Cece & David 4: Love In Many Shades, #4

By Nia Arthurs

One reckless night is about to change everything.

 

Cece Walker is my best friend. My only love. My wife.
But our struggles aren't over yet.
We're going to school in separate countries.
Old exes are still hanging around.
Our parents still have no idea we got married.
Oh… and Cece just told me she's pregnant.
We're Cece and David.
We can handle anything.
But parenthood might just be the biggest challenge yet.
 

Cece & David 4 is a tender AMBW friends-to-lovers romance set in the Caribbean, featuring a strong, silent hero and his gorgeous best friend.

 

***Read all the novels in the Love In Many Shades Series***

Cece & David 
Cece & David 2
Cece & David 3
Cece & David 4
Haley & Rylin 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nia Arthurs
• Release date: Jun 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201548971

Book preview

Chapter 1

Five months ago, Roskowsi Dorms, Jamaica

DAVID

Love burst into existence beneath the unrelenting rays of the Caribbean sun. It barged into my life, racing past the girls playing chase in the school yard, past the boys playing marbles.

I was seven years old when it happened and barely understood the significance of its arrival. All I knew was that I wanted her in my life. She was the first girl to stand up to Shawn Anthony, the first girl to meet my eyes and smile. The loneliness I felt disappeared when she was near.

So for the next thirteen years, I clung to her.

Even when the world flopped upside down and tragedy erased her from my memory, my heart still revolved around her.

It always had and it always would.

The buzzing of the air conditioner shattered the silence and drew my attention back to the woman sitting next to me.

Cece’s dark hair framed her sweet face. The harsh fluorescent bulb brought out the highlights in her smooth, brown skin. She was saying something important. She was talking about being strong and independent, but all I could see were her sparkling, almond-shaped eyes and the bow of her pink lips.

My nose was filled with the scent of her.

Coconut shampoo

She touched my skin. Her fingers brushed the ridged scar from the bullet that tore through my flesh three years ago.

I love you so much, she said and I knew that her words represented all that we’d been through, all that we meant to each other. I don’t know if I can handle much more.

It was true. Our love wasn’t the smoothest. We walked a path that had stripped us both down to depths we could have avoided if we’d never met. Yet, I would do it all again if it meant I could keep her, if it meant I could hold on to her for the rest of my life.

Words rushed through my head, but nothing seemed worthy of her, worthy of this moment. So I kissed her in place of words and prayed that my soul could communicate all that it needed to.

As had been the case for most of our friendship, Cece understood.

She kissed me back, her hands wrapping around my neck and her eyes falling closed. I smiled even as I held her close. Emotions and sensations tugged me in a million different directions and as our kiss intensified, I thought of the box Rider had given me back in Belize City.

My cousin knew me better than I knew myself and though he probably hadn’t intended his gift to be used so quickly, I was glad he pushed me into bringing it along.

Nervously, I pulled away from my best friend and stared down at her. Her eyes were half-closed and she subconsciously dipped her head toward me. My throat tightened and I wanted to keep things moving, but the certainty in my heart allowed me to keep my distance.

Cece Walker, I said, I’ve loved you since the moment you stood up for me back in primary school.

She smiled and pressed kisses down my jaw and neck. Cece had always been mischievous but the little nips on my skin were pushing us into dangerous territory. I could barely remember my first name, much less the speech that had been on the tip of my tongue.

After a few seconds, I gathered enough strength to break away. I took a deep breath and rolled off her to retrieve the item from my desk drawer. My hands shook as I tried to get the band out of the box. The case fell to the ground and I bent down to retrieve it. When I straightened, I tossed the box and gripped the wedding band.

The ring was an heirloom that my grandfather gave to Rider as the eldest among his grandchildren. It was neither new nor sparkling. The gold band was simple with four Chinese symbols carved into the underside.

Red Thread

David, what are you…? Cece’s eyes widened when she saw the ring and her eyes flitted to mine.

Nerves attacked my stomach. My heart thumped like a jackhammer in my chest. Despite the sensations, I held on to the scrap of peace that had spurred this moment. This woman was my best friend, my support, my inspiration, and my love. I had never felt surer of anything in my life.

These symbols, I rubbed the inscriptions, mean the ‘red string of fate’. Have you heard of it?

She shook her head.

According to Chinese legend, the two people connected by the red thread are destined to be together, regardless of time, place or circumstance. It’s a magical cord, I turned the ring over and over, because no matter how stretched or tangled it gets, it will never break.

That’s beautiful.

I grasped her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. It slid into place as if it were meant to be there. I didn’t know what love meant when I was seven. I just knew that I wanted you by my side. Back then I tried to convince you with juice and Oreos—

Don’t forget the lollipop, Cece said. Her eyes were filled with tears and her voice held the note of someone trying to hold back a sob.

