My side of fate my side.., p.1
My Side of Fate: My Side Series, page 1
My Side of Fate
My Side Series
Book 1
S Huntleigh
Copyright © 2023 by S. Huntleigh
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Cover Design: Hannah
Edited: Crystal Nguyen and Taylor Robinson
Proofread: Taylor Robinson
Created with Vellum
Here’s to all the dreams we didn’t know we had and the dreamers who have never had believers. You can and will accomplish everything you set out to do.
This book is proof that dreams do come true.
This one is for you.
To my husband - Every book I write carries a piece of you, ensuring you will live on forever. I will love you until the end of time.
Contents
Author’s Note
The red string of fate
Playlist
Chapter 1
Past
Present
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Past
Present
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Past
Present
Chapter 8
Past
Present
Chapter 9
Past
Present
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Past
Present
Chapter 14
Past
Present
Epilogue
My Side of Love teaser
Coming soon
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Author’s Note
Reader discretion is advised as some of the scenes in this book contain sexually explicit material and mentions of sexual assault (not main characters).
The red string of fate
“An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. This is commonly known as The Red String of Fate.”
-Ancient Chinese Proverb
Playlist
Invisible String - Taylor Swift
Never Forget You - Zara Larsson & MNEK
Flames (feat. Avril Lavigne) - MOD SUN
This is Us - Jimmie Allen & Noah Cyrus
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Stolen - Dashboard Confessional
Please Notice - Christian Leave
Give Me Your Love - Little Panda
Sky is the Limit - Mark Amber
Nobody But You - FROIDZ
I Get to Love You - Ruelle
Dressed Up in White - CAL
Chapter One
I’m severely regretting the shoes I wore to go bar hopping tonight. But the color matches perfectly with my light blue skirt and crop top set. The occasion for these monstrosities is my twenty-eighth birthday. My cream complexion looks bright against the shade of blue, and the knee-length skirt, paired with these torturous heels, shows off my toned legs. I knew the heels looked killer, but I didn’t know my feet would be the victim. I’m generally all about comfort in shoes since I’m on my feet all day. Style matters to me none---give me all the cushion, like I’m walking on clouds. That could be another reason my feet are screaming. They’re usually treated better than this, and I’ll pay for disrespecting them tomorrow, I’m sure.
As my girls and I stroll towards the next bar, I see the only person who could stop me in my tracks and cause me to grip my birthday sash like a lifeline.
It’s him. My first love. I could never forget that godlike golden-tanned face or his beautiful hazel-green eyes. To this day, they still haunt my dreams. However, his face is now covered in perfectly groomed facial hair. The tailored suit he’s wearing leaves little to the imagination, highlighting his broad, sculpted shoulders and toned body. He’s filled out in all the right places. All of his lean, boyish features are gone. His hair is cut shorter and although it’s shaved short on the sides, there is some length on top, making my fingers twitch with the urge to run them through his strands. His attention is suddenly pulled to me, and I’m faced with a puzzled expression. I pull in a breath as the world stops around me. Does he remember me, too?
He takes a step towards me, but stops before he can take another, turning to the back car window and nodding. He shakes his head and looks my way, his expression torn between here and there. In the next moment, the back door to the Lincoln opens, and he steps inside. As the car drives away, I release the breath I was holding and the sounds of the surrounding city come back to life.
Seeing Chris after all this time is no less intense than the first day I met him at camp all those years ago.
Past
Thirteen years ago
This is my first day at the summer camp my parents suggested I attend. As soon as we drove under the welcome sign, the wilderness surrounded us. I’m not much of an outdoor enthusiast, but maybe camp will change that. When I step out of the car, I inhale a deep breath of fresh air. It feels cleaner here than in the musty city. Pine needles crunch under my feet as I grab my bags from the trunk. It’s a lot quieter than the city too, only the birds chirping are heard as I take my things to my cabin.
My mom wants to see the area before she leaves, so we walk around the camp’s giant lake. This is helpful, because I find the mess hall, camp store, bathrooms, and the rest of the cabins. I even spot the counselor ones at the bottom of the hill when I notice two talking outside the building labeled Cabin One. Their bright orange shirts with the camp logo indicate their position, and bronzed skin proves they spend a lot of time outside.
The one that is tall and lean with shaggy brown hair catches my interest. He looks my way and bright white teeth flash next. I smile back as I say, “Good morning!” and both counselors wave and say it back as we head in the car's direction. As I pass, I notice he has the most vibrant hazel-green eyes I’ve ever seen. Those eyes are what draw me in and I swear I can still feel them on me when he’s no longer in my sight. A smile pulls at my lips, and I sway my hips a little more for my newfound crush.
