My Real Read online

  Copyright © 2013 Mallory Grant

  Interior Design by Angela McLaurin, Fictional Formats

  https://www.facebook.com/FictionalFormats

  All right reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, with written permission.

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  About the Author

  My Heartfelt Gratitude

  This book is dedicated to my two wonderful children.

  Reach for your dreams and never stop until you’ve achieved them.

  It is also dedicated to my magnificent husband.

  You encouraged me to follow my star and to preserver to the end.

  I walk into the cafeteria, see her, and stop dead in my tracks. Her blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail and she has on jeans and a baggy Phillies t-shirt. The t-shirt is easily two sizes too big, but it didn’t work in hiding her body. As she bends over to pick up a fork she dropped, I can see the curves of her hips and her ass. Damn. This girl has a fine ass. She is on the short side, which I love in a girl. And her eyes, she has the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen. She turns to say something to her friend and her smile lights up her entire face. It’s a real smile, not one of those fake smiles I’m so used to seeing on girls. I’ve never believed in love at first sight, but this girl has me rethinking my position on the matter. I have to find out who she is.

  “Dude, Andrew, move it or lose it man. What the hell is the hold up?” Jake shoves me from behind.

  “Do you see that girl standing over there by the cashier? Ya know her?” I ask, knowing he knows all the girls on campus. I’ve been living with him in the dorm for two week and there has been more girls in and out of his bed than a mall.

  “Yeah. I had a few classes with her last year. Her name’s Jessica. She’s fucking hot, I mean look at that rack.”

  Her rack, what is Jake talking about? The girl’s got a baggy t-shirt on. I glance at the other girl standing next to my beauty whose boobs are hanging out all over the place. “No, the one with the Phillies shirt on.”

  “Oh. Yeah, that’s Bailey. She’s ok. Really quiet.”

  I’m walking away as soon as I hear her name. I stop a few feet away from her. My heart is racing because I’ve never been so nervous to talk to a girl before. I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans. She is picking all of the vegetables out of the lo mien on her plate while waiting to pay. I walk up to her and just as I’m about to say hello, someone bumps into me from behind causing me to lurch forward, right into Bailey who falls to the floor, into her tray. We slowly right ourselves and as she sits up, I see that the front of her white shirt is covered with teriyaki sauce.

  “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I’m such a klutz. Are you hurt?” A whiny female voice behind me says as I’m trying to see if Bailey is okay.

  “I’m fine,” I answer, never turning from Bailey. “Are you okay?” I ask her.

  “I’m fine,” Bailey mutters, wiping the noodles off her shirt. I stand up and help her up.

  “I can’t believe I did that. My name’s Jessica,” the chick with the huge rack babbles on behind me. “You’re Andrew right? We have Math with Dr. Smith together at 8. You weren’t here freshman year were you? Did you just transfer in?” Jessica continues to ramble on as I help Bailey pick up the food we dropped. When I stand up, Jessica has her arm in mine and continues, “I’m headed to the book store to pick up some things I need for my next class, do you want to go with me?”

  With my eyes still on Bailey I ask again, “Are you sure you’re okay?” Does this girl not see that her friend just took a face plant to the floor and that it was all her fault?

  Bailey finally looks me in the eyes. I’m still taken with how stunning her eyes are. They have a darker blue edge and the inside is the exact color of an ocean sky. She glances at Jessica, on my arm, looks down again, and say, “I’m fine. Jess, I’ll see you back at the room after my math class.”

  Jessica starts pulling me away toward the bookstore as Bailey walks in the opposite direction with her head down.

  What the hell just happened? I look at Jessica on my arm and back at the retreating Bailey, confused.

  “So like I was saying, you weren’t here last year. Where did you transfer from?”

  “Georgia.” I say distracted still thinking about Bailey.

  “Georgia! Oh, I love the weather down there. Why would you move to Pennsylvania? I hate the cold winters. I had to come here because of my dad. It’s his alma mater so there was no other choice for me.”

  Jessica continues to blather on but I’m only half listening. I can’t get my mind off Bailey. I can’t understand why she just turned around and walked away. Was she so pissed off she just wanted out of there? She barely gave me a second look. I’m not bragging or anything, but I’ve never had a problem getting girls to look my way. Maybe she has a boyfriend. But even then, I spilled an entire plate of food down the front of her shirt. Well, Jessica did actually. You’d think she would’ve gotten mad and yelled at me or something. That’s what most girls would have done. Was she that easy going that it really didn’t bother her? I have to talk to her again.

  “Hello. Earth to Andrew. I asked why you transferred schools,” Jessica asked.

  “Ummm. This school has the best science department on the east coast. Listen, your friend’s name is Bailey right?” I ask.

  “Yeah. She’s a cutie isn’t she?”

  “Is she dating anyone?”

  She lets out a laugh so loud I jump. “Bailey doesn’t date. Never has.

