Ring in the New Year Read online

  RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR

  ALEXA RILEY

  CONTENTS

  HEA on the go

  Ringing in the New Year

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  Keeping Her Warm

  Chapter 1

  Stalk the Author

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  RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR

  BY ALEXA RILEY

  Reed Sanders knew the first time he saw the neighbor girl in second grade that she was the one. He even stole his mom’s ring to seal the deal, but he got into trouble for doing it. It’s okay, though, because he knows that one day she’s going to be his wife and he’ll keep giving her the ring until then.

  Cami Evans fell in love with the boy next door when she was seven years old. They spent their whole lives falling for one another until one day she’s taken from him. She spends five years with her father in a cult until she’s able to make her escape and find her way back to Reed.

  Warning: Can true love happen when you’re just a kid? According to Alexa Riley it can! Fall head over heels for this ultra-sweet story of how childhood sweethearts find their way back to one another.

  Copyright © 2018 by Author Alexa Riley LLC. All rights reserved.

  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. For permission requests, email to [email protected]

  http://alexariley.com/

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Edited by Aquila Editing

  Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

  To the boy in my second grade class… thanks for this!

  CHAPTER 1

  REED

  Second grade

  I stand there watching the girls play hopscotch and wonder what they find so fun about it. They giggle as they jump down the chalk lines and repeat it over and over again. I only care because every time Cami makes the sound it gives me a funny feeling in my stomach. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it, but after I heard her laugh a few more times I decided it’s not so bad. She peeks over at me and smiles before it’s her turn again.

  “Reed, come on, man, we need you on our team. You’re the best kicker,” my best friend Sam yells at me, making all the girls turn to look at him. Cami looks at me again and my stomach does that thing.

  “Not today,” I tell him because I don’t have any plans to move from this spot.

  “You said that yesterday.” He throws his hands up in the air.

  “I’m busy,” I shout back, but he doesn't give up.

  Cami walks the few steps over to where we are and plays with the braid my mom put in her hair this morning. “You don’t have to stay, you can go play with your friends.”

  My mom takes both of us to school, and before we left she did her hair. I tried hard to pay attention to how she was doing the braid so I could figure it out. She even tied a pink bow onto the end to make it look nice. Before when I saw girls put stuff in their hair I thought it was stupid. Hats, I can understand because they block out the sun, but bows didn't do anything. But when I saw Cami’s I thought it looked pretty and it made her smile. I think everything about Cami is pretty.

  “I told my mom I’d watch out for you,” I tell her.

  Cami, or Camibell as her dad calls her, moved into our guest house three weeks ago. My dad hired her dad to take care of my mom’s horses. When he showed up he had Cami with him, but she didn't have a mom like me. I could tell she liked when my mom played with her hair and did other girl stuff with her. I didn't mind sharing my mom with her or even letting her play with my toys. She didn’t have any of her own and she didn’t break mine.

  Mom told me to keep an eye out for her because she’s new and new schools can be scary. I agreed because I like being close to Cami. She’s not like the other girls, who are annoying. She’s sweet and I want to make sure nobody is mean to her.

  “It’s fine. You really don’t have to.” Her voice is low and her bottom lip comes out and I don’t like the sound coming from her.

  “You heard her. You don’t have to stay. Come on, Reed,” Sam tries again.

  “Dude, shut up,” I tell him before I walk over to Cami. He shakes his head before running off and finally giving up. “She asked me to look out for you, but I was gonna do it anyways.”

  I grab Cami’s hands to keep her from wringing them together. She looks up at me with big blue eyes that remind me of the lake my dad and I go fishing at. They’re so clear you can almost see to the bottom.

  “You were?” she says, and her little voice is full of hope.

  “I thought we decided we’re friends, right? Friends hang out.” She smiles and her two big dimples dent her cheeks.

  I decide now is the moment, so I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring I took from my mom’s bathroom this morning. Dad told me he gave it to Mom as a promise to always take care of her and that he would be with her for the rest of their lives. The thing is massive, but I know girls like it because they always comment on it when my mom wears it. I don’t think she’ll mind me giving it to Cami, though, because she’s told me to take care of her and that’s what I’m doing. I slide it onto her finger. Cami’s mouth falls open as she stares at it.

  “It’s so pretty,” she says in awe.

  “Not as pretty as you,” I tell her, and her head jerks up to look at me.

  I can feel my face warm because I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. It kind of just popped out, but from the look on her face I think I’m glad it did.

  “You think I’m pretty?” she asks, and I nod.

  I think she’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen even though my dad always said Mom was. My mom is pretty but not the same as Cami.

