The Colors of Us, page 1
THE COLORS OF US
B. BENFORD
Copyright Page
©2023 B. Benford.
All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, place, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Cover Designer: Shannon of Shanoff Designs
Editor: Quell T. Fox (Fluffy Fox Publishing)
Formatter: Dez Purington (Pretty in Ink Creations)
Contents
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Months Later
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Blurb
Our love is forever...
Mila
After coming off the heels of a bad relationship, I never expected to crash into Cam Moore's orbit.
I never planned on accepting his love, but who was I to question it?
The beautiful thing about us, though?
He and I were that fresh kind of love; a love that embodied all of the passion and romance everyone craves.
He's my first love, and a man that's patient enough to stay with me, while I work through my own issues..?
That's a man worth giving my heart to.
The Colors of Us is Mila and Cam's story of first loves, family drama, and reminds us that true love- when it's real- is undeniable.
To all of the women out there who still don't believe that true love exists. I've got good news- true love does exist just for you.
Camden, Age 23
"Hey, little man …" I say, grinning down at my nephew, Milo, as he sits in his high chair, slapping the plastic blue table.
I've been living with my brother and his wife for nearly two years, and as much as I hate it, it works. Ever since I was eighteen, good ol Dad kicked me out, after Mom and him hit a snag in their marriage. Braden, my oldest brother, was already gone, and my younger sister Sadie, was out on her own at college. I was the only kid left- the only thorn in his side.
Not to mention my step sister, Hailey, who… she and I shared a bond like no other. Close as much as blood could be. She and I were there for each other through some of the roughest times in our lives.
I feel like I'm imposing on Braden and Bree. Even though they say I'm not, even though I stay out of their way, it still feels like I am.
"You're getting so big, Milo," I grin down at my nephew, who's reaching his tiny, chubby arms up to me.
"Pu…" he coos.
"Wanna get out?"
"Puu…" he coos again, and this time I lift him up, holding him close to my chest.
There's something about the fresh, newborn smell that calms me. And with Milo being such a good baby, it adds to my joy and wonder with having children one day.
"Morning," Braden's yawn greets me before he does. He stomps into the kitchen where Milo and I are, scooping up his son and slapping me on the back.
"I hate it when you do that," I groan, before shaking my head and moving several inches away from him.
"My house, my rules," he retorts.
I get to work making myself invisible around him. As much as I love my brother, he and I… just don't mix well sometimes. In the morning, before we all go to work, is the worst.
I grab my sling messenger bag, hooking it across my body. I wink at Milo before slipping out of the door of their condo.
I make it to work, with ten minutes to spare. Usually, I'm a stickler for being on time, but the traffic, and my old Camry that's barely hanging on, sometimes slows me down. This morning, hanging with Milo was worth it to be pressed for time.
"Hurry up before boss man sees you, Cam," comes a quick scolding hiss from Bobby, my coworker.
I hope these next few hours fly by. Then it's on to the shit hole that is Golden University.
Several hours later, I’m walking down the halls of the main corridor of my campus’ Humanities and Arts buildings. This place is massive, and even though I’ll be nearing my senior year soon, I still have to ask for directions.
I’m where I need to be, after a few moments, when a conversation catches my attention.
“Are you sure about this?” The whispered question comes from the right of me.
I look at the blonde girl with curves, long, wavy hair that falls just to the middle of her back, dressed in all black. She’s not paying attention to me- just don’t even notice me as I make my way down the long hallway, hurriedly trying to get to class. But I noticed her. I also notice the guy she’s talking to in hushed whispers.
Matthew Franklin and his crew run this campus, and I’ve been avoiding them like a plague ever since my freshman year.
This year, my junior year, is no different.
The grip he has on the blonde girl tightens a little, then I stop.
It makes me think back to so many times I would watch my Mother and Dad fight. They would go at it, yelling and screaming so much that I had no choice but to leave the house.
Don’t go there. You’re okay now.
With therapy, I was able to move on, heal from that. I’m still healing from everything else, though. The after affects- the emotional scars I'm still carrying inside.
“Matt!” I yell his name, and walk over to where he and the girl stand.
He jerks away from her, glancing over his shoulder, glaring at me. His ice, blue eyes are cold, heartless. And I feel the ice even though I’m not inches away from him. I feel his disdain. It’s pouring off him in waves- palpable. I roll my soft, green eyes in response.
“What are you doing? Didn’t you Mom ever teach you to keep your hands to yourself?”
The girl’s trembling, eyes wide, with her hands in front of her face. She tucks deeper into the smaller hallway, away from him. I catch her movements out of the corner of my eye.
“What the hell do you care for, Camden?”
“Just leave her alone, dude…. And go find someone else to bother. Not her.”