  12 Years Later …

  RRIIINNNGGGGG …

  They rush to the front of the room all waiting in line to give me a hug. I say good bye to each one as they file out of the room waiting to be freed from the prison of school.

  “Good bye Suzie. Don’t forget to read this summer. Help mom take care of that new baby. Bye girls. Enjoy the pool, maybe I’ll see you there. Hey Kali, I hope you like that new Wimpy Kid book!” I hug each student as they walk out the door.

  And they are all gone! It was a great year with another great group of kids but as Ella peeks her head out of her door, we both smile.

  “Happy dance time?” Ella laughs.

  “Most definitely happy dance time,” I reply as we begin our yearly ritual of dancing like crazy maniacs in the hallway to celebrate living through another year of teaching third grade.

  “Are you two coming to the faculty’s happy hour tonight?” Molly asks as she passes our rooms.

  “Not toni
ght. We’re going out tonight,” Ella replies as she is winding down her dance.

  “Oh! That’s right. Your divorce is final today isn’t it Bailey?” Molly says with a sneer.

  I stop dancing and my shoulders fall. Well, there just went my good mood. I’d almost forgotten for a minute that I’m now a divorcee. I just nod sadly at Molly.

  “Yes, we’re celebrating her Re-bachelorette party,” Ella adds quickly.

  “Well, enjoy your summer ladies. I’ll send you a post card from Mexico,” Molly says as she struts down the stairs.

  Ella and I watch as Molly makes her way down the hall rolling our eyes at the same time. We’ve never been big fans of Molly as she tends to think a lot of herself and lets everyone know, on a regular basis, how wonderful, perfect, and beautiful she is.

  Last year when our state test scores came in, Molly made it well known that her reading scores were the best in the building. What she didn’t mention was that she had all the gifted kids in her class.

  I’m feeling so many emotions today. I’m the kind of person who wears her emotions on her sleeve for everyone to see, so it isn’t a stretch for anyone to notice that today is not a good day for me.

  “NO! None of that!” Ella yells pointing to me. “You’re taking this divorce too hard. Which is exactly why I’m taking you out tonight. You don’t deserve anything that Dave has put you though,” Ella shouts at me as I start to collect the last of my things going home with me.

  I packed most of my teacher’s manuals and all of the supplies I’d need to work on curriculum over the summer during lunch, so I don’t have much left to carry to my car. Another coffee mug to add to my growing collection, which is funny since I don’t even drink coffee, and my favorite end of the year gift ever, a huge bag of Hershey Kisses are all that I have left to pack. The kids all know my chocoholic tendencies, especially Kisses. I’m going to need a few of these bags to get me through this summer without Dave.

  Ella snaps me out of my daze when she slams her door shut behind her.

  I’ve known Ella for the ten years we’ve taught third grade together at Riverdale Elementary. We were hired on the same day and have been best friends ever since.

  “I don’t really feel like going out tonight. I’d rather just sit in my hammock in my sweats with a book, drinking chocolate milk, and eating Kisses. I am 33 years old, I have no right to be going out to clubs to pick up guys,” I reply as we walk together to the office to check out.

  “Absolutely not Bailey Marie.”

  Oh no. She used my middle name. I know I’m in trouble when Ella uses my middle name.

  “You’re going out. You’re not going to spend the summer in a chocolate coma. Not after what he did to you. You need to get out there and have fun and date. Besides, I’m starting my hunt for my summer boyfriend tonight so you can finally be my wing girl,” Ella scolds, shaking her head back and forth giving me attitude.

  “You’re such a guy,” I say shaking my head back at her. Ella has a tendency to go through guys like I go through underwear. She finds someone new, dates them for a month or two, find something she can’t stand about them, and dumps him like a load of bricks. The weirdest part is she is so lovable she always ends up being friends with them afterward.

  “Fine, I’ll go out. But, I’m not being your wing girl. You’re on your own. I’ll have a drink and dance some, but that’s it!” I relent even though there was no doubt that she was going to get me out if I wanted to or not.

  “Yeah! We’ll have fun! You’ll see. We haven’t gone out in ages,” Ella exclaims.

  After checking out with the principal and saying our goodbyes to our co workers, Ella and I walk out to our cars feeling the freedom that only summer vacation can bring.

  “You’re going to come to my house to get ready, right?” Ella asks with a grin on her face.

  “No. I’ll pick you up at 7:00. I have to feed Chase and let him out for a little while. The last time I kept him in his crate all night, he didn’t forgive me for days,” I answer as I finish packing my car.

  “Bailey, your dog will be fine without you for a few more hours. I forbid you to get ready at your house,” she tells me as she packs her car. “You’ll show up in jeans, your ten year old Dr. Martens, that damn black tank top and your hair in a ponytail. If you’re going to get a man, you need to dress appropriately,” Ella scolds me.

  “I met Dave in that exact outfit,” I pout.

  “That’s exactly my point! You have twenty minutes to go home, let Chase out, and get to my house before I show up at your door with my bag of makeup,” Ella shouts as she closes her car door.