  “Cami? What is that on your finger?” our teacher Mrs. Barton asks when she walks over to us.

  Cami holds her hand out proudly trying to hold the ring onto her finger. It’s too big and I wonder if maybe I should have put some tape around it.

  “Is that your mother’s ring, Reed?” Mrs. Barton looks to me for confirmation.

  “Not anymore. I gave it to my Cami,” I inform her.

  “I think both of you should come with me.” She motions for us to follow her.

  “Are we in trouble?” Cami asks me in a whisper.

  “I don’t see why.” I glance over at her and see a worried look on her face. I hold her hand in mine again because it’s something my mom does when I get worried. “Besides, whatever it is I'll take the fall. We’re married now so I’ll always take care of you.”

  CHAPTER 2

  CAMI

  Fourth grad
e…

  “Why weren’t you at school today?” Reed asks as he comes barging through my front door.

  “I have a cold,” I say and look away from him, trying to hide my embarrassment.

  “You don’t look sick.” He closes the door and follows me as I go to the small living area.

  “I’m okay now,” I say, staring at the television and pretending he’s not there.

  “So, what, it was like a six-hour cold? I don’t understand.”

  “Your mom is going to start hollering for you.”

  “No, I told her I was coming over to check on you and bring you your homework.” He puts my bookbag on the couch and then sits down next to it. “Mrs. Merritt said we have to read four chapters tonight and I thought maybe we could do it together so it would be less boring.”

  He pulls out the school-issued copy of Bridge to Terabithia and begins to flip through it.

  “I’ll read it later,” I say as I get frustrated and walk back to the front door. “Maybe you should go.”

  He looks at me and his eyes narrow. “Cami, what’s going on?”

  He’s always been able to see everything, but can’t this just be the one thing that he doesn’t notice?

  “Nothing,” I say as I wring my hands together.

  “Cami, if you don’t tell me what’s going on, I swear I’ll call the cops.”

  “The cops? Are you crazy? If your dad found out he would ground you for a month.”

  “If you don’t tell me what’s wrong I’ll assume the worst.” He stands up and comes over to me, and I hate I that I’m upsetting but I don’t know what to do.

  “I just…” I shake my head and then look into his eyes in desperation and finally mumble the words I’m embarrassed to say. “I got my period this morning, okay?”

  His face goes completely blank and it takes him a long second before he blinks and then he nods. He doesn’t say a word as he opens the front door and then walks right out, leaving me standing there in complete mortification.

  I woke up this morning and I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t tell my dad and even if I did, what could he do? The only thing I could think of was to pretend to be sick so that I could stay home. I thought maybe I could try to go in tomorrow and talk to the school nurse, but she’s only there two days a week.

  Hot tears sting my eyes and I start to cry, but just as I wipe them away the door comes back open and Reed is standing there with his mom.

  “I’ll leave you two alone,” he says and runs back out the door.

  As soon as the door closes behind him, Kathy steps forward and wraps me in a mom hug. I start to cry harder and she makes soothing sounds as she rubs my back and tells me it’s going to be okay. I’ve never wanted her to be my real mother more in my life. Having her here when I need it the most is all because of Reed. He knew what to do even when I felt like it was hopeless.

  Kathy ends up taking me to the store and buys me what I need. Then she helps me figure out how to use the stuff and take care of myself. Afterwards she takes me out to dinner, just the two of us, and tells me stories that make me feel better. I ask her questions and she answers all of them, and when she brings me back home that night I’m not scared anymore.

  It’s late when I’m in bed, but I hear a knock on my window. I go over to it and see Reed standing outside and I open it up and whisper to him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I just wanted to see if you were okay and you didn’t come back until after dark.”

  “You better get back home before your parents see you’ve snuck out again.” Kathy was so good to me today that I don’t want to make her mad.

  “It’s okay. I just wanted to check on you.” He looks away like he’s just as embarrassed as I am, but the fact that he came back to make sure I’m okay says a lot about him. “My mom wouldn’t tell me what you guys talked about.”

  I laugh and shake my head. “It’s girl stuff.” I shrug, but he doesn’t seem happy with that answer.

  “We don’t have secrets,” he says, but he doesn’t push it. “I brought you this.” He holds out a little bag and I take it from him. “My dad said it’s what he gets my mom when it’s that, um, time of the month.”

  I look inside the bag and see a bunch of huge chocolate bars and I smile up at him. “Thank you.”

  He looks anywhere but at me and then clears his throat. “You’re welcome,” he says as he pulls something out of his pocket. “I also brought you this.” He holds out the diamond ring and I smile at him. He gave it to me last week, too, when I fell and skinned my knee at the park.

