Ronan: It's Always Her... (Continued)(Short Story #9)

It's been since October that I've written a short story (remember those?!). I missed writing short stories on my characters from the A Tragic Heart series. I believe this series will always be my favorite and the characters will always be the most real to me which is why I write little blurbs about them...so I never have to let them go.

As promised, this one is a continuation to the last one and it's from Ronan's point of view. Clearly it would belong with the second novel, RED and jumps eight years into the future (from where RED left off). You can check out the first part to the story here: Ronan: It's Always Her...

Listen to "Close To You" by Rihanna on repeat while reading to get the full experience:

Ronan: It’s Always Her (Continued)

                There she was. Sitting across from me in an expensive restaurant in Los Angeles just talking away. She had a smile painted across her face as she spoke and her red hair was now dyed blonde; a new look is what she called it. She looked beautiful…even more beautiful than I could remember. Adulthood looked good on her and it was clear that she was far from that high school girl who broke my heart way back when. 

                She went on about her idea for the photoshoot she wanted to collaborate with me on. For the most part it sounded like a good idea but I couldn’t really tell you because I wasn’t listening much. I just kept thinking about how she was the most beautiful girl in the room…in the world. Just a few days ago I was with a gorgeous model in my bedroom and now here I am with my high school lover and thinking about just how unattractive that model was compared to her. She has no idea. 

                “Enough about work,” I interrupted her as I reached across the table and grabbed her hands. Her nails were painted black and her skin was smooth. “How have you been, Peyton?”

                She gave me a smirk before answering, it was almost a blush. “I’ve been great, actually. I’m in a really good place and things just keep getting better. I never thought I’d say that but…here I am,” she replied.

                “That’s good. You seem really happy,” I responded with a little disappointment in my tone. I was happy that she was happy but there was a part of me that wanted her to confess that she missed me. I wanted her to say that she still needed me even though we’ve been apart for eight years. 

                “Before coming here I got to spend time with Mason and the rest of the family. The kids are getting so big…they’re not even kids anymore. Can you believe that?!” she asked. “Lila’s going to be starting college soon!”

                Lila’s her baby cousin. Mason is her dad’s first cousin who took her in after both her parents died while she was still a baby. For her, his kids are basically her little sister and brothers. 

                “That’s crazy. Time really does fly. Who would’ve thought we’d be here? A lot has happened,” I said taking on a slightly tighter grip onto her hands. 

                “It really has. I can’t even keep up anymore,” she basically mumbled. 

                Before I could say another word the waiter came and interrupted us asking if we were ready to order. She wasn’t sure what she wanted so I ordered for the both of us. I told her not to worry she’ll love it and she responded with a “you always knew me so well.” 

                We talked more over dinner, mostly about work and how I would make her vision come to life. She loved my input and told me this is why I’m her go to person for things like this. We make a great team. If only she knew what that truly means to me. It’s crazy how she was the one to hurt me so I let her go but I’m the one longing for her again. Most people will say I’m insane but they’re obviously the ones who never met Peyton Hayley Giordano. 

                She suggested we go back to my condo where I have an in house studio. She wanted to get a visual of how things will be set up. Of course I wouldn’t object to it. She’s always welcomed in my home. Aside from being my ex she’s also one of my oldest friends. Nothing will ever change that. 

                We walked inside together and I offered her a drink. She declined. All she wanted was for me to show her to the studio so I did. 

                “I have an idea,” she announced. 

                I lifted my head to look at her, letting her know she had my attention. “What is it?” I asked. 

                “Let’s do things a little differently. I want a photoshoot tonight. Just on a whim kind of thing. All natural,” she replied.

                “Okay. Let me get my camera set up,” I said about to walk out of the room before she stopped me.

                “Here’s the catch!” she said staring at me biting her bottom lip. 

                “Go on,” I urged curiously.

                “I want to be nude. Nothing covered. All natural, like I said. No retouches, nothing but my natural self.”

                I was speechless. “Peyton-“

                “I wanted a shoot like this for a while and I could’ve asked anyone but I wanted you to do it. I mean, who better than you? You’ve already seen the package.”

                “That was years ago,” I replied. “It’s different now.”

                “Are you seeing someone?” she asked.

                “No. Not really,” I responded quickly.

                “Then what’s the problem?”

                The problem was I was still in love with her and seeing her that naked will definitely send me over the edge. I couldn’t tell her that though.

                “I’ll go get my camera.”

                When I came back she started to undress slowly. I watched her take off every piece of clothing and I wanted to forget about the photoshoot. I just wanted her. 

                “Ready?” I asked not able to take my eyes off of her.

                “As ready as I can be,” she said pushing her newly blonde hair out of her face. 

                We took shots on the bed, the shower, my balcony…almost everywhere. Not once did she feel uncomfortable. The photos came out beautiful. She was just about to start putting her clothes back on when I said something to get her attention.

                “What if I didn’t want you to put those back on just yet?” I asked boldly.

                She stopped and stared for a bit so I walked closer to her. She didn’t make a move. She seemed shocked. 

                “Roe, what are you saying?” she asked as I ran my fingers up and down her arm. I always loved the softness of her skin. 

