Love Remotely: An Unexpected Series Short Story (The Unexpected Series) Read online

  Love Remotely

  An Unexpected Series Short Story

  S.E. Roberts

  Love Remotely

  An Unexpected Series Short Story

  Copyright © 2020 by S.E. Roberts

  All rights reserved.

  Cover by: Desire Premade Covers

  Formatted by: Jessica Ames

  Beta read by: Andrea Galante and Cindy Pippins

  Edited by: Beth Hale at Magnolia Author Services

  Proofread by: Marla Esposito at Proofing with Style

  This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except for the brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  Also by S.E. Roberts

  About the Author

  To Andrea. Thanks for believing in me from the very beginning.

  1

  The flight attendant announces that we’ll be landing at Myrtle Beach International Airport in approximately twenty-five minutes. We’re still too high up in the air to make out any of the figures below, but looking out the window helps calm my nerves. The three-hour layover in Chicago this afternoon gave me plenty of time to second-guess my decision to fly across the country to see my mother.

  I haven’t seen Jasmine since I was three, but as soon as she reached out to me, I couldn’t pass up the offer. Maybe I’m naïve for thinking she’d want a relationship with me after all these years, but I knew I’d regret it if I decided not to come.

  That familiar ache in my chest from the guilt I have for doing this to my dad appears at the thought. He tried talking me out of coming for a good week, but he finally caved thanks to Sierra. Not that I needed his permission to come. I’m twenty-one and not under his roof anymore, but still, the thought of disappointing him gutted me.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats and buckle your seatbelts. We will be landing shortly.”

  Jasmine has caused a lot of issues for me, considering I haven’t seen her in eighteen years. My dad did an amazing job raising me on his own, but every girl needs a mother, and I never had that. I have a lot of incredible female role models in my life, but they couldn’t fill the gap that my mother caused when she decided that I wasn’t worth sticking around for.

  The biggest problem she caused was hurting my relationship with him. We had been so happy, but last year when he talked about wanting to settle down, I freaked the hell out. I thought maybe it was because we were both so young, but in hindsight, I know that had nothing to do with it.

  We finally land and are told we can fire up our electronics, so I turn my phone on, and I’m alerted of a text from my bestie, Jess, who is also my roommate. We’ve lived together since our sophomore year, when I decided to move back to Phoenix. That year away from Kyle was hard on both of us, but Jasmine made sure I was never able to find true happiness.

  Damn it. Why did I decide to come?

  Remembering that Jess sent me a text, I quickly pull it up.

  Jess: Text me when you make it. Love you!

  I smile at her words. She’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister. We’ve only known each other for a couple years, but I can’t remember what life was like before I met her.

  Kenz: We just landed! Love you, too. I’ll call tonight when I get back to my hotel room.

  I send a group text to Dad and Sierra, letting them know I made it and then tuck my phone back into my purse.

  After what feels like ages, we are finally able to disembark. I grab my suitcase from above my seat and take a few deep breaths before walking off the plane. The smell of the salty air immediately hits my nostrils. I’ve always loved the beach, and I came here a few summers with my grandparents. My dad wasn’t often able to get away from work, but between all of them, I never went without anything. Well, unless you count the love of a mother.

  I mentally slap myself for thinking that way, when I’m only minutes away from reuniting with the woman. I have so many questions for her, but I know my first instinct will be to hug her.

  I walk through the airport with my heart nearly thumping out of my chest. I can’t believe this day is finally here. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever hear from Jasmine, much less see her face-to-face. I push through the revolving doors, leading out to the drop-off and pick up in front of the building. She told me she’d be tracking my flight, so she knew when to arrive, but there seems to be no sign of her or her gray Explorer. I check my phone and see that I missed a text from her.

  Jasmine: Mackenzie, darling, I’m so sorry. Something’s come up with work and I had to fly to New York. I promise I’ll make it up to you.

  My heart stops. This has to be some kind of sick joke, right? Surely, she wouldn’t invite me to travel this far to see her, and then up and leave me.

  “Miss, are you all right?” I look up to see an older man staring at me with concern etched on his face, and it’s then that I realize I have tears streaming down my face.

  I nod at him and then pull my suitcase behind me, searching for a bench to sit on, before I pass out.

  I should have known better than to come. I should have listened to my dad. I’m scared to tell him, knowing he’d stop whatever he’s doing to fly across the country to rescue me. I don’t know what I did to not deserve to have a mom, but I’m pretty damn lucky to have him.

  I sit on a cement ledge that wraps around an immaculate flower bed and pull up my Uber app. It’s past time I can check into my hotel, so I suppose I’ll go there and figure out how I’m getting home.

