A Happier Version of Me: The Destiny Clark Saga, #8

By Cindy Ray Hale

Two guys. One girl. A big confusing mess. 

I never thought I'd have two guys fighting over me. I mean, I'm totally not that girl. At least, I didn't think I was…

Turns out, it's a lot more confusing than I would have thought. I ended up deciding I couldn't be with either one of them.

At least for now. I need space to clear my head. Because my heart doesn't know who it wants. I'm confused, and I don't want to hurt either of these guys I care so much about.

It's not like I can avoid them either.

Preston's my brother's best friend, and he's always over at my house. And I have an overnight choir competition trip coming up with Isaac where we're going to perform together.

Neither guy is giving up, and I have no idea where this is going to lead.

A Happier Version of Me is the eighth 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: 9781393731689

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

My bedroom door slammed open, and a girl’s voice sang out, Surprise!

Hannah? What are you doing here? I asked with wide eyes.

I need retail therapy, so I’m taking you to the mall. She came closer to my desk. It’s Friday night, and you’re sitting in your bedroom all alone doing homework. You need retail therapy, too.

What else am I supposed to do? I said. It’s not like I have a boyfriend anymore. I immediately regretted saying it after the words left my mouth. I could have my choice of two boyfriends right now, but I’d decided I needed this time to clear my head.

You’re supposed to go to the mall with me, she insisted.

I considered her words. It seemed strange that Hannah was the one trying to drag me out of the house on a Friday night. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Ever since Hannah had gotten pregnant, she had really been suffering. I’d never seen her so cranky as she’d been these last few months. Maybe a trip to the mall was exactly what she needed to cheer up.

I smiled over at Hannah. What would I do without you?

Hannah caught her reflection in the floor-length mirror propped against the wall and paused. She pulled her shirt up and inspected her tummy. The tiniest of baby bumps was forming.

Can you feel the baby kicking, yet? I asked.

No.

How many weeks along are you?

I’m fifteen weeks, she said.

When are you supposed to start feeling the baby kicking?

Probably within the next month. I read online that most first-time moms feel the baby moving by about nineteen or twenty weeks. That’s when I’m going to the doctor to find out the gender, she said.

Have you looked into adoption agencies, yet? I asked.

She shook her head. Not yet.

I bit my lip. My heart ached when I thought about Hannah’s situation. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to give my baby up for adoption. But the alternative was to finish high school with a baby... or drop out. I’d heard Acorn Creek High had childcare for their students with babies.

Enough talk about this. Let’s go have a girls’ night, Hannah said.

I need something cute to wear then, I said. Look at you. Even pregnant, you’re adorable. She had on an oversized, graphic T-shirt, ultra-skinny jeans, and Converse. Her hair was pulled up into a neat bun on top of her head. She must have really been feeling better. I hadn’t seen her looking that nice since she found out she was pregnant. Even at the Valentine’s Banquet, she’d looked a little worn down.

Humming, Hannah dug through my closet. She pulled out a sheer, yellow polka-dotted shirt and tossed it to me. Put this on with the jeans you’re wearing. She plugged in my flat iron and rummaged through my makeup, selecting a brown palette of eyeshadow and light pink gloss.

Fifteen minutes later, I wore the yellow blouse, my hair was styled, and Hannah had given me a full face of makeup. Okay, she said. Let’s get out of here.

We left the house and hopped into her car. I love the new car smell in here, I said.

Most new cars come with that scent pre-installed, she said with a straight face.

Oh, really?

Yep.

So what are we shopping for? I asked as the car sped down my long driveway and along the winding roads leading to the mall. It was about a ten-minute drive to get to the more crowded part of town where the shopping was.

I need more clothes, Hannah said.

Are you worried you will show soon? I asked.

Obviously.

Sorry, that was a stupid question, I said.

It’s okay. But yeah, I’m freaking out about it. It’s not like I can talk to anyone about it. Besides you and Isaac, of course. My parents still don't know. They’re so clueless. They’re too wrapped up in their business. My little brother Lucas doesn’t know. I’ve literally told no one other than you, Isaac, and Evan. And the doctor, but she doesn’t count.

