Southern Sunrise
Natasha Madison
Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
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
Epilogue One
Epilogue Two
ONLY ONE KISS SNEAK PEEK
FREE BOOK!
Books By Natasha Madison
Acknowledgments
Copyright © 2020 Natasha Madison. E-Book and Print Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons or living or dead, events or locals are entirely coincidental.
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/ Use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owner.
All rights reserved
Cover Design: Jay Aheer https://www.simplydefinedart.com/
Editing done by Jenny Sims Editing4Indies
Proofing Julie Deaton by Deaton Author Services https://www.facebook.com/jdproofs/
Created with Vellum
Dedication
Dedicated:
To Jan who just dropped the little crumb to make this book a reality!
Chapter One
Ethan
“Class dismissed,” the teacher says, and I’m the first one out of my seat and out the door. The bright sunshine causes me to squint as I jog down the steps of the campus building. I’m on the way to my truck when the phone rings in my pocket.
Taking it out, I smile when I see it’s Emily. “Hello, Sunrise.” I greet her with the nickname I gave her when she was fourteen, and we stayed out all night. Her parents didn’t know and neither did mine. We watched the stars all night long, and when the sunrise finally came, she looked at me with sleepy eyes, and said, “Hello, Sunrise.” It was the day she turned fifteen, and I finally kissed her. We’ve been together for almost five years. We grew together in a small town, and she is two years younger than me, which is why I waited until she was fifteen to kiss her. But the minute I kissed her, I knew she was the one.
I want to say that it started gradually with the two of us hanging out together, but no one knew we spent every single day together by the creek. One day, I saw her sitting in the middle of a rock at the creek, just watching the water. We got to talking, and well, the rest is history. It started with us meeting “by accident” in town at the diner, and then it got to be where there was no Ethan without Emily by his side. It’s why I chose to go to college only an hour and a half away. I couldn’t leave her, and it’s why I go back to see her four times a week.
“Hey there, Birthday Boy!” she squeals. “Happy Birthday! Am I the first one?”
“Considering where I was with you at midnight”—I laugh—“you were the first one.”
She laughs. “Oh, good. What time are you coming into town?”
“My last class just finished, and at this time of day, it takes about two hours to get back to town.” I look around at all the people on the campus lawn. It’s usually crowded on bright, sunny days because people want to get out.
“Okay, perfect,” she says. “Are we going straight to your mom’s place?”
“Yeah,” I say, stopping in the middle of the huge lawn when I feel as though I’m being followed. I turn around, looking to see if someone is watching me, but no one stands out. “I also figured tonight would be a good time to tell them the big news.”
“But it’s your birthday,” she says. “I don’t want to take the spotlight off you.” And this is another reason I love her. She is selfless in every sense of the word and puts everyone else’s needs in front of hers.
“Trust me, my mother is going to be over the moon with the news that we are getting married,” I say, smiling as I think of her wearing my ring. “Just don’t forget to wear the ring.”
“I told you I don’t wear it in case someone sees me,” she huffs out. “Anyway, I have to go. Class is starting, so I’ll meet you at your mom’s place. Love you,” she says, hanging up, and my chest feels full when she says this. I look down at the screen saver of the two of us, taken after I asked her to marry me. Her face was still stained with tears while I kissed her.
“Excuse me?” I turn around when a man’s voice interrupts my memories. “Are you Ethan McIntyre?”
“I am,” I say to the man, looking him up and down. He doesn’t look like he fits here, that’s for sure. His beard is almost white, and his three-piece suit clearly tailored. “How can I help you?”
He shakes his head, and it’s then I realize he’s holding a manila envelope. “You can’t help me with anything.” He looks down at his hands and then looks back up at me. “But I can help you.” He extends his hand to me. “This is for you.”
My hand moves to grab it before my brain registers. “What is this?”
“Your truth,” he says, and just like that, he turns and walks away. Leaving me confused, I call out to him again, but he doesn’t turn around. When I look down at the envelope in my hand, I see my name written on the front. When I look back up, he’s already disappeared in the crowd.
Opening the envelope, I pull out the papers and start reading. The letter is addressed with just my name. As my eyes scan the papers, I feel like my head is spinning around in a circle. It’s almost as if my life is spiraling out of control, and
