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Loved Enough: A Small Town, Friends to Lovers Romance (Love in Montana Book 5) Kelly Elliott
She flings her arms over myshoulders, nearlypunchingme inthe process. “Whydon’twe kiss? We should kiss. You’re leaving I’vealwayswantedtokissyou” Igentlyliftherarmsoffme.“Idon’tthinkthat’sagoodidea,Emily.”
Icameoutheretogetsomeair.Ididn’tcomeoutheretobegrilledbyadrunkgirlwhohitsonmeeverychanceshegets sincefreshmanyear I’msureashellnotgoingtotellherthetruthofwhyitwouldn’tbeagoodidea Nooneknowsthat Butjustas Igo to give her some sortofhalf-assed answer, Ifeel her head onmylap. Ipanic for justa second before I realizethatshe’snottryingtosuckmydick She’slegitimatelypassedout “Fuck,”Igroan.IthrowmyheadbackinfrustrationwhenIhearafamiliarlaugh. “Iseewe’vecometothe‘Emilyfindsyouandhitsonyouuntilshepassesout’partofthenight” IlookuptoseeAmelialeaningagainstthedoorofthehouse.
Istillcan’tbelieveAmelia’spregnant Whenshetoldme,Iwasinshock Soweretheguyswhenshetoldthemrightbefore graduation.Still,noneofussaidaword.NotevenSimon,whousuallycanbreakanytensemomentwithawell-placedjokeor inappropriate statement. But we were all stunned and silent. That is until Amelia broke down and started crying. I still rememberthesecondshefellintomyarmsandstartedsobbing,wonderingwhatshewasgoingtodo.How wasshegoingto raiseachildwhenshestillfeltlikeone?Shedidn’thaveajob.Shewassupposedtogotocollegenextyear,buthadtodefer. Shefeltlikeherlifewasfallingapart
But,likewealwaysdo,weassuredherwe’dbethereforher.Wesstartedresearchingeverythingtherewastoknowabout babiesandpregnancy,andlookedupeverydoctor,hospital,andmidwifeinMiddleTennessee Simonsetupbankaccountsand called around to everybusiness inRollingHills to see who was hiring. Itookituponmyselfto build her a rockingchair. I figuredshe coulduse one whenthe babycame.AndOliver didwhathe does best he plannedanevent.Solastweek,four eighteen-year-oldguysthrewababyshowerfortheirbestfriend.Thegirlwhocompletedourgroup.Thegirlwhohasalways beenourvoiceofreasonwhenwewereabouttodosomethingstupid.
“I’mscared,”Iwhisper.IcanbarelyadmitittoAmelia,letalonesomeeavesdroppingasshole.“I’mfuckingscared.” It’sweirdIneverthoughtaboutfightingincombatwhenIdecidedtoenlist.Butthecountry’satwar.Idon’tknow where I’mgoingtoendup,butit’spossibleI’llbeshippedoverseas.
IknowI’mnotsupposedtothinklikethis,butwhatifthis is thelasttimeIseeher?Whatifsomethingdoeshappen,andI nevertellherhowIfeel?WhatifIdieandnotdotheonethingI’vewantedtodosinceIcanremember?
Her hands are grippingmybiceps as our mouths fumble and we tryto find a rhythm. Despite popular belief, I haven’t kissedthatmanygirls HowcouldIwhenonlyonegirlevertrulyinterestedme?Itriedtogetheroutofmysystem,butitnever worked.Ameliahasalwaysbeenit.
AndnowthatI’mkissingher?Imightbedoomedforlife
Our tongues connect, and we’re finallyfindingour groove whena loud thump breaks our moment. We jump apart, both gaspingforair.WhenIlookbacktotheporchIseeEmilysprawledontotheporch.Thedrunkfoolfelloutoftheporchswing. “WhereamI?Shane?Whereareyou?”
“No. Nothing else. That’s how we’re going to leave this. No talking. No apologies. This is our see you for now. No goodbye Gotit?”
Inod.“Gotit.”
