I Love Me More

By Holly Hubbard

I Love Me More takes you through the journey of 7 different woman as they find their true path to happiness. These ladies survive tremendous hardships and heart break to achieve the lives of their dreams. Love will conquer all. And that is especially true for the love of self.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9780359069200

Book preview

I Love Me More

I Love Me More

The Lessons of Self Love

Copyright © 2018 by Holly Hubbard

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2018

ISBN: 978-0-359-06920-0

Self Published

1714 N McCadden  Pl

Hollywood,CA 90028

www.holtemag.com

Lesson 1: Who Am I?

The Day I Lost Myself

A Quick Story

Ashley was raised in a small town outside of Charleston by her mother and father, Jenny and Dennis. For as long as her parents could remember, Ashley was always fascinated with airplanes and flying. She spent her youth dreaming of the places she would travel when she was finally old enough to go wherever her heart desired. By the time Ashley graduated high school, she had made a deal with her parents that if she finished her degree in International Business and became fluent in another language, they would pay for her to become a pilot. To even sweeten the deal, her parents took her on a two week graduation trip to Spain. Her days in Spain furthermore pushed her to get to college, get her degree, and start traveling the world.

When Ashley started her studies at the University of Michigan, she also joined a sorority to start to meet more friends. One night, Ashley and her new sorority sisters went out to a Toga party at the Sigma Chi house. While there she of course mixed and mingled until she spotted an extremely tall, slim but muscular young man across the crowd. Ooo Damn! Do you see mister I'm tall and I have a six pack over there? Let's mingle that way, Ashley said to her friends as they now started to walk in his direction. Luckily for Ashley, her prince charming was standing next to a toad named Nathan who graduated from her high school a year earlier than her and was now a sigma chi. She approached Nathan by saying What's up Nathan! Where's the beer? a typical party girl intro. Ashley! How's college treating you? And oh shit you don't have a drink? I will grab one for you. Do each of you lovely ladies want one too? Nathan asked in his typical overly aggressive and unattractive manner. Yah, her friends responded. When Nathan took off to grab beers she turned to Mr. Handsome and asked So how do you know Nathan? He's my big brother. Like in the frat world not the real world, Ashley laughed at his joke. At this point some of the other members of the fraternity were mingling with her friends keeping them entertained while Ashley worked. Oh cool. These are some of my sisters. But you know not in the real world, they both laughed. What's your name? the mystery man asked. I'm Ashley. And you are? she responded swiftly. I'm David, he responded. Well nice to meet you David. I have to say it’s kind of sexy but I'm noticing an accent. Where are you from? Ashley questioned. Arkansas, David said. Nice! I love meeting other people from out of state. I'm from North Carolina. What brought you here? Ashley continued. The engineering program. It's one of the best in the country. What about you? David questioned. Well I'm an International Business major because I'm thinking about doing something that consists of a lot of travel. Maybe I'll be a bad ass and become a pilot or maybe I'll just vacation often. Who knows! they both laughed. Well I think that's awesome! I love to travel! I've already been to 12 different countries on family trips and each one was amazing. My family takes one big vacation every year to explore some new place or culture. It’s fun but I know that as long as I make good money, I can always travel. I don't have to dedicate my career to it, David responded. That's so true! I don't have to be a pilot just because I love to travel. There are hundreds of careers that would allow me to do that. Thank you David for helping me declare my major for good. I'm sticking with International Business, Ashley said with confidence feeling like God was sending her a revelation with David. By the end of the night Ashley gave David her number and headed back to her dorm with her friends. The following day, David text Ashley asking her did she want to meet him at the school Chick-fil-a for lunch. Ashley accepted and met David at the student union just 30 minutes later. Hey Ashley, David said while hugging her. Ashley tried to hide her excitement over the fact that they were now on a hugging basis. Hey David! How have your last 10 hours been? David laughed and responded with Horrible! But it's getting a lot better now, he smirked as they now stood in line. When it came time to order, Ashley and David got the exact same thing. And I mean down to the large lemonade with light ice, a large fry, and 3 Chick-fil-a sauces. They laughed at the fact that they had so much in common and took a seat by the window to eat. Her lunch with David turned into 2 hours of talking about their parents, siblings, beliefs, friends, and dreams.

