Always You Read online

  ALWAYS YOU

  Cheri Marie

  ALWAYS YOU

  Copyright © 2020 Cheri Marie

  All rights reserved.

  No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

  Cover Photography from CJC PHOTOGRAPHY

  Models: GINA SEVANI and BLAKE SEVANI

  Cover Design: T.E. BLACK DESIGNS

  Editor: FULL BLOOM EDITORIAL

  Formatting by: COOL CAT COVERS & AUTHOR SERVICES

  Always You

  Cheri Marie

  Contents

  Untitled

  Untitled

  Prologue

  1. A Year Later

  2. Weston

  3. Weston

  4. Charlie

  5. Charlie

  6. Weston

  7. Charlie

  8. Charlie

  9. Charlie

  10. Charlie

  11. Charlie

  12. Charlie

  13. Weston

  14. Weston

  15. Charlie

  Epilogue

  Epilogue Two

  Untitled

  Acknowledgments

  Dedicated to all of those still looking for love.

  Don’t be afraid to fall.

  Take risks.

  Tell people how you feel.

  You never know how things might turn out without taking a chance.

  Maybe you haven’t met that person for you yet, and that’s okay.

  Or maybe, that person is your best friend.

  Prologue

  After an awkward and embarrassing period of Sex Ed with the teacher giving instruction on reproduction, she paired Wes and I as a couple to care for this fake baby all weekend. Wes and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. We’ve experienced everything together, so why would this be any different?

  “So, do you want to stay at my house, or should I stay at yours?” I ask him with a raised brow.

  “I thought you could maybe just keep it at your house with you all weekend,” he answers with a smirk.

  “Oh, I don’t think so, Weston Banks! You are not going to stick me with this damn thing and take the credit for the ‘A’ when we pass.” I narrow my eyes at him.

  He just laughs it off, “Fine. I’ll come stay at your house. I have to go home first but I’ll be over in a little bit.”

  “You better be. If you aren’t there in two hours, I’m coming to hunt you down.”

  “I’ll be there, I promise.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you later then.”

  Sliding into the driver’s seat of my beat-up truck, I sit the doll in the passenger’s seat. Putting the truck in drive, I pull out of the grass field that is designated parking for the high school and head toward home.

  It isn’t strange for Wes and me to stay at each other’s houses. Our parents have been friends since before we were born, so it was only natural for us to be as close. Pulling into the driveway I put the truck in park, grabbing the doll out of the seat next to me, I head inside.

  “Mom? Are you home?” I call out as I walk in the door.

  “In the kitchen, sweetheart.”

  Tossing my bag on the couch, I make my way into the kitchen with the doll on my hip like an infant. My mom turns to look at me and immediately chuckles.

  “So you’re stuck with the baby this weekend, huh?”

  “I’m glad you’re so amused by this.”

  “So, who’s the father?” she asks, bursting into another fit of giggles.

  I narrow my eyes at her before answering, “Wes.”

  “Well that’s perfect!” She says, letting out a belly laugh.

  I just roll my eyes at her, “Well I’m glad you think so, because he’s coming to stay the weekend because I’m not doing all the work with this fake baby by myself.”

  “That’s fine. Dinner will be ready in an hour or so.”

  “Okay.”

  Grabbing a banana off the table for a snack until dinner is ready, I make my way into the living room and sit on the couch. Laying the baby next to me, I flip on the TV and channel surf until I find something worth watching. Settling on some lame reality TV show, I slowly start to drift off to sleep. Suddenly, I'm startled awake by a crying baby. And so it begins.

  Grabbing the doll, I change its diaper and stick the pacifier in its mouth. Thankfully, it stops crying. Mom calls me for dinner and I leave the baby sitting on the couch. As I make my way toward the kitchen, the front door swings open and dad and Wes walk in.

  “Look who I found coming up the walkway.” He says, patting Wes on the shoulder.

  “Yea, we were chosen to care for the fake baby this weekend.”

  “Oh fun.” He says, causing me to roll my eyes.

  “No, it’s not fun. But it’s part of our grade.”

  “Well, get ‘er done then.” I just shake my head at my dad and walk into the kitchen, him and Wes following behind me.

  We all take a seat at the dining room table and dig into the homemade meatloaf and mashed potatoes my mom spent the last couple hours making. After eating dinner, Wes and I clean up the kitchen for mom before settling in the living room to watch movies. After watching a couple movies we all decide to call it a night. Grabbing the doll from the couch, Wes and I make our way up to my room. Pulling the cot from the closet, I open it up and toss some pillows and a blanket on it for Wes. Walking over to my dresser I pull out a set of pajamas and go into the bathroom to change. When I come out of the bathroom Wes has already made himself comfortable in my bed.

  “What the hell are you doing? You’re supposed to be sleeping on the cot.”

  “Oh come on Charlie, you know the cot is uncomfortable. It isn’t like your bed isn’t big enough for both of us.”

  He’s right. I do have a king-size bed that could probably fit at least three of me.

  “Fine. Whatever.”

