My Once and Future Love Read online

  My Once and Future Love

  By Carla Krae

  Published by Carla Krae at Smashwords.

  Copyright 2011 Carla Krae

  The right of Carla Krae to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  Cover art created by Caro Mio.

  First printed 2011

  First Edition

  All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons--living or dead--is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  MY ONCE AND FUTURE LOVE

  Part One

  Absence Makes the Heart

  Chapter One

  2002

  I sat at an LAX airport gate waiting for them to call our row, my foot tapping impatiently. Daddy wasn’t too thrilled I found a way to circumvent his decision, but I didn’t care. In a matter of hours, I’d see Jacob again! He knew his mother was coming, but she hadn’t told me if he knew about me tagging along, as well. I hoped to surprise him.

  “Elizabeth, that’s us.”

  “Okay!”

  She grinned. “You know you can’t bounce on the plane, yes?”

  I blushed. “Sorry. This is just a big deal for me.”

  She hugged me with her free arm. “I know, dear. Strange as it may sound, I remember being eighteen. I met my husband at university here.”

  “In L.A., here?” I knew his dad had been American, but I assumed they came from England when he started at my school.

  She nodded. “I wanted to get out on my own, away from what I was used to, you know, and met this brash young man in my Philosophy class. I turned him down twice before we went on a date, and then I discovered he was sweet, too. A lot like Jacob.”

  We handed the attendant our boarding passes. “Wow. So you were sweethearts?”

  “Goodness, yes. Probably quite sickening.”

  We made it into the tunnel and onto the plane. The seats were spaced farther apart than I was used to. I actually had room to stretch my legs.

  “Do you mind if I take the window seat?” I stowed our carry-ons above while she stepped aside to let people continue down the aisle.

  “Not at all.”

  Never left the US before--flown cross-country, but never across an ocean. I wasn’t sure how I’d bear waiting five hours just to get to that part. My book would be killed in four. Then, what? “I should’ve brought a second book.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I was just thinking about the length of the flight. My book isn’t long enough to keep me occupied for eleven hours.”

  She smiled, understanding. “Well, they will show a movie, though keep in mind it’s likely you’ll doze off at some point.

  I shook my head. “I’m too excited to sleep.”

  “Mm-hmm…”

  We chatted for a while, me picking her brain about famous stuff close to her house. She’d insisted she had enough room to put me up and assured me I wouldn’t be a burden. Still, I hoped it wasn’t far from his apartment.

  I read until they served a meal, then finished off the book before the in-flight movie started. It was some think-y drama about adults with issues and I nodded off from boredom. A light sleeper, though, I woke when we got dinner.

  “Hey, it’s dark on this side of the world.” We’d left Los Angeles at 10:30AM, which made it around eight in the evening now, but with the time difference… “What time is it in London?”

  “It’ll be close to six in the morning when we exit the plane.”

  “Oh, wow. No way Jacob will be up to meet us at the airport.” It was a bummer I had to wait longer to see him.

  She laughed. “Indeed! He didn’t like waking early as a baby.”

  A clear summer night, I could see the moon reflecting off the water below out my window. Far below, but hey…scenery.

  We landed around 6:00AM. Ten at night at home, so I would be thinking about bed in another hour. Instead, I was looking at breakfast. A car with personal driver picked us up and I started to wonder about the family Mrs. Lindsey came from. When the car eventually stopped in front of a manor, I knew she’d been holding out on me.

  “Friend’s place?”

  Her cheeks colored slightly. “No. It belonged to my parents, and my grandparents before them.”

  “No wonder you don’t have a job in L.A.”

  “I have been fortunate, yes, but one does not need to be blatant with one’s wealth. And I was quite happy to be a young bride in California, once upon a time.” By appearances, she was younger than my parents.

  People opened doors for us and more people took our luggage to other rooms. I spun in a circle in the foyer, taking in the grand staircase, chandelier, and gold-framed paintings. My sneakers squeaked on the marble tiles.

  “Elizabeth, it’s not polite to gawk,” she whispered in my ear.

  I dropped my chin and my eyes and followed her upstairs. She took a right and stopped at a door.

  “This is your bedroom. I’m just down the hall. There is an intercom system throughout the house, so if you need a servant for any reason, just buzz.”

  “Servant?” I asked, my voice taking on an airy quality as I took in my bedroom.

  “It’s a long way to the kitchen if you crave a midnight snack.”

  My room had a four-poster bed and a window seat. Fresh flowers graced every table and the duvet looked to be a silk blend from the subtle sheen of the fibers. More exploring revealed a huge closet, and a luxurious bathroom with a claw-foot tub. I ran my hand over the fluffy towels.

  “The room is satisfactory, I hope,” she said from the door.

  “It’s amazing and you know it. Are they all like this?”

  “Identical? Gracious, no. But each individually beautiful, yes.”

  “Jacob never mentioned this place.”

