A Stronger Version of Me: The Destiny Clark Saga, #5

By Cindy Ray Hale

Can new love heal old wounds?

I want to stop thinking about my ex boyfriend. He doesn't deserve to be remembered. 

For some reason my brother's best friend, Preston, has been awesome lately. He was super supportive after my break up. I told him I wasn't looking for another relationship, but I'm not sure he's listening. I'm starting to think that he might be the key to forgetting about my ex. 

Maybe a fresh start with someone new is exactly what I need. Or I'm a heartbroken fool who has no business staring at Preston's chiseled abs. 

A Stronger Version of Me is the fifth book in a nine-book rewrite of a contemporary sweet romance series called The Destiny Trilogy. In this series you can expect flirting, blushing, and kisses in the woods, but you won't find any swearing, nudity, or sex.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cindy Ray Hale
• Release date: Dec 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393070238

Cindy Ray Hale

Cindy Ray Hale loves writing Young Adult Contemporary Romance and Clean Romance. She was born and raised in the hills of Tennessee and has moved all over the United States. She's finally settled down in a small town in the mountains of western Virginia. Want to be the first to know about a sale or a new release for Cindy's books? Visit www.cindyrayhale.com to join her newsletter or follow @CindyRayHale on Twitter.

Book preview

1

Destiny

I t’s getting late, we should probably get you back into the house before you freeze, Preston said, pushing up off of the creaky cot in my family’s treehouse.

I dreaded facing my little sister, Olivia. Going back into the house meant dealing with her sympathy, or worse yet, her I told you so.

Come on. Preston grabbed my hand and pulled me up to stand.

Do I have to?

Aren’t you half frozen by now?

If I was frozen, I barely noticed. My entire body was still numb from the traumatic events of my breakup with Isaac. I was grateful for Preston. Who knew how long I’d be outside in the cold if it wasn’t for him?

When we got to the house, Olivia was lounging on the couch in the family room watching Korean dramas. She glanced at Preston and me and said, Yay, Preston! You brought her back from the dead! She turned to me. You shouldn’t cry over Isaac. There are way better guys out there. Easy for her to say. Her heart wasn’t the one aching for the guy who’d just betrayed her. Want to have a movie party with me tonight? I’m going to have a Korean drama marathon! I have snacks! She held up a basket with a gigantic hot pink bow fastened to the handle, stocked with glass bottles of root beer, Sour Patch Kids, gummy bears, and several kinds of chocolate.

My scowl melted away as I eyed the basket of my favorite snacks. I was a huge sucker for Korean dramas. Olivia’s best friend from Bethel was from Korea, and she’d gotten us hooked on them. Michael put you up to this, didn’t he?

It was actually my idea, but he took me to the store while you were hiding in the tree house.

I’m going to head home. I can see that you’ll be well taken care of, Preston said.

I smiled at him. Thanks for tonight. It really meant a lot.

Anytime, he said as he opened one of the French doors that led to the front porch. It’s what I’m here for.

He wasn’t stupid enough to fall for me, was he? Because he would only end up getting his heart broken.

2

Preston

My mind reeled as I walked down the Clarks’ porch steps. Hate, envy, ecstasy, despair, hopelessness, and joy swirled within me. I could still feel her body against mine, the way she had fit perfectly in my embrace. Had she had felt it, too? But I had to remember that just because she trusted me with her secrets didn’t mean she wanted me like she wanted him.

But she had trusted me. It was a start. She’d opened up to me on a level I’d never seen from her before, and now I felt bonded to her in a way I hadn’t thought possible.

I climbed into my truck and drove home. Although I was glad Isaac wouldn’t be allowed to touch her again, I hated to see her suffer. I’d felt completely helpless. How could I make it better for her? I couldn’t take away his actions. No matter what I did or said, those bad memories would still be in the back of her mind, torturing her.

The best thing she could do would be to find the strength to pull through it. She could do it. And I would be there by her side for as long as she would allow.

When I came in the house, through the garage, Megan and Brinlee pelted me with questions.

Preston! You’re back! Brinlee squealed, jumping from the couch.

