Hearts Intertwined
K.L. Myers
Contents
Prologue
I. The Past
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
II. The Present
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Epilogue
Acknowledgments From Kl
Other Books By K.L. Myers
Hearts Intertwined © 2019
This is a work of fiction. Any characters, names, places, brands, media, and incidents are used solely in a fictitious nature based on the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to or mention of persons, places, organizations or other incidents is coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted electronically or in print without the permission of the author. All rights are reserved.
Dedication
To my amazing daughter. You’ve grown from the timid little girl who came into my life as a child into the most amazingly strong and independent woman you are today. You’re as beautiful on the inside as you are on the out and it’s been my honor to have you grace the cover of this book with your awesome significant other.
I’m so proud of you, baby girl. Live your life like tomorrow may never come. Follow your dreams no matter how large they are, and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do what you want.
Love you, monkey
Prologue
October 2018
Lightning flashed across the dark sky. The curtains had been pushed aside, as the pelting rain began to hit harder and harder against the glass. The grey clouds began to fly by faster and the sounds of thunder filled the hospital room. Alissa’s contractions had gotten stronger and came faster.
Braxton had met Alissa in college. She had been pre-law, and he was pre-anything. He hadn’t been able to make up his mind on what he wanted to do. He had changed his major so many times that he never thought he’d figure his life out. If it hadn’t been for her, his best buddy, Paxton, and his twin, Paisley, Braxton probably would have dropped out.
They were the four musketeers with a bond stronger than blood. They had helped him get through it all: late-night study sessions and pre-Alissa breakups. It hadn’t mattered that Paxton was attending Stanford, it just mattered that he was a phone call away. But Paisley—she was instrumental in Braxton’s meeting of Alissa, and he would always be indebted to her. After eight years, they had all walked away as lawyers, and he’d left with a BS in business. Yeah, it had taken him eight years to get a four-year degree. That was what happened when you couldn’t get your shit together.
His parents had had money and couldn’t have cared less about what was happening in his life—that he couldn’t commit to his education or that they had paid for an education that had taken him forever to earn. They were legacies at Berkeley and had made big- donations to the school just to keep him there despite his flailing grades.
He’d used the inheritance he received to fund a business that catered to the entertainment industry. Paxton, Paisley, and Alissa managed the legal side of things while he managed the public relations portion of the agency. Braxton was the wining-and-dining part of the team. He built the relationships with potential clients, encouraging them to sign with the company, and then his best friends and fiancée handled the legal aspects.
“Christ!” Alissa’s screams pulled him from his thoughts.
“Breathe, baby. Just breathe.” The spikes on the monitor told him when her contractions peaked and started to level off. “We’re on the downside, Alissa. Keep breathing.”
Her face contorted with agony until it appeared the pain had started to subside. When her breathing slowed, and she’d caught her breath, Alissa spoke. “Man, those are getting worse, Braxton.”
The door to her room opened, and Paxton and Paisley walked in. Paxton held a stuffed elephant and Paisley a vase of flowers.
“Are we too late?” Paxton asked lightheartedly.
Paisley punched her brother in the arm. “You’re an idiot, Pax.”
Paisley set the flowers on the counter before coming over to hug Braxton. When she looked at him, there was sorrow in her eyes. He was about to ask her what was wrong when Alissa screamed out. Paisley immediately went to her side, taking Alissa’s hand and helping her through it.
“Shit.” Paxton looked at Braxton, fear in his eyes. “Is that normal?”
Paisley quickly responded, “You’re such a dumbass. Of course, it’s normal. She’s having a baby, dipshit.”
The banter between the twins was exactly what Braxton needed. Though he was excited to be a father, he was freaking out about it inside. He wasn’t sure if he was going to be a responsible husband, let alone dad. His life hadn’t changed that much since college.
He definitely didn’t want to be like his father. His dad had never been around, and he feared he’d be so focused on the business that he’d repeat the same behavior.
Alissa was the rock between the two of them, she was the one with her head screwed on straight. She organized, whereas he tended to fly by the seat of his pants and hope everything would fall into place. He never worried because he knew Alissa had it all figured out for the both of them.
The thunder boomed and the windows rattled from the intensity of the storm, catching Braxton off guard and filling him with unease.
“Dude, what’s wrong with you? Are you even paying attention? Alissa’s been calling you.”
His feet worked on autopilot and walked him to Alissa’s side. Alissa was worried. He saw it written all over her face. “You doing alright? You looked a little lost a second ago. What were you thinking in that head of yours?” Alissa always worried about him—even when she was the one in need.
He bent and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Just remembering our college days and thinking about how everything has changed.”
“Of course it has. We’re going to be parents. We’ve grown, and this is just