  I climb into bed and slide under the covers. Placing the doll between us, I reach over and turn out the light.

  “Goodnight, Wes.”

  “Goodnight, Charlie.”

  Closing my eyes, I begin to fall asleep when the doll starts crying.

  “This is going to be a long weekend,” I mumble as I climb out of bed and throwing a pillow at Wes when he doesn’t move.

  “What the hell?” He shouts.

  “Get your ass up and help me with this doll.”

  Together we change it and give it a bottle. When it finally stops crying, we lay back down and try to go back to sleep. Fifteen minutes later it’s crying again and it continues through the night. Eventually we give up any hope for sleep, deciding to sit up talking.

  “So what did you think about class today?” I ask.

  He just shrugs. “It’s okay. I mean, it’s all part of life, I guess.”

  Silence spreads between us in the darkness of my room. Thoughts of everything that’s to come floods my mind. Finishing high school, going off to college, losing my virginity. The thought of having sex makes me curious if Wes has thought about it. It’s never really crossed my mind before and I lay there silently going through inventory of the guys at school. Is there anyone there that I would really want to lose my virginity to? If I had to pick someone, it would probably be Wes. Not because I have those kinds of feelings toward him but because he’s my best friend, my sidekick, and my protector if I need him.

  “Wes? You still awake?”

  “Yea.”
br />   “Can I ask you something?”

  “You know you can ask me anything, Charlie.”

  “Do you . . . Have you ever . . . thought about who’d you want to lose your virginity to?”

  I feel him roll over in the bed and even in the dark I know he’s staring at me.

  “What brought on that question?” He asks quietly.

  “I don’t know, I was just . . . curious.”

  “I guess, maybe I’ve thought about it a little. What about you?”

  “A little.”

  “I was thinking, what if . . . Never mind.”

  “What if what, Wes?” I ask him.

  I hear him sigh and he’s much closer to me than I thought when I feel his breath against my cheek.

  “What would you say if I said I think we should lose it to each other?”

  “What?” I ask, shocked and unsure I heard him correctly.

  “Nevermind. It was a stupid idea.”

  “No. I mean, I think it's an okay idea. There isn't anyone else I would want to lose it to.”

  He lets out a breath I can only assume he’s been holding. “Good,” he whispers.

  I’m not really sure he’s being serious. What if he’s joking? Being in the dark, I can’t read his face. Sliding out of bed, I flip on the closet light that casts a glow into the bedroom. Walking back over, I sit on the bed, facing Wes.

  “Are you being serious?” I ask him. Confusion spreads across his face.

  “Of course, I’m being serious, why would I joke about this?”

  Looking down at my fingers, I pick at a piece of lint on my shirt. “I don’t know. I just . . . ”

  “Hey,” he says, reaching over and lifting my chin with his finger so my eyes meet his. “You don’t have to feel awkward or embarrassed with me, Charlie. We’re best friends, we know everything about each other. Our friendship is a judgment-free zone, so don’t feel like things will get weird between us because I promise they won’t.”

  My hazel eyes burn into his and I can tell he’s being honest with me.

  “Okay,” I say, giving him a weak smile.

  He reaches over for my hands and takes them in his.

  “I’d rather all my firsts be with my best friend then with someone I don’t care about or that doesn’t care about me.”

  “Me too. Let’s try to get some sleep.”

  “Okay. Goodnight.” Jumping up, he turns off the light and I feel him rather than see him climb into bed.

  The weekend went fast and we managed to get an A on taking care of that damn doll. For a couple days after our talk, things between Wes and I were slightly awkward, well for me at least but it didn’t last long.

  A couple of weeks and we decided to head down to the lake this coming weekend. I can’t wait to get there, it’s been forever. The lake is my happy place, the calm in the middle of the storm that is a young teenager's life. I pack a bag, sitting it by the front door and grab a snack while I wait for Wes.

  “What are you doing?” my mom asks as she walks into the kitchen.

  “Waiting on Weston as usual. We’re going to the lake.”

  “Oh, that sounds like fun! Have a good time and be careful.”

  There’s a sudden knock at the door, that must be Wes.

  “I always am. I love you, see you in a couple days.”

  “I love you too, babygirl.”

  Grabbing my bag, I swing open the door to find Wes standing on the other side. He’s wearing a black tank top and a pair of swim shorts.

  “You ready?”

  “Yes! Let’s go.”

  “Bye, Mom.”

  “Bye, Mrs. Duvall,” Wes calls over my shoulder to my mom.

  “Bye, kids. Behave yourselves,” she calls out as I shut the door behind us.

  Tossing my bag into the back of Wes’s truck with his bag, fishing equipment, and tent, I jump into the cab and we take off toward a weekend of water, camping, and the sun!

  Two hours later, we’re pulling up at the lake, completely surprised that it isn’t packed full of people. I like it better when it isn’t overcrowded anyway.

  Helping Wes unload the truck, we set up the tent before making a run for the water. Reaching the shore, I strip off my shorts and tank top before diving in. The water is warm and refreshing. I look back to the shore for Wes but he’s nowhere to be found.