  She didn’t look surprised. “He spent most of his time at school while we lived in London, coming home for holidays. California was where he was born and where we came back to. I imagine he’ll end up there again, too.”

  “I won’t mind.”

  She smirked. “Undoubtedly. Try to take a nap. Then we’ll have brunch and try to rouse my son.”

  I folded back the covers of the bed once she left and opened my luggage to get my pajamas.

  A few hours later, a ringing telephone awakened me.

  “Hello?”

  “Did I wake you?” Mrs. Lindsey asked. Her tone said she knew she did.

  “A little. Did I miss breakfast?”

  “No, dear. We’re setting the table now.”

  “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

  I hung up and rolled out of bed, then washed my face, ran a brush through my hair, brushed my teeth, and dressed in a blouse and shorts. Hearing voices when I walked down the stairs, I followed the sound. The object of my affection stood at the kitchen island munching
on strawberries.

  He talked to his mother with his back to me. At twenty now, his body had matured since I last saw him two years ago. His shoulders were broader and he was no longer adolescently skinny. The bleach had grown out to only being on the tips of his hair.

  “Ah, there you are,” his mother said.

  He turned around.

  “Bethie!” The biggest smile I’d ever seen spread across his face. With two strides, he wrapped his arms around me and twirled me around. “What are you doing here, love?”

  “Surprising you.”

  He set me down and backed up to arms-length to look at me. “Bloody hell, you changed in two years.”

  My cheeks turned crimson. “A little bit.”

  “Little! You barely fit under my chin now. How was graduation?”

  “Salutatorian. Got beaten out for first in class by a tenth of a grade point.”

  “Aww,” he teased. “Want me to beat ‘im up?”

  “It was a her, and no, but thanks for the offer. Should I ask about your grades?”

  He coughed. “Maybe later.”

  Same ol’ Jacob.

  God, he looked good. His face had matured a bit, too, bringing out his cheekbones. His skin was paler than in California, but no less attractive. Today was Saturday, and he wore a tee and low-slung jeans with a studded belt through the loops. Only man I knew who refused to wear shorts unless at the beach.

  “Come eat, kids.”

  He took my hand and led me into the dining room. What Vivian called “brunch” was no simple spread. The polished table probably sat twelve and was set with china and sterling silver flatware.

  “Is this what they mean by an English breakfast?” Several serving dishes were spread before us.

  “That you can stuff yourself silly on a good fry-up? Pretty much,” he said.

  “A little variety never hurt anyone,” his mother said. She sat at the head of the table, her plate already filled.

  He handed me a plate and asked, “How long do I get to keep you?”

  Forever, my heart answered. My rational side said, “Uh, I’m not sure? I have to be at UCLA in September, but your mom made the travel arrangements.”

  “Well, any mother that brings me a Bethie present earns my everlasting devotion.”

  She shook her head, but said, “You’re welcome, dear, though this is just as much for Elizabeth, if not more so. Traveling abroad diversifies a young woman’s education.”

  He sat down with his pile of food. “On that note, you have to come see us play tonight.”

  I smiled. “I’d love to. I brought the t-shirt.” I sat to his right, since he’d chosen the corner seat next to his mother.

  My internal clock thought it was three in the morning. Mrs. Lindsey, on the other hand, was still bushy-tailed. I don’t know how she did it. With eggs, fruit, pastries, and sausage in my belly, I felt like another nap. A yawn escaped my mouth while they caught up. Embarrassed, my hand flew up to my lips to hide it.

  He poked my side. “I heard that.”

  “I’m sorry. My body thinks it’s the middle of the night.”

  “Aww, past Bethie’s bed time?” he teased.

  “Shut up. You’ve had jet lag before.”

  “Not my fault you didn’t plan your flight around your natural schedule.”

  “In the same room thirty minutes and you’re picking on me.” I propped my chin on my hand. “Hmm, why did I miss you again?”

  He leaned closer, blue eyes sparkling. “’Cause I’m irresistible. A magnet for females young and old.”

  “Watch it,” his mother and I said in unison.

  He laughed, and stretched in his chair. “So easy.”

  I hit him with my napkin and stood to take my empty plate into the kitchen.

  “Elizabeth. Someone will take care of that for you,” she said.

  “Pffft, nonsense. No offense, but I carry my own weight.”

  I brought my dirty dishes into the kitchen and set them by the sink, then looked for the dishwasher. All I saw were drawers. Well, fine, guess I’d do it by hand. Yeah, I had a bit of guilt over the cost of bringing me here. Even though it was obvious now Mrs. Lindsey could afford it and then some, I still didn’t feel right letting her staff wait on me hand and foot. I didn’t incur debts.

  “Pet, what are you doing?” Jacob asked behind me, amused.

  “Washing my dishes, duh.”

  “Looks like you’re puttin’ someone out of work.”

  “Huh?”

  He took the glass from my hand. “They’re paid to do a job, Bethie. They’re not slaves.”

