Page 1 of Holiday on the Rocks
SEVEN YEARS AGO
I grabbed my birth certificate from the little metal box my mother kept on the top shelf of her closet, shoved it into my suitcase, and went to wait for him on the sidewalk. My parents left for work already, so it would be at least seven hours before they’d even notice I was gone.
The October sun was warm on my face as I sat on my suitcase. Rachel’s car pulled to a stop at the curb before she and Lexi sprung out.
“This is the worst idea ever, Allie.” Rachel, my girl since the third grade, stood in front of me. “You can’t do this.”
I laughed. “I’m eighteen today, I can do anything now.”
“He—”
“He proposed last night on the Sugar Creek Bridge. The spot of our very first kiss.” Sigh.
“He’s bad news.” Lexi rubbed her temples. “I think you’ve given me my first migraine.”
“He’s not bad news. We’ve dated a year, and my 4.0 GPA hasn’t wavered a bit.”
Rachel pulled me to my feet. “What the bibbity boppy f-ball is this? You’re smart. Wait until next year. You already have scholarships for college, if he’s the one this can wait.”
“I’m still going to college.” Why did the wrinkle between her brows crack me up? My laughter was not well received. “He’ll come with me wherever I go.”
Lexi let out a huff. “Levi Dawson in college? No freaking way.”
I put my hands on her shoulders. “I’ll go to college and he’ll do what he wants. But we’ll be together.”
Rachel’s eyes rolled. “Come on, you’re the most intelligent person I know. He was just arrested last week!”
I did a little dance that had smoke coming from Lexi’s ears. “For spray painting my name on the water tower in town.” My hand covered my heart as giggles shot out of me. “Have you ever heard of anything more romantic?”
“Allie, please?—”
“My parents are talking about sending me to live with my grandparents, but there’s nothing to be afraid of. He’s amazing if anyone would bother to give him a chance. I love him so much, and we can’t not be together. We’ll be married and then there’s no stopping us.”
Rachel let out a sigh. “This isn’t the way. Stay with us, don’t do this.”
I quoted my favorite. “Stay where it’s safe, they said, but my heart only beats where the wild things grow.”
Her face grew red. “For fuck’s sake Allie?—”
I gave her a hug. “You both are my best friends. We grew boobs and read dirty books together. I need a sworn promise on my life that you won’t tell anyone where we’re going. I left a note for my parents so they won’t worry, Levi and I will be back here on Thursday.”
My heart hiccupped when I saw him rolling toward us in his uncle’s “borrowed” car. I gave a wave as he pulled to a stop.
Levi grinned as he got out and the sight of him took my breath away. Tall, dark brown hair that was a little longer in back, and those green eyes framed by thick eyelashes that were unfair to women everywhere. Queue up Taylor’s Style.
“Ladies.”
Between the wink he gave me and the t-shirt that highlighted his pecs and biceps, I was already melty. He opened his arms, and I stepped into the space that fit me perfectly as his arms wrapped around me.
“Levi, if you have a brain in your skull, you won’t do this,” Rachel said.
I looked up at his strong jaw. “All I want to do is protect and love her. She’s my everything.”
ONE
ALLIE
Present Day