For the next couple of weeks, Ashley and David ate every meal together, went to every party together, and on one occasion even went grocery shopping together in David's car. One night, David and Ashley were taking a late night hike when David stopped to ask Ashley something. We've been spending a lot of time together and I really like you Ashley. Will you be my girlfriend? David asked in the most adorable voice of young love. Wait. Are you serious David or just high? Cause I don't have time for games, Ashley smiled and laughed. I'm completely serious, David said while pulling her closer and kissing her lips. Ashley and David ended up making love in the wild until a park ranger started approaching and they ran off with their clothes in their hands. Moments like these are what made Ashley love David and the months following were filled with the beauties of new found love.

By the time Christmas break came around, Ashley and David were inseparable until they each had to go home to see their families for the holidays. The entire break they text, talked on the phone all night, and even sent the occasional nude. When they got back for the spring semester, their love grew deeper as they began to study together, join campus organizations together, and were even part of a rally for fresh water that happened in Detroit. A month before summer break, David asked Ashley if she wanted to go with his family to Hawaii that summer. They were willing to pay all of her expenses and even get her and David their own room for the entire two weeks. Of course Ashley's parents saw her as an adult now and after speaking with David's parents, agreed to let her go. When the semester ended, David and Ashley couldn't handle the thought of being separated until July when they met back up for the family trip. Although they also couldn't stop the thoughts of spending two weeks together getting it in all day and night, which was always a priority of theirs.

When it was time for the vacation, Ashley flew to Dallas to meet up with David's family before they all got on a much smaller plane to fly into Hawaii. Ashley was mesmerized by the views on the way into the island and couldn't help but second guess her thoughts of being a pilot. But by the time the plane landed, the only thought on her mind was how much fun her and David would have for the next couple of weeks. They rode ATVs through the mountains, hiked active volcanos, and had sex everywhere they could imagine. This was true love. The kind that the chemistry is so real it spreads deep into your soul. The kind that makes you forget everything else in the world and focus on just one thing. The kind you never want to end. Ashley had never been in love before but now that she was she understood why people sacrificed everything for it. The connection her and David shared was not one that could ever be replicated. Their final days of vacation consisted of making love, taking pictures, and zip lining through the rainforest. Although she swore to David she would never make him do it again after he screamed the whole time like a child.

When it came time for the family to fly back to Dallas, David and Ashley were basically on top of each other for the entire flight. When they landed, they said their goodbyes and awaited their return to campus in August. That fall, Ashley agreed to go to every Football and Basketball game with David as he was quite the sports fanatic. If they weren't at a game they were spending warm days on the lake with friends and cold days in David's apartment under the sheets while watching Netflix.

Christmas of their senior year, Ashley flew back to Arkansas with David to spend the holidays with his family. On Christmas morning, all of David's family came over to exchange gifts, eat food and be merry. David embarrassed Ashley when he asked her in front of everyone to go look for her gift under the tree. I'm not telling you which one it is but it should be obvious, David said making his family giggle. Ashley walked over to the tree, bent down in the most modest way possible, and spent the next 60 seconds looking for a gift but there was nothing with her name. Stop playing David! There's, Ashley froze as she had now turned around to see David on one knee. Ashley I could never forget the first time I saw you. I'm not sure if you noticed me but I saw you the second you pulled up that night. You were just so beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off you. Then when I somehow managed to get your number and ask you to eat lunch with me, we ordered the exact same thing. From there I realized food wasn't all we had in common. You are brilliant, hardworking, hilarious, and so caring that at times I blink twice around you just to make sure you're real. You are incredible and have stolen my heart in every way. You are the first woman I have ever loved and I pray you are the last. Ashley, will you marry me? David finished and had the entire house in tears. Ashley was now sobbing as she reached out her hand and said I love you too David. Of course! The house lit up with cheers and praises over the new announcement. Ashley and David immediately ran off to call her parents who little to Ashley's knowledge, already knew about the proposal. Ashley had never been more excited for her future with David. David's father had pulled some strings with an old college pal to get Ashley an entry level marketing position at Delta Airlines. David would be moving with her and finding a job near their new home in engineering. The two of them couldn't wait to start their new life together in a new city.

Just a few weeks after graduation was the day of their wedding ceremony which they decided to have in