Very Wicked Things (37 page)

And Archie? He was seeing a nice lady he’d met at his gym. Her name was Lucy, and Cuba liked her. I could tell by the way he talked about her.

Cuba lived in the same building as us, just one floor up, although he stayed here with us most of the time. Between helping his dad with a yearlong camp for underprivileged kids and his classes at Southern Methodist, he was busy. So, having him here meant everything to me. I teased him sometimes about spending his time with three ladies, but he didn’t care. Heather-Lynn fawned over him constantly, and Sarah believed he’d always been around. He ate it up.

He and I loved exploring our new neighborhood together. The library was my favorite, where we’d wander inside the stacks for hours, getting lost in the aisles, holding hands. Every now and then, when the librarians who worked the circulation desk weren’t looking, we’d sneak into the service elevator and ride down to the basement where books were kept in piles on big work tables. Of course, my days of stealing books were over, but it was a good place to kiss. A good place to explore with someone you loved.

An off key song reached my ears, and I grinned from my big bed. Someone had gotten up early. And I knew exactly who. Eager to hear more and watch the action, I climbed out and pulled on leggings and a tunic. I detangled my hair with my fingers as I walked down the hall, the laughter from the kitchen tugging at my heart.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the hall mirror and paused. The blue streaks still decorated the ends of my dark hair, hanging on. I smiled, remembering the girl who’d wanted him to
see
me.

Cuba had played with the strands last night, his eyes heavy with promise. “It’s almost gone,” he noted from above as we’d lain in bed.

“You want me to get more?”

He’d grinned and kissed me long and hard, until we were all over each other, forgetting the question. Then, much later, he’d pistoned behind me, his hands clutching me. With his mouth on my nape, he’d whispered hoarsely, “I’ll love you no matter what color your hair is.” Those words had sent my body straight over the edge, had me panting into the sheets at the way he loved me. All holds barred, he loved me with everything he had. Two survivors who’d had to grow up way too fast, we’d found each other.

The pain of our break-up faded. He’d proven himself to me in Vegas when he’d gotten rid of Alexander. He’d proven himself by forging a friendship with Spider, even though dude could be an ass sometimes. As for his own guilt, he and his dad were going to grief counseling together. It was something they should have done years ago, but sometimes it takes reaching your low before you realize you have to put effort into learning to live again.

And me? I’ve chosen to not judge myself. I’ve seen how self-hate can rip you apart inside. I’d watched my mama give up, and that was not part of who I was. I’d seen the way Cuba had punished himself.

I refused to dwell on the sacrifices I made. I chose optimism instead.

Speaking of Spider, we were headed down to Austin tonight to see Vital Rejects play. Not to anyone’s surprise, he and Sebastian had become good friends, both of them forgoing college to work on their music. Not sure how it would turn out, but I couldn’t wait to see what they did together.

And Sebastian?

He’d changed from the sweet guy I’d met in Lit class. Emma had broken him and the baby? Well…

I walked in the kitchen and lost my breath.

“
Dovey, Dovey, my lovey
,” came the deep baritone song from the white stove where Cuba stirred what looked like pancake mix. My tummy rumbled. He liked to feed me. See, we were perfect.

He wore a white wife beater with black track pants and looked sexy as hell. I salivated for him, not just breakfast. Swooping in, I wrapped my arms around his muscled waist and kissed him on the lips. Best way to start the day. His amber eyes smoldered, giving me delicious shivers all over my body. Yeah, we’d be going straight back to bed after this.

Heather-Lynn made a gagging face at me as she set the table. I grinned manically. Love made me happy.

Sarah sat at the table reading the newspaper, caught by something she saw in the Sunday comic section. I kissed the top of her head. A home health nurse came five times a week to be with her while Heather-Lynn and I had the other two days full time. It had been hard giving her care up to a stranger, to someone who didn’t know her, but it was a better choice than the nursing home. I didn’t know what the future held, but with Cuba with me, I wasn’t as scared of the dark.

She glanced up at me, her green eyes open and innocent like a child.