  2

  I wake when the sun peeks through the crack in the curtains. My eyes squint open, and it takes me a few seconds to remember where I’m at. My stomach drops at the memory of Jasmine’s text yesterday, and I’m reminded that I need to figure out where to go from here. She had invited me to stay at her house, but getting a hotel was my way of making my dad feel better about the situation. He and Sierra paid for me to stay here for four more nights, so I might as well make the best of it.

  I raise my arms above my head in a stretch as I stare over at my phone on the bedside table. I shut it off last night, so I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone about the rejection I felt. I know I should tell my dad, but the thought of making him angry kept me from doing that. I want him to enjoy the happy little bubble he’s created with Sierra and all the boys. I don’t want to damper any of that for him.

  I grab my phone, turn it on and see that I have several missed calls from him and Sierra. I instantly feel bad for making them panic.

  Dad: Kenz, are you ok? How did everything go with Jasmine?

  Sierra: Hey, how is everything going? Your dad is really worried since we haven’t heard from you.

  Feeling guilty, I send off a text to Dad, letting him know I’m fine. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve lied to him, but I really don’t want to talk to him about this right now.

  Jess: Hey! Your dad
was blowing my phone up last night worried sick about you. How did your visit go?

  I feel like I can talk to my best friend about anything, so I decide to call her.

  “Hey, you okay?” she asks in way of greeting.

  I sigh as I feel the tears pricking at the back of my eyes. “Not really, but I will be.”

  “What happened?” she asks in a soft, motherly tone.

  “She… she didn’t show.” I clear my throat. “She had to fly to New York for work.”

  “Jesus, Kenz. What are you going to do?”

  I shrug, even though she can’t see me. “Well, my dad and Sier paid for my hotel. I might as well stay. It’s nice out, so I think I’ll make a cup of coffee and sit out on the balcony for a bit and enjoy the fresh air.”

  “Do you want me to come out there?” I hear bustling in the background. “I’ll get a flight now and be there by tonight.” Her words make me smile, knowing that she’d do anything for me.

  “No, I’m really fine, Jess. I think being here by myself might do me some good. I brought some homework, so I’ll have plenty to do.”

  She’s housesitting for her sister’s family while they’re also away for spring break, but I know she’d make it happen if I needed her to.

  “Okay, but I don’t like it.” Jess knows about how hurt I’ve been by my lack of having a mother. She’s even gone as far as inviting me to Mother’s Day events that she’s had with her own mom. It was hard to go to something like that, but her thoughtfulness touched me, so there was no way I could deny her.

  “I’ll be fine. Promise.”

  We say our goodbyes, and I stretch one last time before getting up to pee and brush my teeth. I was too upset last night to unpack my things, and I wasn’t sure if I was staying, so I make a mental list of things I need to do after I have my coffee. Whatever I need to do, coffee is definitely first.

  The room isn’t huge, but I have everything I need, including a Keurig and a mini fridge I can fill after finding a market later. I search through the basket of K-cups and put a vanilla one into the coffee maker, and the smell of heaven immediately infiltrates the air. I was never a fan of coffee until I needed it to survive late nights of homework. Now there’s no way I could live without it. Kyle used to tease me that I needed C.A… Coffeeholics Anonymous. The thought of him puts me in an even worse mood. The rejection from Jasmine hurts, but Kyle loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. The thought of being without him forever cuts deep, but I did that to myself.

  I shake the uninvited thoughts out of my head when the Keurig beeps letting me know it’s finished brewing. After making up my cup with plenty of half and half and sugar, I pad to the sliding glass door. The ocean is right outside my eleventh-floor room, and this is a view I could easily get used to.

  I set my mug on the glass top table beside the wicker bench and then run back inside to grab my iPad. If I’m going to be here for the next few days, I might as well make the best of a crappy situation. I thought I’d be spending the week with my estranged mother, but the beach isn’t exactly going to be a hardship for me.

  I search for restaurants along the boardwalk and find a place called Rusty’s that has BLTs with shrimp. My mouth automatically waters at the thought. I click out of the browser and decide to play everything by ear. I know there are many shops within walking distance, and the pool downstairs that I passed last night was very inviting. It’s not warm enough to swim at the beach, but I’ll have a nice view of it from the indoor pool.

  I finish my coffee and then walk back inside to shower and get dressed, deciding that this week away from reality may be exactly what I need right now.

  3

  I spend the day going from shop to shop, spending money I don’t have, until my stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten today. Rusty’s is on my way back to The Skyline Resort, so I stop for a BLT, a bag of potato chips, and the amazingly delicious sweet tea you can only find in this part of the country.

