Forever Love Read online

  When we decided to write these full length novels, we wanted to tell the story of six people forced to deal with one tragedy that led them down a path none of them thought they would be able to overcome.

  We wanted to show our readers, with words and our imagination, how one night out with a few friends changed forever.

  We wanted to tell you a story that so intricately weaved together their lives and their loves in such a way that you had to know what happened to each one of them. That’s when we decided that one of us would write book one, Forever Dark, the story of Cash and Madison, and the other would write Forever Light, the story of Landon and Macy.

  The suggested reading order is Forever Dark, and then Forever Light but you must read both to understand the complete story being told here.

  These novels are an intricately woven puzzle formed from love, heartache, sacrifice, and salvation that spans two full-length novels and has crossover components in each that will leave you yearning for the whole story. Join us as we start the journey of Cash and Madison, and Macy and Landon as they make their way out of the dark and into the light in the Forever Love Series.

  You will see that both stories follow the exact same time frame and include the same group of friends. While some of the conversations will match up, you’re getting both sides and then some additional insight into each of these individuals struggling to overcome that one night. What you read in Forever Dark, you may also see in Forever Light but more extensive interactions, more that happened behind the scenes.

  Thank you, and we hope you enjoy our special treat of offering books one and two at the same time, and for the price of one book.

  Enjoy the stories!

  Chelsea & Megan

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

  Published in the United States of America

  © Chelsea Landon 2014

  ISBN:

  ISBN:

  EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement including infringement without monetary gain is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250.000.

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the author.

  FOREVER DARK

  A Backseat Promise

  Chapter One: Madison

  Chapter Two: Cash

  Chapter Three: Madison

  Chapter Four: Cash

  Chapter Five: Madison

  Chapter Six: Cash

  Chapter Seven: Madison

  Chapter Eight: Cash

  Chapter Nine: Madison

  Chapter Ten: Cash

  Chapter Eleven: Madison

  Chapter Twelve: Cash

  Chapter Thirteen: Madison

  Bonus Scene

  Author Acknowledgements

  FOREVER LIGHT

  How Forever Changed

  Chapter One: Landon

  Chapter Two: Macy

  Chapter Three: Landon

  Chapter Four: Macy

  Chapter Five: Landon

  Chapter Six: Macy

  Chapter Seven: Landon

  Chapter Eight: Macy

  Chapter Nine: Landon

  Chapter Ten: Macy

  Chapter Eleven: Landon

  Chapter Twelve: Macy

  Chapter Thirteen: Landon

  Author Acknowledgements

  Chelsea Landon & Megan Smith Books

  “Guilt is to the spirit what pain is to the body.”

  — Elder David Bednar

  July 4, 2007

  “You want to?”

  “Yeah.”

  By the light in her eyes, she wanted to. And I obviously did. Bad. I had a constant erection around her these days. You can only get so many hand and blow jobs before you want more.

  I reached for the handle knowing Steven would let us use the spare bedroom. Madison surprised me, like she so often did and shook her head. “No. Here.”

  My eyes went wide as I sat back in the seat. Madison crawled over on my lap, straddling me. “In the car?”

  She smiled, thick black lashes fluttering closed. “A backseat promise.”

  “A backseat promise?”

  “Forever.” She said unzipping her dress.

  I swallowed, watching her every movement with hooded eyes. Holy shit. Shaking my head, I smiled. “I fucking love you.”

  I learned early on you’d never convince Madison Thomas to do anything unless she’s ready.

  It took me a minute to not only find the condom in my wallet, but also get it on. I was eager and rushing into it in case she changed her mind.

  We were fourteen, just weeks shy of fifteen. She could change her mind.

  And I would still respect that if she did. Just before I entered her, I hesitated.

  Just for a moment to give her a chance.

  Nothing.

  It couldn’t have been good for her. It didn’t seem that way at least by the trembling of her body and the way she wouldn’t let go of my neck.

  “We’re having sex.” She laughed, burying her face in my neck.

  Kissing her cheek, my breath came out in gasps, I brushed her hair from her face. “Yeah,” I laughed. “I guess we are.” And then I figured I should warn her that it wasn’t lasting long. “Madison?”

  “Yeah.” She panted, seeming in pain.

  “I can’t hold on any longer.” My knees were shaking.

  Actually shaking.

  “Oh, thank God.”

  Shaking my head I laughed, breathless and kissed her neck. “Can I come inside you?”

  What? You have a condom on dumb ass. Of course you could. But asking is better, right?

  Fuck. Stop thinking.

  Madison laughed her chest shaking mine. “Yeah… isn’t that the point of sex?”

  I didn’t answer.

  I didn’t last long. Maybe a minute longer and she smiled. “Nice play.”