After my mom leaves, I go back to my cabin, and that’s when I meet some of my bunkmates, Amber and Brooke. When I walk through the door Amber is putting her long chestnut brown hair into a ponytail and as I step up beside her, I notice she is a little taller than I am. Brooke’s short and petite frame bounces lightly on her bed, causing her short, black hair to swing above her shoulders. The metal in her mouth shines as she smiles at my suggestion that we go walk around the lake. I hope to come across that counselor again. As we head towards the end cabins, I tell them about him.
As the day progresses, I feel myself becoming infatuated with this counselor. I’ve seen him multiple times, always in the same area as me. Without fail, my eyes will find him, and I know he sees me watching. Whenever he catches me staring, he always smirks my way before moving forward with his task he was doing. During dinner, I tried to sit at a table close to his. Then, when we had the giant bonfire to end the night, I sat directly across from him with the fire between us.
As Brooke, Amber, and I make our way back to our cabin, my thoughts go to how we’ve been together all day. We haven’t been apart since we met this morning. There’s something about meeting new friends when we’re all in a new environment. The friendship seems to solidify faster because now all we have is each other.
When the day comes to an end, the rush of first day jitters eases. As I climb into my bunk and pull my blanket up to my chin, I whisper into the darkness, “I’m glad I’ve got you both as bunkmates.”
I hear Brooke’s sleepy voice call out, “Me too” and Amber’s, “Same.”
The last thing I hear is an owl hooting before I fall fast asleep.
It’s been a few days and the counselor I’ve had my eye on hasn’t introduced himself to me yet, but I’ve heard one of the other counselors call him Chris. Even if he’s on the other side of the room and our eyes connect, he always smiles in my direction. No words are said or need to be. With one glance, one expression, we have our own conversation.
For instance, this morning, as we were all taking the canoes out, I jumped into the one he was about to use. As I pushed off the dock, he gave a single eyebrow raise, and I giggled. For days, we’ve been flirting with actions instead of words. Since we haven’t spoken yet, it feels like a game of cat and mouse. He’s not like any of those other boys my age. Chris’s boyish charm and perfect smile have caught my eye, but him being forbidden has all my attention. Why is it that when you can’t have something, you want it more?
I’m currently transfixed by his loud laugh. He carries himself with a confidence I wish I knew. His movements are sure-footed and controlled. It feels like there’s an invisible tether pulling me to him. I’m trying to navigate this new, unremitting feeling that I can’t push past.
He’s like a sparkling, shiny piece of gold, and I’m a pirate, ready to take that booty
I laugh to myself at my inward joke.
“What’s so funny?”
I turn towards the voice to see the hot camp counselor standing next to me.
He looks down at my lips and I notice I’m biting my bottom one again. I release it and say, “Oh, nothing.”
He finally approaches me to talk, and I can’t think of anything to say.
He gives me a boyish smile. “My name’s Chris, and you are?”
“Hi, I’m Ashley.”
I reach out and he takes my hand. His striking hazel eyes meet my icy blue ones, causing an electric spark between us. The chemistry is undeniably palpable. How can you meet someone and within minutes, your soul finds their match? Can love at first sight really be a thing? I’ve never felt this infatuation with anyone. Is the buildup why this seems to be more than just an innocent crush? The way my body is pulled to him is a comfort I can’t describe. It's an inexplicable feeling, and it makes no sense at all.
Chris’s hand remains in mine, and I don’t want him to let go. My fingers are still in his hand when it falls in front of us. Entwined, like how I already feel with him.
When our hands slowly unclasp his index finger hooks mine, hidden between our bodies. We are still physically touching, but my guess is when we aren’t, I’ll still feel him.
His finger slowly slides off mine, our touch lingering as long as possible. I know the rules. You can’t date the counselors, so being a camper solidifies me into the friendzone. But I can't help but wish I could.
“This is my first year here,” he says.
“It’s mine, too. I like it so far.”
“I think we will have a great summer.” He winks at me, and I can feel my heart in my throat. He actually winked at me! Then he says, “Well, it’s good to finally meet you, Ashley. I hope to see you around.”
“Yeah, me too. I mean, yeah, you too. Yes, see you around.” My cheeks instantly burn.
Chris chuckles and shakes his hair out of his eyes. When he turns, I groan and face the table behind me.
“Well, you finally met him, I see.”
Amber steps up beside me, drinking a Coke.
My eyes follow her stare, and land on the group of counselors Chris is with. “I did. His name may be Chris, but I might as well call him what he is ... my future husband.”
She chokes on her drink. “Woah, girl. You just met the guy.”
