The Hearts We Break (The Alphaletes Book 3), page 27
“Really? I feel like that was a lifetime ago,” I laugh as Slater smiles and shakes his head.
“Do me a favor?” he asks.
“Anything.”
“Close your eyes.”
I do as he says, feeling something smooth wrapping around my eyes.
“Are you blindfolding me?” I ask.
“Maybe.”
“Uh, why?” I laugh.
“You ask too many questions. Just roll with it, baby.”
I scoff but smile as I allow it, listening carefully as Slater’s door opens and shuts before mine open a moment later. I feel his hand take mine before he carefully helps me out of the car. The door thunks shut behind me as he slowly starts leading me forward. I feel my sneakers brush against the wet grass as we go. In typical PNW fashion, it has been raining almost every day over the last few weeks. Today is the first cloud break we’ve gotten.
We walk for what seems like forever before we pause.
“When I was eight years old, my parents told me we were moving. I was furious at first. I liked our neighborhood, liked my school. I was worried that I wouldn’t like Seattle, that I’d never make any friends. Then, we pulled up to the house and something changed. I was looking out the window the whole way, refusing to talk to my parents because I was so mad about the move. Turns out, that was the best thing I could have done because it meant the first thing my eyes landed on when we pulled into the driveway was a little girl with long brown hair blowing bubbles.”
My breath catches as his words paint a picture vastly different then the one that I always thought to be true. He saw me first? Before he even got out of the car?
“There was something about you, I didn’t know what it was at the time, but it had me unbuckling my seatbelt and sliding out of the car. I was on my way to you when Ezra and Aaron ran over. I wasn’t about to turn down new friends, but I still wanted to know you, I wanted to be next to you.
“When your eyes landed on mine, it was like a punch to the gut. All the air was sucked out of my lungs, and my heart tripped over itself. I didn’t know at the time what it all meant, only that you were important. That the moment was important and that I would never forget it.”
“Slater,” I say softly.
“Take your blindfold off, baby.”
My fingers shake as I slowly untie the knot behind my head. When the material falls away, I blink several times before my eyes adjust. I stop breathing the moment they do. Bubbles, everywhere. More bubbles than I think I’ve ever seen at once in my life. It’s like we’re in a hurricane of them. And we’re in my backyard, underneath the old evergreen tree I used to sit under. The same one Slater was referring to.
I don’t bother looking for the source of the bubbles, too enraptured in the sight in front of me. Slater is two feet away from me, on one knee, holding my hands as he looks up at me with loving eyes.
“I love you, Scarlett. I’ve always loved you. I loved you before I knew what love was, I loved you even when I didn’t want to, even when I shouldn’t have. And I know with every fiber of my being that I’ll never stop loving you.”
Tears begin to build in my eyes as my pulse hammers in my chest. My breathing becomes short and ragged as the gravity of this moment sinks in. Slater releases one of my hands before reaching into his pocket. I don’t miss the tremble in his fingers as he pulls out a black box before he looks up at me.
“Scarlett Hayes, you are my best friend in the entire world. I couldn’t imagine spending a single second without you, and I hope I never have to. I want to re-watch One Tree Hill a thousand times, I want to blow endless bubbles with you, and I want to grow old with you. Will you do me the extreme honor of becoming my wife?”
“Swear?” I breathe out, hoping to god this isn’t a dream. If it is, I better never wake up.
Slater’s mouth twitches in amusement before he nods slowly.
“Cross my heart and hope to die.”
I’m nodding before I can help myself, biting back the tears, and failing miserably as I cry out.
“Yes! Of course. A million times yes.”
Slater takes out a gorgeous solitaire diamond ring, slipping it onto my finger effortlessly before he scoops me up into his arms spinning me around in celebration.
“She said yes!” he shouts.
Before I know it, both our families are coming out of the woodwork. Aaron and Dad come down from the back porch while Ezra and Alex come out from around the side of the house. Slater’s parents come over from their side yard with Sebastian, Erica, and the twins on their heels.
I look down at Slater, smiling wider than I ever thought possible, my heart fuller than I ever knew it could be.
Twenty years have passed, and I still know now what I knew then. There was something about Slater Santos, something special. And wherever he was, I wanted to be.
Slater
6 Months Later
Scar and I have been married for three months now. I insisted that we wait a little longer so that I could give her the big white wedding that she deserved, but she didn’t want it. She said that she just wanted to be married to me so how could I say no?
We decided that the perfect time to get married was after her graduation from chemo. As of now, she is in remission, though the oncologist did warn us that it could come back, I don’t like to entertain that possibility, though. Watching my wife go through literal hell once was one time too much.
Our ceremony was a small one in Valencia. My dad’s great-grandmother was from there, so it felt kinda special and it was sunny and warm, just like Scar wanted. Seb and Mikey were both my best men, and Trev was a groomsman. Erica and Vi were both technically Scar’s matrons of honor since she couldn’t choose between them, just like I couldn’t choose between Seb and Mikey.