                “I’m saying that I still have feelings for you and I can’t let you leave me tonight…not like this.”

                “Roe-I don’t think-“

                I cut her off with a kiss. She pulled back but before she could interrupt I kissed her again. This time she let it happen. She let her panties drop out of her hands and wrapped her arms around my waist. I guess this was happening on my balcony in the middle of the night. Let’s just hope paparazzi didn’t follow us here…

Don't forget to pick up your copy of RED and the rest of the series here: A Tragic Heart Series

 

 

Ronan: It's Always Her... (Short Story #8)

It's been a while since I graced my blog with a short story based on my book series, The RED Tragedies series (aka A Tragic Heart Series), so I'm giving you a new one I actually wrote almost a month ago but never posted it. This one is from Ronan's POV, and if it was part of a book it would fit with RED (Book 2). It jumps into the future and shows Ronan as a grown man with a career and life of his own. Here's the link to the last short story: Peyton Hayley: No Need To Catch Me (I'm Not Falling)

Listen to "I Hope You Find It" by Miley Cyrus on repeat while reading:

Ronan: It’s Always Her…

            I’m lying next to a girl I barely even know. I shot her a few times for the cover of various popular magazines but that’s about it. Lately this has been my life. Girls come and go because none of them can match my first love. She happened eight years ago and she remains a friend but I can’t help but think that she’s my true one. 

            We ended when we were seventeen years old after a huge scandal broke loose that she was sleeping with a famous rockstar, Alex Kinsley who was eight years her senior. He got booted from his band and his career took a beating all before she found him dead from a drug overdose in his multimillion dollar home. What did she get out of it? A hot music career that looks like it won’t sink anytime soon. 

            Being that we decided to pick up our friendship after Alex’s death, I became her go to photographer. She uses me for everything from album covers, appearances to magazine shootings; the only thing she won’t use me for is love. Even after all the wrong she’s done and the pain she’s caused me, inside I still love her. That will never change but for some reason I fight the feeling.

            “What are you thinking about?” Adriana asks as she runs her fingers through my hair. She’s the model I photographed today for the next issue of Vogue. I invited her out for drinks and the rest you can come up with yourself.

            “Nothing really. Just how beautiful those photos came out. You’re gorgeous,” I lie rolling onto my side and kissing her neck. She laughs and buys into the lie I just told. I couldn’t tell her that I was really thinking about my ex from high school who I still hang with every once in a while.

            “How come a nice and hot guy like you don’t have a steady girlfriend? What’s wrong with you, huh?” she asks playfully. “Are you really a serial killer or something?”

            “Yeah, that’s totally it,” I reply with a smile. “Seriously, though, I have no idea. I guess I just haven’t met the right girl.”

            Truth is I have met the right girl, our happiness is just stuck in the past somewhere frozen in time. I remember when she asked for me back after Alex died and her life was getting back together. I declined and told her I could never go there with her again. Now I’m not so sure if that was the right decision.

            We remained good friends and talk about anything we feel the need to. I’ve witness a few guys come and go out of her life and she had a share of heartbreaks after Alex but it was nothing she couldn’t handle. Truth is I’m not so sure she ever got over me either. The good news is she’s more stable than she was when we got together.

            Peyton was a broken a girl. She had no parents and was raised by her dad’s closest cousin, his wife and her uncle. Her father died in a car accident when he was only 17 and her mom commit suicide shortly after because of it. Basically, she never had a fair chance. When we got together I thought I’d be the one to fix her and I did for a while…but I wasn’t enough. Peyton always aimed for something a little more risky. 

            She took everything from me. My virginity, my heart, my ability to love another; it’s all gone because of her. 

            “I’m going to jump in the shower for a while…you’re welcomed to join me,” Adriana says with a smirk before climbing out of bed. 

            I told her I’m okay for now as she closed the bathroom door behind her. I picked up my phone from the night stand next to me and saw I had a new text message. 

            “I have this really cool idea for a photoshoot. Call me so we can talk about it.”

     Thinking of the devil. Of course I would call her. In fact, I couldn’t wait to hear her voice. I replied to her text saying, “Busy right now but I’ll contact you later. Maybe we can talk about it over dinner?”

     For some reason I felt nervous, sort of like I was asking her out on a date. She immediately texts me back telling me that dinner is okay and tomorrow night would be good for her. I smile to myself and put my phone down. I can’t wait to see her again. It’s been months since we’ve last spoke in person. 

            I get out of bed and decide to join Adriana in the shower. It wouldn’t be a good idea to be hung up on Peyton for the rest of the night when I had a beautiful model in my shower. Before I head in the bathroom I hear my phone go off again like I had another message. I double back and check it only to see a message from Peyton.

            “Can’t wait to see you. Feels like it’s been ages. Maybe we can hang a little more this week since I’m in town for a while…you know, just us old friends and a lot of catching up?”

            Of course I agree to it. Here we go again…

                        To be continued…

Don't forget to pick up your copy of RED and the rest of the series here: http://www.amazon.com/S.-Elle-Cameron/e/B00FNI34X4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1