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Chapter 40
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The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Series Chapter 41
NickLove is a promise delivered, already broken. That's what I learned from the first half of my life. Love hurts, it breaks up families, it brings unhappiness and pain, disappointment and sorrow. Love doesn't save, it steals. Anything and everything worth having. But watching Ransom and Stella as they dance around their reception, seeing how happy they are. Watching the smile covering both of their faces, the way my best friend holds my sister in his arms? It makes me wonder if I'm the broken one, and everyone else knows the answer to the secret. There's a part of me that thinks I'm wrong, because I see successful couples all around me. The difference in those couples and what I've been a part of? Me. I'm always the common denominator, and after a while – you come to realize how bad you are loving anyone else, including yourself.Sighing, I bring my bottle of beer up to my lips, taking a drink. It's nasty, because I've been nursing the same one all night. I'm not much of a dri
The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Series Chapter 42
NickThe devil on my right shoulder is completely at odds with the angel on the left. He's telling me to take what I want, she's telling me to do what I know is right. Me? I'm at odds. For once to not be the guy who doesn't think he deserves shit. I've been denying myself for so long, but at the same time, I've also been denying Kelsea what she wants and what she deserves."Take it, Nick," she whispers, holding her palm against mine. Her eyes are closed as she continues whispering the words almost like a prayer. "Please, just take it."In the end, it's not because of my needs and wants, it's the desperation in her voice, the way it catches on the last word that rocks me out of my stupor. It's the fact she still wants me, no matter how many times I've hurt her, no matter how much I've pushed her away. It's the fact she's never given up on me. Even when I've given up on myself. A groan is ripped from the back of my throat, coming out on just this side of a growl as my fingers cu
The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Series Chapter 43
KelseaI'm fighting to open my eyes as I hear rustling the next morning. To be honest, I'm surprised he's still here. Given what I know about him, I figured he'd take the chance to slip away in the dead of the night. Tiredness washes over my body, along with a relaxation I haven't felt in months. There's even a soreness, courtesy of what I spent the night doing. The stress of helping Stella get married and my worry over Nick has finally caught up with me as I sink further against my mattress."Kels." I hear a deep voice whispering in my ear. I feel the scratch of a beard on my shoulder."Hmmm?" I stretch, before burrowing deeply into the arms wrapped around me.Moist lips land on my bare shoulder before the heat of his breath pulses against me. "I have to be at work in an hour, but I don't want to go.""I don't want you to go either," I whisper as he tightens his arms around me. Pressing myself against him, I feel his hard length at my back. "So that's how it's going to b
The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Series Chapter 44
Nick"Running late today?"Immediately I'm on the defensive as I hear Kelsea's dad, and my boss, Menace speak to me, even though I can hear the teasing lilt in his voice. I'm almost an hour late, I haven't showered since the wedding, and I have a three-day-old beard which isn't like me at all. But I can't tell him where I've been, what I've been doing. The only person I respect more than him is my dad, so I attempt to take his teasing in stride."Just a little." I hurry to see if there's any info in my mailbox, doing my best to not meet his eyes."I think we're all a little slower than normal after the wedding last night. Did you get Kels home alright? Caleb said you were taking her when I asked."It's an innocent question. Something any dad would ask about his daughter, but I immediately feel guilty. He's my superior who's always treated me with respect and supported anything I've set out to do in my job. But I'm also not prepared to tell him how I spent last night and this
The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Series Chapter 45
Kelsea"Hey!" I wave to Ruby as I throw my purse down on her couch. "Where are the kids?""Kari took them to karate." She grins. "So that means we get to have adult food and adult conversation tonight. I have that wine you and Stella introduced me to. Want a glass?""Don't mind if I do. It's been a long day, even if I didn't have to work." I grin back at her. I love my niece and nephew, but sometimes they completely overtake every situation they're in. Tonight I'm just wanting to have a relaxing time. Before I can say anything, Caleb comes through the door."Ladies," he greets us both.I'm almost jealous when he snakes his arms around her waist, kissing at her neck, grabbing her ear between his teeth. The two of them have such an intoxicating passion and such an all-encompassing chemistry, it forces those around them to pay attention. Deep in my gut I know the way they look at each other is what I want, what I deserve. Right next to the feeling is the fear I may never get to
The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Series Chapter 46
KelseaIt's been a full seven days since the last time I saw Nick. He hasn't answered my messages, but I keep sending them, because I want him to know someone cares about him. It's not in me to give up on someone, so I keep trying. Trying to chisel away at the rough exterior around his heart, hoping he'll let me in. All it takes is one fracture, I'll seep in, warm him, show him what a life would be like with the two of us together. It wouldn't always be perfect, but every day Nick would know someone loves him. Someone would wait for him to come home every night.K: I hope you're having a good day. Not stalking or anything, but I know you're working days this week. Maybe we could see each other one night? I miss my friend, more than anything, Nick. I miss my friend. Please tell me we didn't screw up what we had together. Please.Tears pool behind my eyes, I hate being that vulnerable with him. It always feels like I'm the only one being vulnerable, but I know if I were to talk to
The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Series Chapter 47
NickIt's raining slightly as I pull my patrol car up to The Café. I've signaled into dispatch I'm taking a lunch break, and I let my shoulders drop. Since that night with Kels I've been tightly wound. Not because of what we did together, but because of the way she made me feel. I've always wanted what everyone has. I just convinced myself it would never happen for me. Now? Now I'm not so sure. Getting out, I lock my patrol car and head into what most of us around town call our home away from home. Caleb proposed to Ruby here, from what I heard Ace and Violet met here, and Ransom's family practically lives here. I see him sitting at one of the side tables, Rambo at his feet. When he sees me, his tail wags, and I can't help but smile down at the dog. He can always bring a smile to anyone's face. Doesn't seem to matter what they're going through. "Hey." Ransom reaches out a hand to me when I get close enough. "Good to see you.""You too." We give each other the kind of br
The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Series Chapter 48
Kelsea"Today has been a day."I turn my head to the voice of my fellow medical assistant, Karsyn. We both started working here at the same time as Stelle, but while she's moved on, we've been holding it down together. She's become one of my closest friends, right next to Stelle. "Has it been?" I haven't really noticed because all I can think about is Nick picking me up this afternoon."Yeah," she sighs. "But that could just be me." She purses her lips. "I've been seeing Tucker off and on for the last few months, more of a friends with benefits thing. I want more, but he's scared. He wants more, but I'm scared. That's how we've been, and now I just don't know what we are."Tucker, I know that name from somewhere. "How do I know him?"She gives me a look of surprise, drawing her eyebrows together. "Tucker, you know, the K-9 trainer?""Oh right, I'm sorry it's not working out the way you want it to."The breath she exhales rustles the bangs lying against her forehead. Wh
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