Since we had an uneven number of bridesmaids to groomsmen, Trev ended up walking the twins down the aisle who were the cutest flower girls on the planet. Tucker was our ring bearer, and Ross only faltered for a moment before he handed Scar’s hand to me.
I’m man enough to admit that Scar’s vows had me tearing up, and I didn’t even wait for the preacher’s okay before I kissed her. Everyone got a kick out of that.
We honeymooned in Valencia for two weeks and it was amazing. Two weeks of sun, sand, and making love to my wife every chance possible. Reality took some adjusting when we got back. The football season is about to start, and things are already getting crazy. The Crusaders’ offered Scar her old position back, and she accepted for now, though she was honest that her availability might be more limited than it was before. She’s taking it easy, per her doctor’s requests and mine. Just because she’s in remission doesn’t mean she’s back to one hundred, but we’re getting there.
Today, we decided to have a big get together with everyone before training camp started. A lot has changed in the last six months, like us trading our quarterback and a handful of other players in exchange for one.
Trevor Michaels is the new Seattle Crusaders’ quarterback. We were all shocked when we heard. Supposedly, Trevor and Aberton have been talking for a while. I guess Trevor has been wanting to move up here for a while. I’ll give you one guess for the red-headed reason. Seb was less than enthused as you can imagine.
This is going to be a big year for us. Mainly because I have a strong feeling that this will be Seb’s last year. He’s getting tired of all the travel, and to be fair, this will be his tenth season in the league. I think the guy is just ready to enjoy his family, and I don’t blame him.
Scar getting sick really put things into perspective for me. Football isn’t as important as I thought it was. It’s not the only reason I was put on this earth for. There is a hell of a lot more to life, a hell of a lot better to it. So who knows, this might be my last year too. I’m in the last year of my contract so you never know.
The other surprise coming this year is that Mikey is coming out of retirement for one more season. When he heard that the three of us were all playing together on the same team, I think he got jealous and reached out to the Crusaders. They couldn’t jump fast enough, Mikey still holds the record for the most sacks made by one player in a game, who would pass that up?
So, for at least one season, we’ll all be back together, just like in college. And this year, I know we have what it takes to go all the way. I’m pumped for it but based on the tension being thrown from one side of the table to the other, I’d say we are in for an interesting season.
“Pass the potato salad please, Trevor,” Scar says from beside me.
He looks up from his plate, giving Scar a small smile before he passes it to her.
“Sure thing, Freckles.”
“I still don’t get why you call her that,” Erica says with a laugh. “She has barely any, at least in comparison,” Erica says with a laugh as she points to her smattering of freckles across her face.
Trevor gives Erica a smile and a shrug before easing back into the chair.
“Guess I have a thing for them,” he says, winking at Scar.
I shoot him a murderous glare as I wrap my arm around her shoulders. He gives me a mischievous smirk before busying himself with his plate again.
Scar plays with the hair at the back of my neck, her fingers rubbing against the newly inked skin. I surprised her with it a few weeks ago and when she saw it she was speechless. It’s a bubble wand with a few bubbles surrounding it, so I could always have my bubbles with me. She seemed shocked when she saw it, like I hadn’t already gotten a tattoo for her on my body. Shortly after we got married, I knew during football season, I would have to take my ring off more often than not, so I had Scar’s name tattooed on my ring finger.
Ironic, right? I was the guy that thought the dumbest thing someone could do is get tattoos of a woman on their body, and here I am with two just for my wife. I don’t regret either for a second, though.
“You’re such a manwhore,” Scar says with a laugh and a roll of her eyes.
Trevor smirks as he shrugs. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. Besides, if I get tied down like all these sad sacks, who is going to help satisfy the Seattle female population?” he asks as he goes to stand.
“Speaking of,” he says as he glances at his phone, “looks like duty calls.”
“Duty or booty?” Mikey asks on a smothered laugh.
“Both,” Trevor winks before he walks around the table, kissing each of the girls on the cheek before grabbing his leather jacket and aviators.
I feel bad for him. It seems like Trev has been looking for the right moment to make his exit all night. When he came over, he sat down at the table for eight, every chair filling up except for the one next to him. I caught the sideways glances he gave the empty seat a time or two, followed by a few longing glances towards Erica. He doesn’t even try to hide it anymore. Not out of disrespect, but because I think he genuinely can’t help it. I can’t imagine being hung up on someone who has been with your best friend, or should I say ex-best friend, and not able to let it go.
I always thought he was just stubborn when it came to her, that he was refusing to “lose.” But watching him after all these years has me wondering if maybe Erica was it for him. If maybe she really was his soulmate. If that’s the case, I feel, really do feel, bad for him because it’s obvious to anyone with eyes that she’s Seb’s too.
Seb shakes his head as Trevor leaves before he wraps his arm around Erica, kissing the side of her head as she smiles up at him, running her hands through his shaggy jaw length hair. I think we are all getting used to Seb with no man bun. He’s been trying to throw it up into a baby bun, but he’s not quite there yet. I think Erica misses it the most out of anyone.
