Unexpected (Skipping Stones: Book 2)

By Jasmine Lee

In Emily you got part of my story. But now in Unexpected you get the rest of it.

True, it doesn't go the way I planned and I don't end up with the man I had planned on. But then again, that's why they say to 'expect the unexpected.'

I have a choice to make...

Do I choose my past? Or do I choose a path that is uncertain?

Only time can tell in the end. I have to choose before feelings are hurt and it's too late, causing me to loose everything I hold dear.

Sincerely,
Emily

Readers 18+ Sexual Content, Language

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jasmine Lee
• Release date: Oct 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310473616

Jasmine Lee

Jasmine Lee is a small town girl who grew-up in a small town with a population of only three-hundred and sixty one people. She had her son at the age of twenty and at the age of twenty-four she met her husband and with-in a year they were married. It was only two short years later, while babysitting a little girl they met their soon to be adopted daughter. Fast forward to today and she is a stay-at-home wife and her husband works at the local prison. Their daughter is ex-NAVY and is now working as a deckhand on a barge and their son is working as a manufacturer of metal. She is still living in a small town, actually smaller then the one she grew-up in on ten acres and enjoys writing and taking pictures and working in her garden and babying her roses.J.L.

Book preview

Unexpected

(Skipping Stones Book 2)

Copyright © Jasmine Lee 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and the story lines are created by the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

Editor: Adrian J Smith

Formatter: Champagne Book Design

Cover Designer: Sheri McGathy

Cover Models: Bri Jay, Eric Marshall & Erich Steele

Photographer: Tabitha Patterson

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Dedication

Epigraph

Playlist

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Sneak Peek of Nothing Ever Lasts

Ella’s Love Excerpt

Emily (Skipping Stones: Book 1) Excerpt

Stalk Jasmine Lee

To all the Emily’s out there…Just know one day you’ll find the right guy for you!

The image is one thing, and the human being is another. It’s very hard to live up to an image, put it that way.—Elvis Presley

PLAYLIST

Look At Those Eyes—Alexz Johnson

Kiss Me—Sixpence None The Richer

Don’t Stop Believin’—Journey

Take Good Care Of My Baby—Bobby Vee

Crazy Little Thing Called Love—Queen

Sexual Healing—Marvin Gaye

Take Me Home Tonight—Eddie Money

Toy Soldiers—Martika

Hungry Eyes—DD

Message Of Love—Saliva

Somebody’s Baby—Phantom Planet

Lose Yourself—Eminem

Wastin’ My Time—Boomkat

The Monster—Eminem, Rihanna

Love The Way You—Eminem, Rihanna

Not Afraid—Eminem

Crazy—K-Ci & JoJo

Secrets—One Republic

Lay Me Down—Sam Smith, John Legend

Going Out Like That—Reba McEntire

The Sun Is Rising—Britt Nicole

Back At One—Brain McKnight

Winner At A Losing Game—Rascal Flatts

Perfect Day—Hoku

All or Nothing—O-Town

Buried Alive—O-Town

I Will Come To You—Hanson

To Say Goodbye—Joey + Rory

Come Home—One Republic

Wild Horses—Natasha Bedingfield

5 months since the ending of Emily

MAMA!

I jerk awake at hearing Lucas—or is it Cole—hollering for me. Not bothering to wait to find out, I stand quickly and make my way to the boys’ bedroom only to run smack dab into the door when I try to push it open.

What the hell? I mutter.

Reaching down, I turn the knob and push it open. I let my eyes adjust to the darkness as I make my way over to their bunk beds.

Mama, I hear Lucas whimper from the bottom bunk.

I’m here, baby, I whisper as I sit on the edge of the bed.

I had a bad dream, he whispers.

It’s okay. I’m here, and I won’t let anything bad happen to you, I say as I caress his face.

Promise? he asks with wide eyes.

Smiling, I lean down and kiss his forehead. Promise.

He gives me a small smile but looks scared. Do you want me to sing?

He nods.

What do you want me to sing? I whisper as I turn and lay down beside him.

Bedbug song, he says as he turns and lies on his side.

Smiling, I begin singing the song I learned so many years ago when I went to camp as a kid. By the time I’m through singing he’s sound asleep. Letting out a small breath, I begin moving so I can slip out without waking him or his brother. Just as I reach the door, I run into the dresser and stub my toe. Biting my lip so I don’t start cussing aloud, I quickly walk out and pull their door too. As soon as I’m away from the door, I let loose.

