Five Days Until You

  Reverie Series

  His Reverie (Book #1)

  Her Destiny (Book #2)

  One Week Girlfriend Quartet

  One Week Girlfriend (Book #1)

  Second Chance Boyfriend (Book #2)

  Three Broken Promises (Book #3)

  Drew+Fable Forever (Book #3.5)

  Four Years Later (Book #4)

  Five Days Until You (Book #4.5)

  Billionaire Bachelors Club

  Crave (Book #1)

  Torn (Book #2)

  Savor (Book #3)

  Intoxicated (Book #3.5)

  The Fowler Sisters

  Owning Violet

  Stealing Rose

  Taming Lily

  Connect with Monica

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  My girl is restless.

  I can’t quite put my finger on what’s bothering her, but I know it’s also bothering me. I hate it when she’s unhappy. She graduated college over a week ago. We have the summer off from school, and we can do whatever we want.

  But she’s hesitant to make any plans. Worse, she’s hesitant to just take off and go somewhere. We can do it. I can ask for less hours or trade shifts with someone at the restaurant where I work at, and so can Chelsea. A week off on vacation somewhere sounds fucking awesome. I think we both need the break. Just me and my girl on the sand, at the beach, seeing her in a skimpy bikini, all those curves on display….

  Yeah. I’m game. But she’s not game for much of anything lately. And it sucks.

  I watch her as she sits on the couch and scrolls through her phone, her teeth sinking into her lower lip in that bad habit she has. At least she doesn’t chew it so much it bleeds like she used to. She’d been so stressed out, worrying about money and her fucked up family. When we had that huge fight and I thought we were done for….

  My brain shuts down automatically, refusing to go there. I hate thinking about it. How much we both suffered at the hand of our parents, our fucked up mothers. I nearly let mine destroy what I have with Chelsea. Where would I be without her?

  Most likely in the freaking gutter, high as fuck, and a college dropout. Fable would’ve killed me if I didn’t kill myself first.

  Chelsea lives with me and Wade now and it’s perfect. I love having her here. She’s become friends with Wade, which is weird especially when they gang up on me but whatever. Someday Wade will be sprung on some chick and I will make his life a living hell. I guarantee it. That’s what friends are for.

  “What’s going on?” I ask when I can’t stand the silence any longer, causing her to look up with a gasp. Her eyes are wide and she sets her phone down in her lap, blinking at me.

  “Nothing,” she says and it sounds false. One word and yeah, she sounds like she’s lying. Crazy. “I’m just…”

  “What? Is your mom bugging you again? Don’t tell me she called.” The woman had pretty much cut her off, not even bothering to come to her graduation. I thought that was complete bullshit but considering Chelsea had me, Fable and Drew cheering her on at the ceremony. That was good enough. Right?

  Though I sometimes wonder…am I good enough? For Chelsea? Or does she deserve someone better, someone more? She’s so damn smart. She could do anything she sets her mind to. Hell, I can imagine her conquering the world, running for president, something crazy like that and she’d probably succeed, you know?

  So would being with a guy like me—recovering pot head, former juvenile delinquent, son of epic loser, may she rest in peace, and a no name father—ruin her reputation?

  I have no idea. It’s something I don’t like to think about either.

  “It’s not my mom,” she says, offering me a faint smile. “It’s—could you come over here please and sit with me? You’re too far away.”

  Okay, I like it when she talks to me like that. Reminds me that maybe she does need me more than I realize.

  Rising from the chair I walk over to the couch and settle down beside her, my arm going around her shoulders so I can hug her close. She leans her head on my shoulder and I kiss her temple, breathing deep the sweet smell of her shampoo. It’s hot today and she’s wearing a blue tank top and these little white shorts that are mind blowing. As in, I want to slowly peel them off of her and blow her mind with my varied skills.

  My mind has been hanging out in the gutter lately. I can’t help it.

  “What’s going on, baby?” I ask, giving her a slight shake. “Tell me.”