This time, I’m asking with this ring. I held her palm and kissed it. I don’t want you to wait for the other shoe to drop anymore. I want you, Cece. All of you. Will you be with me completely? Will you pledge to stay by my side in the eyes of God and man?

Are you serious? She touched my face. Right now?

I nodded. I’m heading back soon and I don’t want you to worry about us anymore. Unless… do you want to wait until—?

No, she shook her head, studied the desire in my eyes. I want to be with you too, David. I can’t imagine being anywhere but by your side.

I rushed down and kissed her. Really?

She smiled. Yes.

Our celebration was short-lived as Cece pushed me off to freak out about what she should wear.

I don’t know. I rubbed my face, glad that she’d accepted my proposal but disappointed that our kissing had been cut short.

We need witnesses. Should we ask Danika?

You’re joking right?

She grinned and strolled to the closet on the other side of the room. The clothes she deemed ‘unworthy’ soon littered the floor.

I can’t find my white dress, Cece moaned.

You… don’t expect me to rent a tux or anything, do you? I asked. Cece poked her head out of the closet and stared at me. I swallowed and nodded. I’m renting a tux.

It would take the last of my money but, barring any emergencies between today and when I left for the States next week, I could make it work.

Wait… Cece’s head appeared again, don’t we need a marriage license?

I guess. She arched an eyebrow and I sprung into action. It’s Wednesday so we can probably apply for one tomorrow and do the ceremony on Saturday. Where’s that laptop?

What about witnesses?

I can ask Ms. Sher, I said.

Gosh, Cece appeared with a lace white dress and held it up to her chest, it’s starting to feel real now.

I shoved the laptop away and held my hand out to her. She grasped my fingers and walked willingly into my arms.

I chucked her chin. You’re not having second thoughts, right?

Never. It just doesn’t feel quite real. We’re still in college. My mom will have a heart attack when she finds out. My dad! I don’t even want to think about him.

Cece, we can wait a bit if you want to.

She shook her head. That thread between us, I want to feel it around my finger. She held the ring to the light. I want everyone to acknowledge it and I don’t want to waste any time.

It was my desire too so, on Friday afternoon in front of an empty church with only Ms. Sher, the pastor, and his wife and daughter, Cece Walker became Cece Lin.

After the ceremony, I took her out for ice cream. We joked about Cookie and how she would react when we returned to Belize.We talked about our plans and our dreams. I wanted to go everywhere and do everything with her as soon as we graduated.

So no kids. I teased as we sat with our arms linked. We can worry about taking care of others when we’re older. Right now, all I want is you.

Got it, Cece said. Rose and David Junior are on standby.

I smiled at her mention of the names we’d picked out a few weeks ago. Cece snuggled into my side and I saw it then.

Love was here, right now. It always had been.

Chapter 2

Cece

Present Day

The first time I realized my feelings for David Lin, we were sitting in the library studying for our senior exams.

He looked at me with the goofiest expression and I knew that his was the face I wanted to wake up to until I was old and wrinkly.

Since that day, David and I danced between friendship and romance like two birds in a mating ritual.

I was ecstatic when he proposed and got so caught up in the new stage of our relationship that I honestly thought nothing could bring me down.

I was wrong.

Dustin, this is ridiculous. I can’t be… I mean, I’ve just been tired lately. Interning is a drag.

He arched an eyebrow. You did it, right?

Did it?

You made the beast with two backs, did the horizontal dance, got your groove on.

I never said that! How do you know that? Not that we did.

When David was here, Danika said she could hear you two—

"Alright! Okay! I am not discussing this with you!"

Come on, Cecelia. I told you that you don’t have to be uncomfortable with me. I’ve already dealt with my feelings for you.

I appreciate the honesty, but this is just too weird.

Didn’t your parents talk to you about the birds and the bees? When a man puts his—

Stop!

He smirked. "Fine, I’ll lay off, but take it. You don’t have a cold, but you’re always exhausted. You haven’t changed your diet, but your boobs are huge!"

My hands flew to my chest and I shaded the offending hills from view. Dustin!

And, he said as if he hadn’t heard me, you’ve been missing your period.

Still shading my chest with one hand, I dipped my fingers into the shopping cart and returned the pregnancy kit to the shelf. "I told you. It’s because of the internship. I’m under a lot of stress. It happens."

Dustin stubbornly returned the test to the cart and pushed it forward so that I couldn’t snatch it out. I’m saying this as your friend and as a health care provider. Take. It. He ran to the counter and paid for