Sometimes she knew exactly who I was; most times she didn’t.

And even though she’s fading, there’re moments when she’ll grab my hand and say, “I know you. You’re that dancer.”

I’d want to cry, but I’d smile and say,
Yes, that’s me
.

Last week, I’d been brushing out her hair after a bath, noticing that she plucked at her gown.

“What’s up?” I’d asked her.

“I think there’s something wrong with me. Is there?”

Oh, the pain of that. To know that sometimes she recognized the forgetting. Did she perhaps get glimpses of what she’d lost? Did she catch snippets of her and David? Did she remember the little girl without hope who’d stumbled into her studio, determined to make dance her world? And finally, did she remember I adored her?

“Your name is Sarah, and you are loved by three wonderful people.”

It was enough to make her smile.

“How many pancakes you want?” Cuba asked me, pulling me back to the here and now.

Ricky barked in the background, because he wanted pancakes, too. Goofy dog. Heather-Lynn butted in and called out that she wanted three—and a side of bacon. Cuba chuckled and told her to make her own damn bacon. He was pancake man and that was it. But, then he reached in the fridge and pulled out the pork.

And something happened. Clicked. Nothing crazy or freakish, but an important shift nonetheless. You see, it’s corny, but I believe only a few moments in your life possess special magic, and I believe each person is allotted only a handful. And, as the love I wanted was
happening right in front of me
, trust for the future settled its warm feathers around me.

And along with that came the knowledge that I’d never be lonely again.

I’d never be hungry. For anything.

From across the table, Sarah reached over and threaded her fingers through mine. I don’t know why. Maybe she’d known I’d been contemplating life. Perhaps in her illness, she was more tuned in to people and their emotions. But it was as if she sensed my moment.

My somedays were all coming true.

I’d wanted to fly and I had. In more ways than one.

I gazed at Cuba. He immediately put down his bowl and came over to me.

He titled my chin up, hitting me with those drop-dead gorgeous eyes. “What is it?”

I shook my head, emotional. “You’re never going
anywhere
other than right here, are you?”

He smiled softly and brushed his lips against mine. “Never. I can’t imagine being anywhere else but right here with you and my new family. And someday, I’ll be a doctor, and you’ll dance as a principal. Best part is we’ll be married. We’ll have babies, of course, maybe four; at least three.”

I gaped, and he chuckled.

“Babies,” Sarah called out, and oh, I laughed.

Yes, yes, yes.
Someday.

The End

Bonus Scenes available at
http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/

Want more Spider or Sebastian? Let me know which one you want. :)

Read
Very Wicked Beginnings
, a prequel novella to
Very Wicked Things

All Proceeds benefit the
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22024061-to-be-announced-may-5th

For more information about the next book, please visit my social media sites:

http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/

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ILSA MADDEN-MILLS WRITES about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap. She spends her days with two small kids, a neurotic cat, and her Viking husband. She collects magnets and rarely cooks except to bake her own pretzels. When she’s not typing away at a story, you can find her drinking too much Diet Coke, jamming out to Pink, or checking on her carefully maintained chocolate stash. She loves to hear from fans and fellow authors. Drop her a line on her website or Facebook page.

THERE ARE SO many fantastic people in the indie world that made this journey possible. Please know that my gratitude in no way lessens as the list continues.

For my mom who always believed in me. Since I was small, she told me to fly.

For my father, the ultimate storyteller, who although he is gone, I know he looks down from his perch and chuckles at the scenarios I’ve managed to come up with in my writing.

For my husband who has stood by me every step of the way even when I couldn’t get one stinking agent to look at my work. Now, it’s been six years running, and I made it on my own. You and me, babe…against the world. Forever.

For my author friend Lisa N. Paul who kept me laughing through our daily phone conversations. You are my touchstone in the indie world.

For all the people who sacrificed time to make my cover one of a kind: Toski Covey of Toski Covey Photography, a sweet girl I stumbled across when I admired her work on another novel; Sommer Stein of Perfect Pear Creative who designed my incredible graphics and always answered my one million and one emails; and Elizabeth Copeland, the gorgeous girl who graces the cover of
Very Wicked Things
. You all rock!

