Adios

By Bethany Lopez

This is book 6 in the Stories about Melissa series, and will continue Melissa's journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bethany Lopez
• Release date: Dec 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311998446

Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!Sign up for her newsletter and get a free eBook! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r7w3w5

Book preview

Chapter 1

Life as I know it:

Life as I know it has totally gone downhill…

First, my dad did move out into his own apartment. Since they don’t make apartments in his budget that can fit all of us, we have to share rooms when we go to visit. He’s supposed to get us every other weekend, and a few nights during the week, but that usually only happens with Mikey, Monica, and Max.

Megan and I usually only go when we’re forced, which neither of my parents are that big on doing, since we’re both older and they feel we can make that decision on our own.

I don’t go often, because I’m busy. I’m still working at Arby’s, trying to survive my junior year, and juggling my relationship with Jimmy against my relationship with my friends.

Megan doesn’t go because she’s a big Emo baby, and is doing whatever she can to torture our mom and dad as often as possible.

I know this, because we’re still sharing a room, and I have to listen to her crappy music and watch as she wallows on her side of the room.

Luckily, I’m barely ever home, so I don’t have to deal with her all that much.

Mom is working more, but has eased up on using me to babysit all the time, since I’m earning money on my own. We have a woman, Mrs. Dutch, who comes in to take care of Mikey, Monica, and Max when they aren’t with Dad and Mom needs to work.

The end of my last journal was pretty dramatic, I admit, but it was a crazy time. Going to Ben was the right choice though, because he took the time to listen to me, let me cry it out, and then offer his advice. He was really sweet about the whole thing, which only made me fall for him a little bit more, and I was pretty devastated when he left for Italy. We’ve been exchanging letters and even Facetiming sometimes, so it hasn’t been too bad.

Still, I miss him.

Jimmy and I are still together, probably mostly because I didn’t tell him that when my parents told us they were separating, I went to Ben instead of him. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and honestly, I didn’t want to deal with his jealousy again.

Things between us got better over Christmas. We spent the holidays together, going from his mom’s, to my mom’s, to my dad’s, then went to the movies. It was a good time for us to reconnect, and things between us have been smoother since then. I still wish he didn’t get jealous and act crazy about my guy friends, but at least when we’re together he seems happy.

Now, we are just three weeks away from Spring Break, and our trip to Cabo San Lucas.

I still can’t believe it, and worry every day that something is going to happen to ruin this trip. I have the time off of work, Jess’s mom is coming along as our chaperone, and Jimmy and Brian’s parents said they could go after a lot of begging, and phone calls from Jess’s mom.

At first my parents were adamant that I couldn’t go, but there was one good thing about them going through their separation. Guilt. They felt guilty about putting our family through the ringer, and were much more lenient on us kids because of it.

Did I feel guilty about using that against them to get what I want? Nope, not even a little bit. I’m just as angry with them as Megan is, maybe even more, since I’m the oldest and have been a part of this family longer. They’re the ones who are ruining everything, so I might as well get something out of it, right?

Anyway, that’s where we’re at. I’ve been saving money since I started working, including the money I got from family for Christmas, so I have enough to split the travel costs with my parents, which was part of the deal, and still have money to eat and buy some souvenirs while we’re there.

Jess and I are going to room with her mom, with Jimmy and Brian in their own room next door. We’re going with the Parents without Partners group, so Jess’s mom will have other adults there to hang out with, and there will be planned activities and stuff.

Not that I care about any of that, I’m just looking forward to laying on the beach and swimming in the ocean. Jimmy’s pretty excited too, and he’s been making little comments and suggestions about getting time alone while we’re there. I’m a little nervous that he’s going to push the issue of us finally having sex, but I’ve decided not to dwell on it too much, and just play it by ear once we get there. We are both sixteen, but I’m not sure that I’m ready.

For now, I’m focused on packing the perfect outfits, getting a base tan ready by going to the tanning booth every day, and getting a week away from Dearborn, Michigan.

I absolutely cannot wait!

---

Chapter 2

Ready for change

Have I mentioned that I am totally over school?

I’m so ready to graduate this place I can’t even stand it. I’m tired of the gossip and the games, the stupid bullies, and the even stupider people who think they’re the coolest thing to hit the planet and can do whatever they want.

Today after school I had to stop by the drama department to take some pictures for the yearbook, and I walked up on these jocks pushing around one of the freshman working on the set. When I told them to leave him alone and get lost, they started in on me.

Calling me a soccer groupie and a wannabe cheerleader.

As if…

The good news is, they left the kid alone. The bad news is, I still have another year of this crap.

Anyway, I got the pictures taken, then had to hurry to work, making it with just one minute to spare. My boss, Doug, who’d only recently been promoted, shot me a warning look, but didn’t say anything.

The highlight of my night was when Jess came in to join me on my break and we had dinner together.

I’d thrown the ugly hat I had to wear on the seat next to me and loaded up my roast beef sandwich with Arby’s and Horsey sauce, while she nibbled on her junior roast beef.

I don’t know how you haven’t gained twenty pounds, working here, Jess said as I dipped my fry in some Horsey sauce.

I know, I said with my