  December 3, 2010

  The sound of the bell ringing brings me out of my trance of that night I took her virginity. They’re the same thoughts that have been consuming me for days, maybe weeks. Yeah, probably longer than that even. There’s a world around me that’s never catching much of my attention.

  I’ve got one girl on my mind.

  The only girl.

  Students file into the classroom, surrounding me as Steven sits down next to me wearing his navy blue game day jersey, his elbow bumping my ribs. I feel him staring at me for a minute. I pretend he’s not.

  He leans forward, watching me, his dark hair hanging over his forehead. “What’s up?”

  I smile.

  “Seriously dude, are you really thinking of proposing to Madison?”

  Madison Thomas has been my girl since I was nine. For almost ten years she’s owned my heart and I can’t imagine my life being any different. After saving for an entire year, I was finally able to buy her a ring three weeks ago. It wasn’t much, and someday I’d buy her a better one. Eighteen may be young but if anyone can make it, Madison and I can. We�
�re strong. Sure we’ve broken up, completely messed up, but we certainly never gave up.

  That has to stand for something, right?

  “Yeah.” I nod, feeling kind of weird about it. It’s still on my mind that we’re too young and college will change shit. I know we won’t get married until after college but I want to go there knowing she’s mine. Forever. “I bought a ring,” I say, shrugging.

  “No fucking way? When are you going to do it?”

  “Tomorrow after the game.”

  “Do it on the beach.” Steven suggests, as if I should have thought of it. “That’s about as romantic as you can afford since you blew your wad on a ring.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” He flips his chemistry book open and then sighs knowing he didn’t finish his assignment last night. “She’ll totally eat that shit up, she’ll say yes, you’ll get laid… win-win.”

  Steven Griffin and Landon Hayes are my best friends. I’ve known them since I was five. We met at the park one day with our parents and have been inseparable ever since. From sleepovers to birthday parties to hanging out on the weekends riding our bikes to playing together for what seems like forever, nothing has kept us from remaining best friends for over a decade. I trust them probably more than I trust anyone. They were there for me when my mom died. Even camped out in my tree fort that I refused to leave for a week after her funeral. Because of that, I take Steven’s words and flip them around.

  She would like that but Madison is simple.

  She doesn’t go for the romance.

  Our first time proved that. She’ll choose spontaneity every time.

  “Fuck, she has to say yes.”

  “She’s practically married to your dick already.”

  “Come on, man,” I shove his shoulder. “Don’t be nasty.”

  “Hey, I’m just jealous. A little. Not really, but Jesus, you’ve been with her for like forever. And she gave it up a lot sooner than Lex and Macy did.”

  “I can’t believe talking about marriage got you talking about sex. Is that where your mind is always?”

  He sighs pretending to be crushed by my observation. “Pretty much.” His frown cracks into a smile that I know him for. “That and football.”

  Then he shifts in his seat and his face grows serious again. For a moment I think he’s going to talk about the game tonight but then I realize this is Steven. “How old were you?”

  “Are you a fuckin’ girl?” I roll my eyes. “What is wrong with you?”

  “I’m just curious.” He holds up his palms when Mr. Benner glares his direction. “For my own knowledge.”

  I wasn’t going to answer him. But then he just kept it up. For twenty minutes.

  “Fourteen.”

  He lets out a breath fanning himself and then pulling his game day jersey away from his chest like he’s too hot. “Lucky bastard. I was sixteen.”

  “That’s only two years. And we were almost fifteen.”

  “Still.” His eyes went wide. “That’s two whole years. TWO.” He whisper shouts. “Like dog years, in teenage boy years, I’m sure that two years is closer to fourteen.”

  “You don’t age like a dog, Steven.” I turn in my seat and face the other way when I see Mr. Benner approaching us. He doesn’t care that we’re playing in the championship game tomorrow. We’re just troublemakers in his class. Well, Steven is.

  Mr. Benner tosses Steven’s book on the floor and makes us both jump in our seats. “Pay attention, boys.”

  “You better be ready for later.” Steven says, whispering so Mr. Benner doesn’t hear him, his blue eyes sparkling with the same mischief he had when we were seven and he filled water balloons with pee. “I have some next level shit planned.”

  I don’t turn toward him but I do look at him. “Next level shit?”

  “You’ll see.” He shrugs. “Madison showed me some tricks.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

  “Oh yeah. And you’re totally jealous, aren’t you?”

  “No.” My smile breaks through. “Who’s to say she didn’t show me something too?”

  That gets him thinking. And nervous. Two things Steven hates to be or do.

  Next level shit came at the pep rally. We’d been training for this damn pep rally for two weeks. Two goddamn weeks and we still didn’t know if we were going to be able to pull it off. You can’t teach football players to dance. You just can’t. But my girl tried despite that.

  “I’m supposed to do what with my hips?” Steven wasn’t waiting for an answer and laughed. “Oh man, that’s like I’m fucking someone. Cool!”

