I Choose You Read online

  I Choose You

  Books by Bethany Lopez

  Stories about Melissa - series

  Ta Ta for Now.

  xoxoxo

  Ciao

  Friends & Lovers Trilogy

  Make it Last

  I Choose You

  Copyright 2012

  Published Dec 2012

  ISBN: 978-1481216869

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please don’t participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Cover Design by b design

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Visit the author’s website: www.bethanylopez.blogspot.com

  This is dedicated to all of the Amazing Book Bloggers who have taken the time to read and review my books. I appreciate you!

  Prologue

  Nicole knew that she was going to have to face her parents and let them know that the plans they’d had for her were not the same as the plans she had for herself. She didn’t want to marry Jake or start a congregation.

  She knew it would be difficult, and that they were going to be disappointed in her, but first she had to face Jake.

  She pulled into the parking lot of the city park where they were meeting.

  Jake was already there. He was sitting on the bench facing the pond and watching the ducks that floated by.

  His light brown hair blew in the soft breeze and his expression was peaceful.

  Nicole’s stomach clenched at the thought of what she had to do. What she should have done three years ago, but had been too afraid to.

  “Hey, Jake,” he turned and stood up at the sound of her voice.

  They were almost the same height, so she could see his eyes light up as she walked up to him.

  “Hey, Nicky,” he said warmly as he put his arms out, expecting the hug that she always greeted him with.

  She walked into his arms willingly, taking stock of the familiarity of his hold, while breathing in the scent of his familiar cologne.

  She knew Jake, had known him since they were small children. He would never forgive her for what she was about to do.

  She squeezed him tightly one last time, before pulling back to look him in the eyes.

  Jake looked back at him, confusion spreading across his handsome face when he noticed the look on hers.

  “What is it?” He could always tell when something was wrong.

  “Can we sit?” Nicole asked, gesturing to the bench. She had to sit before her knees gave out.

  “Okay,” Jake said slowly, as if already beginning to dread what she was going to say next.

  “Jake,” she began, clasping her hands nervously in her lap as she forced herself to look at him. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’ve changed over the last few years. Things aren’t the way they were when we began dating. First, you went away for school… then I left for school. Since then, most of our relationship has been spent over the phone or on the internet.”

  Jake nodded, waiting for her to get everything off of her chest.

  Nicole bit her lip, then continued, “Look, I have to admit that I haven’t been honest with you, or my parents, for some time now. I changed my major to English. I don’t want to study Youth Ministries and come back here to start a congregation. That was always my parents’ dream, and yours, not mine.”

  Jake looked over her shoulder, as if processing what she had just said, then looked back at her.

  “That’s okay, Nicky. I mean, I’m not happy that you lied, but I’m glad you told me now. You don’t have to run anything if you don’t want to. You can just be The Minister’s Wife. There will be plenty to keep you busy, even without running Youth Ministries.”

  Nicole sighed. She knew what she had to say next was going to hurt him, and decided it was best to tell him quickly.

  “No, Jake, I’m sorry, but it’s more than that. I don’t want to live here at all. I don’t want to be “The Minister’s Wife”. I don’t want to be your wife.” She stressed, not wanting to hurt him, but wanting him to understand.

  Jake’s face fell, hurt and confusion taking over.

  “What?” Jake asked, as if unable to believe what she’d just said. “You don’t want to marry me? We have been engaged for three years, and you’ve never acted like you had second thoughts about us. I don’t understand.”

  Jake stood up and walked to the edge of the water. He raked his hands through his hair, then in his pockets, as if unsure what he should do with them.

  The pain on his face tore Nicole apart, and she knew that she should have talked to him when she had first begun to question their betrothal.

  “Jake,” she whispered softly as she walked up next to him. “I’m so sorry. I love you and you are the last person I ever wanted to hurt.”

  He turned to her at that, anger flashing in his eyes.

  “If you loved me, you wouldn’t be hurting me.”

  Nicole felt a hot ball of tears begin to form at the back of her throat, and turned to leave before she made matters worse.

  “I’m sorry, Jake,” she said again, a little more loudly. “I promise that I’ll stay away and let you live your life. I wish you every happiness.”

  When she got to her car, Nicole turned back for one last look at Jake.

  He stood in the same spot by the water, looking out at nothing, as his shoulders softly shook with sadness.

  Two Years Later…

  Chapter One

  Nicole was nervous and excited about Roni moving in with her.

  She and Roni only met a few months ago, so she didn’t know that much about her. All Nicole knew was that she needed someone to help pay the rent and utilities, or else she was going to be in a lot of trouble.

  When she’d brought up the fact that she was looking for a roommate, her friend Bree, had mentioned that Roni was looking for a place to live.

  Bree and her boyfriend, Colin, had left the weekend prior. They’d moved to Austin, where Bree was going to culinary school and Colin was working as an Assistant Football Coach at UT. Nicole was looking forward to heading to Austin in a few weeks to see their new place.