“Good”Sheleansupandgivesmeonemorekissonmycheek “Bebrave,soldier Andmakesureyoucomebacktous” IstandbackandwatchAmeliawalkbacktowardthehouse,stoppingtohelpEmilyupbeforeshegoesbackinside.Idon’t move. I just watch. When she turns back to look at me one more time, my heart about breaks. But at least I know that if somethingdoeshappen,Ikissedthegirlofmydreams.
Ismileasthetwosharealaugh.I’vegottentoknowBetsyprettywelloverthepastfewmonths.Notonlydidshemoveto RollingHills because ofWhitley, butshe’s datingWes, one ofmyclosestfriends She’s also his nanny Thoughrightnow I don’tknowiftheyaredating.Orifshe’snannying.Idon’tknowwhathappenedexactly,butIdoknowtheyhadahugefightlast week Wes hasn’t said anythingto me or the guys Betsyhas beengoingnonstop withmaid ofhonor and weddingduties I didn’tstandinherwayoraskquestions.Shewasawomanonamission.
Thismakesbothofuslaugh “Youreallythoughtyoucouldgetawaywiththat?” “She did,” Betsysays. “The daughter ofa famous Alabama quarterback, the sister ofa professional football coach, and basicallySouthernroyalty,thoughtshecouldgetawaywithafifty-personwedding” “Really?”
“Never Our families wentoutto dinner, butthat’s it Bythe time we did have the moneyto throw a party, itfeltlike a waste.”
Well,that’swhatmyex-husbandalwayssaid Iaskedonceifwecouldrenewourvowsandhavethepartyweneverhad Paul vetoed that idea immediately. Hell, once Ijust brought up inconversationthat a nurse Iworked withgot anupgraded engagementringfromherhusbandfortheiranniversary Ineveraskedforone,butforthenextweekhemadedigsaboutmenot
“Youare,”Betsysaysassheslidesnexttome “ThewayIseeit,you’resingle I’mnotsingle,butifmymandoesn’tgethis headoutofhisasssoon,I’mgoingtobe.Ican’thavethefuntonightIwantedto,soI’mgoingtoplaymatchmakerandfindyou a hottie onthe Fury. And thenifIfind one to dance withto drive Wes a little crazy, you’ll be there incase somethinggoes down.It’sawin-win.”
Ishakemyhead.“Ican’tdothat.” “Whynot?”
“Because.”Istammer for asecond,becausetherearemany,manyreasons Ican’tdothat,butnoneseemtobecomingto mindrightnow “Mykidsaregoingtobethere”
I turntoward the door to see mydaughter, Mariah, inthe doorwayof the bridal suite. She looks stunninginher junior bridesmaid’sdress,whichisthesameshadeasourpalepinkdresses.Ihavetoremindmyselfshe’sonlythirteen.Shelooksso grownup.
Igive her a kiss onthe cheekandquicklywalktowhere the ceremonyis beingheld.The settingis gorgeous.White and pink flowers are perfectly placed around the old Southern mansion turned elegant venue. People are starting to gather, all dressedtheir bestfor the RollingHills weddingofthe year Whitleyandmybrother Jake have beentogether for nearlyfive yearsnow.Needlesstosay,thetown,andourfamilies,arereadyforthistofinallyhappen.
Whitleymakessuretostayback,herdadmeetingus,beforewegotoourspotattheentrance Ican’thelpbuttakealookat the guests in their seats. I know not everyone comes to the ceremony, but it’s hard to imagine many more people coming. Somehow,intheseaofpeople,IseeWes,Oliver,Shane,andSimon
It’s notthatI’mlyingwhenIsaythat, butIneeded to throw the restoftheminthere. Because Shane Cunninghamis hot everydayofthe week. Whether it’s inhis police uniformor casual clothes, the manturns heads. Butina suit? The manis
downrightdelectable.
