Beautiful Storm (San Francisco End Game #1)

PROLOGUE

Amelia - Age Ten

M ost boys were put on this earth to be annoying, but Luke… Luke was born to make me laugh.

“Do Hulk next,” I call out, kicking my legs behind me as I lie on the grass, watching Luke try to play football acting as different comic book characters.

“Hulk? You got it.” He growls, pretending to rip off his clothes but trips over the ball as he throws himself around, falling on his ass, sending us both into fits of laughter.

“Hulk is definitely my favorite.” I grin as he stands and jogs over.

“I think I’m done,” he says with a huff as he joins me. “It’s getting dark anyway, and you know what that means.”

“I don’t want to go home.” I pout before rolling over and staring up at him.

“Why? Aren’t you hungry?” His brows furrow and I can’t help but laugh again, even though I’m sad. Typical Luke, always thinking about food.

“I am hungry. But my parents are acting weird.”

“Weird, how? Mine are always weird. Have been since I was born.” He shrugs and I immediately shake my head.

“No, not that kind of weird. They keep shushing each other when I enter the room, and Dad’s going out a lot more.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s probably nothing.” He sits down beside me, tossing the ball on the grass between us. “Sometimes adult things don’t make sense.”

“Maybe. Can you promise me something?” I sit up and spin around to face him, crossing my legs as I wait.

“Anything.” He turns my way but stays on a slight angle so his big legs don’t get in the way. “You know that.”

“When we’re adults,” I begin, ignoring him when his lips twitch. I always tell him it’s better to be a kid and now, I’m asking him to think about being an adult. “When we’re adults,” I repeat, “let’s not be weird.”

Luke bursts out laughing before his face drops and he turns serious again. “Deal. But Ace, you’re already weird.” He bites back a smirk when I reach out and shove him over.

“I am not.”

“Nah, you’re not. You’re perfect.”

Shaking my head, I stand up and brush myself off, staring down at him now lying on the grass, almost exactly like I was. “Can you promise me something else?”

“Yep.”

“No secrets.”

“That’s easy. I tell you everything.”

“ Promise .”

“Okay. I promise. No secrets. Now can we go home to eat?” I giggle while he stands, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “I really need some food.”

“Yeah, okay.” I roll my eyes. “But only because you’re annoying when you’re hungry.”

Luke snorts before pinning me with a concerned expression. “Are you going to be okay? Going home? Want me to come?”

“I’ll be fine. Adults are always weird, right?”

“They sure are.”

Age Eleven

Dear Diary,

It’s been 76 days since I last saw Luke Bennett and I’m still hurt by what he did. He was supposed to be my best friend. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive him.

Love Amelia J. Rosenberg

Age Twelve

Dear Diary,

Today was a good day until Luke ruined it.

I got an English award for my short story and was called up to the front of the class. Then Luke got an award for physical education and said that winning for sports is better than winning for English. Of course, everyone cheered.

I wish I could change schools.

Love Amelia Rosenberg

Age Fourteen

Dear Diary,

A new kid named Preston started at our school today and he winked at me. Melody said that he liked me, but I don’t know. We only met. He is so dreamy. He has blond hair and ocean blue eyes. The best thing is that he doesn’t play football. He likes music. We’d be perfect together.

Luke wasn’t happy about Preston’s arrival but too bad. He’s just jealous that now there’s someone hotter than him at school.

I’m going to try and talk to Preston tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Love, Amelia

Age Fifteen

Dear Diary,

I’m finally a freshman. If only me and Preston had more classes together. Instead, I’m stuck with Luke in four of them and Preston only one.

On the plus side, Preston and I started working at my mom’s garden center over the summer break and Mom said she might keep us on during the year. That means we’d get to spend time together after school. Alone. As long as she doesn’t find out I like him.

And maybe if no one else is around, he’ll finally sing me the song he’s been writing.

Love Amelia

Age Sixteen

Dear Diary,

I don’t know what happened. It was supposed to be a bit of fun…but it all went wrong and now I might be in trouble.

I can’t talk about it and I definitely can’t write it down. I’m so lost.

Amelia

Age Seventeen

I can’t believe it! Preston asked me to Prom and it was one of the most romantic things anyone has ever done for me. He gave me flowers and he wrote me a song. MY. OWN. SONG.

Only I still don’t know what that means. We spend all our spare time together but he’s never made a move. Is this his way of telling me he likes me?

Amelia

Age Nineteen

It’s been a month since I saw Preston, and I’m not going to lie, I’m struggling. He was touring for our two-year anniversary and while he sent me roses and another love song he’d written for me, I was a mess. I am a mess. How do people do this long-term? How are we going to do this long-term? Music is his dream. If all goes to plan this is the first of many tours to come. And who knows how my filmmaking will go. I want to take on the world.

I miss him so much.

Amelia

Age Twenty One

We did it. We got engaged. Preston proposed to me backstage at a music festival, just the two of us. It was his first big tour and when I surprised him in the audience, he ran off stage to find me.

Spending time apart is never going to be easy, but we love each other and I know we can make it work.

Amelia

Age Thirty

I’ve been putting everything I can into this marriage but it’s not working. Preston is great. Always has been. But our spark is dwindling. Maybe it’s been that way for a while now. We barely have sex anymore, not that we had it regularly to begin with, but at least there was intimacy. Now, I can’t remember the last time we held hands.

I shouldn’t be complaining… After all, he supports my dreams and we’re making beautiful magic together with his music and my storytelling. The music videos I’ve directed for him have propelled him to stardom and he’s taking me along for the ride.

We still laugh together. We have fun. I’m his muse. I never go without.

Objectively, he’s the perfect husband. But we’re both so busy and…

I need a break.

Age Thirty Two

I fucked up. It’s been years since I wrote about him but I couldn’t leave this out.

I slept with Luke. I was trying to move on and I stupidly slept with a man I despise.

And now I’m pregnant.

Send help.