Was Destiny okay? Megan asked.

She was having a hard time, I answered.

How’d it go? Did you kiss her? Brinlee asked.

I pointed a finger at her. I refuse to answer that, I said, my cheeks reddening.

What happened with her and Isaac? Megan asked.

If you want to know, you’ll have to ask Destiny.

Ugh, Brinlee said. You suck.

But don’t call her right now. Olivia’s cheering her up with Korean dramas.

I’ll text her later, then, Megan said. She needs to know we’re here for her.

We need to forgive others, even when it feels impossible, Megan said from the pulpit as she gave her talk in church.

Forgiveness seemed to be a recurring theme in church today. I glanced over at Destiny from where I sat in the chapel, but she wore a hardened expression. Guess she wasn’t feeling it.

After the meeting, I followed her out of the chapel. The missionaries approached her with friendly smiles on their faces. Where’s your friend, Isaac? He told us he was going to start coming to church with you.

He’d come with her for the second time a couple of weeks ago, and he’d acted pretty interested. Who knew if it wasn’t all just an act, though?

Destiny peered down her nose at Elder Benson, the missionary with blond hair. Yeah? she said. Well, I guess you can’t believe anything he says because he’s not here, she said bitterly and turned and walked away.

The elders watched her retreat and gave me a quizzical look. I only shrugged. It wasn’t my place to tell her story.

I watched as Olivia caught up to her in the hall on her way to Sunday School. I know Isaac dumped you, Olivia scolded with her hands on her hips. But you don’t need to be rude to the missionaries because of it. They didn’t do anything wrong.

Don’t say his name around me, Destiny said with a warning in her voice. Anyway, he didn’t dump me. I dumped him. Get it straight.

I came up behind Destiny. She sounded so broken. I hated seeing her like that. You should head to class, Olivia.

Olivia nodded slightly at me and said, I’ll see you later.

Chin up. I tapped Destiny lightly under the chin with my forefinger. You’ll get through it.

I’m dreading going to school tomorrow, she said. Can I start going to school with you and Megan?

A smile twitched on the corners of my mouth.

It wouldn’t bother me! Megan appeared beside me. You should!

I’m considering it, she said.

She was willing to give up her choir, even her part in the musical to escape having to see him every day? "What about Les Mis? I said. You’re one of the leads. You can’t give all that up just because of some jerk."

She sighed. Of course, you’re right. Why are you always right about everything, Preston?

I shrugged, and the right side of my mouth tugged upward.

3

Isaac

Icalled in sick to Aunt Bethany Saturday morning. I was too much of an emotional wreck to deal with people. I ended up spending most of the day on my land, sitting in my truck, staring at the spot where Destiny and I had been stargazing.

When Sunday morning came around, I thought about going to church to see her, but I didn’t have the guts. Going to church with Aspen was out of the question, so I ended up attending church at Bethel with my family. Dad could tell I was upset, and he kept trying to cheer me up. It was super annoying. Halfway through the service I got up and walked out. I couldn’t take another one of Dad’s triumphant smiles. So, he’d won. Did he have to keep smashing it in my face?

Just before first period, I found Destiny switching out books at her locker. She looked up and saw me walking toward her. My mouth set into a determined line. Finally, after spending the entire weekend in agony, I could set things straight. Destiny! I need to talk to you!

She glanced at me for a moment, and then, as though she were casually ripping my heart from my chest, she stared at the crowd behind me like I was invisible. She turned and wove through the students, putting people between us. Before I knew it, she had vanished from sight.

Did it even matter how hard I was trying to get through to her? She hadn’t replied to any of my texts, even when I’d told her that I loved her.

Did you just see that? Raven Tosh said to my left.

She has a lot of nerve rejecting a guy like him, Jessie Larsen said.

Did they break up again? Wendy Ross said. I heard they were back together.

My cheeks burned with humiliation as the rest of their conversation was drowned out in the chatter of the crowd.

After Bible, I stepped out into the hallway and saw Destiny, Hannah, and Shanice walking with their backs to me. I pushed