Just for Fun Read online

  Just for Fun

  Rylee Morgan

  © Rylee Morgan 2015.

  Cover Art By: Sharon Grant of A-Star Designs

  All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form without the permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This is a work of fiction. No part of this is truthful. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Dedications

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  About the Author

  Dedications

  To David, thank you for loving me, putting up with my craziness and most of all being not just my rock but my mountain. I love you…

  Chapter One

  Changing jobs probably wasn’t the best of ideas for Shayla Greene. Although change is what was needed. Working at a nursing home a town over hadn’t left her with much of a social life. She gained some seniority, loved the residents and the pay was decent. She’d gotten the news over a month ago that Mercy Memorial Hospital was in need of RNs, jumping at the chance she submitted her résumé.

  After a round of interviews, she was notified she’d gotten the job. Relief had swept over her when she had reached the news that she’d been hired, having already given her two weeks’ notice, she would start her new job in one week and today was her last day at Loving Retirement Village. Before her day had ended she said goodbye to her now former patients and was surprised with a small going away party given by her co-workers in the facilities break-room. One thing Shayla didn’t like was being the center of attention but was flattered nonetheless that she would be missed.

  “Thank you everyone, I’d just like for you all to know I’m going to really miss everyone…and I’ll be thinking of you.” Shayla said, her voice cracking as sudden emotion had begun to overwhelm her, tears briefly filling her eyes. Clearing her throat she hugged them all while saying goodbye to the now former colleagues.

  “Shay, what are you gonna do with your first free week?” one of the nurses asked.

  “I’m not sure.” Shayla contemplated biting her lower lip. It was a question she’d asked herself many times in the course of the past week. “Maybe take a trip. But I think I just want to lay around for a few days then maybe work on the house a little.”

  “Well Hun, I wish you the best and good luck. You know if it’s not what you like you’ll always have a job here.” The older woman said embracing her in one last hug. Linda had taken Shayla under her wing six years ago, having been like a second mother. They agreed to keep in touch and said farewells.

  Walking out of her former employment she looked back for one final glance, startled by the interruption of a car horn blaring, knocking her out of a nostalgic moment. She turned to see her friend Dawn who had an annoyed scowl “Come on already!” her friend yelled.

  Shayla got into the car, “Gees, Dawn you probably just gave half the elderly a heart attack!” She said annoyed. “It’s eleven o’clock for Christ sake.”

  “Yeah, well I’ve been waiting on you for like twenty minutes. You know this place gives me the creeps…it’s like I can feel the Grim Reaper lurking!”

  “Wow, way to be overly dramatic!” Shayla said holding back laughter.

  “Sorry I just don’t know how you work here, knowing people are constantly choking at deaths door.”

  “Let’s go. Before you get carried away with your imagination.” Shayla said rolling her eyes.

  A half hour later they arrived at Shayla’s home. She could tell Dawn really had to be exhausted their normal car ride was typically filled with constant chatter from Dawn.

  “Do you mind if I crash here tonight? I’m in need of some girl talk.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine.” Shayla said as they walked into the modest house, making their way towards the kitchen. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Dawn to stay over on occasion. Looking over at her friend she saw worry written across the petite redheaded woman with a pixie-cuts face. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing really, I’m just tired...plus a little nervous to go home right now.” Dawn said as she sat at the kitchen table.

  “Why?”

  “I’m pregnant—I mean…I think I’m pregnant.”

  Having been caught off guard by the statement, she found herself staring at Dawn with a dumbfounded expression, before she could find the words to say, “Oh, wow!” it the only thing that came to mind. The look Dawn gave didn’t seem as if she’d been relieved by her admission. “That’s great news. Right? I didn’t know you guys even were trying.”

  All of a sudden Dawn broke down in tears. Shayla urged her friend to explain while handing her a box of tissues. “I tried telling Mark—I asked him what he thought about having kids one day—‘Not a subject we need to talk about’ he said,” she sobbed. “He doesn’t want to be a father.”

  “It’s too late now…if you are. You have to tell him. You never know, he might come around.” Shayla was trying her best at soothing her friend.

  “I don’t know Shay. He seems pretty adamant.”

  “I think you just need to relax. Call your gyno tomorrow, get a test.” She rationalized to her overly emotional friend ushering her towards the living room couch, before going off to fetch a pillow and blanket.

  When she returned Dawn was half laying on the couch perched up on an elbow, holding a picture frame she’d gotten for the end table, “Have you ever told him?”

  “Who?” Shayla asked quizzically.

  “Jackson.”

  “Told him what?” she gave a small laugh.

  “You know…that you have feelings for him.”

  “No, there’s no point.” She said matter-of-factly shrugging her shoulders, dismissing the question. “He’s in a serious relationship, plus we’ve been in the friend-zone for so long there’s no point in trying to change what’s not broken.”

  “Hmm…I think you should.”

  “Ha ha. No. I decided since I’m starting this new job, why not start a new life along with it.” She stated more than questioned with another shrug.

