A Chance with Spring: The Four Seasons Series, #3

I hear voices in my head and I love that it’s totally okay.

~ Alora Kate

Copyright © 2017 by Alora Kate

All rights reserved.

Editor: Silvia Curry

Cover by: Alora Kate

Formatting by: Alora Kate

This is a work of fiction.

Characters, Names, Places, and Incidents

are products of MY Crazy Imagination.

No part of this publication may be reproduced,

distributed, or transmitted in any form

or by any means, including photocopying, recording,

or other electronic or mechanical methods,

without the prior written permission of the publisher,

except in the case of brief quotations

embodied in critical reviews

and certain other noncommercial uses

permitted by copyright law.

Copyright © 2017 by Alora Kate

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

To the ladies in my life,

your love and support mean the world to me.

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I love hearing from you and reading your reviews!

Happy Reading!

Dedicated to the readers.

––––––––

This book contains graphic language

Recommended for 18+

a

Chance

with

Spring

by

Alora Kate

Chapter 1 - Spring   

Why are you eating cereal?           

I leaned against the counter next to Fall. We had a view of the dining and living room so we could see most everyone. They were scattered around relaxing, checking out their Christmas presents and visiting. Every year a different person in the family got to pick the tree out. This year was Summer’s, and she went with a white fake tree. We added our family ornaments and lights per usual and it looked great. It was at least six foot tall and so very bright. Overall, it was a good Christmas despite what happened earlier that day.

That’s a stupid fucking question.              

It was a stupid fucking question, I muttered. We all knew how much he loved cereal. It was like his crack after all. He finished the bowl and set it in the sink behind us.

What’s wrong? he asked.

Nothing, I lied.

Liar. Where is he?

Who?

He chuckled and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to him. I was shorter than he was, but tall for a girl so I was still able to rest my head on his shoulder comfortably.

So you don’t want to talk about it.

He was right. I said everything I needed to say to Chance. It was ugly. I cried. I would never admit that to anyone though.

I’m here if you need me, he added.          

Fall finally told us what happened back in high school. It took him long enough, but with Hannah’s help, he was able to open up and share his loss and pain. I couldn’t imagine going through something like that. Melly, his high school girlfriend, ended up pregnant. She went behind Fall’s back and had an abortion. Everything made sense once we understood what happened. I always knew it had something to do with Melly, but figured when the time was right he would share. And he did.

Now he’s better, because of Hannah. I loved that bitch.

Speaking of Hannah, she and Summer were huddled together on the other side of the room. They were by the sliding glass doors that led to the deck outside. I swear Hannah was crying or trying not to cry. It was very hard to figure out being as far away from them as I was. She looked like she won the lottery. That part was obvious.

What’s up with Hannah? I asked.

He shrugged the shoulder I was curled into.

I share, you share? I suggested.

It’s not a big deal, he said.

I kept watching the girls. Summer looked like she was counting stuff off with her fingers and Hannah would nod yes or no. Then, I saw Hannah messing with her finger, like she was itching it. She twisted her hand just right and then I saw it. With the light shining just right, I couldn’t believe no one else saw it.

There was a ring on her finger!

I moved from my comfortable spot and stood face to face with him.

You did it?

Shut it. I don’t want everyone to know.

I smacked his shoulder. Why not?

It’ll jinx us. Every time I try to do something for her, it backfires.

But it’s funny. The roses on the floor incident were my favorite fail of his so far. He asked me my opinion and I told him, but not once did I tell him to throw the entire bundle of flowers, including stems, on to the floor.

He ignored me.

I’m prepared for something bad to happen. I told her to keep it quiet, at least for tonight. See what happens.

I snorted. Paranoid.

Fuck yes, I’m paranoid. Now, tell me what the asshole did.

I looked over my shoulder at Hannah. She was happy. Excited. Full of hope.

I choked up a little and couldn’t even look Fall in the eye. Somehow I managed to say, I broke up with him.

Again? What did the asshole do?                           

I took care of it, I told the floor.

I’m sure you did.

Everyone knew that I had a temper; not all the time, but sometimes. In my defense, my temper only flares when it really counts.

I finally looked at him. His eye contact always freaked me out; it was like he was searching for the information buried deep inside me. I found it very hard to lie to him for some reason.

Fine, I whispered. I saw him with another girl.

My stomach twisted.  

What was he doing with this other girl?

It’s over, so there’s no point in talking about it.

My stomach twisted again. I got a little dizzy but I forced myself to remain calm. I hugged myself tighter.