  “I know that.”

  “Then remember you’re on vacation and relax.”

  Hard to do when he smelled so good. “You haven’t called in a long time,” I said.

  “Keep me busy, school and the band. Lose track of the days.”

  I glanced down at his wrist. “It’d help if you wore a watch.”

  He nodded once, conceding to my point. “Probably. Wanna see my world, or do you need that nap?”

  “I can make do with caffeine.” After two years away, he wasn’t getting out of my sight today.

  He grinned. “Brilliant. See you out front.” He walked out.

  I found a Coke in the refrigerator, took it up to my room, and freshened up, slammed the soft drink, belched (oops), and grabbed my purse/camera bag. Mrs. Lindsey wished me a good time on my way out.

  I stopped short when I saw his mode of transportation. “Nuh-uh.”

  “It’s perfectly safe,” he said from the bike.

  “It’s a motorcycle. And I remember how you drive.”

  He held up a second helmet. “Don’t you trust me, Bethie?”

  Oh, not the pout…damn him. I took the helmet and stuck it on my head. “If you kill me, I’m haunting you forever.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Hold on tight and you’ll be fine.”

  Hold on tight, eh? To what? He climbed on the bike and looked back at me expectantly. I straddled the bike behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

  “Put your feet on those little pegs,” he instructed. I did. He pulled my arms further around his middle. “Tighter. You’ll fly backwards when I accelerate with a grip that loose.”

  “Okay.”

  He started the motorcycle. I had a death grip. Oh-god-oh-god…

  When he made it roll forward, I hid my face between his shoulder blades. Air started moving very fast past my body.

  Sorry, Mom and Dad…

  Chapter Two

  When we hadn’t crashed for several minutes, I dared to look at my surroundings. Traffic was slowing as we got into the city proper. The whole left side of the road thing was very strange.

  “You okay back there?” Jacob asked.

  “Maybe.”

  I felt him laugh. The slower pace wasn’t so bad. The buildings weren’t a blur, and the wind wasn’t deafening. I started to notice how firm the body in front of me was. Felt the definition of his abs through his tee. I inhaled his shirt and relaxed. He still smelled the same, a mixture of fabric softener, cologne, and natural Jacob.

  We stopped at a signal. He patted my hand.

  “Not much further.”

  “Okay,” I yelled over the noise of London.

  He finally parked by an apartment building. I handed him the helmet. He offered his hand to help me off the bike. There’d been a lot of hand touching today, something he’d never done before. It wasn’t a new building, but it looked maintained. I followed him inside.

  He held the door for me. “The lift is out of order, so we’ll have to take the stairs.”

  “How many floors?”

  “Two.”

  “Yippee.” I walked a lot back home, but not up hills or stairs. Nerds didn’t do exercise.

  “Wuss.”

  “Bite me.”

  He tugged on a strand of my hair. “Don’t tempt me.”

  Following him upstairs meant I had a nice view of his butt the
whole way. “Doing this every day must be a good workout.”

  “Keeps me from gettin’ fat,” he quipped.

  “Oh, yeah, I’m sure you’re in real danger of that.”

  He sighed, laying the drama on thick. “No one understands…”

  I rolled my eyes. “You are so full of it!”

  He stopped in front of 3B and fished his keys out of his pocket. “Home sweet home.”

  The interior was a true bachelor pad. One futon, one secondhand chair, and two game systems on the coffee table in front of a large TV.

  “Live here by yourself?”

  “Sometimes.” He dropped the helmets on the floor.

  “Sometimes?”

  “Yeah. Sometimes a mate needs to crash. Sometimes I’m short on rent.”

  “Ah. What about now?”

  “Alone.” He shrugged. “Technically.”

  “Meaning you get visitors a lot?”

  He grinned. “I’m a popular bloke, love. So, bed’s through there, loo’s over there, and everything else you can see.”

  “It’s…nice.” Translation: dusty, cluttered, and slightly smelly.

  He’d walked into the tiny kitchen to grab a beverage. “You’re welcome to crash after the gig.”

  “You’re not gonna take me back?”

  He laughed. “It’ll be late, Bethie.”

  “Oh.” If I’d known, I’d have at least grabbed a toothbrush. “You need to warn a girl ahead of time.”

  “Spontaneity really isn’t in you, is it?”

  “If you’re going to make fun of me, I can take a cab back to your mother’s.”

  “I was teasing, pet. Since when are you so defensive around me?”

  Oh, since my hormones reminded me my crush never went away and he was even more gorgeous than I remembered. “Since when are you so nosy.”

  He held up his hands, backing off. “Maybe some rest would be a good idea, after all.”

  Feeling guilty, I turned away from him and walked to the window. “Sorry I snapped at you.”

  “Already forgotten. Take my bed, hmm? We can catch up over dinner.”

  I shook my head and sat on his futon. “I’m fine.”

  He sat down next to me, legs sprawled. “Wanna play somethin’, then?”