  She and Roni worked together at the local Bar & Grill. Roni had taken her job as a hostess, when Nicole had been promoted to server. She’d shown the other girl the ropes, and had a chance to talk to her a bit.

  So far they got along; Nicole guessed they would find out pretty quickly, if they would get along as roommates.

  Over the past few weeks, she and Roni had gone shopping in anticipation of the move. They’d decorated Roni’s room and some of the common areas, so the apartment was looking really good.

  This was the first day off they’d both had in some time, so Roni was finally officially moving in. Nicole had gotten up early to make sure everything looked clean and presentable. She wanted Roni to be welcomed into a home that she could be proud of. Plus, Nicole knew that Roni’s twin brother, Kent, would be helping her move today, so she wanted the apartment to look nice the first time he saw it.

  He was very protective of his sister, and Nicole knew that he’d tried to talk her into staying with him, but Roni wanted to get out on her own.

  In an effort to relax, Nicole sat down with a cup of coffee and her laptop, when she heard the sound of excited voices coming up the stairs.

  When she heard Roni’s bawdy laugh, she opened the door with a smile, and was faced with a faded grey t-shirt stretched acr
oss the sexiest chest she’d ever seen. Without looking up, she knew the owner of that chest. She’d been crushing on him ever since her first day in this small town.

  She felt the familiar tug in her belly, as she allowed herself a moment to draw her gaze slowly up his chest, over his broad shoulders, and into his striking face.

  Kent was the most gorgeous man she’d ever met, and no matter how many times she saw him, she always got butterflies when he was near.

  He grinned down at her.

  “Hey, Nic.” Kent was the only man who had ever called her that, and she felt her heart trip every time he did.

  She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She tried to clear her throat inconspicuously. “Um, Hi.”

  “Kent, could you please move your butt? This box is heavy,” Roni’s voice said from behind him.

  Nicole moved a few steps back and out of the way so he could come inside, allowing Roni access through the door.

  She chided herself for acting so weird every time she was around Kent. She thought he was out of her league. She knew that he could get any girl he wanted, and she was nothing like the girls he usually went for.

  “Let me take that,” Kent said to his sister, easily lifting the box from her hands and taking it to the room that Nicole indicated was Roni’s.

  “Hi, Roomie,” Roni squealed, jumping and doing a little spin around the room.

  Nicole couldn’t help but smile at her excitement, then watched, confused, when Roni’s demeanor changed at the voice in the hall.

  “Hello… I’m looking for the apartment housing the hottest ladies in town,” Rich yelled out as his face came into view.

  Roni rolled her eyes and turned to walk into her room.

  Nicole barely had a moment to register Roni’s behavior, before she was enveloped by Rich’s strong arms.

  “Hey, Baby Doll,” Rich said with a smile. “Kent told me his sister was moving in today, so I thought you guys might need some help from a big, strong, sexy, man.”

  Nicole giggled at his words and the wink that accompanied them.

  “Thanks, I didn’t realize you were coming by, I would have stocked the fridge.” Nicole responded.

  “I’ve got it covered,” Rich said, pulling a six pack from behind his back.

  Nicole smiled and took it from him. She went to put it in the fridge and said, “Leave it to you to think of everything,”

  Kent came back out and walked up to Rich, his arm extended to shake his hand.

  Nicole caught herself watching his movement across the room, and quickly averted her eyes before anyone else noticed.

  “Hey, Man,” Kent said in greeting, “Thanks for coming out to help.”

  “No prob,” Rich responded, his eyes following Roni as she came out of her room. “I don’t have much going on since Colin and Bree left, at least not until school starts back up next week.”

  “Oh, does that mean you’ll be leaving town soon?” Roni asked a little too eagerly.

  Rich just smiled at her.

  “Yeah, Sugar, I’ll be leavin’,” he drawled with a wink. “But don’t you worry; I’ll be back before you have a chance to miss me.”

  Roni rolled her eyes again and snorted.

  “No danger of that happening.”

  “Hey,” Kent said with authority. “You - turn off the charm,” he said pointing at Rich. Then turned his finger on his sister, “And I know you have better manners than that. Use ‘em.”

  Rich just laughed and asked Kent what he needed help with, then the guys headed downstairs to unload.

  “What was that about?” Nicole asked Roni quietly, once they were alone.

  “What,” Roni asked.

  “That thing between you and Rich?”

  Roni snorted again, “I know a million guys like him and believe me, there is no thing between me and Rich. I just don’t buy his: aw shucks, southern stud act.”

  Nicole chuckled good-naturedly and slung an arm around Roni as they headed out to help the guys.

  “Oh, it’s no act… Rich is a true southern stud.”

  They laughed together as they descended the stairs to help the guys.

  Chapter Two

  For their first night as roommates, Nicole picked up some wine and brownie mix. Once they guys left, Nicole got the brownies ready and put them in the oven, then went to help Roni unpack.

  Nicole paused at the doorway of Roni’s room, struck by how beautiful the other girl was.