  “I guess. When’s the last you went on a date anyway?”

  “A few years.” She laughed shaking her head at how ridiculous she sounded. Here she was twenty-eight years old and barely had a social life. Which she was intent on changing. “I think…”

  “You think? Seriously Shay, I don’t know how you can do it. You should let me set you up with someone.”

  “No, thanks.” She laughed “Get some rest, I’m going to bed.”

  It was funny how Dawn had brought up Jackson, Shayla had thought. She’d given up hope that he’d ever look her way. Especially after he’d been honorably discharged two years ago from the military. After serving eight years, enlisting straight out of high school, choosing not to move back to Michigan, instead opting to stay in California where he’d been stationed. To stay close to his girlfriend of the last four years, Lexi.

  They’d been friends since childhood, he’d given her her first kiss. She often thought of that brief moment in time. They were sixteen and it was her favorite memory and also the worst. The day he kissed her she’d been upset over her grandmothers passing. He held her for what seemed like a short eternity. He wiped away her tears with his thumbs w
hile lifting her face to his in one fluid motion. “Shay.” Was all he said before touching his lips to hers. As the kiss deepened his hand moved up her shirt, when it found its way to her breast, he abruptly stopped and pulled away ending the embrace. He made a quick excuse and left. Leaving her breathless in a daze of confusion. The following day he had acted as if the kiss never happened.

  She was just starting to drift off to sleep when her cellphone chimed indicating a new text message. Grabbing the phone off the nightstand she read the text:

  Jackson: Hey u still awake?

  Shayla: Barely.

  Jackson: Good.

  She started to reply, only to be startled by the phone ringing in her hand. Rolling her eyes she answered, “Jack, why do you insist on doing that?” she said annoyed, “Just call instead of texting or continue texting.”

  “Yes, Mother!” Jackson chuckled on the other end of the call.

  “Ha, ha, ha, very funny. What’s up? I know you’re aware of the time difference so…what do you want?”

  “Yes I’m aware of the time…” He paused a little annoyed at the attitude she was giving him, but he understood. “Were you sleeping?”

  “No,” she answered accompanied with a yawn, “but I’m trying to get there.”

  “I see…well I won’t keep you, just have a quick question…”

  “Okay, what is it?”

  “Are you still looking for a roommate?”

  “Um—yeah, actually.”

  “Cool. Alright, you can stop looking. I’ll be home in a few days. Monday at the earliest, Tuesday at the latest…” He paused waiting for her response and nothing. “Shay, are you still there?”

  She sat straight up in bed, now fully awake. On high alert. She had to have heard him wrong. Surely she was dreaming. “Uh…yeah I’m here.”

  “Thought you fell asleep. Did you hear what I said?”

  “Yeah.” She replied drawling out the word.

  “You don’t mind me staying with you, do you?”

  Yep, it was official, she’d heard him correctly. She didn’t answer him right away, she almost felt like she was being put on the spot, did him staying with her include Lexi? Feeling like she was engaged in a war within, having just made up her mind to keep her feelings in check. “No, it’s not a problem. Is Lexi coming too?”

  “Nope, just me…we broke up—it’s a long story. But…yeah I’ll call you sometime tomorrow. Goodnight Shayla.”

  “Goodnight.” She sat in bed still holding the phone in her hand, trying to comprehend the fact that her best friend, her seemingly lifelong crush had just told her he was moving in. She wasn’t sure if she was annoyed with him for basically telling her he was moving in without really asking, or the fact for a split second she almost had a flicker of hope that it could turn into more.

  Dashing that last thought to the side choosing to go with the former rather than the latter as her form of annoyance. Her phone chimed again:

  Jackson: One more thing.

  Shayla: What’s that?

  Jackson: Thanks.

  Shayla: Welcome :)

  Jackson: Nite ;)

  She tossed and turned that night watching the clock. There went her few days of just laying around she thought. Now she definitely had to get her home in order.

  Cursing herself she wished she’d never said anything about needing a roommate. With her mortgage, car payment, helping her mother from time to time, among other bills, she was tired of stretching her dollar to its maximum potential, it had been her only reason for wanting to take on a boarder.

  Anxiety was kicking in.

  She went downstairs trying to remain quiet and not disturb a sleeping Dawn. Getting out ice-cream and a spoon not bothering with a bowl, she sat at the small kitchen dinette table. As she looked up between spoonfuls of deliciousness she saw her friend standing in the entryway shaking her head. “Ice-cream. Is. Not. Breakfast.”

  “It’s not breakfast if you haven’t slept yet.”

  “Touché.” Dawn said as she grabbed a spoon from the drawer. “Share.”

  Shayla took another spoonful and handed over the container. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

  “No, I couldn’t sleep really. What’s your excuse?”

  “Jack.”