He’s goingto have everysingle womanatthis weddingtonightdroolingover him. And he’s probablynotgoingto even notice
“Thank you for noticing, Amelia,” Simon says as he gives a pull to his jacket. “I was hoping for a better bridesmaid selection”
Oliverturnsawayandgoestositdown,leavingShanealone. Ilovealloftheguys Ihaveaspecialbondwitheachofthem ButShaneandIareonadifferentlevel Maybeit’sbecause we’veknowneachothersincebirth.Maybeit’sbecausethemanbecamemyprotectorinfourthgradeandneverstopped. And yes, there was that whole kiss thing. But that was many moons and lifetimes ago. An emotional response to an emotionalnight.Itmeantsolittlethatneitheroneofushavespokenofitsincethatnight.
“Thanks,” Isayas Mariahfollows the mothers ofthe bride and groom. Igo whenI’mtold, butIhave no idea whatI’m doing AllIcanthinkaboutaretheeventsofthelasttenminutes
Like she knows I’mthinkingabouther,Isee Amelia walkontothe dance floor, hand-in-handwiththe guywho has been hittingonherallday.He’saboutmyheight,atsix-foot-two,andwellbuilt,likelyoneofthemanyprofessionalfootballplayers orcoachesinattendancetonight IwantedtoputmyfistthroughhisfaceattheceremonywhenIsawhimkissherhand Ialmost flippedatablewatchingthemdanceearlier.
I’mshockedIdon'tbreaktheglass.Butholdingontothisistheonlythingkeepingmefromracingtothedancefloor and pullingher awayfromhim Iknow Ineedtolookaway,butIcan’tstopstaringather It’sbeenlikethisall day It’slikemy eyesaresearchingforhereverysecond.
I’ve always thoughtAmelia was beautiful inher understated way Her curves are subtle, and she rarelyshows them, but today,inher fittedpinkdress,everysingleoneis highlighted.Mymouthhas beenwateringsincethesecondIsaw her walk into the ceremony. She’s wearingmakeup, whichis another rarity, butit’s notwhatmakes her beautiful. It’s highlightingher alreadyperfectfeatures. Like her eyes. Her browneyes seemto be sparkling. Her longbrownhair is styled ina wayI’ve neverseenbefore,withsoftcurlshittingathershoulder.
Ilookaroundtoseeifanyarenearme Wesisgone,hopefullytryingtofigureouthowtogetBetsyback Oliver’satthebar hitting on a leggy redhead. My guess is he’s three drinks away from proposing. I have no idea where Simon is after he randomlygotupfromthetableandstompedaway
Ikissedheronceanditcould’veruinedeverything.Theonlyreasonitdidn’tisbecauseIleftfortheArmythenextdayand wasgoneforthebetterpartofthefollowingeightyears IfIdosomethingstupidagain,I’llhavetofacetheconsequences And Idon’tknowifI’mreadyforthat.
Sit still Shane Breathe Take another drink of whiskey Don’t look at her Ignore that her lips are now dangerously close to that fucker’s mouth.
Fuck!HowcanIignorethat?Ican’t Iwon’t.
I’m about to do something stupid again, aren’t I?
Fuck Iam
I can’t hold backanylonger. Maybe it’s the whiskeytalking. Maybe it’s knowingthat Amelia has onlydated or been marriedto losersandassholes Maybeit’sstillthinkingaboutthatkissfromseventeenyearsagowaytoooften ButIcan’tsit byandwatchthishappen.
InearlyknockmychairoverasIstandupandmarchtothedancefloor.ThesongendsassoonasIgettoAmelia,givingme theperfectopportunitytograbher handandpull her offthedancefloor Ihear her sayaquick“Sorry!”asIall butdragher outside.
Amelia lets out a frustrated groan. “Anthonyis a Furycoach. We met before the ceremony. He’s nice. And polite. And funny.AndIthought,youknow,becauseI’magrownwoman,Icoulddancewithamanwithoutbeingtarredandfeatheredfor it”
“Ofcourse,thetrademarkShaneCunninghamsilence,”shesays,hervoicegrowinglouder “Well,sinceyouhavenothing tosay,letmetellyouthis:I’madivorced,singlemomoftwoexhaustingteenagers.Irarelygetnightstotrulyletmyhairdown andforgetaboutmyresponsibilities Andyouknowwhat?Idid Iwashavingfun Ididn’tfeelguiltyforlivingalittle Iwas havinga lovelyeveningwitha lovelymanuntil youpounded your chestand dragged me awaybecause apparently, funisn’t allowedwhereyou’reconcerned”
“Youcanhavefun.”