  Madison looked to me and rolled her eyes. “It’s like teaching monkeys. I can’t do this.”

  Landon grabbed his chest, offended. “Bullshit. I’m a better dancer than both of them any day. Don’t lump me in with them.”

  I raised my eyebrows, and that might be true but I would never admit it. I was just about to show him when Madison put her hands on my chest. “We know you got moves.” She reached down and smacked my ass. “Now do the damn dance.”

  When the bell rings for class to let out, I see Madison for a brief moment but the boys and I rush to the gym so we’re not late. I know if I had a minute alone with Madison I would have wanted one more, and then, well, we wouldn’t be at this pep rally. We’d be in my truck fogging up the windows like we did most days.

  We’re standing outside the gym with the boys waiting for the pep rally to begin when Madison approaches us, running down the hall in her skinny dark jeans and navy blue Cougars hoodie with my name and number on the back. She’s fucking beautiful. Fucking and beautiful don’t really seem like the perfect words for her but how else do I describe her? Soft ivory skin, bright blue eyes and thick long brownish blonde hair that I wrap my hands in every chance I get.

  She stops in front of me, grins and jumps in my arms slamming me against the wall and pinning Landon Hayes there too.

  Landon laughs. “As much as I wouldn’t mind a threesome, Cash just isn’t who I had in mind, Madison.”

  Madison rolls her eyes and pushes Landon backwards by shoving her hand in his face. “Shut up.” Her eyes land on mine as she raises her hands and grabs my face mask. “Remember, shake it for me.”

  Twisting around, I pin her against the concrete wall outside the gym. My hands move to cup her ass. “As long as you shake it for me tonight.”

  Landon and Steven both mutter something, but we ignore them when Madison pulls my helmet off and kisses me. Every time this girls kisses me I fall a little more. So fucking cheesy but I do. And I accused Steven of being a fucking girl.

  Her legs fall about the time I’m going to have to adjust myself and Coach Mitchel clears his throat. “Don’t embarrass me out there, boys.”

  Madison untangles herself from my arms and flicks the coach’s chest. “I taught them. Have faith.” And then she turns back to us and points at me, Landon and Steven. “Don’t fuck up.”

  Coach shakes his head. “Language, Madison.”

  Madison smiles, sweet as she can and starts walking backwards with her palms raised. When Coach turns around, she flips him off.

  Typical of her.

  I would never do that shit. We’re so completely different, but yet she’s everything I could ever imagine wanting. Sweet but sinful.

  When I turn back around I can hear the screams and chants of the school. For just a split second I’m lost until Steven’s doing his own chanting beside me, bumping into me every couple seconds.

  The gym is crazy, louder than I’ve ever heard before. They’re desperate for that title. Just as hungry for the win. They believe we can do it. Because of that, this pep rally is our appreciation for their support. We know we can do this and we’ve been planning this for weeks.

  Steven’s beside me, his hand on his hip, shaking his right hand and then twirling and doing the hip swivel Madison drilled into him. Landon’s watching him, shaking his head in disbelief that Steven’s probably more excited about
this dance than the game.

  Tomorrow afternoon we play in the 6A Championship game. Me, and these boys surrounding me, have led this school through an undefeated season and now we are going to show them how to win a Championship game.

  We’re all in full gear, aside from cleats, standing at the door when the dance team gives us the signal.

  When we enter the stadium it goes black as “Welcome Back” by Mase blares.

  My boys enter all wild and roaring them to life but I walk in last, slower, holding a football in the air with my right hand. The crowd screams, pretty girls calling my name and I can feel the bass in my chest as it pulses. When I’m center court, the gym goes black and then a spotlight catches me.

  We start with me lip syncing “The Time” by Black Eyed Peas, my right hand on my hip, a football in the other. The crowd around me chants my name, I smile and start bouncing up and down getting the crowd even more pumped up for the show we are about to give them.

  When the music comes to the bass, it fades to “Take It Ta Da House.” I toss the ball to our mascot and the boys and me turn around and huddle together in the center of the gym, chanting, swaying like we’re getting ready for a play. We break huddle, line up, smile, and go into our choreographed dance Madison trained us on. I watch her face when we move into formation and she throws her head back laughing when I start shaking my ass with my right hand waving.

  We play girls very well.

  Mostly Landon. Crazy bastard.

  When we get to the part where we’re riding each other doggie style and then breaking apart to dip it low and thrust our hips into the ground, every single girl in that gym stands and screams.

  Every. Single. One.

  Steven comes around in front of me when the music fades into “Like A Virgin.” He drops to his fucking knees in front of me and holds out his hand like he’s proposing. My eyes fly to Madison as she watches with curiosity, her hand over her mouth.

  Landon’s humping the floor in front of us and I’m looking at Steven with wide eyes. “Get off the floor.”