They’ve been through a lot together. From the shitstorm they had to navigate to get where they are, to endless amounts of travel for both of their work and raising twin girls. I’ve always looked up to their relationship, admired it. They are like that OG couple of the group. The ones that always have the good advice, who are basically Mom and Dad over the rest of us.
I glance across the table to see Mikey and Violet clearly enjoying their first kid-free night in a while as they make goo goo eyes at each other. Fuck, they didn’t have it easy either. I’ve known Declan Daniels a long time, and when things went to shit for them, I didn’t know if my best friend was going to make it out the other side. I’m so glad they did, though, because Vi is perfect for him. I’m supposed to act surprised when we find out later, but Mikey already spilled the beans this morning to me, and they are expecting baby number three in April next year. I swear to god they are gonna have their own football team of kids one day. Couldn’t think of a better couple for it, though. Mikey worships the ground Violet walks on and she treats him like a king. On top of that, they really are the best parents.
Pressing a quick kiss to Scar’s lips, I can’t help but grin when I pull back and look at my beautiful wife smiling up at me. Fuck, Scarlett Santos. I can honestly say I didn’t see that one coming, but I’m glad I didn’t. It made things all the sweeter. Don’t get me wrong, I wish we would have given in sooner. I wish I never would have wasted years with Nikki when they should have all been Scar’s. It was always supposed to be us, and I’ll never forgive myself for wasting precious time. But our clocks aren’t running out just yet, there is still time on the board for us and anything is possible.
I’ve tried to broach the topic of having kids one day, but Scar shut it down pretty quickly. I don’t think she’s ready to face the fact that it will be harder for us than it was for our friends, and that’s okay. I’m not in a rush, when the time is right, we’ll both know. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to hold a little piece of half Scar and half me. Regardless of who carries that baby, they will be all ours.
Our story isn’t perfect. It’s kinda messy and complicated and more than a few hearts broke throughout it. Hell, I think that’s the case for everyone around this table’s stories. But we’re all stronger for it. And if there is one thing that I’ve learned in my life it’s that love hurts but if it’s the right kind of love, it heals too.
Thank you
Thank you so much for reading The Hearts We Break! I hope their story was everything you were hoping for. Oh man, these characters gave me a run for my money. Honestly, all of them did. This series has been one of the most frustrating, thrilling, tear inducing, rewarding experiences of my life. Thank you to every single person whether you’ve been here since Loyalties, or this is your first introduction to these characters. Your support means everything!
If you haven’t gotten a chance to read about Seb, Erica and Trevor or Declan and Vi, you can start reading below!
The Alphaletes Series –
The Loyalties We Break – Sebastian, Erica and Trevor
The Walls We Break – Declan and Violet
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Acknowledgments
First off, I always have to give my thanks to Skarlet. You are my PA, my graphic designer, my alpha, my counselor, my confidant, my anxiety reducer and one of my closest friends in the whole world. I swear, I have no idea where I would be if it wasn’t for you. We both know this book would have never seen the light of day if it wasn’t for you pushing me to keep going when these characters refused to work with us. There are too many reasons why you are completely invaluable and irreplaceable to name, and I know how compliments and praise make you itch, so I’ll keep it short. I fucking adore you, I’m so thankful for you and everything you do, and I hope you never forget how spectacular you are. Love you forever, bitch.
To my Betas, Cathy, DeAnna, Antonella, Sheyla and LJ, I love you all. Seriously, when Skarlet is absolutely fed up with me (which is often) you guys tolerate my incessant messages, my in depth questions at random hours of the day and my sometimes stressful deadlines (SORRY!). You guys doing what you do is nothing short of a freaking miracle and I’m so glad I found you amazing ladies!
To my editing team, Cayla, Lynds and Jess, thank you guys SO much. You take the lumpy jumbled mess that is my manuscript and help polish it into something that doesn’t look like it was written in thirty different segments at odd hours of the day (because we all know that’s the only time I can ever get anything actually done). I appreciate you all so much and am so thankful for all of the late nights and long days you put in to help make this book the best it can be!
To my ARC and Street team, thank you all for forever supporting me! Some of you have been with me since day one, others are brand new to The Taylorverse (totally going to get that trademarked. It’s like fetch. It’ll catch on. Maybe.). Each and every one of you is indispensable. Every share, post, review and recommendation you make helps more than you will probably ever realize. I know there are so many teams out there to choose to be a part of and I feel so honored to be one that you chose!
To my readers, I love you. Every single one of you. Thank you for reading my books, for leaving a review, for taking a chance on a new to you author or to binging my back list. It’s because of you all that I push on when the days feel too hard and too impossible to continue. It’s because of you that I’m able to turn a pipe dream into a reality and I could never thank you all enough.
Trigger Warnings
If you skimmed over the trigger warning page in the beginning, I bet you’re wondering why the heck it is all the way back here. After a lot of deliberation I felt that it was best for the most people to go into this book blind, if possible.
