurting, dear.” We both nod as if that completely explains and excuses my dad’s behavior. Everest gently pushes me in the direction of Leah’s office and leaves me in the hallway.

Lucas is absent, probably weaseled his way into the meeting just to show me up. Whatever. All I wanted to do was wrap things up in LA, support my sister if she would let me, and figure out how to make things work with Roman. Selfish of me, but when would there ever be a time for me and what I wanted in life? I shut the door and flicked the office lights on. I had only been in Leah’s office a handful of times early on as an intern to drop off memos, dispositions and files when needed. I supposed that when Lucas began to see her behind my back he took over those duties somewhat joyfully.

Her office was decorated in muted shades of tan and grey as was the regular office scheme. Her law degree was up on the wall in a large ornate frame outlined in gold and black. Mine was still in its leather folder at my apartment. Leah had few other pictures hanging on the walls, mostly professional posters from the San Diego Aquarium I had not seen before. In a hurry, I went into her private bathroom, a perk of being my dad’s number two person I suppose and found her spare suit hanging in the closet. It was a navy double breasted jacket and skirt. Navy suede heels, still in the box and a spare set of pantyhose. I dropped my clothes ready to put it on when the door burst open.

“Abs, your dad said to hur…” Lucas stood there eyeing me up and down in my lacy underwear, something I had worn for Roman and now sadly on display for my ex. Gross.

“Oh, my god! Get out, get out!” I rushed the door to slam it shut, my chest heaving with upset breaths. Holy awkward. I leaned back against the door groaning. My face flushed red and hot with embarrassment.

“Abigail, it’s nothing I haven’t…” I didn’t let him finish that disgusting sentence.

“Shut up! Just shut up and get out. I’ll be there in a few.” I pounded the door angrily. Lucas had some balls thinking he could say that shit to me. Catching my breath, I slipped the suit on buttoning the silky blouse. As I pull the last satin covered buttoned through, my phone begins to ring.

It was Roman.

“Hey sailor.” I answer the phone excited to hear his voice even if it’s only been a few hours, it has felt like days given the stress level here already.

“Hollywood.” His voice is gruff, accusing almost. “I’m coming for you.”

“I’m hoping you will. Did you get?” I want to ask about my last text. I can’t help it, he didn’t answer the phone saying it and I’m suddenly needy and shy.

“Yeah and because you chickened out saying it to my face, I’m going to spank you pink.” Growling I’m shocked he’s kind of mad but secretly warmed inside. I lean against the doorframe in the bathroom, twirling a blonde curl.

“Really?”

“Where are you now?” Ignoring my question apparently.

“At the office. I have a meeting now but I’ll call you when I get home tonight.”

“You better, or I’ll add that to your tab, brat.” I shiver thinking about how Roman plans to take control of this. “Be safe and I’ll see you soon.” He hangs up before I can say anything else. I clutch the phone to my chest willing a hug to pass through the device. It’s stupid, I know that but I can’t stop myself from missing him. I collect my clothes and my bag and force my way down the hall to the meeting.

“Finally, she’s joining us.” Lucas passes me a thick file folder and a legal pad with a pen as my dad continues the rundown of his meeting. “Alright, most of Leah’s cases will be disbursed through the partners and assistant legal staff. Lucas was running a few of the cases conjoined and will continue to do so, taking over lead counsel on them.” What? Lucas was getting the bulk of Leah’s cases? Well unless he suddenly did a turnaround I felt bad for those clients but said nothing.

“Abigail will take this pro-bono case the firm was assigned through the court. Normally I’d give it to a junior associate but with your absence I want to make sure you’re on the ball here.”

“Dad!” Now this was just ridiculous. I was a way better lawyer that Lucas, even if I had skipped town.

“Jeff?” Everest was questioning my dad too, awesome, I really was persona non grata around here.

“Look, I need to know you’re going to be responsible and not up and leave again mid cases.”

“I wasn’t mid case on anything when I left.” The other associates were looking at me as if they didn’t know all the details either. Apparently dad kept my memo a secret of sorts. I looked over to Lucas who was smirking at me and of course, I should have known that asshole would have a found bus to throw me under.

“The OmClair case, actually.” Lucas coughed mentioning a case that I actually assisted him with not the other way around. I pushed back the file folder from in front of me. I narrowed my gaze at the shit for brains ex and he actually took a nervous sip of his water, good, he should be worried because if I was back here then I was not taking his shit or prisoners in my fight.

“What’s this pro bono case?” I conceded defeat. If this was my punishment, maybe it was fitting but I would damn well win it.

***

It turns out my case is on his way into the office. I read his file briefly, a man in his late forties named Oscar Campbell who is charged with drunk driving and hitting a stop sign almost injuring a crowd of pedestrians when his car jumped the curb. It could have been a million times worse, no one was killed, but this was his second offense in ten years. I was still looking for the blood alcohol preliminary report but I knew I was going to have to get a clerk to call the police department for me and track it down. It seemed simple enough, talk to the judge advocate for the client and try to get the best and most reduced sentence possible. I didn’t have to like the client but I had to work with him as a necessary evil. I waited in Leah’s office that was not my temporary office for him to show up.

