French Vanilla Spice

By Angela K Parker

Colton and Demitra were supposed to be forever. So they made promises to each other before he left. He promised he'd come back to her, and she promised she'd wait for him, always.

 

Four months apart and Colton spots Demitra with someone else. Accusations are made, and Colton decides that leaving is the best thing for him to do.

 

All Colton's ever wanted is for Demitra to be happy—even if it meant her happiness didn't belong to him. So, he stayed away. He moved on. That's what he thought until life brought him back home three years later. He arrived in Fairborn with one mission—attend his siblings' graduation, take care of his family's business, and get out, but it wasn't that simple.

 

After dropping Demitra off at the local mechanic, Colton can't seem to get her off his mind. When Demitra contacts him about meeting to go over the plans for the coffee shop, he accepts.

 

Old feelings resurface, tainted with resentment. One glimpse at Demitra's happiness and all Colton wants to do is ruin it, but the more time he spends with her, the more his resentment fades, shining a light on his need to have her.

 

There's just one problem. Colton's best friend—the guy he trusted with his life—is in love with Demitra, and he's not sure if she feels the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angela K Parker
• Release date: Jun 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798224280872

Angela K Parker

Angela K. Parker is a country girl with a big heart. She's a South Carolina native with a passion for writing, reading, music, & math. When she’s not engaged in any of the above, she’s spending time with her family or catching up on the latest movies. She’s always had a very active imagination. Now she’s putting it to good use.Looking for more ways to connect? Join her newsletter here.Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cI3h6H

Book preview

French Vanilla

SPICE

French Vanilla

SPICE

––––––––

Angela K Parker

French Vanilla Spice

Copyright © 2021 by Angela K. Parker

www.angelakparker.com

All Rights Reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author of this book.

This book is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Published: Angela K. Parker 2021

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Cover Design ©Angela K Parker

Dedication

To my children

I can’t imagine what life would be like without you.

Contents

French Vanilla SPICE

French Vanilla SPICE

Dedication

1 Colton

2 Colton

3 Colton

4 Colton

5 Demitra

6 Colton

7 Demitra

8 Demitra

9 Colton

10 Demitra

11 Colton

Prologue Colton

Author’s Note

Acknowledgments

About The Author

More by Angela

Connect With Angela

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1

Colton

Senior Year

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THERE SHE IS. My high school sweetheart. My best friend since I was old enough to remember.

I lean against the side of my mom’s coffee shop with the sole of my right shoe propped against the building, watching Demi as she approaches me. Seeing her never gets old. Each time it's a brand-new feeling, stronger, a little more potent than the last.

Demi and I grew up together. We lived on the same street and went to the same schools. We played, studied, laughed, and cried together. I remember my friend, Chuck, teasing me because I was with Demi when I wasn’t with him, and she wasn’t even my girlfriend. But I didn’t mind the teasing when it came to her. I would’ve taken on the brunt of anyone’s words to be in her presence because that’s what friends do. We protect each other. We encourage one another. We brush off the negative and focus on the positive.

People often told us that we were destined to be more than just friends, but I didn’t believe it until the switch flipped. One day we were walking feet apart, and the next, we were holding hands like it was a natural thing for us to do. I guess it was, in a way. We’d held hands before, but those moments when her skin would touch mine started to feel like more over time.

I can pinpoint the exact moment it happened. I’ve always noticed Demi. Always. But it wasn’t until some douche tried to get too serious with her that I really looked at her and allowed myself to feel something. I’d always viewed her as this precious being—too fragile to ruin until then. So, I had vowed not to level up with her unless it was necessary.

Demi possibly being tarnished by a scumbag was a call for action. I couldn’t allow her to become his statistic. Not when I was capable of giving her what she needed. She didn’t need anyone to take care of her, but she didn’t need someone who’d disregard her either. She deserved attention and respect, someone to grow old with, and I could be that for her even if I didn’t deserve to be.

Demi’s smile widens the closer she gets, her head tilting slightly to the right. My eyes shamelessly roam over her brown skin, and not in a best friend kind of way. If eyes could lick, that’s what mine would be doing.

After Demi and I made things official two years ago, the summer before our junior year in high school, and our touches became more familiar, it was hard to keep my hands and eyes off her. She’s been drinking my attention like water ever since, and I freely serve it up.

I thought I knew what I was getting into with Demi, but I had no clue how much of her there was still left to discover. She was different from almost every other girl I knew in more ways than one, her mixed-race being one of them. But she embraced her uniqueness in a way that was intriguing to me. Demi’s father is black and her mother white, but that never mattered. All that mattered was who she was. The way she looked at me. The way she cared for me. I was drawn to her. Still am.