Thismakesherlaugh,thoughIdoubtshe’sfindingitveryfunny.“Youreallydon’tgetit,doyou?You’resupposedtobemy best friend Same with Wes and Oliver and Simon, but you more than anyone You know everything I’ve been through Everythingwe ’ ve beenthrough.Sowhy?Whycan’tyouletmehavethis?Whydoyouinsistonbeingmyunofficialbodyguard? Whyforonenightcan’tyouletmebeasinglewomanwhowantstohaveagoodtimeataweddingandnotworryaboutwork, ormykids,or ”
Shedoesn’tseeitcoming.Shedidn’tseeitcomingseventeenyearsago,either. Ijustgrabherandkissher.Ikiss the hell outofher.IkissherthewayI’vewantedtokissherforyears.
That’s notthe case tonight.We’re notyoung.We’re notas dumbas we usedtobe.Andbackthenthere was hesitancyin Shane’s kiss ThatIdoremember Tonight?Rightnow?There’s nota dropofindecision This manis kissingme becausehe wantsto.
My stomach immediately drops, which shocks me. I didn’t expect to have that kind of reaction. Yes, I wanted himto apologizefor literallydraggingme outofthe reception.AndIthoughtIwantedhimtoapologize for the kiss.Judgingbythe suddenacheinmygut,maybeIdidn’t?
IwatchAnthonywalkbackinto the reception. Until twentyminutes ago, Anthonywas perfect. Nice. Handsome. Agood dancer.Aprofessional football coach.AleanbuildthatIdidn’tminddancingagainst.Hemademelaughandsmile.Itotally
Istartbackinhisdirection,needingtotalktohimmore,butheshakeshishead,mouthingtheword“Go” Thatstops me inmytracks. He’s right. Ineed to go backinside. This is mybrother’s wedding, and I’ve beengone long enoughthatpeoplemightstartwonderingwhereIam.AndIhavesomeonewho’swaitingforanotherdance.
ToobadI’mnowwishingforadifferentdancepartner
Chapter 4 Amelia
THE ONE NIGHT I WANT A BUSY EMERGENCY ROOM AND WE’RE DEAD THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST PHRASE TO USE ABOUT A placewherepeoplecouldliterallydie,butifyoudon’thaveaslightlytwistedhumor thenyoudon’tbelonginanemergency room.
She crosses her arms andtilts her head,clearlygivingme the lookthatshe knows exactlywhatI’mdoing.“Because we wereoutfromthetimeyoustockedthemthirtyminutesago?”
“Idon’tknowwhoyou’refoolin’butitisn’tme,”Kendrasays,openingthedoorwider.“Sowhatwe’regoingtodonowis gobacktothe station You’re goingtograba slice ofthatweddingcake youbroughtme,andwe’re goingtotalkaboutwhy you’rebeingmoreTypeAthannormal.”
Iputdownthe boxofgloves and exitoutthe door Kendra’s holdingfor me Ido as asked and grab the slices ofcake I rememberedtotakeafterthereception.Idon’tknow how Iremembered.It’ssafetosaymymindwasall overtheplacelast night.Andthismorning.Basically,thepasttwenty-fourhourshavebeenablur.
“Don’tletyourbraintalkyououtofsomethingyourheartwants.BecauseIknowyou,AmeliaEvans.Youwilllookoutfor everyone else’s wellbeingbefore your own. And this time, I’mgoingto need youto sayfucktheir feelings so youcanfuck Shane”
THE ONE THING ABOUT NEVER WANTING A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP, OR HAVING MORE THAN ONE NIGHT WITH A WOMAN, IS I NEVER hadtoworryaboutwhentocall.OrifIshouldmessagethem.Youdon’tcallsomeoneyoumeetatabaroronlyseeonceevery fewmonths.Atthemost,it’saquicktext.A“whatareyoudoing?”Ora“freetonight?”