“Come in.” I was studying his file when I heard a knock on the door. Looking up I watched the man enter the office. He was wearing khaki pants and a button down shirt, not the normal client I worked with but these were the breaks I was going to have to deal with. Remembering that Roman’s mom was killed by a drunk driver years ago hardened me to much of what this client might say to me in the next hour.

“Ms. Holliday, thank you for meeting with me.” Oscar Campbell’s eyes were bloodshot and his hands a bit shaky. I could smell the faint smell of vodka and mint from his breath.

“Mr. Campbell, please, call me Abby.” I continue at his nod. “Tell me, when was the last time you drank? Cause if I’m representing you, you better be stone cold sober and working a program.” I lean across the desk fingering the expensive pen from Leah’s special pen drawer.

“Ah, well, this week has been rough, Ms. Holliday.” Oscar’s hands shook and he ran a hand through his hair.

“Look, you’re facing a pretty tough sentence and if you want the judge to give you a passing glance without throwing the book at you, you better get yourself some help.”

“Yes, mam.”

“You have insurance?”

“Just lost my job, but I have some cobra benefits until unemployment kicks in.”

I reach into Leah’s desk and pull out a card. “Call this number and get yourself in rehab tomorrow. I will post pone the hearing for thirty days, but I need you sober and remorseful.” Oscar nods taking the card and leaving. I lean back in Leah’s chair. This has been one fucked up day and I haven’t even seen my sister yet.

“Enjoying the view already?” Lucas walks in unannounced and uninvited. I sit up scowling, tossing the stupid pen on the desk, I wasn’t enjoying much of anything and now I have to deal with him, again.

“Seriously, Lucas. Can you reign in your inner asshole?” If he’s going to gripe at me he might as well get it right back.

“Sure, I was actually here to offer you a ride home. Dad has decided you should stay with Leah and me at her condo. She just had a doctor visit this afternoon and is pretty wiped out.”

“Wait? What? Are you kidding me? I have an apartment.” Not only was I pissed, but now Lucas was calling dad, well… dad? There was so much about this that was wrong and I didn’t even know where to start.

“Yes and while you ran off and I moved out, your dad had it cleaned and closed up. He wasn’t sure when you were coming back.”

“I’ve been paying the lease, what the hell.”

“He probably left the electric on but everything else is pretty much packed up. So about that ride, princess, you know, to see your sick sister?”

“Fuck you, I’ll take a taxi over and check on her and then I will go to my own apartment. I assume my keys still work.”

“Suit yourself.” Shrugging, Lucas leaves the office and saunters out. Cocky bastard thinks he can weasel his way into my life and family. I think not. My head was a jumble, my ex running interference, my apartment subsequently packed up and now having to deal with my sister who I’m estranged from… Roman could not get here soon enough…

ROMAN

One thing I was grateful for is that we didn’t have a time zone to juggle in addition to our distance. I couldn’t imagine adding that to our tangled web. After leaving her at the airport I headed back towards the marina to take care of a few things and then home to my loft. My phone was silent and it was killing me, sitting in my parking garage I pulled out my phone and decided to call her myself. Hearing her voice was a balm but not a fix for what I really wanted. Her voice was tired and pained and she’d only begun her day. I wondered if douche canoe was being his usual un-charming self and the desire to hit him flared inside me. Again, battles I couldn’t fight fairly from hundreds of miles away.

Walking inside felt empty, small reminders of Abby were strewn about my place. Bright colors splashed throughout the chrome and wood, take out menus from nights we refused to be social, a bevy of umbrellas from the days it rained lay on the floor in a discarded pile. I told her to go ahead and coordinate her outfits with my collection of umbrellas courtesy of Maddie. It was worth the chaos of my hall closet. Some of her toiletries were left in my bathroom. Picking up a small bottle of hair product I could smell her. The controlled anarchy of items seemed to fit in my space. Entering my bedroom, which we had left a bit of a mess as well, had the bed sheets half pulled from the bed and clothing piled on chairs. A few lacy items peeked out from a dresser drawer I cleaned out so she had a place to put things and not have to live out of her suitcase. Was it quick? Yeah. Too soon? Maybe, but the reality was that it just felt right. No explanation was needed and now before we could find words to describe it all, she was gone, hundreds of miles between us and I hated it.

Slipping into my office I used my computer to check things for the business. Paperwork for me was a nightmare. I hated it. Just let me design boats and hand the other crap off to assistants and people who actually liked paperwork. I was reviewing schematics and engineering designs when I noticed some of the numbers were not matching up, if the calculations of the design were correct then the boat would not be seaworthy. Inwardly groaning, I had to wonder how and who missed these alterations. The sleek new fiberglass material was not suitable for the bottom of the hull but it seemed that order got mixed with the heavier materials needed. Shit. I was going to have to address this with my builders tomorrow so the custom boat didn’t end up being a tug boat or sinking on her maiden voyage. This delay would hold me up from leaving to get Abby’s car for several more days. Damn.