  She bends her head down, her hair falling forward and shielding her face. I wonder if she’s doing it on purpose. “I received an email yesterday. From Santa Augustina State.”

  “Why’d they send you an email?” I ask reluctantly.

  “Well.” She tapped her fingers against her knee in a restless beat. “That’s where I was supposed to complete my graduate program.”

  How could I forget the graduate program at a university in a small coastal town about four hours south from us? The program she withdrew from because of me. Or at least, that’s what I’d always assumed. And asked her about. She denied it every single time. Said she was taking some time off for herself but that sounded like a bunch of crap to me. I still have another year of college before I graduate. I don’t think she wanted to leave me.

  And in a very small, extremely selfish way, I didn’t want her to leave either. I got what I wanted. Chels—by my side, in my house and in my bed every single night—what more could I ask for?

  Did she resent me for postponing her graduate program? Christ, I hope not.

  “They still want you?” I ask, my voice soft, my heart racing. I’m trying to prepare myself for her answer and it’s freaking me out. Her silence, the way she’s not looking at me, is totally freaking me the fuck out.

  “Well, yeah.” She lifts her head and rolls her eyes, the little smirk curling her lips adorable. I want to kiss it off of her but I restrain myself. Focus on the relief rolling through me instead. “They want me to take on another project. One that’s shorter, only eight weeks.”

  “Where?”

  “There. In Santa Augustina.” I start to talk, I want to ask her a bunch of questions, but she presses her fingers to my lips, silencing me. “Hear me out. It’s a research project. Right up my alley. And they’d pay me. A lot of money.”

  I like the feel of her fingers on my lips but I don’t like the words coming from her mouth. Selfish bastard. “How much?” I ask skeptically when she drops her hand from my mouth.

  “A pittance in your eyes I’m sure, rich boy.” She grabs her phone and starts scrolling through it, clearly…hurt?

  What the hell did I just do?

  “Hey.” I touch her, drifting the back of my fingers across her shoulder and she shivers before turning to look up at me. “Once upon a time, not too long ago, I was poor as fuck. And you were the rich one. Don’t forget that.”

  “I know. Sorry.” She lifts her shoulder, as if to shrug off my touch and I let my hand drop. Damn, my girl is really upset. “It’s only for eight weeks, Owen. Two months. I think this could be fun for me. And enlightening. I could learn a lot. I don’t want them to forget me, you know? If I participate in this research program just for the summer, and take the rest of the school year off, I could go back there once you…”

  Her voice drifts and I know what she’s going to say.

  Once you graduate.

  Dread consumes me and I can’t shake it off. Hell, I don’t want to shake it off. She is definitely holding herself back because of me. I hate it. I wouldn’t expect her to do that for me and I know she wouldn’t expect me to either. I refuse to squash her dreams. Her parents forced her to do whatever they wanted since she co
uld talk. She wasn’t allowed to choose. I’m not going to be like them. My girl deserves to do whatever the hell she wants. And I know just by her body language alone, that she wants this. Bad. “You should go,” I say firmly.

  Her mouth drops open as she blinks up at me. “I should?”

  “Yes. Definitely.” I nod, telling myself it’s for the best despite the racing of my heart and the sudden sweating of my palms. I don’t want to lose her. I don’t want her to leave me, not even for six weeks but I can’t be the asshole here.

  If that’s what she wants, I have to let her go.

  I’m shocked. Did Owen really just say I should definitely go? I figured he’d protest. Talk me out of it. Seriously, I don’t really want to leave…do I? The thought of being without him scares me. I’m not used to doing things by myself. I mean, I came here by myself to go to school at a really young age and thought I could handle it, but clearly I kept myself completely sheltered. I didn’t get out much in all my years in college, only after I met Owen did I allow myself to come out of my shell.

  Well, more like he forced me out. I liked it. I realized that maybe I could do this thing like live a normal life versus being the sheltered, extra intelligent nerd no one wanted to talk to.