Yes,Iknowthat’sfuckboylanguage WhichIdidn’tknowwasathinguntilIheardtworookiestalkingaboutitatthestation afew monthsago,butitworksfor me.I’venever seriouslydated.NoonebesidesAmeliainterestedmeinhighschool,soI didn’tseethepointindating Inmytwenties,IwasintheArmy,sowomenconsistedofthetagchasershangingoutatthebars aroundbaseforaquicknightoffun.WhenImovedbacktoRollingHillsaftermytours,therewasonlyonewomanIwanted andshewasmarried Afterherdivorce,Icouldhavesaidsomething,butIdidn’twanttorocktheboat Ineverfeltlikeitwas therighttimetotellherhowIfelt.Solowkeyflingsareit.Or, were it.
Icould texther Justsee how she’s doing ButIdon’twanther to thinkthatI’musingthe textas a ployto bringup the elephantintheroom.Ialsodon’twanttospookher.Iknowsheneedstimetoprocess.That’sjusthowsheis.
Ontheother hand,Ifeel likethelonger Iwait,themoretheconversationwon’thappen Andifitdoes,she’ll listall the reasonswhykissingwastheworstideapossible.Orworse:pretendthatitneverhappened.
“Fuck!” Itoss myphone across the roomafter checkingitfor the thirtiethtime since Igothome fromworkanhour ago. Luckily,itlandssoftlyonmycouch NotsoluckyisthatassoonasIstanduptogooverandgetit justincaseIgetamessage Ihearaknockonthedoor.
IletoutagroanasItrudgetothedoortoletmymominthehouse.Ifherhandsarefull,thatmeansshebroughtoverfood.I mightnotbeinthemoodforcompany,butIdon’tfeellikecookingeither.Amancanonlyordertakeoutsomanynightsaweek. This is Rolling Hills, after all; we have four options for takeout, and none of themmake Barb Cunningham’s chicken and dumplings.
Ilaughand make a mental note to text Noaha warning, thoughIdoubt he’ll see it Last Iknew he was livinginSouth Carolina,runningachairrentalbusinessandlearningtosurf.Butthatwaseightmonthsagosowhoknowswhereheis,orwhat he’sdoing,now
“I’msorry, it’s just beena crazyweek,” I say, givingher a kiss onthe cheekas I go to get a bottle of water fromthe refrigerator
Mymomand Icouldn’tbe anymore different She’s the life ofthe party Always has to know what’s goingonand has nevermetastranger.Thatsheandmydadgotmarriedisatotalmystery.Itakeafterhim.Stoic.Notatalker.IbelieveIheard himgruntmorethananythingwhileIwasgrowingup Butwhenitcametomymom?Themanwasinlove She’stheonlyone towhomheshowedhissofterside.
The lie tastes like shit as Isayit, but Ican’t tell her the truth. I’mprettysure ifshe found out what happened between AmeliaandI,she’dhaveaheartattack Ordoacartwheel Maybeboth It would beallovertownbythetimebingoconcluded tonight.
Mypoor mother. All she wants inlife is to be a grandma. Unfortunately, she gave birthto a sonwho has never had a permanentaddressformorethanayearandanotherwhohasneverhadaseriousrelationship.Atthispoint,I’mprettysureifI toldherIgotawomanpregnantshewouldn’tevenbemad,aslongasherfuturegrandchildrencallherGigi
“Iwon’t,butIhaveafeelingI’llknowthesecondithappens” NormallyIwouldn’taskhertoelaborate thewomanhasahabitofturningafive-minutestoryintoathree-actplay but she’spiquingmycuriosity.“I’llbite.Howwillyouknow?”
“Because youare, and always will be, your father’s son” Momdoesn’ttalkaboutDad a lotsince he passed awayfour years ago. Iknow she misses him. Theywere the loves ofeachother’s lives. She made himlaughand broke himoutofhis shell Hekepthergroundedandmadesureshethoughtbeforesheacted Theybalancedeachotherout “Theman,likeyou,was oneoffewwords.Heneversmiled.Hell,Idon’tthinkIeversawhismouthmove.”
