Vivid Lies (28 page)

And that's the best feeling of all.
 

Kane

One Year Later.

Montana is cold, but the mountain views make up for it. The early morning hikes have become one of our favorite things to do. London sees her therapist once a week, but I think most of the progress happens on those trials with me. I feel honored to be that person holding her hand, no matter how much it hurts sometimes to see her pain.
 

"Okay, I think I'm ready."
 

I turn from the window to see London coming from the bathroom. I notice how amazing her legs look in the short dress. Next is her cleavage and then her plump, red lips.
 

"Shit, London," I hiss, picking her up by her hips. "You look hot. I say we stay in tonight."

"Oh no way," she says between laughs. "I bought this dress for tonight, I'm going out in it."

"I think it would look better on the bedroom floor," I say on her ear, nipping her earlobe.
 

Her body shudders against mine and I reach for the zipper of her dress. London jumps away just in time.
 

"Tell you what," she teases while slowly backing away. "You can tear it off of me when we get home."

I growl but she turns and runs from the room. I chase after her, letting her get away on purpose. Tonight is important to her, so there's no way in hell I will ruin it.
 

When I catch up, London stands near the fireplace. I stand back and give her a moment as she stares up at the urn and her sister's photo. I never met Brooklyn, but I wished I had. If London loved her, I would have, too. I already do love her just because of what she did for London.
 

"I miss you," London whispers. "I'll have a Long Island for you tonight."

She turns to me and smiles. I see the pain there but her smile blinds it. She's healing but she will never escape the loss of her twin.
 

"She would be proud of you," I tell her, my own voice getting tight with emotion.
 

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Because you lived. Just like she wanted you to."

I cross the room and take her lips in a heated kiss. If we didn't have to leave, I would never stop. Fucking Miles always gets in the way.
 

"Come on, before I take you back upstairs."

I pull London from the house. Tonight, Miles and his band are playing nearby. London hasn't seen him in months since he started traveling on tour. She bounces in the passenger seat, excitement all over her face.
 

I'm not jealous, but it took a while to get here. I see the way he looks at her. With longing and love. She's the spitting image of the girl he lost. I never tried to cut him from her life though, knowing that she needed him. She might have needed him more than me. He understands a part of her life I wasn't there for. I'm okay with that as long as he still makes her smile.
 

We arrive at the packed club and flash our VIP passes. That gets us to the front row. Braxton's girlfriend, Leslie, is there waiting for us. She came out here with the band knowing London would be here. I hang back, ordering drinks while the girls hug and scream over the noise. They chat every day on the phone but act like they haven't talked in ages.
 

The energy in the room is high. I didn't realize there would be this many people and nerves start to set in. When I see the grin on London's face it calms me instantly. The band comes quickly and rocks the house. We know every song by heart, being their biggest fans. They don't play Brooklyn's song tonight. Miles thought it would be too much.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming," Miles voice echoes over the speakers. The girls scream his name. "Tonight is special because my best friend in the whole world is here tonight. London, wave for me."

The lights quickly find her and she waves shyly. She glares up at him, killing him with her eyes for calling her out like that.

"London and I promised we would never lie to each other. So I gotta tell you babe, I lied to you."

The room collectively gasps and I squeeze London's stiff hand. The lights are still on her and everyone is looking at her.
 

"Miles?" she growls under breath.

"Kane is up to something. He has something hiding in his pocket and I've known about for weeks."

Her bright eyes shoot to mine and I look down in shame. Her tiny hand darts to my pocket, finding it empty. The next one, she finds it. Pulling it out, she opens her hand. The people around us gasp and clap.
 

I take the black box from her hand and open it for her. Dropping to one knee, I look up at her watery eyes.
 

"Marry me, London. Be mine forever."

The room goes crazy, and the lights highlight the look on her face. Happiness, fear, surprise, then serenity. She looks up to the stage. The crowd quiets, waiting with me for her answer.
 

"Will you give me away at my wedding?" she asks Miles.
 

He nods.
 

London throws herself in my arms and I stumble catching her.
 

"I thought you would never ask," she says.
 

I give a thumbs up behind her back and cheers fill the air. I wrap my arms around her and hold tight. I kiss her face, her lips, her finger as I slide the ring over it.
 

"You're stuck with me, now," I warn her.
 

"I'm never stuck if I have you."

London kisses me and we forget about the crowd. I wish her sister were here for this moment. I wish her dad wasn't terrible and could be, too. I wish my girl wasn't so broken without them. But everything is as it should be, and without all her hurt, there wouldn't be this happiness to savor at the end.
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alyne Roberts

Alyne lives in Ohio with her husband, their two dogs and cat. Working full time in an office all day, she spends her nights reading, writing, or binge-watching an entire TV series in a night. She refuses to grow up, loves Disney movies and anything with owls. She couldn't live without her coffee or her furry "children".
 

Alyne wrote her first novel titled "Light to the Darkness" in 2014, followed by the Conflicted Encounters Series.
 

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Books By Alyne Roberts:
 

Light to the Darkness

Memorized

Atlas

Vivid Lies

Conflicted Encounters Series:

Jolted

Impacted

Shaken

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed Vivid Lies, please consider leaving a review.
 

I first owe a special thank you to coffee and Yellow Tail Moscato.
 

My husband deserves an award for putting up with me while I wrote this book. My constant “what if?” and talking out loud while I plotted.
 

My family and friends: Thanks for sticking by my side when I disappear in a fictional world.
 

Steph, you are my bestie. Thank you for cheering me on daily and standing by while I “talked” the story out via messenger.

Tiffany, you are the best PA ever. I would be lost without you. Thank you for staying on my ass and yelling at me to keep writing.
 

Thank you to my beta readers Missy and Heather.

I even appreciate my fur babies for constantly distracting me, lounging across my keyboard when I’m working, and needing attention at the worst times.
 

Most of all, thank you for reading this book. Thank you for taking a chance with London and Brooklyn.
 

Thank you to every blogger and reader that has ever shared or reviewed my work. You make the reading world go round.