Broken Pieces (Cape Isle, #3): A Cape Isle Novel Read online

  “Can I come in?” I ask, quietly.

  “Of course,” he steps back, allowing me to walk past him.

  Lady comes over to me and I bend down to show her some attention, which gives me time to compose myself. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, and it flusters me.

  “Here, I'll take those.” Zack walks over to me and takes the cupcake box, before walking to the kitchen.

  I follow closely behind him and decide to get this over with.

  “Okay. You had your chance to talk. Now it's mine.”

  He turns to look at me with a raised eyebrow. “Okay.”

  “Okay. I'm not going to sit here and play the blame game. We are both equally at fault, but you retreated into your silent corner first Zack. I just followed suit. What else was I supposed to do? The only person I wanted to talk through my heartache and problems with was you and you weren't talking.”

  He tries to talk, but I hold up my hand to stop him. “I let it go on because I knew we were both hurting, you more than me, but I'm not going to let you fucking do this anymore. I love you too much.”

  “Lex—”

  I hold my hand up once again, if he stops me I won’t be able to get it all out.

  “I know I'm not easy to love, Zack. I overreact more than I should. I'm dramatic and sometimes a little insecure, but I also love fiercely. I will always stand in your corner and do whatever I can to make your life better.”

  “Lexi.” He tries a third time, but I interrupt him.

  “Will you let me finish? I didn't fall into love with you. I walked into love with you, knowing you would never do anything to purposely hurt me. I chose to do that and I would keep choosing that same path over and over again because I know that we have something special. I want our something special back. I know you're still grieving and so am I, but can we please share that with each other? Please.”

  I stop talking and stare at him, waiting for his response. I'm not leaving this house until I have my best friend back. I'll talk until I'm blue in the face if I have to.

  He looks so casual standing there with arms crossed against his chest. He’s giving me nothing. I just offered him my heart, and he hasn’t said a word.

  “Is it my turn yet?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  “I missed you so fucking much, Angel,” he whispers.

  “Me too. I missed me too, but I was just trying to be strong for the both of us.”

  “You didn't have to do that.”

  “Yes I did. I didn't know what else to do.”

  We stare at each other again. I don’t move from my spot and he doesn’t move from his. It’s like there is an entire ocean between us.

  “Are we fixable?” I ask.

  “Everything that's broken is fixable, Lexie. How long it will take depends on how many cracks there are.”

  “How do you think we're coming on those cracks, handsome?” I whisper.

  He smiles a real smile and walks towards me. “They’re healing. I think you being here now, means that at least one just mended.”

  He doesn't stop walking until he is standing right in front of me. He reaches out and runs his fingers down my cheek.

  “I seriously wouldn't mind if you just grabbed my face and kissed me right now.”

  He chuckles and his dimple pops out. “You wouldn't?”

  I shake my head and smile. “Nope, not one bit.”

  His expression becomes serious as his hand moves to the back of my neck and he pulls me to him. His lips meet mine, but he doesn't move to deepen the kiss. He just breathes me in.

  “I love you just as fiercely, Angel, and I'm so sorry that I let us get so off track. I promise that I will try my hardest to never hurt you again. I only ever want to make you happy. I want to spend my life making you smile. I can't lose you because if I did, I'd lose my best friend, my soul mate, my smile, my laugh… my everything.”

  My eyes burn with tears, but this time they are happy tears. “Kiss me, dammit,” I choke out.

  He smiles against my mouth. “Yes, ma'am.”

  I wrap my arms around his neck and his lips press deeper into mine. I open my mouth and our tongues tangle together in the sweetest caress. His arms fold around me and he picks me up off of the ground, holding me tightly against him. It feels amazing to be held by someone who understands your mind and loves you down deep to your soul.

  Sometimes you just find that person that you click with and it's so clear that the two of you, on some level belong together. I don't know if that makes me believe in coincidence, or fate, or sheer blind luck, but it definitely makes me believe in something. I was lucky enough to meet my person when I was just ten years old. There are parts of me that will always remain untamable, messy, and reckless, but I refuse to apologize for it anymore. I finally found someone who loves all of those parts about me. Zack was right when he said some women weren't meant to be tamed. I'm one of them, but I know he will always be there to love me without fail. That's the best part about falling in love with your best friend, they know the darkest parts of you and they still love you. When you're broken, they don't run away, they help you put your pieces back together.

  Epilogue

  Zack

  Five years later

  I WALK UP BEHIND MY beautiful wife, moving her hair to the side so that I can kiss her neck. Her skin is warm and glowing from the sun.

  “How are you feeling?” I ask, as I wrap my arms around her expanding waist.

  “I'm fine. He's awfully active today,” she laughs.

  As she says this, I feel my son moving around inside of her belly. She's due any day now, but nothing was going to stop my very pregnant and very determined wife from coming to the beach today.

  “He must like the ocean.”

  She makes a sound of agreement, but keeps her eyes pointed forward. I look up and smile as I watch our blonde little girl with pigtails run through the sand. Lexie chuckles as she picks up a seashell and squeals with excitement.

  “Daddy!”

  “You're being summoned.”

  “I hear that,” I laugh.

  I give Lexie one more kiss on her neck, before letting her go and walking towards my three-year-old daughter.

  “Whatcha got, Madison?” I ask as I pick her up into my arms.

  She throws her sandy hands around my neck and giggles.

  “Pretty, shell!” she exclaims, showing me the seashell.

  “Oh… that really is a pretty one.”

  I look down into my daughter's eyes that look so much like her mothers and wonder how I ever got so lucky.

  “You ready to go home? I think Mommy's getting tired.”

  She nods her head and I set her down. She immediately takes off running towards Lexie, whose smile is so bright that it would rival the sun. I swear she only gets more beautiful every day.