For Rachel Skinner of Romance Refined, my awesome editor: You gave me so much more than just an edit. I love your friendship. For Kristin Anders of The Romantic Editor: my other editor who drove home my goals and motivations…someday I’ll learn. Ha. And for Rachel Russell: my copy edit person. Thank you, ladies!

For Ellie at LovenBooks for a wonderful cover reveal; for Stephanie DeLamater Phillips of Stephanie’s Book Reports who took my blog tour and buzz event and made it fabulous; for Heather Davenport of Naughty and Nice Book Blog who worked tirelessly with me on my Release Day and cover reveal for the prequel. Thank you so much for being available to chat with me at the drop of a hat. You have no idea how glad I am that I found all of you!

For Miranda Arnold of Red Cheeks Reads: my wonderful and talented PA. So happy we connected through our love of
Very Bad Things
. Thank you for all your hard work.

For Julie Titus of JT Formatting: the best formatter out there! I love what you did for Cuba and Dovey. Thank you for being patient and walking me through the steps.

For my Briarcrest Academy Chicks: as my street team, you picked me up when I got knocked down and you made me laugh when I needed it the most. And for the all the serious pimpettes out there, I can’t thank you enough for the time and energy you put into getting the word out. Stephanie Locke of Rude Girl Blog; Sandy Roman Borrero, Lesley Hoffman, Jennifer Noe of The Book Blog; Kimberly Kimball and Bobbie Kirby of Two Crazy Girls With a Passion for Books; Ann Moore, Kellie Montgomery, and Carrie Richardson-Horton of Eye Candy Book Store; Stephanie DeLamater Phillips of Stephanie’s Book Reports (who also was my fantastic blog tour organizer); Jennifer Wolfel and Toski Covey of Wolfel’s World of Books; Stacy Nickelson of It Started with Book Blog; Jess Danowski of Inside the Pages of a Book; Selene Malik and Heather Orgeron of The REAL Housewives of Romance Book Blog; Phoebe Lane, my dear friend, Vegas is waiting for us; Jennifer La Rocca, my sprint buddy; Denise Milano Sprung of Shh’s Mom’s Reading. Thank you for sharing the story of your brother with me. I never knew him…but I
know
him; Kahlen Aymes, an author friend and fellow soul mate I met in New York. Thank you for being my age. Ha; The Rock Stars of Romance blog for believing in my work and supporting me; Andrea Booker; Nasha Lama, my foxy friend; Bethany Castaneda; Kandace Lovesbooks; Lori Lovesbooks; Erin Griffin of Lit Slave; Lydia of HeaBook ShelfBlogger; Kerri Mclaughlin of Six Chicks and Their Love of Books; Brandi Franklin of Sugar and Spice Book Reviews; Lisa Pantano Kane of Three Chicks and Their Books; Ali Hymer of Ginger Reads Reviews; Tanya Childress of Bookhooking; Amy at Turn the Page; Gina Alwine; Jennifer Given Leary of Love Between the Sheets; Sarah Griffin of Books to Breathe; Debbie Reads and Blogs of Keep Calm and Read Romance; Jennifer Singh of Bestsellers and Beststellars; Erin Marie Fisher, the girl who read it first in the team; Author Missy Johnson who is always there for me; Sue Stewart and Lisa Rutledge who have both been with me since Day One. Love you, girls; Lisa Marie Kreinheder of Because I Said So Blog; Melanie Marino-Luna of We Like it Big Book Blog; Tori Shriver of Give Me Books; Alexis at Reality Bites; Claudia Juarez of I Love My Book Nerds; Yvette Cervera of Nose Stuck in a Book; Jessica Carter, always a bad-ass chick; Jessica Ramirez of The Lovely Books; Rachel Kee; Jenn Diaz of Sassy Divas Book Blog; Kristine Radgman; Gena Garrard for medical info; and lastly to Shanta Faulkner, a fan I met in New York, and I fell in love with her spirit and enthusiasm.