“Hedid Ididn’thaveaclue Wewentthroughschooltogether,andIevensatbyhiminmathclass Themanneversaida word to me. Then, on my twenty-first birthday, I was walking around The Joint telling everyone I was going to try to get twenty-onekissesformybirthday Tammywashelpingmekeepscore” Islapahandtomyforehead.“Mom!”
“What? Iwas youngandhot.Don’tinterrupt.Anyway,your dadoverheardme sayingthis,andbefore Iknew it,the man tookmebythearm,pulledmein,andsaidhewastheonlymanthatwasgoingtobekissingmetonight.Thenhedid.Itwasmy lastfirstkissandthebestbirthdaypresentIcouldhaveaskedfor.”
AS A SINGLE MOM,I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING AT EVERY EVENT MY CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED IN I’VE NEVER MISSED A SPORTING event,bandconcert,orspellingbee.ImightskidinontwowheelsafterprayingthewholetimeIdon’tgetpulledoverfora speedingticket,butI’mthere.
Pointis,eventhoughsometimesImightlooklikeIpulleduponthehotmessexpress,I’mhere It’smorethanIcansayfor myex-husband.Lukeisathree-sportvarsityathlete,andIcancountononehandhowmanygameshe’sbeento.Idon’tthinkhe evenknowsMariahisrunningtrackthisseason Onereasonisbecausehenevercalls Theotherisbecausenooneeverwould thinkMariahwould do anythingathletic related. Hell, whenmygirlie-girl told me she was runningmiddle school track, I almostfellover.Itwasthemostshockingthingshe’severaskedtodo.
Ihearthestartinggunforthefirstrace,whichismycuetogetoutofmycarandwalkintothestadium,grabmysporting eventdinnerofpopcornandM&Msfromtheconcessionstand,wavetoMariah,andfindaplacetositawayfromtheparentsI don’tlike AsIwalkpastthebleachersanddoaninitialscan,IseeJessicaMozzaro,ChristinaLeaftree,andEmilyBabcock That’sahardpass.Theydecidedalongtimeagotheirmissioninlifewastomakeminealivinghell.Theyweretheoriginal meangirls. Made funofme because Iwas a tomboy. Sentme nastymessages because theycould. Theywere also insanely jealousofmyfriendshipwiththeguys.Thenthere’sthewholethingthattwoofthemsleptwithmyex-husbandatonepointin hislife.
Itrynotto audiblygulp whenIlookup athim, butit’s hard. His stare is paralyzing. His presence is consuming. Ittook everythinginmejusttosaythosetwowords HenodsdowntothesnacksIhaveinmyhand.“Whydidyougetthose?” Ilookdownatmypurchasesthenbackuptohim “Becauseit’satrackmeetandthisiswhatIeatatsportingevents?It’s thedinnerofchampions.”
Myvoice has a pinchofanger init,whichIdofeel badabout.Butwhyis he here? Iknow RollingHills isn’texactlya hoppingplaceonaTuesdayevening,butIcanthinkofalotbetterthingstobedoingthanwatchingseventhandeighthgraders runinacircle.
Ihearhiswords,butitstilltakesmeafewsecondstorespondasI’mstillthinkingaboutmotorcyclesex “Yeah Weird” IwatchMariahline up atthe start, and I’minawe ofher. She looks like a seasoned pro, notsomeone who juststarted runningafewmonthsago She’srotatingherneckassheapproachestheblockandshakesoutherlegsbeforegettingset When thestartergunpops,she’soffandrunning.Anddamn…mygirlisfast.
“GoMariah!Push!Push!”
That’s notcomingfromme. No, it’s fromShane. All Icando is smile as Iwatchthis mancheer for mydaughter. He’s pumpinghisarmandclappinglikehe’ssingle-handedlygoingtohelpherwinthisrace.Ithinkhe’stheloudestonerightnow. Andhe’snotevenherdad Exceptheisinallthewaysitcounts