Have you thought about going to therapy? I asked. You could just tell your parents you’re not yourself and need to see a therapist.

They’d ask too many questions. I like them oblivious.

But Hannah, they will find out anyway.

The longer I can hide it, the better.

Why?

Because, right now, my life is peaceful. When they find out, they’ll completely freak. I’ll be grounded forever. I won’t be allowed to see Evan anymore.

You don’t know for sure, I said.

They don’t even want me to hang out with you, she said. Because you’re a Mormon, and they’re afraid I might convert.

I clenched my teeth. It hurt so much that Hannah’s parents would treat me that way. Before Hannah’s mom found out I was a Mormon, she really liked me. But then she learned the truth and acted like I had leprosy or something. At least Hannah was rebellious enough to still come see me.

So many things had changed for me because Hannah had come into my life. It was a huge part of why I was willing to keep her pregnancy a secret, even when I was the one being accused of being the pregnant one. Because I loved Hannah. I knew everything she did for me, and I didn’t forget that or take it for granted.

Thanks for picking me to be your retail therapy buddy tonight, I said.

Anytime. You know I love me some shopping.

What are you going to do while you’re at school? It’s not exactly easy to hide a belly under our uniform.

For now, I can wear a hoodie, but eventually, it’ll get too hot for that.

The polo shirts are good at hiding a belly, I guess.

Yeah. It’s just tough because everything has to be tucked in. And my pants are getting tight around my waist. I’m hoping I can find khakis with a stretchy waistband. And we don’t have to tuck in the white button downs. If I find one that’s a little stretchier, then I’ll be good to go. Maybe people will just think I got a little pudgy around the middle. I won’t show until summer, anyway.

We hit several stores and were able to find a pair of stretchy khaki pants and a white shirt with stretchy panels in the sides. I found the white shirt buried on a clearance rack at the back of one of those trendy stores that always changed out their stock.

I’m starving, I said, as we walked out of the store with Hannah’s new finds.

Want to hit up the food court? Hannah asked.

Sure. I have money with me.

I’m craving Chinese food, she said.

I want Chick-fil-A. My mouth watered just thinking about their chicken sandwich.

We wove through the crowd as we headed toward the food court. As we drew near our order destinations, Hannah nudged me. Hey, Preston and Michael are here.

We approached their table. They were unfolding Chick-fil-A sandwiches.

Hey, guys, I said casually.

What are you two doing here? Michael asked.

Retail therapy. I kidnapped Destiny for a girls’ night. Hannah beamed at me.

Preston pulled out the chair next to him. Take a seat, he said, gesturing to me.

I held back a blush. I wasn’t sure I trusted myself to sit so close to Preston. We’re actually going to grab some food, I said. But we’ll be right back.

Can you watch my stuff though? Hannah dropped her bags in the chair next to Preston.

I bit my lip. Why would she ask him to take care of them and not Michael? Was she trying to keep me away from Preston so I’d stay focused on Isaac?

2

Preston

Hannah returned with her food from the Chinese food place well before Destiny made it to the register since the line at Chick-fil-A was long. She set her tray of orange chicken down next to me.

Thanks for watching my stuff. She moved her bags to the floor and took a seat.

No problem. But I frowned. Hannah had seen me ask Destiny to sit next to me. She’d been pushing Destiny toward Isaac from the start. She probably didn’t like the idea of Destiny dating me.

A brilliant idea popped into my mind. What if Hannah was the key to getting Destiny? All I had to do was get to know her better, and she could see for herself that I was the better guy.

Where’s Megan? Hannah asked Michael.

She’s working tonight.

Where does she work? Hannah asked.

Over at Kroger as a cashier, Michael told her.

Oh, Evan just started working there, too.

Yeah, Megan mentioned that she saw him there, I said. She’d also told me she saw him hitting on some other cashiers. I’d felt bad for Hannah when I heard that.

Michael balled