American Dream: Book 2

By Z.M. Kage

Discharged from the Marine Corps and depressed over how the United States government has decided to label him: "Disabled" – Jon Cole goes from his lowest low to his highest high when he meets Tara.

Tara inspires Jon to stop drinking and helps him believe that he can create his own living online, but her support and patience dwindle as Jon struggles to bring home the bacon.

When an attempted relapse lands Jon a lucrative cage fighting opportunity, all is good and hope is restored – until he wakes up underground.

Betrayal breeds revenge in American Dream (Book 2). Jon’s roller coaster ride continues...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Z.M. Kage
• Release date: Nov 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311292421

Book preview

American Dream

Book Two

Z.M. Kage

PUBLISHED BY:

Blank Page LLC

Copyright © 2014

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or people – living or dead – is coincidental.

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ONE

Jon couldn’t explain it. Even if somebody asked him, if somebody demanded him to put into words how that first glimpse of her made him feel.

He was still too far away to make out any details, he couldn’t see her clearly, but he knew. Something was going on. Something out of his control. It wasn’t random, the way that demoralizing inner voice of his decided to pack up and leave the second she came into view.

It wasn’t coincidence. It was a sign from the universe.

Savoring the sweet silence, Jon resumed running. He ran toward her as she ran toward him, his curiosity and excitement growing as the distance between them kept shrinking.

Thirty yards and closing.

Blondish-brown hair, pulled back into a ponytail... swaying side to side with the rhythm of her stride. Black running shorts. Short, black running shorts. Tanned, toned legs.

Twenty yards and closing.

Blue tank top. iPod strapped to her arm. White wires leading to what looked like ear bud headphones in her ears.

Ten yards and closing.

Eyes connect. His, hazel... hers, blue. Smiles, warm smiles, interested smiles are sent, received and returned just in time for the invigorating rush of air generated by their fast-paced meeting to soothe; purify; cleanse.

One thousand one. One thousand two. One thousand three.

Jon turns to look back at her before they drift too far apart and finds just what he’d hoped to see. She’s looking at him, too. With another smile, no less. He’d cranked his neck around at just the right time to catch her gawking at him and watch her refocus on the path in front of her; watch her run away.

Coincidence? Maybe, but it was still awfully quiet upstairs. No arguing whatsoever. Doubt had gone home early and the only thing Jon was aware of was the unexplainable pull, the need, to go after her, to chase her and catch up to her.

He could feel it working out well for him. There was no questioning, no but-what-ifs, and no second-guessing. He’d never felt it before; it was exhilarating.

So he acted on his new sensation before she’d put enough distance between them to make closing the gap in a timely manner a suicide mission. She’d been moving at a pretty good pace. He wanted to have enough energy left by the time he caught up to her to open his mouth and say something.

But what should he say? Jon’s hamster wheel started turning.

Gaining ground on her now, he doesn't have much time to decide.

Should he jump right in with the truth? Hey, you miraculously got the depressed, melodramatic voice inside my mind to take a hike, just wanted to thank you?

Forget that... Jon knows better than to lead with crazy.

He’s right behind her now; he’s out of time.

Hey, he says just before pulling up alongside her and matching her pace.

Crap, Jon forgot about the iPod and headphones. She didn’t hear him. But she’s looking over and smiling at him again, that’s gotta be good. Up close and personal like this, he notices that the blue in her eyes is an almost perfect match to the blue on her shirt. So beautiful. It’s the first thing his ‘voice’ had said since he’d seen her.

She removes the ear bud headphone from the ear closest to Jon without breaking her stride. Oh boy, now she can hear him. Hey doesn’t seem like a good idea anymore. He doesn’t want to repeat himself, so he goes with his next instinctual thought and lets it flow out in words. You look so familiar, he says, smiling, looking her in the eyes the best he can but at the same time keeping an eye on what’s in front of him.

She giggles. I should look familiar, she replies, blushing. We went to the same high school. Same graduating class, too. Her words stun Jon, completely stopping his forward momentum... but only for a second.

You’re kidding me, he says, catching back up to her again. Guess that explains why you look familiar, but how do I not know who you are?

Uh, because our school was huge and our class had about a thousand students in it? She laughs. Yeah, I bet that’s why.

But...

And, she adds, I wasn’t popular like you.

But you recognize me? When you saw me today, you knew who I was right away?

Of course I did, Jon. I’ve had the biggest crush on you since, like, freshman year.

He loved the way his name rolled off her tongue and he loved how brave she was to say that to him so soon. He wasn’t that brave. Why didn’t you tell me that back in high school? You know... say something or do something to show me you were interested?

Because I thought you were outta my league. And you only had eyes for Erin...

Jon’s chest tightens at the sound of her name. Erin. He lets it go, feels the tension dissipate. Out of her league? Was she serious? Erin and I are done, Jon says, have been for months. And every guy on the planet is in your league. I mean, look at you.

Yeah... right, she replies, smiling, face turning red again. So what happened with you and Erin?

I’d rather not talk about it, Jon tells her, glancing at the river to their right, responding without looking at her for the first time since they’d been running side by side.

Oh. I’m sorry. Worried that she’d stepped over some invisible line and struck a nerve, she didn’t know what else to say.

It’s not your fault, Jon assures her, "no