  Well, where the hell did he go? I start to make my way toward the shore to go in hunt of him when I feel something grab me and lift me out of the water causing me to scream.

  “Weston! What the hell, you scared the shit out of me.”

  He just laughs, then without warning tosses me over his head into the water. Deciding to get even with him, I swim to where he can’t see me. After a minute or two, he begins to panic, calling out my name.

  “Oh my god, Charlie.” He dives under the water looking for me, and that's when I make my move. Swimming over to where I see him go under, I wait. When he resurfaces, I jump onto his back.

  “Gotcha!” I laugh but he doesn’t.

  Grabbing my arm, he pulls me around in front of him.

  “That shit wasn’t funny, Charlie.”

  I immediately feel guilty. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  Resting his forehead on mine, he takes a deep breath. “If anything happened to you, I would have never forgiven myself.”

  “Hey,” I say softly, “I’m fine. I’m right here.”

  Lifting my gaze to meet his, we stare into each other’s eyes and the air around us heats. Slowly, he leans in, his lips lightly brushing mine.

  “Wes,” I whisper his name.

  He hushes me and then his lips press to mine. Resting my hands at the nape of his neck, he pulls me against him and deepens the kiss. My body is ignited and I wrap my legs around him.

  Hanging onto me, he walks us out of the water and into the tent. Carefully laying me down on the floor of the tent, he looks at me with questioning eyes and I nod my head at his unspoken question. Kneeling between my thighs, he grabs my bathing suit bottoms and pulls them down my legs, tossing them to the side. He stands and slips off his shorts as I pull the string on my top.

  I watch Wes as he walks over to his bag, digging through the side pocket for a condom. Coming back over to me, his body hovers over me as he kisses me again. I can feel his cock hardening against my stomach and it makes me nervous and excited at the same time. Sitting back on his heels, he awkwardly fights with the condom wrapper, eventually getting it open and then rolls it down his length.

  His body once again hovers over mine. “If this hurts, tell me and I’ll stop, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Waiting in anticipation, I feel him adjust himself at my opening and slowly, he eases himself inside me. There’s a burning sensation as he stretches me and I suck air through my teeth, causing him to stop moving.

  “Are you okay?” he asks, concerned.

  “Yea, I’m okay. Keep going.”

  Carefully, he continues to slip into me until he’s fully in and then he eases out and slides back in. The initial sensation hurts a little, but after a little bit, the pain fades and pleasure takes over. Soon, he sets into a rhythm and I wrap my legs around him.

  He drills into me and my body starts to tingle, a sweet sensation I’ve never felt before. I moan loudly and Wes stifles it with a kiss, dipping his tongue into my mouth. I dig my nails into his back as what I can only assume is my first orgasm builds and erupts. A few more thrusts into me and Wes grunts, meeting his own orgasm.

  Once our bodies calm, he slowly pulls out of me and I wince.

  “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.” I grab a shirt because I suddenly feel self-conscious. Wes slips off the condom and disposes of it in our trash bag. When I stand, I notice blood on the sheet.

  “Shit.”

  “What?”

  “Look.” I feel embarrassed and try to hide my face away from Wes.

  “Hey,” he says, gr
abbing my chin forcing me to look at him. “It’s natural, don’t worry about it. I brought extras in case we got rained on.”

  Picking up the sheet, he stuffs it into the garbage bag too and then lays out another one.

  “Go take a dip in the lake and wash up. I’ll make us something to eat,” Wes instructs me.

  I grab a towel along with some clean clothes and make my way down to the water. While washing up, I think about what just happened. We planned for this, but I didn’t expect to feel this way after, so unsure. Drying off, I get dressed and make my way back up to the tent.

  “Here,” he says, handing me one of the sandwiches he made.

  “Thank you, but I’m not really hungry though.”

  I walk past his extended hand, into the tent and sit on the fresh sheets he laid out. Grabbing my pillow, I hug it to my chest, trying to make sense of all the emotions taking over me. Before I know it, I’m crying into my pillow.

  “Hey.” Wes’s voice is soft. “Why are you crying?” he asks, walking into the tent and sitting next to me. “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know,” I admit.

  “Are you afraid things are going to change between us now?”

  “Yes . . . no . . . I don’t know.”

  “Do you . . . want . . . things to change between us?” His question catches me off guard and I’m not really sure what he means.

  “What? Of course, I don’t want things to change between us. You’re my best friend, Wes, I never want to lose that.”

  I think I see a hint of sadness in his eyes but he recovers quickly.

  “Me either,” he says, giving me a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  Weston

  A feeling of sadness takes over, totally killing my mood when Charlie said she doesn’t want our relationship to change. I was hoping us being together like this would make her realize I’m crazy about her. I don’t have the guts to just out myself, she’d probably just laugh at me anyway. I’ve been in love with Charlotte Duvall for a while now and as much as I try to shake it, it just gets stronger the more our friendship grows. It doesn’t seem like she feels the same way anyway so it’s time to move on.