  So when the big scary world came knocking on my door I clung to Owen. I like clinging to Owen. He makes me feel safe. Loved. Strong. Confident. He makes me laugh. He makes me feel sexy and wanted and needed.

  “I refuse to hold you back,” he continues when I say nothing. All I can do is stare at him in wonder, drink in his handsome features. His dark blond hair, that he’s let grow out for some reason and I don’t protest because I like grabbing hold of it when he kisses me and…other things. The way his green eyes pierce mine, dead serious and unwavering…I can tell just by the way he’s looking at me, he’s really going to make me do this.

  “I never accused you of holding me back,” I say weakly and he shakes his head, his mouth firming into a thin line.

  “I never said you did. I’m just saying…if you want this, you should go for it.”

  “Really?” My voice squeaks and he smiles. He knows what it means when I’m squeaky like Minnie Mouse. I’m nervous. Unsure. And he’s willing to be my backbone and support.

  “Two months isn’t so bad.” He’s the one shrugging now and my gaze drops to his shoulders. They’re so broad, and so is his chest. He’s built like a machine and watching him out on the football field gives me both a thrilling and terrifying buzz every single time. He’s just so…fearless. And smart. And good at what he does, though somehow he doesn’t see it. It’s like he’s blind to his own accomplishments and I hate that.

  But he’s all mine. I’m there to remind him of just how great he is. It still blows my mind sometimes, that he is mine. That I can rightfully claim him as my boyfriend, that he’s the man I love.

  “You don’t think so?”

  “Nah. We can do it. I’ll come see you. Stay for a while and visit.” He slips his arm around my shoulders and draws me into him, pressing his mouth to my forehead. That one sweet kiss causes tingles to sweep along my skin and I close my eyes, savoring it. “When do they want you?”

  “Um, see, that’s the thing.” I pull away from him, wincing. “The beginning of June.”

  “As in…”

  “June 1st. It’s a Monday,” I fill in for him, wincing some more when I see his face. He looks sad. And surprised. There’s only a little over a week left in May. I’d hardly had any time to process any of this, let alone plan for it. June 1st is right around the corner. “They’re still waiting for my reply.”

  “You haven’t told them yes yet?” Now he looks incredulous.

  I shake my head, my gaze never leaving his. “I haven’t told them anything yet. I wanted to talk to you about it first.” We’re together. I live with him. It wouldn’t be right for me to not consult with him about such a life changing moment, no matter how temporary it might be.

  “I think you should do it,” he says again, his deep voice firm. “Answer them right now, Chels. Let them know you’ll be there June 1st. Are they putting you up somewhere while you’re there?”

  “Yeah, in student housing.” I make a face. Dorm life, something I’d done the first two years I was in college and don’t look forward going back to, but it’s only two months so I should quit my mental griping. “At least I’ll have my own room, right?”

  “I guess.” He scrunches up his nose, looking completely adorable. “I never had to do the dorm thing.”

  “Lucky. I hated it.”

  “You won’t hate it now. It’s temporary. You’ll have fun. It’ll be an adventure.” He kisses my forehead again, his soft lips drifting down to my cheek, finally settling on my mouth. The kiss is sweet, simple, delicious. I want more but then he’s pulling away, that no-nonsense expression on his face that he gets when he’s determined to get something handled. “Let’s Google Santa Augustina. Figure out the lay of the land and all that shit.”

  I burst out laughing. “The lay of the land?” He’s never said anything like that before.

  “This is going to be your home for the next two months. I want to make sure the town is safe.” He kisses me again like he can’t resist, murmuring against my lips, “I want to make sure you’re going to be safe, Chels, since I won’t be around to protect you.”

  Shivers move down my spine and I kiss him again. Harder. Sliding my arms around his neck, I scoot closer, as close as I can get and he grabs hold of my backside, hauling me into his lap. I’m lost in his touch, in his kiss, in the way his tongue tangles with mine, and how his hands slide up over my butt to my waist, his fingers slipping beneath my top.