To everyone else, Demi might have seemed average, but to me, she is anything but. To me, she’s above the line. She is the most beautiful soul, inside and out.

I lick my lips, eyeing her, loving the way her outfit compliments her body. Her shirt is normal, white with the company emblem on the left pocket, but the first two buttons are loose, leaving room for me to sneak a peek once she reaches me. Her small hips curve the side of her black khakis, swaying as she walks.

Don’t give me that look, Colt, Demi says, her sass reaching me seconds before she does. She stops in front of me, fisting her hand to her hip. Your mother is spying on us as we speak.

I drop my leg to the ground, standing straight. I grab Demi’s wrist, pulling her to my chest, and plant a respectful kiss on her lips. A quick shock moves between us as my lips leave hers. There’s always a jolt of something between us whenever we touch. Regardless of how respectful the kiss was, it didn’t lessen the effect one bit.

Yummy, I say, still tasting her on my lips.

Demi sucks in a sharp breath, her eyes moving to the huge glass window and back to me. Colt, she complains. Are you trying to get me fired?

Demi’s been working at my mom’s coffee shop for a few years now. She started as a cashier, and now mom’s teaching her the basics of bookkeeping since she’ll be studying accounting in college after she graduates. I think mom’s as hopeful as I am that Demi will remain a part of our family.

I chuckle. Mom’s not gonna fire you. She loves you just as much as I do.

Her lips quirk at my comment, but she still pulls away. Well, I’d rather not press my luck. What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn’t your face be buried in a book, studying for finals?

Demi is the type that doesn’t have to study, though she helps me from time to time. So, she gets to work while my eyes are glued to the pages in my books. I’ve worked hard throughout high school to keep my straight A streak, and Demi knows that. She understands why I push myself harder than I have to.

I shrug. Probably, but I got some news that I need to share with you. News that I love and hate. Take a walk with me? I ask, wrapping her hands in mine.

Demi cuts her eyes to the window again and back to me, dropping her smile. I wait as she weighs her options, emotions warring between love and responsibility.

As soon as I got the news, Demi was the first person I wanted to tell. I didn’t think. I just came straight over, hoping we’d have a moment before her shift, but she’s giving me a look that I know all too well.

Can it wait until after work? Demi asks.

My chest deflates, but I understand. I can’t expect her to drop everything because I have news. She’s a straight and narrow type of girl. It’s one of the things I love about her.

Yeah. Sure. Wanna come over to my place when you’re done? I ask.

Do you even have to ask? Demi wiggles her brows playfully.

I pull her against me once more. See you then, I say, close to her lips. I glance through the window to find mom watching us and pointing her finger at her wrist. I smile, looking back at Demi.

Mom’s checking her fake watch again. You better go, I tell Demi, but I don’t let her go.

Yeah, I should go, she says, tipping up to kiss me. See you in a few hours, love.

Demi pulls away, turning toward the front door of the coffee shop. Before she enters, I call after her.

And Demi, I say, and she turns with her hand holding the door handle, a smile perched on her face. We’ll have the place to ourselves this weekend.

Demi’s whole body stiffens, and she grips the handle tighter. Her smile breaks, replaced by an unsure blush.

Demi and I have done things, but we’ve never gone past third base. Though, we have talked about it. She wasn’t ready before, and I respected that. She knows that I would never force her to do anything she didn’t want. The last time we talked, she said she was ready to take the next step. We're both eighteen. We're in love. She said, what's the point in waiting? But I don’t know if she's ready. Her reaction makes me wish I hadn’t said anything. I’m a little hesitant about the idea myself. Taking that step with Demi won’t change anything about us, but it will change everything between us.

Demi’s posture relaxes a bit, and I imagine that she’s reminding herself that this is what she wanted. Still, I need to assure her that I’ll wait as long as she needs. Nothing has to happen now. We have the rest of our lives together.

We don’t have to....

I’ll see you after work, Demi says, cutting through my words and walking inside.

There’s no hesitation, and I can tell she’s made up her mind. So, I nod and wave to mom, who’s still watching, then leave.

We’ll be back Sunday, Mom says when she reaches the front door. She stops next to dad, eyeing Demi and me curiously. The twins are at Aunt Bonnie’s until we get back. You know the rules, Mom says, her eyes roaming between us.

It’s not the first time Demi and I have been alone. Yet, this time feels different, and I guess mom can feel it too. Even though we planned to attend the same college, there’s a slight urgency in the air, like we’re running out of time.

Wrap it up, son, Dad smirks, and Demi blushes next to me.