He looks in my direction and as our eyes connect, I say, “I know. There’s just something about him. I swear we shared a moment.”
I smile at how obsessed I must already seem.
It feels like I was always supposed to meet him, no matter what title.
Amber shakes her head at my joke. But is it really? If I say the words out loud to the universe, maybe it will be on my side.
Present
Fate really hates me.
As I stand there on the side of the road, staring at the spot where he just stood, I look to the right and assume this is the building he walked out of. It’s a large tower downtown. From the ground, it looks like a skyscraper. I walk towards it when my friends Nichole and Allison yell, “Ashley, what’re you doing?”
I look over my shoulder and reply, “I just want to check out this building.”
I approach the large glass doors and peek inside. “Fancyyyy,” I catch myself saying out loud. Fancy it is. The entire front of the building is glass, so I can see the whole entryway. Elevators run along the back wall and a reception desk sits in front. There are five vertical black and gold rectangles alternating in height with a light bulb within each, making beautiful linear chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. I see a lounging area that consists of small wooden tables and tan leather couches atop a large white Persian rug with intricate patterns. All the walls surrounding the area are white. The room is accented by gold decor and shiny marble flooring. At this rate, the gold may even be real.
What draws my eye back to the reception desk is the name of the building. A plank sign that has a white glow behind it. A beacon for my attention.
“Rosenwell and Sons Industries,” I whisper.
Rosenwell … Chris Rosenwell?
How come I’ve never come up to this building? Has he been under my nose this entire time?
I pull out my phone to google the name, and the face of the boy that has haunted me for thirteen years lights up my screen. I look past his charismatic smile and stare into those more-green-than-brown eyes that have just tilted my world on its axis. My feelings for Chris never faded, regardless of the time that has passed. He was a boy who left an unforgettable impression on my heart.
Chris is now a partner in his family's law firm. My eyes grow wide as I forcefully swipe my thumb on the phone screen to the bottom of the article.
Chris is a 30-year-old eligible bachelor. He runs this law firm with John Rosenwell, Andy Rosenwell, and Greg Rosenwell. His net worth is 2 million.
Holy shit.
I’m speechless. Who would’ve thought Chris, camp counselor Chris—my future husband Chris—would be a MILLIONAIRE!? Stumbling upon this information has me in somewhat of a daze. Like, can this actually be real life? And he’s in the same city as I am so many years later. What are the odds?
When camp ended all those years ago, I never got Chris’s number or address. Not even a last name. He was a counselor for two years and I thought I’d see him the third year, but when he didn’t show, I thought that was it. I would never see the boy that made such an impact on my young heart again.
“Hey, are you done checking out this building?” I hear Allison ask.
“It’s nice inside,” Nichole adds as she peeks through the glass.
Only a nod and “Mhm” comes out. Taking one last look at the bright sign with my wide eyes, I walk back to the bar down the road.
I spend the rest of the night with my girls, enjoying my birthday. But Chris is never far from my mind.
That night, he resurfaces in my dreams once again. The dream starts with running into each other in front of his building, but this time, he remembers who I am.
My hands squeeze my birthday girl sash tight. “Chris?” My voice is uncertain. I take a step toward the handsome man before me and call his name again, my voice strong and more confident.
He gives me a bright smile. “Ashley?”
“Yes!”
"This is a pleasant surprise! What're you doing here?"
I laugh. “I could ask you the same thing.”
He smiles and uses his hand to gesture to the building behind him. “Well, this is where I work. This is my building.” His body language showcases that he’s proud of his accomplishments.
My eyes grow wide as I follow the windows up multiple floors. “Wow,” I whisper.
We must slowly gravitate toward each other, because now he is standing right in front of me. He is so close that I feel the heat radiating off of his body. His cologne surrounds me and infiltrates my sense of smell. It’s intoxicating. The comforting scent of bourbon and oak is my newest addiction. I meet his green-hazel eyes and can't help but share his joy and smile back.
Yeah, I could recognize him just from his eyes alone. Honey brown streams out from around his pupil and converts to light green. They’re still the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. I see the promise in them that he’ll give me everything I’d ever longed for.
Even after all this time, the magnetism between us hasn’t faded. He reaches out and takes my hand in his. As soon as my palm touches his, the uncontrollable current runs through me, shocking my system like his familiar touch always had. “I was about to head home. Would you like to join me and we can catch up?”
“I’d love that. Just let me say goodbye to my friends.”
I turn around and wave to Allison and Nichole before Chris leads me to the back of his car and I greedily get in.
The drive is short while my hand rests on his. We pull up to another building that resembles his work tower.