There’s a tick in his right eyebrow, as his eye twitches. “Dude…” he grunts, retreating in his tone, softening it.
But that shit won’t work with me. “Matt… Leave Hailey alone. Just …”
“How the fuck do you know who this is?” He glares at me, eyes wide with shock.
“Don’t worry about it. Just get the fuck out of here, man. Go find someone else, someone… weak to mess with. Because she’s definitely not the one.”
He tosses a quick look at Hailey, who flips him off. He lunges, and my left hand connects with his jaw.
“Leave. Her. Alone. Matt.”
Rubbing the side of his jaw, he scurries away. Leaving Hailey and I standing there alone. With a flip of her hair, Hailey tosses me a soft smile.
“I’ve been wanting him to leave me alone for the longest. Thanks, Cam…” she sighs, running her hands over the black skirt she’s wearing.
“Family looks out for one another. I hope you know that, Hay… I’ll always have your back. Braden and I both.”
She laughs, and it’s one of those gut-busting laughs. Laughter fills my belly, too. It’s needed- this moment just between her and I. Because she and I both know Braden, aside from letting me come and stay with him and Bree, isn’t going to do shit else. He’s always been a selfish bastard; it got worse the older we got.
“You’re hilarious, Cam…” she wipes stray tears away, straightening her spine, before she’s back to the serious Hailey everyone knows her to be.
“Don’t worry about Matt, Hay… He’s just… a bully. A bully who’s going to get his one day. That, I can promise you.”
Her arms wrap around me, and I feel her smile into my chest. “Thanks, Cam. You’re the best.”
“Love you, too,” I say, and I mean it.
Even though my parents and I’s relationships aren’t the best right now, I make a conscious effort to give out as much love as I can to others. Because everyone in the world deserves and needs to have love. Period.
Laughter, from behind where I’m standing, assaults me. A group of girls make their way down the hallway, not even noticing us. But I notice her, long before she brushes her tight, little body up against mine.
She’s the second one in the front, with the biggest smile. Her skin reminds me of warm, maple syrup. Or cinnamon. A gentle mix of both, even. Her hair is even brown like her skin, almost red like the leaves when they first begin to fall during Autumn. She’s a small thing, even with the heels she’s got on. The way her ass moves in the jeans she’s wearing….
I can’t groan, or else they might think I’m a creep. But even as they keep walking, and she brushes past me, she doesn’t stop right then. She only stops when Hailey calls out to them.
Hailey wraps her arms around her, smiling. “See you later, bro!”
She holds my gaze for the briefest moment, and I toss her a wave. She lifts her hand, waving back at me, before Hailey’s arms are over her shoulder, and they’re walking down the hallway.
Mila, Age 27
I shrink inside myself underneath the gentle gaze of Hailey’s … brother? As long as she and I have known each other, I never knew about him. I never knew much about her, really. Except she ran in the circles that I didn’t associate with. Yet somehow, through coming to Golden University, she and I connected. As sophomores, things are changing between us.
The dynamic… The sisterhood she and I had last year is changing. And I don’t have a problem with that … much. Okay, I’m lying. Even with her arms draped loosely over my shoulders, I feel like I hardly know the girl next to me.
Ginger, my other best friend, taps me on the shoulder, her flowing, red hair now down around her face. She’s taken the black scrunchie out, letting her beautiful hair flow free.
“He’s cute,” she mouths, winking.
I nod, blushing.
As Ginger, Hailey, a few other girls, and myself all make it down the hallway, Hailey hugs me again.
“Text me,” she whispers into my hair, hugging me tight.
“Sure… I will,” I promise.
I hated it; when she moved out of the doors, opting for an off campus apartment instead of hanging in the dorms with me for another year.
“We all should have dinner tonight at Kevin’s!” Ginger suggests, as she hugs her other friends.
“Sounds good to me,” I agree, as she and I both head into our first class of the morning.
As the door closes behind us, I scurry to find my seat down near the middle, left side of the auditorium. The swiveling seats have always been my favorite chairs, and anticipation fills me as I pull out my composition notebook and two, black ink pens. Creative Writing 102 has always been my favorite class, and exploring the aspect of writing my first full-length, fiction novel is my goal for this class. One of many, but completing this first one, will push me in the right direction. I know it; I can feel it deep down in my belly.
Ginger smiles at me, sitting next to me.
“You already have an idea flowing, or you just going to take today to figure it out?” she questions, gathering her minimal, needed items, too, placing them on the desk of the combo seat.
“I’ll probably just give it a day or so. That’s how the best ideas come to us anyway, right?” I wink, a hopeful feeling spreading across every cell of my body.
She grins back, before glancing around the auditorium, as people begin to rush in, sitting down wherever they can find room.