  Owen may not say he loves me very often, but he definitely shows me exactly how much he does love me as often as he can.

  And that’s all that matters to me.

  Excitement fills me as we drive along the highway, the glimmering blue of the Pacific Ocean to my right, the sun suddenly so bright I grab my purse and reach for my sunglasses, shoving them on my face.

  We left the campus only fifteen minutes ago and it had been shrouded with fog. In June. Owen warned me it would be this way after he’d done his ‘lay of the land’ research on his laptop and he’d been right.

  But for some reason as we draw closer to the ocean the fog breaks up completely, revealing nothing but bright blue skies. It’s not that warm outside. There’s a breeze and I know the water is freezing but I don’t care. I’m eager to get out on that sand, throw down a towel and catch some sun.

  This is our vacation getaway before I have to get serious and start working. Come Monday, I’ll be assisting Professor Jameson Michaels with a huge English writing project he’s hoping to launch next year that’ll be sponsored by the university. He’s so busy he doesn’t have time to work on it during the regular school year. Hence putting together his project during the summer along with a group of interns and…me.

  I’m the one who’s in charge of the interns. Me. I’m freaking nineteen and second in charge. I can hardly wrap my mind around it.

  “You ever going to let me see what you got on under there?”

  Owen’s deep voice breaks through my thoughts and I glance in his direction to find him looking at me with those deep green eyes of his, his lush mouth curved into a sexy smirk. I wouldn’t let him see my bikini earlier, changing in the connecting bathroom of my new private dorm suite before we left. The room isn’t bad, what with the added bathroom and the fact that I didn’t have to share anything, but it was still small. And filled with the potential to be lonely, despite having Owen there with me.

  Going to be even lonelier once he leaves me.

  “You’ll see it soon enough,” I tease.

  He grins, flicking his hair out of his eyes as he hits the blinker and turns off the freeway. The exit reads “Sand Dune Point,” and I’m figuring that’s the beach we’ll be hanging out at this afternoon. We grab sandwiches at Subway and pack a small cooler of soda and waters to
take along with us. I also bring a blanket, a couple of towels, and some sunscreen.

  “You’re gonna have to strip sometime,” he says with a leer and I shove at him, making him laugh.

  “You just want me to strip,” I mutter, crossing my arms in front of my chest. We had sex last night and again this morning, before we were both fully awake and he was snug behind me on my new double bed. There’s not much room on a double and we’re used to his giant king bed, though we always somehow gravitate toward each other in the night. Like we have our own magnetic field between us and we can’t help it.

  I remember how he kissed my neck and a shiver moves through me. I’d been shameless, rubbing my butt against his erection and then the next thing I knew, he was inside me. Whispering dirty words in my ear and making me come so fast I was breathless for long minutes afterward. Just lying there staring up at the ceiling, trying to calm my racing heart and my accelerated breathing.

  I feel like we’re trying to cram it all in at once, during these last few days we have together before he leaves. All the sex, all the fun, all the love. I’m so nervous about being alone here I’m afraid I’ll beg him to take me with him when he goes.

  But I can’t. I need to do this. Find independence and all that jazz. I talked with Fable on the phone a few days ago and she told me our being apart would be a good thing for us. Help Owen and me appreciate each other a little more.

  I really hope she’s right.

  We find a place to park and unload everything from the car so we can take it with us out to the beach. Owen carries most of it and we trudge through the warm sand, my flip flops getting stuck and making him laugh. We finally agree on a spot and I spread out the blanket while he grabs the towels and sets the Subway bag on top of the cooler. I turn away from him, kicking off my flip flops and fixing a spot where the wind blew the blanket askew, only to turn around to see Owen tugging his T-shirt off over his head, revealing his hard chest and washboard abs.

  Okay. I’ve been with him for a while. You’d think I’d get over this sort of thing. But he can still render me speechless with his amazing body.