Motherfucking shit! Oh, piss that freaking hurt, I mutter as I bring my leg up, bending it at the knee so I can grab my toes.

After a quick bathroom stop, I go back to bed. Checking the time, I see it’s only a little after eleven, and I lay down trying to get back asleep, knowing five am is gonna be here sooner than I’d like in the end.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Ugh. I reach over and finally locate the stupid alarm clock. I seriously hate it this morning, but then again, I don’t think I’ve ever woken up loving the piece of plastic. Letting out a huff of air, I roll onto my back, trying to wake up before I actually get up.

Easier said than done.

BEEP. BEEP. BE-

Shit…damn thing, I mutter as I look and make sure I actually turn it off this time.

Throwing the comforter off, I sit up and let my feet touch the floor. At least it’s warm and not freezing this morning. Standing, I grab my clothes for today and make my way to the bathroom to get a shower before making a small breakfast for the boys.

Two hours later, I’m running in circles as I finish washing the dishes from breakfast as I listen to the boys talk about what they’re doing in school today. It’s hard to believe they started the second grade this year. Where the hell does the time go?

A loud knock has me walking out of the kitchen and hollering over my shoulder to the boys to get dressed for school.

I look out the side window and smile when I see Conner. Pulling the door open, I greet my ex-husband.

Morning, I say as I move to the side so he can walk in.

Morning. Are the boys ready? he asks as he stops behind the couch.

Not yet, but they should be soon. You want anything to drink or eat? I say as I walk back into the kitchen to finish cleaning up.

No, thanks. I ate before I left the house.

Nodding, I wipe the table down before spinning around to find Conner not even a couple of inches from me. Leaning in, he kisses me softly on the lips before pulling away.

Missed you last night, he whispers.

Smiling, I lift my shoulders. School night.

Rolling his eyes, he pulls me into his arms as he nuzzles my neck. When can I move in?

I don’t know. I’m still thinking about it.

Emily, seriously we’ve been dating for three and half months now. I think it’s time we moved in together so we can start being an actual family again.

I know. It’s just the last time we rushed everything, and this time I don’t want to. I want us to be sure before we move in together.

Groaning, he buries his face in my neck, tightening his arms around me.

Can you blame me? I ask quietly.

He lets go of me and turns so he’s facing away. I know I pissed him off, but it’s hard for me to actually trust him fully. I mean a year ago I found out he was having an affair with another woman. Then after we split, he dated her for a few months, and even though it didn’t last the damage had been done. But in his defense, it didn’t help matters when I dated his cousin Travis either. That didn’t last either.

I’m sorry, Conner. But it’s gonna take me a while before I can trust you fully again, I say to his back.

I watch as his back tenses and his hands tighten into fists.

Shaking my head, I try to think of something else I can say to get us off this subject.

Conner spins around, catching me off guard. Are you ever going to forgive me for my past mistakes?

I open my mouth to respond but end up closing it because in the end I forgave him for the affair. But it’s an entirely different thing when it comes to giving him my heart again, along with my trust. So, I lift my hands in an ‘I don’t know’ gesture.

I’m gonna go check on the boys, he grumbles as he turns and leaves the kitchen.

Letting out a sigh, I drop my hands and let my head fall back to stare up at the ceiling. I love Conner, I do. It’s just that I don’t know if I can trust him again or if I’m actually in love with him.

Why does life have to be so freaking hard?

Shaking my head, I finish cleaning up the kitchen before going to see if the boys are ready and find them and Conner all sitting in the living room talking about riding four wheelers this weekend. A knock at the door has me looking to see that it’s time for me to leave. Walking to the door, I open it and find James standing there. He’s Travis’ older brother by two years; he has black hair and hazel eyes with olive skin. He’s a couple inches taller than me.

Smiling, he says. Ready to go?

After a year of online classes, I switched to on-campus classes, and when I discovered James was attending the same college, I was thrilled. The college is in the next town over, so instead of both of us driving, we decided to ride together.

Yeah. Let me tell the boys bye first, I say as I turn and walk over to the boys.

James follows me in and starts talking to Conner about going mudding this weekend. Guess they’re making it into a boys weekend.

Okay, boys, I gotta get going, I say, bending down so I