Broken Roads

By Olivia Marie

Kelsey has been in love with Michael for as long as she can remember. Growing up in the same town just houses apart, they were always in the same circle. However, Michael never seemed as interested in Kelsey as she was in him.

That was until the summer before high school. Michael finally asked her out. Kelsey couldn't have been happier. 

They dated through college and were about to be married. Thinking this was her happily ever after, she put her all into planning the perfect wedding and the perfect life with the only man she had ever loved. 

But vows do not always mean the same to everyone. Kelsey was looking forward to a future with her perfect husband, Michael had a different idea of what marriage was. 

Now the choices Kelsey never wanted to think about were the only things on her mind. Does she stay and try to make this work or walk away and start over?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crazy Ink
• Release date: Dec 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393502906

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Ihad the whole scene played out in my head on how our lives would go. How stupid and naive I had been back then. Maybe I was the one that was the problem thinking we could have our happily ever after. How could I have known I was marrying the villain and not my prince charming? I only hoped that I could get out before it was too late.

CHAPTER ONE

Summer 2006

I sat on the front step and watched him. I tried to act normal around him, but for the past four years, it had been almost impossible. He was everything to me and he didn’t even know it yet.

Michael had been my friend since we were in diapers. Living two doors down from us, and his mom and mine being best friends, there wasn’t a day that went by when we hadn’t seen each other at least once.

With summer here again, it only meant more time with him and maybe this would be the year he would notice me back.

Come on turtle, Jake said to him as they raced down the street on their bikes.

Whatever. I will beat you in no time, Mike yelled back and started to gain on him.

Both laughing, they stood up and peddled as hard as they could. I watched as they flew by my house, but I caught the glance Mike threw my way when he did.

My heart skipped in my chest and my hands became clammy. That happened every time I saw him lately and I didn’t understand it.

Mike had always been my friend and I liked him a lot. Lately though, those feelings were turning into more than like. I caught myself wondering what it would be like to hold his hand or kiss him. I wondered what it would be like to hear him call me his girlfriend.

I knew it wouldn’t happen though. He wasn’t into girls yet. Mom said that guys take longer to get there than we do. Even if he did, I was sure he thought of me as nothing more than Kelsey from two houses down.

Come on Kels, Jake shouted as they rode past me again.

Coming, I yelled back. Racing to the garage, I grabbed my bike, hopped on and peddled as fast as I could to catch up.

Hey, Mike said when I got to the tunnel that went under the road connecting our block to the one across the street.

Since they put it in last year, it had become a popular hangout for us. It also gave us a safe way to cross the busy street while keeping our parents off our backs.

It was the summer before we started high school and the excitement of the changes that came with it were a big topic for all of us. Jake signed up to start taking classes for his drivers permit and we hoped that meant no more school bus for us when he passed.

Mike and me, being born later in the year, had to wait until the end of freshman year to take the class. I didn’t mind though; it was something else we had in common.

So, Mike started when we stopped to sit by the small pond on the other side of the tunnel. The Homecoming Dance. Want to go with me?

I stood there and stared at him. I knew I was hearing things. There was no way Mike was asking me to go to a school dance.

So? he asked again.

Yes. I would.

Cool. Hey Jake. Ready to ride some more?

Yeah man, wait up.

See you in a little while? Mike asked me before he got on is bike.

Yeah. I’ll be around.

I watched as they rode away, unable to move. Afraid if I did, the whole thing would end up being a dream and I didn’t want to wake up from that.

IT WAS FINALLY TIME for the dance, and I couldn’t keep the butterflies out of my stomach.  It was my first dance, first date and first crush.

My mom took me to get a dress earlier in the week. It took seven stores and two malls, but I found the perfect one to wear for Mike.

She took me to get my nails and hair done and standing in front of my full-length mirror hanging on the back of my closet door, I fidgeted to fix everything one last time. I wanted this to be perfect for him because to me, he was worth it.

I played around a little with my light brown hair with new blonde highlights. The light blue spaghetti strap dress matched my eyes. It came down to just below my boney knees hiding all the scrapes and bumps from playing football with them last weekend.

When he showed up, I couldn’t move. He was dressed in a nice shirt, almost the same color as my dress, and dress pants. His almost black hair was combed and even though I knew he did it for me, I wasn’t used to seeing it not stick up everywhere.

You look nice, he said and smiled. Ready?

Not so fast you two, my mom said, running into the room with her camera in hand.

We had to let her take a dozen pictures before she finally let us leave.

It was the best night of my life. We danced until our feet hurt, drank and had a few of the snacks Jake snuck in.

Not wanting it to end, Mike and I went to the Ice Cream Palace on our walk back to my house. He got a double scoop chocolate chunk cone and I got my usual chocolate chip cookie dough in a cup.

We ate that and talked all the way back to my house. Walking as slow as we could without missing curfew, we enjoyed the small treat.

I had a great time, I managed to get out as we got closer to my house.

It was better than I thought it would be, he said and laughed.

Why did you ask me? I know you hate things like this.

I don’t know. I wanted to. When I talked to my mom about it, she said I would be stupid not to. Even if we just danced for the night. She said I would have fun.

I hope you did.  I know I did.

Me too.

Standing in the driveway just before the glow of the porch light, he bent down and gave me my first kiss ever. It was fast and so soft, I thought I imagined it. The tingle he left behind made me realize it had happened. Mike finally kissed me.

Things changed for us after that night. When we were together with our friends, he didn’t stand so far away anymore and even though they would get sweaty, he held my hand all the time.

It wasn’t long into the school year that he made it official and started to call me his girlfriend. I was in love and I was happy.

Present day

THINKING BACK ON ALL we had been through only made it hurt that much more. He was the one, the only one, I had ever wanted.

Knowing how things turned out, I might not have been so willing to jump at the chance to be with the perfect man. Nothing was truly perfect if we opened our eyes long enough to see it all.

The sad part, I loved him more than I had back then. I built my whole world around him. Everything I did, I did to make him happy and what I got in return was nothing.

Kelsey have you seen my blue shirt? You know, the one with the silver buttons? Mike yelled down to me from our room upstairs.

It’s hanging up in the closet.

I don’t see it.

I closed my eyes, hung my head, set down my coffee and stood to go upstairs and show him where his special shirt was.

This would have been faster if you would have set in on the hook in the bathroom for me like I asked you to.

I’m sorry. I forgot with all the other things I had to do last night.

You’re slipping lately. Don’t you love me anymore? he asked and cornered me against the closet door.

You know I do.

Then prove it. I have a few minutes to spare.

Your breakfast will get cold. I made your favorite. Eggs over easy, French toast and bacon.

Guess you will just have to reheat it then.

Letting him have his way with me was easier in the end than fighting it. The eggs would be too done, his bacon too crispy and his French toast soggy. Even though he was the one that was making that happen, it would be my fault and I would hear about it for the next few days.

He finished quickly this time and I was able to get up and finish what I needed to before he left for work.

His leaving for work was always consistent, him coming home was an exhausting guessing game. Without warning of when he would be back, it was my job to have his dinner ready and waiting hot and fresh for him the second he walked in. I guessed most of the time and only messed up a handful of dinners. Those were the ones he remembered, not all the ones I got right.

Might be a good day yet, he said breaking into my thoughts.

Good day for you.

I couldn’t remember the last time we had made love, laughed or even acted like a couple. I would have to guess it was our wedding night. My only job was to be there for him when he wanted it. Everything about my life was about his needs. I was a shell of who I used to be. The worst part, I did that