Suddenly, the room falls silent, and I feel the wind behind me. Turning around, I see the tallest, red-haired guy with glasses, dressed in a black suit, white collared shirt, and matching tie and shoes, walking towards the front of the auditorium. He has this… air about him. It lets me know he’s going to be a pain in the ass… Or at least I feel he is. I could be wrong. I’ve misinterpreted people’s intent several times. We all have, if I’m being honest.
My perception changes the second he smiles at all of us, folding his hands together.
“Welcome to Creative Writing 102. I’m Lance Hester, but you can call me Professor L. Everyone does,” he says, glancing around the room, as his eyes land on me for the smallest instant. “I hope you all are ready for one of the toughest, intense semesters of your lives. Get ready, because I’m fair, but I promise you, if you really want to write the best book you have inside you right now, I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you succeed.”
His gaze lifts from me to somewhere behind my head. I hear Ginger sigh.
“I think I've found my muse for my hero, girl…”
There’s a soft airiness to her tone, and I don’t even have to look at her to tell she’s swooning over our professor. Her voice says it all.
I watch Professor L move around the room, and once his eyes stop on my friend, I see it. That spark that all romance authors-from Kennedy Ryan, Danielle James, Dylan Allen, QB Tyler, and even Danielle Burton- pen so beautifully. It’s there between Professor L and Ginger. He can’t take his eyes off her for several seconds.
When he does, I already know the deal.
Ginger had better watch out.
This semester’s going to be fun, and I cannot wait to watch it all unfold.
Staring at myself in the mirror of Kevin’s, I run my hands down the white dress I’m wearing. Hair pulled back high in a bun, lip gloss on my lips, and with no expectations, I run my thumbs over my eyebrows. Ginger, Hailey, and Ginger’s other girl friends Adrianna and Winter, are already sitting down at one of the many booths that this upscale, mellow restaurant has to offer.
Right as I’m about to walk out of the restroom, a memory hits me. It comes fast, my eyes slamming shut the second I remember the last time… in the same place… with Dale.
"Maybe we rushed into this."
I stare at the man I've given my heart to so many months ago. I can’t help but not look at him, not study him at this moment. I blink, the smile falling from my face. What had he just said?
“What did you just say, Dale?” I need to hear him say it again, or else, it isn’t real for me.
He’s got to be joking. It is April first, after all. And I know he’s not breaking up with me today. He can’t. He and I… are too good together.
Running a hand over his face, Dale stares at me, eyes void of the usual light that they always hold for me. He paces back and forth in the living room we share. Not saying anything for some time, as the seconds tick by, the restlessness inside me intensifies. And I can’t take it anymore.
I start moving with him, following him. “I can’t do this anymore. Talk to me, Dale. What the hell is really going on?”
“I’ve been sleeping with Nyla…” His voice is guff, harsh, almost like he hates to say the words but knows they need to be said.
Not for my sake, but for his. Maybe he’s trying to convince himself of the truth or something. I don’t know. I reach for him, gently grabbing his left wrist. I look into his eyes, my entire body shaking as we stand there, just staring at each other.
Staring past each other.
“Did you just say Nyla, my cousin? You’ve been… what… with- her?” I question, needing to hear what he just said again.
My heart pumps fast in my chest, and the room starts spinning. I can’t breathe, even though my lips part and my mouth is damp from the natural saliva. This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening to me- to us.
I love him, and he loves me.
“My cousin, Dale? Seriously? Are you kidding me right now? Tell me this is a joke… Tell me…” I pant, my voice coming out in sharp, quick bursts.
“I wish I was lying to you, Mila. I’m not. It’s not some joke. I’m serious. I’m sleeping with your cousin and have been for quite some time.”
I scoff, letting go on his wrist, making my way to the couch. I have no words; they fail me at this moment.
“How long?”
That seems to be the most reasonable question to ask him at this moment. And it’s the question I want, I need to know the answer to.
“For some months. She and I… just connect on a level that you and I don’t anymore.”
“What level is that, Dale? She’s a better sex partner than I am? Is that it? Is her pussy better than mine?”
I’m on my feet in an instant, and the pain rips through my chest in such force that my legs shake.
“How could you do this to me?”
My voice is calm, quiet and still, even though inside my soul… everything rages and turns black. It happens so fast that I can’t stop it, no matter how bad I want to. I wish I had never met him.
“Mila…I just…” he sighs, like I’m the problem, like I’m the one who did this.
“You can’t say anything, can you? It wasn’t enough for me to catch you with her… Now you’re breaking my heart, too?”
My feet carry me over to him, and with each step I take, I can feel him slipping further away from me. This is really over. He and I are really over, and the sad part is… I can see it in his eyes that he doesn’t even care.
