All I Want
A. D. Justice
Contents
BLURB
1. CHAPTER ONE
2. CHAPTER TWO
3. CHAPTER THREE
4. CHAPTER FOUR
5. CHAPTER FIVE
6. CHAPTER SIX
7. CHAPTER SEVEN
8. CHAPTER EIGHT
9. CHAPTER NINE
10. CHAPTER TEN
11. CHAPTER ELEVEN
12. CHAPTER TWELVE
13. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
15. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
16. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
17. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
18. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
19. CHAPTER NINETEEN
20. CHAPTER TWENTY
21. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
22. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
23. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
24. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
25. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
26. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
27. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
28. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
29. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
30. CHAPTER THIRTY
31. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
32. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Books by A.D. Justice
About the Author
Acknowledgments
ALL I WANT.
Copyright © 2021 A.D. Justice.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, resold, or transmitted in any form without written permission from the copyright holder, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. If the location is an actual place, all details of said place are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to businesses, landmarks, living or dead people, and events is purely coincidental.
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All copyrights are held by A.D. Justice and have not been transferred to any other individual. Sharing or posting of this material in any group is considered copyright infringement and will be reported to the authorities. Criminal and civil charges will be pursued for damages.
BLURB
Right time. Right place. Right woman.
I was blowing off steam when a guys’ trip led to a hot fling.
She was exactly what I needed for our ten days together.
I said I’d never fall in love.
I said I’d never get attached.
We were never supposed to see each other again.
We were never supposed to be anything more.
But when she comes back into my life, I remind myself of one thing: Wrong place. Wrong time. Wrong man.
All I Want is book one in the compelling All of Me duet series.
CHAPTER ONE
Rod
The Past
Ten months out of the year, I’m nine years older than my sister, Juliana. But for two months, our numerical age aligns perfectly at ten years apart.
Who would have ever believed those two months could end up being a “make us or break us” deal?
“How is she?” Dad asked from Juliana’s doorway, keeping his voice low so he wouldn’t wake her. He leaned his shoulder against the doorframe with his arms folded across his chest and a worried expression on his face.
“She’s had a rough day, but she seems to be resting easier now.” My gaze drifted back to my little sister and a swell of protectiveness filled my chest. Unlike other older siblings who resented not being the only child, I welcomed her into the family with open arms when she was born. Being an only child sucked, and I wanted to be a big brother.
“She needs her medicine refilled tonight. If she wakes up sick again, we can’t let her get dehydrated. Do we have the money to afford it?” Mom moved to stand beside Dad, but she’d fixed her worried eyes on Juliana.
“We don’t have a choice, Debbie. If our bills have to wait, they’ll just be late. Don’t stress over that, babe. Give me a few minutes and I’ll go to the twenty-four-hour pharmacy.” Dad turned his head and watched Mom for several long seconds. I remember the scene like it was yesterday because it struck me as so odd. His daughter was the one he should be focused on, yet he stared at Mom as if it he was seeing her for the first time.
“Thank you, Chris. I know you’ve already had a long day at work. I can go if you’d rather stay home.”
“No, babe, I’m okay. I have a feeling your day has been worse than mine.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, then disappeared into the other room for several minutes.
Mom took his place holding up the doorframe. That’s when bits and pieces of adult conversations I’d heard over the past couple of years started to make sense. Mom was still relatively young, only in her early thirties. She’d married and had me when she was still a teenager. Then Juliana came along ten years later as a big surprise. The strain of holding our little family together was beginning to show in her face.
“I’m leaving now,” Dad announced when he reappeared. “I love you.” He stroked Mom’s face with his fingertips and she instinctively leaned into his touch.
“I love you too, Chris.”
Then he walked over to me and motioned for me to stand. When I complied, he wrapped his arms around me and embraced me in a tight hug. “If I haven’t told you lately, I just want you to know what a wonderful son you are, Rod. You’ve had to grow up way before your time, but I’m proud of the man you’ve become. I love you, son.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
Careful not to wake her, he leaned over Juliana and placed light kisses on her cheek and forehead. “I love you, my little precious girl.” He straightened and turned his attention back to Mom. “She feels warm again. I think her fever is returning.”
“We may end up in the emergency room tonight. I’m doing everything I can to avoid it.” Mom scraped her hand over her face, fighting the anxiety of a potential hospital bill we couldn’t afford to pay.
“Some things can’t be helped, Debbie. We all do the best we can.” Dad shrugged, but the heavy weight on his shoulders only amplified the effort that simple move took.
When he moved toward the door, Mom sent him out with her usual request. “Be careful, honey, and drive safely.”
Dad looked over his shoulder. He wore a forlorn expression and forced a smile as he nodded.
When he didn’t return home within the hour, Mom
