Three Little Words: Troubled Girls Find Love

By Kathryn Reign

I always thought Parker was the one, the other half of my heart, the one I dreamt night after night about raising a family with.

 

Until I found out that he'd been f*cking Stephanie… among others.

 

Fifteen years.

 

After fifteen soul-sucking years of being with the same guy, I now find myself back in the dating world.

 

First, it's Matthew, a data engineer whom I instantly connected with.

 

Until I stupidly said those three words, those dreaded three words that had him bolting out the restaurant doors.

 

I love you.

 

Guy after guy I'd meet, all heading for the hills.

 

Until Rodney Hersey comes along. Charming, sexy, and he loves me back!

 

Who would've thought?!

 

Immediately, I find myself dangling from his lips, tearing off my clothes, even getting married… after only one date!

 

But my life turns dark when I wake up in a strange home surrounded by four other women… all claiming to be Rodney's wife.

 

What have I gotten myself into?

 

A dark, short story about what happens when you say "I love you" to the wrong person.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kathryn Reign Publishing
• Release date: Mar 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781952716669

Kathryn Reign

Contemporary romance author on modern love, star-crossed lovers, and tearjerkers. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorkathrynreign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkathrynreign/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21854875.Kathryn_Reign

Book preview

Chapter One

Fifteen Years. Parker had taken fifteen years from her. Fifteen years that she’d never get back. It all started when they were fifteen and entirely too young and too immature to see anything else past their lustful love for each other. They had been friends ever since the seventh grade.

Veronica had been seated beside Parker in their math class. She was always good at math, her mind proving to be nothing if not analytical. Parker, on the other hand, he preferred sports, history, and government.

Hey, I’m Parker, he introduced himself. He was so lean and scrawny then. His voice was even higher pitched, as all the other middle school boys fell victim to, also.

Veronica tucked her hair behind her ear. I’m Veronica, she murmured.

Parker leaned in close, closer than he should have with a stranger. He didn’t seem to notice, but she did. She could practically taste the cologne emanating from his shirt.

I have to let you know, he whispered, I’m not very good at math. Never have been. So, I might have to lean on you a little.

Veronica could barely breathe. She thought back to that very moment years later and wondered if he was just using her from the beginning. Most likely, he was telling her this because he wanted to copy her answers. He wanted to give her a heads up that he wouldn’t try to hide his need for help. He probably wasn’t trying to make a move on her or even flirt. But twelve-year-old Veronica ignored that. She was just happy to be spoken to. Especially by someone so popular, so charming, and so… good looking.

She let out a breathy chuckle. That’s okay. I can help you.

That grin — that wide, crooked grin as bright as the sun — with dimples lining each side in his rounded cheeks… she didn’t stand a chance.

They bonded over math homework, juicy gossip amongst their friends, and after school sports. Veronica helped Parker with his math assignments, and if he fell short, she let him copy her answers. In turn, Parker invited her to his soccer games and convinced her to join him and his friends during their breaks. She helped him, and he helped her right back.

At first, it just seemed like a transfer of services. Parker needed help in class, and she could offer help. She was awkward and lonely without any real friends of her own, so he brought her into his circle. But as they spent more and more time together, she started to grow fond of him.

Parker was easy to talk to, something Veronica needed with her social anxiety and unconventional conversational skills. He was warm and bubbly and eager to draw her in closer. Even if his friends, especially the girls, weren’t always the warmest toward her, Parker was always sweet. He smiled whenever they made eye contact in the halls. He laughed at all her bad jokes. He didn’t tease her too much when she utterly failed at playing soccer with him one time after school. And her name on his lips…

"Veronica… I like you. Will you go out with me?"