  “You know, if I didn’t know you, I’d probably hate you,” Nicole said, startling Roni, who had her head in a box.

  Roni straightened and looked at Nicole with a confused expression.

  “Why’s that?”

  “You’re gorgeous,” Nicole replied. “And not just, Wow, look at that pretty face. The whole package. Perfect face, perfect body, perfect hair, shoot, even the perfect feet.”

  Roni looked down at her perfectly polished bare feet.

  “Perfect feet?” She asked.

  Nicole shook her head in mock disgust.

  “Yeah, I mean, look at my ginormous feet compared to yours.” She walked up and put her foot up against Roni’s. “See, yours are positively dainty.”

  “If you say so,” Roni answered with a laugh. “I’m just a girl you know. And you’re one to talk; you aren’t exactly hard to look at yourself. You want to talk about body… I’d kill for yours.”

  “Okay, now that we have complimented each other to death,” Nicole said, picking up the box of linens and walking over to the bed. “What do you say we get your stuff put away, then get to know each other over some wine and brownies?”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Roni replied, and started unpacking boxes while Nicole made the bed.

  Since they’d already decorated most of the common areas, it didn’t take long to get Roni’s room set up the way she wanted.

  They were sitting on the couch with a brownie in one hand and a glass of red in the other in no time at all.

  “So,” Roni asked, “What made you move here from Dallas?”

  “Well, long story short, I was engaged to my high school sweetheart, with whom I was supposed to start a congregation, and grow old with in Dallas. Unfortunately, that was my parents dream, not mine.” Nicole put her glass down and looked at Roni with a sad expression. “I realized that I wasn’t in love with Jake, and that I really wanted to be a writer, not a Youth Minister.”

  “That must have been tough,” Roni encouraged her to go on.

  “It was,” Nicole admitted. “Jake is a great guy, and I hated hurting him, but I knew we wouldn’t be happy in the long run. My parents were livid when I told them, and they said that they weren’t going to support me or my decision… so I left. I just picked a random spot on the map, and here I’m.”

  “Wow,” Roni said her grey eyes wide. “So, you haven’t spoken to your parents or Jake since?”

  “No,” Nicole admitted. “It’s been two years. I haven’t heard from anyone since I left. ”

  “Well, I’m sorry about your parents, but, Wow. Good for you.” Roni exclaimed.

  Nicole picked her wine glass back up and took a drink before asking, “What about you? What brought you here?”

  “I married my high school sweetheart right after graduation, but he ended up not being the man I thought he was, so I left him.” Roni looked down at the amber liquid in her glass as she spoke.

  “I had no idea you’d been married,” Nicole said softly. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. So, rather than staying with your parents, you decided to come here?”

  “My parents are going through a rough time, and stuff with my ex got too intense, so I asked Kent if I could stay with him for a while.” Roni smiled absently. “I can always count on Kent. Anyway, once I got here, I realized have nothing to go back home for, so I decided to get a job and move in with you.”

  It was obvious to Nicole that there was more to the story, but that Roni wasn’t ready to open up about everything, so she refilled their
glasses and changed the subject.

  “Are you really not attracted to Rich?” Nicole asked Roni with a big grin on her face.

  Roni rolled her eyes.

  “Like I said, I’ve met tons of guys like Rich. Smooth, sexy, flirts that go through girls like they’re disposable… My ex is the same type of guy. “Roni admitted. “I’m not blind, of course I see that Rich is a very good-looking guy, but I’m not falling for that act again.”

  “Well, I haven’t known him long, but I think there’s more to Rich than that,” Nicole said in his defense. “Sure he’s a flirt, and he enjoys women, but from what I’ve seen, they enjoy him back. I wouldn’t say he uses them.”

  “Well, until I see different, we will just have to agree to disagree where Rich is concerned.” Roni replied. “I’m not in the mood for guys right now.”

  Nicole laughed at that, the wine started to make her feel relaxed and happy.

  “I haven’t talked to anyone since Jake,” Nicole admitted. “Well, Jake’s the only guy I’ve ever dated. That’s horrible, right?”

  “Really, you’ve only ever been with one guy?” Roni asked incredulously, grabbing the wine bottle and turning it upside down. “Looks like we need another bottle.”

  Nicole jumped up, and chose another bottle out of her little wine rack on the counter.

  “No fear,” She giggled. “We have more.”

  She uncorked the wine and refilled their glasses before settling back in on the couch.

  Roni nudged Nicole’s knee with her toe to prompt her to keep talking. She put her feet up and stretched out to get more comfortable.

  “So… you were saying, just Jake.” She prompted.

  Nicole looked at Roni, trying to figure out how honest she wanted to be. She had a feeling that she and Roni were going to be friends for a long time. She trusted her enough to tell her the truth.

  “Yeah, I was saying Jake’s the only guy I ever dated, and was engaged to, but I’ve never been with any guy.” Nicole waited for Roni’s reaction.