Tell me, Fall demanded, or I’ll have to visit the shop tomorrow and Tristan is always with me. He’ll have my back. He would too. I didn’t need my younger brother getting involved.

You piss me off sometimes, I told him.

Not sure why.

I looked down at my feet again. I felt embarrassed and I wasn’t even sure why. I had done nothing wrong. Fall placed a finger under my chin and tipped my head back up.

Damn him and his eye contact.

I took a deep breath in and blew it out, then spoke, He was having dinner with a girl. At a restaurant. They were holding hands.

Huh, he said staring off into space, thinking about what I said.

I continued, Yeah well, it looked romantic and they were smiling at each other.

He shook his head. Please don’t tell me you made a scene.

I was shocked he would say such a thing.

Don’t give me that shocked look, he said with a smile. "It’s something you would do and have done."

Whatever, I mumbled. I didn’t make a scene. I left.

It hurt too much to make a scene. I was immediately crushed. My poor heart was still slowly crumbling apart, even though I had never told him I loved him. It still felt like heartbreak.

Fall pulled me into a hug and I embraced it. I rarely got hugs from him.

I relaxed, soaking up the love and support he was silently giving me. It was nice to have my brother back. He was more relaxed, always smiling, and for the most part, back to himself. I was so happy for him and Hannah.

I was happy just this morning. Then it all fell apart.

We were the closest to the front door, so we were the first to notice when someone started knocking. It was like two am. Our family is crazy like that, but who would be here at this hour?

I’ll get it, Fall said as he walked toward the door.

The second the door opened, Chance’s voice slipped in through the crack. "I need to talk to her."

Fuck off, Fall said casually. I think he might have tried to shut the door. I was afraid to peek around the corner. If I saw him, I might not be strong enough; I might just give in and believe his lies.

"I’m not sure what she said, but she didn’t see what she thought she saw."

Oh yes, I did!

Look, man, it’s late, or early. Whatever. She’ll talk to you when she wants too.

My dad made his way across the room and my mom was right behind him. I tried to hide in the kitchen, fade away into the corner, but it didn’t work. I should have just ran.

Chance! There you are. Get in here. My mom pushed the men aside, clearly unaware of the situation. She disappeared for a few seconds and then came back with Chance at her side.

Spring! Look who made it. Wasn’t it sweet of him to come all this way?

I didn’t answer, nor did I look at him. I just nodded to my mom and that was all it took. She knew something was wrong.

Chance, dear, she started, why don’t you go have a beer with the guys. You know, talk about football and stuff. She patted his arm dismissing him. The beers are in the fridge.

Fall leaned around my mom and shot me a look. I waved him off and he followed Chance and my dad into the living room. Fall kept looking at me while listening to my dad who was telling them a story—probably about fishing. I could feel Chance’s eyes on me even though I continued to ignore him.

Spring, honey, Mom grabbed my hand, what’s wrong?

We broke up.

No, she whispered.

Yes, he’s a cheater! I didn’t yell but I wanted to. Seeing him, standing there like nothing happened spiked my anger again. The scene in the restaurant was still fresh in my mind. I kept seeing them, sitting there being happy and holding hands.

Mom looked over her shoulder at Chance and sighed. He doesn’t look like a man who cheated. He looks worried and he won’t stop looking at you. I think you should talk to him.

I did talk, while I packed my bags and left his sorry ass.

She rubbed my arms and told me to relax.

Hah! Relax my ass.               

I’ll buffer, Mom said. It wasn’t a question; she offered and suddenly she was half way across the room. She was getting Chance. This was going to happen whether I wanted it to or not. I wasn’t ready for another talk. The wounds were still fresh considering it had just happened!

The last few months had been spectacular. Chance was a very good lover; the best I ever had. He was tall, handsome, bald, and covered in tattoos. He had everything I wanted in a man. He was kind, sweet, and he absolutely adored me.

I couldn’t believe my mom was doing this. I felt like I was in grade school again being sent to the principal’s office. I couldn’t believe I was allowing it. Nevertheless, I felt somewhat numb, so whatever.

Chance, dear, Mom said as she shut the door, I heard you cheated on my beautiful daughter. Mom got right to the point. I smiled at that.

Good one, Mom.

Chance sat on the edge of my bed. I hadn’t slept in that room for a few weeks. The walls were bare, the curtains closed, and it still smelled fresh and clean from the air freshener I bought when we first moved into this house. I loved having things smell fresh and clean, it