Home > Long Road Home : A Second Chance Standalone Romance

Long Road Home : A Second Chance Standalone Romance
Author: J.W. Ashley

Prologue

 

 

Macey

 

 

Fifteen.

I feel like I’m on top of the world now. I mean, I’ll be moving into my sophomore year of high school next year, no longer the bottom of the pond for Macey Romano. I get to apply for my learner’s permit this year, which means driving is right around the corner. And in three years, I leave for college.

All of it so close. And who knows, maybe this year will bring more firsts for me. Maybe my first kiss. I look over to where my best friend, Lincoln, is helping my dad put up our tent for the weekend.

Since Mom isn’t a big camper, it’s just the three of us, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier. Lincoln looks up at me and smiles, the dimples on either side of his mouth making my stomach feel like it’s packed full of butterflies. His bright blue gaze turns back to my dad, and I feel heat rush to my cheeks.

Turning, I reach and lift another branch to add to our pile of firewood. The sky above is crystal blue—nearly matching the color of Lincoln’s eyes. I smile as I picture them. We’re two years apart—him slightly older than me, and we’ve spent more time together than I’ve spent with pretty much anyone else.

Even my friend Charlie—the only girl I actually get along with. I’ve had a crush on Lincoln for what feels like forever, and tonight, I’m hoping I get a chance to tell him. Dad keeps a pretty good watch on us when we’re together, but sometimes he lets us sit by the fire or go for a walk together.

Just the two of us.

I grab another twig and straighten just as a light gust of wind sends my dark hair flying over my face. Crud. Since my hands are full, I try to blow it out of my eyes, but it doesn’t work, and all I end up doing is making it worse.

Lincoln laughs, and I turn my attention to him and my dad. My cheeks heat when I realize he’s laughing at me.

“Hang on, Macey, I’ve got you.” He runs over toward me, making my heart stammer with each step.

When he reaches up to brush the hair out of my face, our gazes lock, and my stomach feels like someone dumped about a thousand more of those fluttering insects inside. “Thanks,” I say. Why does he make me so nervous now? It’s not like we’ve never gone camping before.

“No problem. Want me to get those?” he asks, gesturing to the wood in my arms.

I shake my head and smile. “I’ve got it, thanks.”

He grins, and I wonder if it’s actually possible to swoon like the women do in those old movies Mom likes to watch. “You’ve got it.”

“You two finish up with that firewood!” Dad calls. “I’ve got this handled.”

“Okay, Mr. Romano!” Lincoln reaches into my arms and grabs the stack I’ve gathered before setting it beside our soon-to-be fire. “Let’s see if we can find some more just in the tree line.”

“Okay.” My reply is barely audible over the birds chirping overhead, but he starts walking toward the trees anyway.

“How does it feel to be fifteen?” he asks.

“Pretty cool. I’m ready to be able to drive.” I wish I could take the words back. Even though Lincoln is already sixteen, his dad refuses to let him get his license because he doesn’t think Lincoln is responsible enough for it.

Which he totally is. His dad has just spent the last two years wrapped up in his own grief, not paying any attention to his son. I look up at Lincoln. Hands in his pockets, he looks okay, but I know this time of year is hard for him.

We’re nearing April, and with it, the second anniversary of his mom’s death.

“You okay?” I ask.

He looks at me and forces a smile. I know him well enough to see the pain behind it. “Yeah. Besides, this weekend is about you and how you’re turning into an old woman.” He runs into the trees, and I race to catch up. He may be fast, but years of running track have made me faster. I pass him quickly, and soon I’m racing through the trees, laughing wildly with him on my heels.

That’s the thing about Lincoln. No matter how dark things have gotten for him—and believe me, they’ve gotten dark—he always finds a way to be happy, to turn to the light. I admire that about him.

I don’t know what I’d do if anything like that ever happened to me.

“Hey, Macey!” he calls out, and I stop. Breaths coming out in ragged gasps, I turn to look at him.

“Check this out!” he says just as he moves out of view.

I run over to him. “Hey, Linc, wait up!” Roaring fills my ears as I push through the trees and brush. I find him standing at the base of a pond with a large waterfall spilling into it. As soon as I move beside him, I can feel the light spray, cold droplets of water that make my face damp.

The roaring of the water is so loud I can no longer hear my own ragged breathing. How did I not hear that when I passed it? Lincoln did though. He’s always noticed things easier than me. I could walk right past a snake and not see it until it bites me. But not Lincoln. No, he sees everything.

“It’s beautiful,” I say with a smile.

He doesn’t look at me, just moves closer to the water. “I didn’t know it was here.”

“Maybe no one does,” I say.

Piercing blue eyes look back at me. “That would make us explorers, wouldn’t you say?”

I grin, unable to hide my amusement at his mention of the game we used to play when we were younger, hunting through the trees for treasure or searching the ground for wild animals from the safety of our treehouse.

I move closer to him, standing at the edge of the pond. The force of the water hitting the surface is enough to create a small breeze, so it feels like Lincoln and I are in our own little world. Just the way I like it.

“Want to see what’s behind it?” he asks, mischief making his blue eyes glitter like the surface of the water beneath the sun.

“What?”

“There’s always something behind a waterfall. Come on.” He holds his hand out, and I take it, not bothering to put much thought into anything else. If Lincoln goes, I follow. Two pieces of the same whole. Best friends for life. And perhaps, one day, something more.

My hand slips into his larger one, and he pulls me along the side of the waterfall. As we reach the cliffside, he releases me. “I’m going to go first.”

“Be careful.”

“Don’t worry, Macey. I’ve got this. If there’s a dragon though—I might become dinner.”

Lips pursed, I cross my arms. “Stop being stupid.”

“I can’t. It’s in my blood.” With one last smile, he steps up onto the wet rock. I unfold my arms and move closer, ready to catch him if he falls.

Soon though, he disappears behind the water, and I’m left with nothing but the hammering sound of the waterfall.

A minute later, a hand appears out from the space between the fall and cliffside, and I take it without hesitation. He pulls me in, and I slam into him, knocking us both back. Laughing, Lincoln wraps his arms around me, his chest vibrating with the force of his amusement.

“Stop it, you pulled too hard.” I slap him away, embarrassed.

Reaching forward, he brushes wet hair from my cheek. Our gazes meet again, and this time, there’s no amusement. He’s looking at me the same way I’ve seen the heroes of my mom’s movies looking at the heroines.

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