It was eight in the evening now and I scanned my fridge for something worth eating. I considered take out but nothing tempted me. Flipping through those discarded menus my phone began to light up and sing Abby’s ringtone ---.

Finally.

“Hey Hollywood, how’s the first day back in the saddle?”

“Hell from the moment I left you, Sailor.” Her voice is soft and wavering.

“Abby, tell me what’s going on.”

“I don’t even know where to start. I didn’t even see my sister today.”

“Okay, take a deep breath and sit down for me. Where are you now?”

“I just got into my apartment. Dad took it upon himself to clean out my condo, everything is pretty much in boxes and under sheets packed away.”

“Did you eat anything today?” I can hear her rummaging through a bag.

“I got some ice cream here, some bananas and oh and avocado. Hold on.”

“Okay, holding.” The thought of the last time Hollywood had an avocado in her hand makes me smile.

“Shit… even my silverware is packed damn it.” I can hear her rolling open the drawer defeated.

“Oh baby.” Her voice wavers and she’s losing it. My pretty girl is melting down over some frozen rocky road and I’m not there, where I should be.

“Roman, I didn’t even get to see her. How could I have not even seen her? Lucas was a fucking bulldog after I refused a ride with him to her place. I got there in a taxi and she was resting in her bedroom. I didn’t want to wake her by fighting with him so I left. What kind of person just leaves?”

“A considerate one, it was a bad day, sweetheart. Tomorrow you’ll be able to figure things out with a good night’s sleep.”

“But you’re not here.” She wails into the phone and the waterworks turn on full force.

“Abigail, I am wherever you are.”

“But…”

“Shhhh, listen to me. It’s going to take me a bit to get down there to you because of a boat job, but I am working on it and I am with you always.”

“Roman, I’m sorry I chickened out on you. I’m just no good at this.”

“Baby, don’t apologize we will figure this out, but for now I want you to dig back in your bag and pull out that avocado.”

“What? Why?” She sniffles into the phone.

“Were you really going to eat it?” I’m hedging my bets she bought it because it reminded her of us.

“No. This thing is hard as a rock. I was going to let it sit on my counter and mush so I could throw it at you when you got here.” She’s tearful and I’m laughing because only Abby would do something so sweetly ridiculous.

“No more tears today. I want you to go in to your bedroom.”

“Roman…”

“You’re too exhausted for me to do anything else, sweetheart so just get in your bedroom and strip.”

“I…”

“Don’t make me add another spanking, Hollywood. Now are you striping or not?”

“Yes, Sailor. I am. I’m slipping these silky buttons through their holes on my blouse and unzipping my skirt.”

“You’re being a naughty tease, stop it.” I’m groaning on my side of the phone line imagining her doing exactly that. “What color is it?” I can’t stop myself from asking.

“Navy and grey. Just like your boat logo.” The thought of her wearing my colors, my anything makes me hard. I have to adjust myself sitting at the counter on the bar stool. Grumbling, I wait for her to slowly continue.

“Perfect. Now slip back the sheets on your bed and get in.”

“It’s cold.”

“Baby, I’m going to warm you up. Now give my avocado a kiss goodnight and put it on the nightstand. It goes wherever you go.”

“This thing is going to mush in like two days you know.” I can sense that her smile is back and for tonight that will have to be enough for me.

“It probably will but that’s okay. Mushy fruit seems to be our thing. Now put you head back on the pillow.”

“That’s so not sexy, Roman.”

Her sarcasm has me barking with laughter. I make a mental note to have a local grocer near her deliver an avocado every day we’re apart. “It wasn’t meant to be. Close your eyes and tell me how you are getting back and forth to work tomorrow?” My little smart ass.

“Taxi.” She yawns mumbling.

“I’ll have a car service for you waiting, no arguments, Hollywood.”

“S’okay.” I hear her drifting off. She needs the sleep to recharge after all of the bad news she’s had to deal with.

“I spank disobedient brats.”

“Mmm hmm…You’ve yet to follow through.” She’s quiet and her voice tapers off.

“Sleep tight. I’ll take care of what I can.” I clench my hand, all this talk of spanking her golden skin has me thinking of lots of things I’d like to do next time I see her and hold her.

“Love you.” She mumbles surprising me. Her breathing has slowed and she’s asleep. I click off the phone relieved that she’s at least safe in her place and in a bed.

I rest the phone against my forehead wishing osmosis worked through phones. “Love you too, Abigail Holliday. I’ve come to love you so damn much.” I say practicing the words out loud to my empty loft wishing she could hear me say them face to face...

~*~*~*~To Be Continued.

XOXO

Copyrited by M.C. Cerny 2014

M.C. Cerny

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