  I finally reach where they are standing and take Lexie's hand. “Are you okay to walk?”

  She looks over at me and rolls her eyes. “It’s like fifty feet up the beach. I think I can manage.”

  “Okay,” I chuckle.

  Madison runs ahead of us as I lean down and kiss Lexie's cheek. “I love you, Angel.” I whisper.

  She looks over at me with her heart in her eyes. “I love you more, handsome.”

  I shake my head, as we start the short walk home. “Not possible.”

  Our life together hasn't been perfect. We have our ups and down just like any other couple, but it's as close to perfect as you can get. I thank God every day for letting me be part of this incredible woman's life. The person you love should be where you can calm your soul. They should be your safest place to be yourself. Life is fucking hard enough. That person should be your comfort. Lexie does that for me and always has. She stood by me in the worst of times and never once gave up on us, as she helped me mend my broken pieces. True happiness is being married to your best friend and I can't wait to see where the rest of this wonderful life that we created together takes us.
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  The End

  Note from the Author

  Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Even routine pelvic exams are unlikely to detect ovarian cancer when it is most treatable before it has spread beyond the ovaries. The sooner ovarian cancer can be diagnosed, the greater a woman’s chance of surviving it. Ovarian cancer may be uncommon, but it is especially deadly. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the warning signs, please talk to a healthcare professional. You can visit any of these websites to learn more.

  American Cancer Society

  www.ovariancancer.org

  www.ovationsforthecure.org

  Thank you so much for reading, Broken Pieces. I would love it if you could please post your review where you purchased it or on Goodreads and let me know what you thought.

  Book Four in the Cape Isle series, Jenna and Parker's story, will be available soon. It will be the final book in the series.

  You can contact me or keep up with what I'm working on now at:

  Goodreads: Allie Able

  Amazon Author Page: Author Allie Able

  Facebook: Author Allie Able

  Instagram: authorallieable

  Twitter: @Allieable1

  www.authorallieable.net

  With love,

  Allie Able

  Other Books

  Cape Isle Novels

  Scattered Pieces

  Damaged Pieces

  Acknowledgments

  Deep breath, here we go…

  My husband—I really could say anything here and you would never know. Ha! Seriously though, thank you for always supporting me. Quit waiting for the movie, weirdo.

  My daughters—I love you both with all of my heart, but you little ladies drove me bonkers while I was writing this book. Mommy promises not to write on a deadline during summer break ever again!

  Nikki- AKA ‘best assistant ever’ AKA ‘smart-ass’—What do I say here? I mean, I pretty much owe you like a never ending supply of chocolate and maybe even a liver or kidney. (Scratch that, you don’t want mine. They are over used.) Seriously though, thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for dealing with my daily rambles and the absolute insanity that comes from dealing with me. I am so very happy to have you on my team. You are what keeps this crazy train running and I absolutely adore you. Love you big much!

  K.B.A.B.E.—You ladies are the best sounding board anyone could ever have. I love our friendship. I love the way we support and love each other without fail. I am so lucky to have you four in my life. Now, stop being so damn busy with writing. I miss you! Haha.

  Yin—I love your face. I have no clue what I would do without you. Thank you for listening to my rants. Thank you for always being there to bounce ideas off of. Thank you for your endless laughs. Thank you for goodnights and your good mornings and for making this author world seem less lonely. Thank you for being a supporter of not just me, but countless other people. You have a heart of gold and I love you fiercely. You are the perfect Yin to my crazy Yang. We need to get to writing that book!

  Stacey at Champagne Formats—You know that I absolutely adore you! You’ve been with me from the start. Thank you for always making the inside of my books so pretty!

  My editor, Schmidt—You are so much more than just an editor to me. You are my friend, my word advisor and the kick in my ass when needed. Love you, lady!

  Sommer at Prefect Pear Creative Covers—Once again, you hit it out of the park. I’m in awe of you. Thank you so much for making my characters come to life.

  Dessure at DD’s Book Room—Thank you so much for handling my cover reveal and my release blitz. You made this process so easy and simple and I cannot thank you enough. I can’t wait to work with you again soon!

  Sandi—Your friendship and advice mean the world to me. I don’t ever want to know what I would do without you.

  Jessica and Chris—Thank you for keeping me sane! Thank you for listening to my rambles and not judging the crazy.

  Colette and Sabrina—Thank you for reading my words. Thank you for giving me your opinions. Zack and Lexie are better because of you.

  My family and friends—Thank you for your continued support. Thank you for coming on this scary journey with me. I am far from done and I hope you continue to stand behind me and my dreams.

  My Sweet Retreaters—Thank you all for believing in me enough to join my group. We are small, but mighty. Thank you all for everything you do and for your daily laughs. I appreciate you more than you will ever know!

  Book Bloggers and Reviewers—There are too many of you to name and I am terrified I will miss someone. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! You get my name and my books out there to people who otherwise would have never even heard of me. What you do every day is so amazing! If I could hug you all, I would. (And I am most definitely not a hugger.)

  My readers—You are the best. Hands down. You win. None of this would be possible without you all. Thank you so much for reading my words. Thank you so much for loving my stories. I absolutely love each and every one of you. It's because of you that I get to live my dreams. Without you, I would be lonely soul. *Big Hugs*

  About the Author

  Allie Able is a romance writer, who tries to juggle her time between being a mother, a wife and a author. Allie was raised in a small town in Mississippi and now resides in Georgia. Reading and writing romance has always been her first love. She decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a writer fulltime, when the characters dancing around in her head wouldn't stop demanding her attention. Now she can be found sitting at her desk, feeding her coffee addiction, as she creates her love stories, that are sweet with a touch of spice.