Page 20 of Valentine's Kisses
The Story of Second Chances
By Ellis Worth
"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one."
-Dolly Parton
From the moment I met Hunter, I knew my life would change forever. Whether that would be for the better or the worst, I had no clue. He was forbidden, but I couldn't stay away from him. With just a simple look he still draws me like a moth to a flame. I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me take you back to the beginning...
Chapter 1
February 14th, 2023
Here's to wishing I was more confident in my skin, but no time like the present to fake it. This is going to be my year. - Lynx McNeal
Lynx
My best friend, Selene, slaps my lush ass as I walk past her out of the dressing room, making me laugh in the process. "Lynx, damn girl, that jumpsuit is the shit. Looking good." I twirl around in the floor length mirror, and honestly, this outfit looks pretty damn good on me. Her shit eating grin is contagious.
My self-esteem needs this win, because my boyfriend of seven years just dumped me for a damn Montgomery. Yes, those Montgomery's, the Fortune 500 ones. Eliza called me herself to apologize, going on and on about how she considered me a close friend, then went on about how mortified she was at what they'd done. Their families had vacationed together over winter break, and they had simply fallen in love. Yuck!
All I'd thought about during the conversation was that he hadn't had the balls to tell me himself. Pussy. That’s just seven years down the drain, because his penis had accidentally fell in Eliza. We all knew each other well, had grown up together really.They'd always been flirty, but I never thought anything about that.
Eliza’s family isn’t terrible, but they act entitled. Pete Montgomery, her great-great grandpa founded the county that houses our small town of Vidalia, Georgia. They are the richest of the rich, and they've always thought of me as a charity case because I once upon a time lived in a trailer. Personally, I prefer a house with wheels. What do you need with all that space anyways?
After my dad married my stepmother, Liliane, twelve years ago, things changed for us. I hated her at first, but thankfully, we've grown very close. She takes my side most of the time when I'm arguing with my daddy, and she doesn't try to be my mother, only my friend. I had a mom who was wonderful, but friends, I could always use more of those.
Liliane’s family is loaded, but my step-grandmother, Odessa, doesn't shovel any of her wealth out to us. She wants us to work hard and make our own way in the world, like she did. I enrolled into the community college here last year and have worked as a waitress at a diner in town since I was sixteen.
Gran Odessa does give me a weekly allowance that I hardly ever spend. However, Liliane, her only daughter does not get the same. My family has had to work hard for everything we have, and I love that about us. Things that are just handed to you are most often easily taken for granted. None of us want to live our lives like that. We live in a modest house and are surrounded by Vidalia onion fields. My dad's a farmer and Liliane’s a small-town lawyer, but she’s won some big cases.
Looking over at Selene through the mirror, my smile broadens. My best friend is near perfect in not only looks but also personality. Our size and shape are polar opposites from each other. She's a 5'11 blonde bombshell, with a perfect waistline and legs for days. I'm thicker than a snicker with longblack hair, plus thighs the size of tree trunks. She's a ten every day, but on days like today I'm at least a seven. I'm more than okay with that. Can I get an Amen?
Selene comes to stand beside me. "You ready to knock them dead?"
I laugh. "Yes. I'm going to go home and get ready. Pick me up at 8?" She nods, then we walk over to the cash register to make our purchases. Tonight, we're heading to Savannah to a super exclusive party at the Hockey House. It's located at Crestwood University, which is an elite school for the rich and famous. Gran Odessa has her heart set on me going there next year. Thats not going to happen, I'm thinking UGA.
The Crestwood hockey team sucks ass when it comes to playing the sport but make up for it in being hot and built. They also tend to be on the darker side of the law, which is a point in their favor. Guys like that get me riled up. After being with Tyler, my ex, for so long, I need to walk on the wild side for a bit. May all the dicks swing my way.
Tyler was such a prude. I lost my virginity to him, and all we've ever done was missionary one time a week for the past three years. Eliza really did me a favor by taking him off my hands. We would have eventually broken up, but at least I didn't have to go through all the drama of a, "it's not you but me," speech.
Maybe one of the guys at the party tonight will be a chubby chaser that wants me to climb them like a damn tree. He’d be an idiot not to, as I’m looking fine as hell in my new outfit. I'd even be into more than one partner, like a threesome. Maybe. I don't know. My heart just wants to live while I'm young. It needs to throw caution to the wind before having babies and a mortgage.
It's Valentine's Day, so the jumpsuit I bought is a sparkly red concoction with multiple reds. It hits me about a foot above my knee, which makes me somewhat self-conscious but what thehell, most of the people will be drunk anyways. They won’t care about my outfit or the way my thick thighs jiggle when I walk. My look is completed with matching kitten heels, wild curly hair, and bright red lips. The party theme is anti-Valentines, and absolutely no one can bring a date since it’s a singles only party.
I never drink but tonight that rule doesn't count, because I'm on birth control and not afraid to use it. The alcohol will help ease my inhibitions for this itch that needs to be scratched.
Selene honks the horn outside my house. I twirl one more time in front of my bedroom mirror before heading out the door. Liliane and my daddy are away on a mini vacation in the mountains for the lover's holiday. Gross. Love is stupid, and I'm not for it. They are cute though, so I’ll allow it.
I open her car door with purpose, tonight's our night. "Damn Lene! You are looking like a whole meal; them boys don't stand a chance.”She's wearing a tight stonewashed denim mini dress that hugs her small curves in all the right places. Her long blonde locks are tied back in a bun, while her ears are sporting pearl studded hoop earrings. She's the shit!
She smiles. "Thanks, right back at ya, Lynx. Those hockey assholes won't know what hit them."
They truly won’t, that fact makes me almost feel sorry for them. Both of us are nursing breakups, Tyler’s betrayal hurt my pride worse than anything, but Selene's whole heart was destroyed. My fists ball up at my sides when I think about her ex-boyfriend, Rich Montgomery. He was captain of his soccer team, and a total asshole. His family thinks it’s time he started thinking about his political future, and according to them that future in no way consists of my best friend. I work at the only diner in town and the morning after their breakup I punched him in his entitled face when he walked in the door. Gran Odessa had to smooth it over with his family and my boss, and thankfully, she never once asked me to apologize. She onlyreiterated to me that she believed that Rich had gotten what he deserved. She's never cared much for the Montgomery family anyways. Same, girl, same.
“What are you looking for tonight?" I ask casually. Maybe she just needs me to be her wing woman, I'll sacrifice my night of going to pound town for her. They'll be other nights for me to release all my inhibitions.
“The same thing you're looking for, except I'll be doing it to forget, and you'll be taking notes and learning other positions besides missionary." She laughs. The humor doesn't quite reach her eyes, but I won't say it. She'll be okay, time heals all wounds.