  Dawn looked at Shayla confused then remembered their talk. “Shay, I’m sorry for pressing. You’re right you should just let it be what it is. No sense messing up a friendship.” She said while shoveling in one last scoop before passing it back. “It’s his loss for not seeing what’s been in front of him, you’ll find someone. Maybe not as hot…but someone.”

  “It’s not that…well it is sort of. We talked last night. Well he talked I guess.”

  “And?”

  “He’s moving in.”

  Jackson Hathaway had been done with Lexi for a while, he tried to tell himself it was just him. He was infatuated with her, thought he was in love and she was the one until they moved in together a year ago, it was then that he saw her for who she truly was. She was selfish and superficial. It wasn’t love but lust that drove him to her. But tonight had finally been the last straw. He wasn’t into making impressions to her snobby friends and he was done with the way she’d treated his.

  So he packed his things made arrangements to ship them out. Didn’t bother telling her they were over, she’d know soon enough. Then while lounging in his hotel suite, it hadn’t dawned on him that he didn’t bother talking to Shayla until later that night. He was relieved that she hadn’t found a roommate.

  He felt a ping of guilt with just dropping his intentions on her. They’d barely spoken since he got with Lexi. He tried to keep in touch at least once a month. She was he’s oldest friend and confidant. It had been three years since they’d last saw each other. And now he was going to throw himself back into her world, a world he had to run from years ago…

  Chapter Two

  Three hours.

  Shayla had waited three hours for Jackson to show up. She was tired of waiting! The anticipation of his arrival was going to be the death of her.

  Spending most of the day prior rearranging and organizing things around the house she was just plain tired. Jackson’s things had arrived the day before. It wasn’t much. Just a few boxes. She had been surprised there wasn’t more.

  Now she was just waiting on him to arrive. Debating on whether or not to try getting ahold of him, she chose against doing so. Irritated more when she realized it was past midnight. Sleep hadn’t been her friend the past few nights, she needed sleep and gave into sending a text:

  Shayla: Going to bed. Key under mat. Pillow and blanket on the couch. Nite.

  She waited for a reply.

  After ten minutes of no response she gave up and went to bed.

  Jackson had arrived in Michigan just after ten o’clock. He’d gotten picked up by an old high school buddy that now worked for his family’s company, also in the next few days would become a coworker. He had every intention of going straight over to his new home he was going to be sharing with Shayla. Things just didn’t go as planned when Tucker convinced him to stop over to a local watering hole. Some of the guys from their school days were also waiting on his return.

  Having lost track of time reminiscing, he pulled out his cellphone for the time, only to find a missed text. Reading it quickly, he turned to Tucker, “Hey man, I need to go. Shay sent me a text an hour ago.”

  “Yeah no problem dude. Hope she’s not too pissed.” Tucker said with a shit eating grin.

  “Nah, Shay’s not like that.”

  Less than ten minutes later he was standing in Shayla’s home. Feeling bad he wanted to let her know he was there but didn’t want to wake her. Plus he was feeling the effects of the alcohol.

  Setting his luggage down, he thanked Tucker for picking him up at the airport, the long overdue guys’ night, and dropping him off. Now he stood alone in the quiet house. Taking in his surroundings, there was a cozy feel to the place. Definitely wasn’t like t
he condo he’d shared with Lexi. Their place had felt cold, and oddly sterile of warmth. He gave a snort of a half chuckle at the thought, the feel of his former home had been the same as his former lover.

  Giving himself a reacquainted tour, trying to be silent, he began his ascent up the stairs to the second floor. He’d only been to Shayla’s home once, three years ago, that last visit when he swore to himself he’d never return.

  Looking into the first room off of the stairwell, a small bedroom made into a home office that barely fit the old oversized oak desk with a chair that looked out of place, a bookshelf accompanied the wall to the side of the heaping piece of wood. Flicking the light off he moved down the hall to the next door a decent sized room, empty with the exception of his boxes, the color of the walls weren’t going to work for him. Pink just wasn’t his color.

  Turning to the door adjacent to the perky pink room, he slowly opened the semi closed door, letting light pool into the darkened room. He saw is best friend fast asleep. He thought she looked so peaceful, she started to stir from the intrusion of light.

  Jackson couldn’t help but stand there, watching her. She looked different. She was always beautiful to him. But he didn’t dare cross the line. Knowing that if it were to be crossed, things would change, and he couldn’t risk losing her.

  Shayla began to rub at her eyes, breaking him from his thoughts. He slowly shut the door to its previous position.

  Morning had come, Shayla actually felt rested for the first time in a long while. Her first full straight eight. Leaving her room she noticed the bedroom door across from hers, had been opened. Glancing inside, she saw the boxes she’d placed the day before only now they were accompanied with luggage and an oversized rucksack.

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head at the sight of Jackson’s belongings. Turning on her heel she want down the stairs, only to be shaken be the sight of his nearly naked body spread out on her couch. He truly was a fine specimen of the male anatomy. The way the jersey shorts he wore were inched down on his hips, with the blanket she’d set out splayed over one leg, was enough for her to want to let out a soft whimper.