  “Fine. I’ll see you soon.” I give in again knowing I’m not going to get out of it. I get into my car and turning on “Schools Out for Summer,” a ritual I started in high school, and drive home.

  I pull up to my driveway and just sit in my car for a minute. This is the house that Dave and I built together. Actually, I did all the work on the house. Dave always said that he was too tired from work to help with the home improvements. Now, I have this big house all to myself. No husband, no kids, no one. Just me and Chase. I open Chase’s crate and he wags his tail happy to see me.

  “Hi Baby. Did you miss me?” I ask as I lean down and rub his ears. “I had a really rough day, now Ella is making me go out. Can you believe it?” I say to Chase as I let him out into the backyard.

  Great. I’m waiting for my dog to answer me back. Maybe I do need to go out a little more often.

  I walk into the kitchen, make myself a chocolate milk, and start unwrapping Hershey Kisses at a rapid pace. I need a minute to unwind and just breathe. It seems like just yesterday Dave and I were in love and living a happy life. Well, then again, maybe it wasn’t always so happy. I’ve been remembering a lot more bad memories than good lately.

  I came home during lunch because it was an in-service day and I had an hour and a half to eat instead of just a half hour. I also wanted to let Chase out because Dave said he had to work late. If I let Chase out now, I could get some things done in my classroom after the in-service instead of having to rush home. Dave’s car was in the driveway which was odd. He never came home for lunch. Chase was already in the backyard so I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge to pull out last night’s leftovers. I heard Dave up in the bedroom so I headed up there to see if he wanted me to heat anything up for him. I should have realized what was going on when I hit the top step, but the reality just never crossed my mind. I walked up to the bedroom door that stood wide open. I was glued to the spot. Dave had his face between his secretary’s legs. I slammed the bedroom door shut left.

  I shake the bad memory from my mind. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself. Tonight’s the night I turn my life back around and start having fun again. I cannot let Dave continue to control my life any more. I’ve been the good girl who had done all the right things my whole life. It’s my turn to have fun and do something for myself for one in my life. Tonight the new Bailey is born.

  “Ella,” I shout into her house.

  “In the bathroom,” she shouts back.

  Of course you are. It takes Ella hours to get ready to go to the grocery store. I can’t imagine how long it’s going to take her to get ready to go out.

  I walk back to Ella’s bathroom. She has her long brown hair curled and pinned back with a red flower clip. She has on her favorite LBD and red three inch high heels. She is just finishing her make-up when she turns to me with a huge smile.

  Oh no!

  “I picked out two outfits for you to choose from. Go pick one while I get ready to do your hair,” Ella says as she turns back to the mirror.

  I drop my purse by the toilet. I’m going to need my hidden stash of Kisses when Ella starts messing with my hair. Walking down the hall, I’m scared to see what hussy outfits she chose for me. My work outfits consist of khaki pants, a baby t-shirt or polo, and ballet flats. On the weekends I live in yoga pants, flip flops, and tank tops. Jeans, if I must.
The last time I dressed up was for my five-year anniversary dinner with Dave and all I did was trade in my baby t-shirt for a blouse. Ella knew this and went to the extreme opposite for tonight’s get ups.

  Lying on the bed are my two choices. One is a skin tight, strapless pink sequin dress that would be a little, okay, very short even on me. On the floor under the dress are very high black heels. There are several reasons I wear ballet flats and flip flops, mostly because I am not the world’s most graceful person. I trip over the cracks in the tiles in my classroom on a daily basis. No heels for me. Thank you.

  She is out of her mind.

  The second, the one I’m going to pick, is a black pencil skirt, a beaded blue tank top, and a pair of low wedges. A much better footwear choice for Sir Trips-A-Lot, still not as good as my flip-flops but she’s not going to let me wear them. I’ll also be bringing flip flops in my purse, just in case. Looking down at the two outfits, I know that Ella only put the first one out so that I wouldn’t complain about the second choice.

  I shed my work clothes, throwing them onto the bed. One thing I did have going for me was my underwear. It’s my one guilty pleasure. Tonight, I have on a baby blue lace demi bra and matching lace thong underwear. They must match. Always.

  Once my relationship with Dave started going downhill, I started running in hopes that if I lost a little weight, he’d maybe be interested in sleeping with me again. Well, I lost a lot of weight and started wearing thongs again just for him, something I haven’t done since high school. Unfortunately, it did nothing for our love life. It had been a long time since Dave and I made love, and then the divorce papers showed up at the breakfast table.

  I start to get dressed when Ella walks into the room.

  “Damn girl, you look hot! Maybe I should start running with you,” Ella laughs, swatting my bare butt as she walks by me.

  This is funny for two reasons. Ella never got her butt out of bed before she absolutely had to. My 5 am running time is out of the question. Second, Ella’s only idea of exercise is having sex with her current boy toy. She has never run a mile in her life.