  It’s still fairly warm out, and the breeze from the ocean makes sitting outside to eat relaxing. I look through my bags of purchases and pull out the new Hobo bag that I bought. I’ve always wanted one of these, but they’re hard to find back home. I also slide on my new sandals that go perfectly with the sundress I’m wearing today.

  I finish eating and then throw my trash away before making the short trek back to the hotel. I’ll change into my swimsuit and soak in the pool for an hour before watching a movie on demand.

  A few minutes later, I’m walking through the hotel lobby and nearly trip over my feet.

  “What…?” I can’t speak because of the shock I’m feeling.

  “Hey.” Kyle stands from the couch he was sitting on, and slowly walks toward me, as if he’s afraid of the reaction he’ll get from me. He’s a good six inches taller than me; his dark, almost black, hair is a little longer than I remember but makes him no less sexy. The scruff on his face reminds me of when I used to run my hands along it when we were in the throes of passion. He’s dressed simply in a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt, exactly what he would wear when we lounged around one of our apartments on a lazy Saturday morning.

  I have no idea why he’s here, but none of that matters right now. I drop my bags and run to him, and in the next second, I’m in his arms, kissing his cheek. We’ve remained friends since we broke up last year, but as everyone knows, it’s hard to maintain a friendship with someone you’re madly in love with. But I don’t care at this moment.

  “Does that mean you’re happy to see me?” he asks with a smirk on his face as he slightly pulls away from me so he can see mine.

  I slap at his chest. “Of course, it does!” I pause as I look up at him. “But what are you doing here?”

  I see the worry on his face, and I know that my best friend told him about Jasmine. He flew clear across the country to see me?

  “Jess,” I say matter-of-factly, knowing she’s exactly the reason he’s here.

  “Yeah, but Kenz, I wanted to be here. The thought of you alone when you’re upset like this put me on edge.”

  I hug him again and dab at the tears that are starting to fall from my eyes, but this time they’re happy ones.

  “Why? Why would you do that for me after everything I put you through?”

  He grabs my shoulders and leans into my ear. “Because I’ve never cared about anyone in my life the way I care about you. I know you’re not ready to settle down, and I don’t know if you’ll want me when you are, but the thought of not having you in my life at all is painful.”

  I nod at him, feeling the same way.

  “You want to go swimming?” I ask, pulling him toward the elevator to my room.

  “Hell yeah. Any excuse to see your hot ass in a bikini is fine by me.”

  I turn toward him and wiggle my eyebrows before pushing the up button on the wall.

  I can’t believe he’s actually here. My own mother couldn’t be bothered to spend the week with me, but this man knew I was hurting and dropped everything to be with me. I feel like an undeserving bitch after everything I did to him. We were so happy— until we weren’t, but he’s still here.

  “I can hear the wheels spinning inside that head of yours.” He interrupts my thoughts while we’re in the elevator. We can’t have too intimate of a conversation right now, considering there are at least ten other bodies in here with us.

  “I’m just excited you’re here.” I give him a small, shy smile.

  We get to my room and I quickly change into my black and white polka-dotted bikini and throw on a cover-up before pulling open the door. He’s sitting on my bed playing on his phone but then looks up at me. Damn, I’ve missed him so much, and I don’t think I realized how much until I saw him sitting in the lobby.

  I look around the room. “I just realized you don’t have anything with you.”

  “It’s all in my room.”

  I smile, knowing he planned to stay here, but if I said I’m glad he’s stay
ing in a different room, I’d be lying my ass off. I have absolutely no right to feel that way. I let him walk away from me all those months ago.

  “Why the sad look, Kenz?” he asks as he stands to walk toward me, and I feel the familiar tingling inside of me—the tingle that only Kyle has ever caused.

  Don’t get me wrong. Since the day we parted ways, I’ve slept with plenty of guys, not that I’m proud of that at all. They were more of an escape for me than anything.

  He pulls me into his arms, and I immediately relax into his hold.

  “I just don’t understand why you came here, after everything I did.”

  “I already told you why.” He kisses my forehead. It’s friendly, but I feel anything but friendly toward him.

  “I know.” I sigh. “I’m sorry for everything.”

  He backs away from me and slides his feet into his sandals sitting near the door.

  “You don’t need to apologize for anything. Let’s go swimming.”

  This week will be a lot better now that he’s here with me. I don’t deserve anything he’s offering, but I’d be a fool not to accept it.

  4

  “Jessica Thompson, you are the bestest best friend a girl could have,” I say as soon as she answers her phone, not waiting for her to say anything.

  She laughs. “So, you’re not mad?”

  “Why the heck would you think I’d be mad?”

  “I don’t know, but there was no stopping him as soon as I told him.”