  “Your mom was so nice to me tonight. I don’t want her to get mad,” I say, and I hesitate to take it.

  “She left it on the kitchen counter. I think she knew I was going to take it,” he says and shrugs.

  “Okay,” I say as I slip it on my finger. It always makes me feel better when he gives it to me.

  “Anyway, I’ll see you in the morning, right?” He smiles, and all the clouds from before when he was worried about me are gone.

  “Yeah,” I say, and he waves as he runs off through the field back to his house.

  CHAPTER 3

  CAMI

  Seventh grade…

  I open my eyes when a shadow blocks out the sun. I look up to see Reed standing over me with a cupcake in hand and a single lit candle in it.

  “Happy birthday, Dimples,” he says, and I smile at him as I sit up.

  It’s summer break and Reed and I have been lying next to the pool. When we’re not with the horses we are usually spending our time out here. Too bad summer is almost over and it’s back to middle school for the two of us. The same fear I always have is tickling the back of my mind.

  “You remembered?” I ask in surprise as he gets on his knees next to me.

  “You think I’d forget your birthday?”

  I shake my head. “Of course not. You never forget anything,” I laugh, but he doesn't. Not only is Reed handsome, popular, and sweet, he’s really smart, too. His family is exactly the same and it’s almost too perfect to be real.

  “Not when it comes to you,” he says, and it makes my stomach flutter. “Now make a wish.”

  He holds up the cupcake for me and I close my eyes. I think for only a quick second before I blow out the candle.

  “That was fast.” He takes the candle out and hands it over to me. I lick the icing off before he puts it down on the ground next to us.

  “I already know what I want.” It’s the only thing I ever wish for and that’s to stay here forever.

  Reed peels off the paper from the cupcake and hands it to me. “You’re not going to tell me?”

  “Nope.”

  I take a giant bite of the cupcake then hold it out for him. He smiles before taking a bite and we polish it off in no time.

  “Did he forget?” Reed asks.

  “It’s no big deal,” I rush to say, but I don’t know why I always defend my dad.

  I’m embarrassed he could so easily forget about my birthday, but when it comes to people he isn't the best. When it comes to animals there’s no one else better than him.

  “It’s a big fucking deal.”

  “Reed,” I scold, looking around to see if anyone hear him curse.

  “It’s bullshit. It’s your birthday.” He stands up and I have to fight a smile at how mad he looks.

  It makes me happy how much he cares. If it wasn't for the Sanders family I wouldn't have anyone that really cares. I’m not sure my dad has the capacity to do more than just keep me alive. He’s not mean, he just doesn't really have any emotion. He can go days without speaking and not even notice he did it.

  “Why are you smiling?” He looks down at me with a stern face.

  I guess fighting my smile isn't working. I watch as one side of his mouth starts to pull up and I know now he’s fighting a smile, too. He always looks handsome when he laughs, which is something I’ve noticed a lot lately; I’m also not the only girl noticing eith
er. Thankfully he’s not aware of it. At least not yet.

  We laugh, and then he comes back over to sit down beside me. “I haven't given you your gift yet.”

  He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ring that I’m all too familiar with.

  “Reed!” I shout when I see him holding it. “Your mama is going to tan your hide.”

  He hasn't given me the ring since we were in fourth grade. There was a time when we were little where he was giving it to me at every holiday. He even gave it to me on Thanksgiving one time because he said he was thankful for me. My dad would either return it or Reed’s mom and dad would come over and ask for it, but then he just stopped. I figured he must have really gotten in trouble the last time he did it.

  “Dad told me to stop giving it to you until we got older. We’re teenagers now.”

  He slides it onto my finger and I know I’m not going to be able to keep it, but I want to wear it for at least a little while. I stare down at the diamond and wonder what it would be like to really be married to Reed. I bet when he does get married one day he’ll be as good to his wife as his dad is to his mom. It’s always sweet watching the way he dotes on her. They have the life people dream of and it’s one I’m not so sure I’ll ever get. While Reed and I go to school together we’re worlds apart in other ways.

  I’m only lucky enough to go to this school because I live on the Sanders’ property. It’s the nicest school district in the state and I’m literally the only kid there that doesn't come from money. The other kids have started to figure that out and now some of them are treating me differently. Not Reed though, he’s always kind.

  “Are you asking me to marry you?” I tease him.

  “No, you said yes when we were in second grade,” he teases me back, but he’s not smiling, and it makes me think he might not be joking.

  I look down at the ring and then back to him. “You really want to marry me, Reed Sanders?”