Forever Reasons (10,000 Reasons Book 4)

10,000 Reasons Serial

Unknown Reasons (Book 1)

Relationship Reasons (Book 2)

Xander’s Reasons / Jenna’s Reasons (Book 3)

Forever Reasons (Book 4)

By D.W. Cee

Copyright © 2016 by DW Cee

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, reproduced, transmitted, or downloaded, whether electronic or mechanical, without the written consent of the author.

This story is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Ebook Edition

Chickygirl Publishing

Books by DW CEE

Indelible Love Series (ebooks)

Indelible Love – Emily’s Story

Indelible Love – Jake’s Story

Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story Vol. 1

Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story Vol. 2

Unlikely Attraction – Delaney’s Story

Near Perfect Attraction – Donovan’s Story

Unyielding Love – Nick & Bee’s Story Vol. 1

Unyielding Love – Nick & Bee’s Story Vol. 2

Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Wedding

Indelible Love Bundle + Entwined

Finally, Love! – Michael & Chloe’s Story Vol. 1

Finally, Love! – Michael & Chloe’s Story Vol. 2

Indelible Memories – Estelle’s Story

The Complete Indelible Love Series (all 12 books)

Reid Place Series (ebooks)

The Impossible Tale of Nolan & Delilah Vol. 1

The Impossible Tale of Nolan & Delilah Vol. 2 (2016-17)

The Immovable Tale of John & Elizabeth (2017)

10,000 Reasons Serial

Unknown Reasons - Book 1

Relationship Reasons – Book 2

Xander’s Reasons / Jenna’s Reasons – Book 3

Forever Reasons – Book 4

Harmony Series (ebooks)

Unfinished Melody

Perfect Harmony

Stand-Alone (ebook)

Entwined

Paperback Books

Indelible Love – Emily’s Story

Indelible Love – Jake’s Story

Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story (combined volume)

Unlikely Attraction – Delaney’s Story

Table of Contents

Forever Reasons

Author’s Notes

Forever Reasons

I’ve planned a family vacation for all of us.

What? Who was ‘all of us’ according to this man?

We’re going to Maui on Friday.

We, who?

He gave me an odd look. You, me, our daughter, your parents, my parents, and maybe Lex.

I didn’t know what to say. Rather than using upsetting words, I hurried my daughter and took her to the beach. Unfortunately, Xander followed.

Alex, you need more sunscreen.

No, I don’t, she argued and ran off to her spot where she’d left all her sand toys from earlier in the day.

Alex! I called out. She didn’t look back.

I’ll spray her, Xander said while chasing after our daughter.

We’d been back almost a month, and I was nowhere near settled, mentally or emotionally. Physically, I had a two-bedroom guesthouse to myself, and my daughter, who chose to make occasional visits. She preferred the main house with her princess room, her playroom, and enough square footage to ride around in her tricycle. Most of my day was spent in the main house taking care of her. Only after she fell asleep, without me, did I go back to my place of lodging. I was lonelier than ever.

To compound my misery, I couldn’t land a job. Before moving, I’d applied to Larry and Janine’s hospital, convinced that’s where I wanted to be. With all the perks of working only two days a week, this workplace appeared ideal. Perhaps I was overconfident in my abilities. I didn’t apply anywhere else and now I was stuck because the hospital wasn’t announcing who they were hiring for another three weeks. There wasn’t quite enough time to start searching for a new position, but too much time to be in the same house with Xander.

Still very new to the area, Alex wasn’t signed up for any classes. The three of us were literally together, all day, every day, except for when Xander was out for meetings. We looked like a family of three when we were really two + two—Xander and Alex, me and Alex. Our families didn’t help this situation. They both moved into their respective homes a few weeks ago, and they came over often with dinner and games. In all, we were one big happy family. An eternal smile donned everyone’s faces. I was the only grumpy one, and my parents often let me know of this fact.

What. The. Hell!

Why are we going to Maui, and when were you going to inform me? Friday is tomorrow. What if I can’t go? I was being ornery. I felt trapped in this happy-go-lucky relationship.

"I booked the trip seconds before I told you. Friday is tomorrow but it won’t take that long to pack. I’ll help you with our daughter while you pack or vice versa. As for not being able to go, why wouldn’t you? You’re not working, your daughter and parents will be in Hawaii, and I would like for all of us to be together. Aren’t these reasons enough for you to push aside whatever you had planned and join us?"

I hated being bamboozled. Since Xander came back into my life, that was all he’d been doing. Pushed to accept him as Alex’s father, forced to accept this proposal to move back to Los Angeles, cajoled into acting like a family for my daughter’s sake. It was as if I had no mind of my own. For sure, my life had been taken over by this man and his bulldozing ways.

Stop making things so complicated, Jenna. Our daughter loves the beach. The water here is too cold to play in, so we’re headed to warmer water. She can live in the water for the next seven days.

Seven days? Would I never get a respite from this man?

Seven glorious days of water, sun, good food, and family!

Xander. I needed to remind him. "We are not a family. You might be Alex’s father, and I’m her mother, but we are not her parents in the husband and wife sense. Exes do not live together. Exes do not have dinner together every night. Exes do not take trips to Hawaii together."

If the smirk on his face was irritating, what he said wanted to make me scream. "We are a family—dysfunctional only because of your stubbornness. We are not husband and wife, but once again, that’s because of you. Technically, we don’t live together. There are nights when we don’t have dinner together. As for this trip to Hawaii, since you and I are not exes—we were never married and divorced—consider it two family friends enjoying a week together."

I gave up. As with everything else, I didn’t argue because arguing would mean I’d have to delve into deeper issues with this man. The past was the last place I’d revisit, and the future was too scary for me to imagine. The safest place for me was the present. I lived day by day, preferably not thinking about anything but my daughter and her well-being.

In truth, I felt trapped.

In reality, I didn’t know how to get free.

In desperation, I ignored my growing feelings for Xander Blane.

When he put his mind and heart to it, he was a damn good father and a kind, loving man.

Only problem, he was three years too late.

Damn!

*******

This wasn’t a game I was playing, but I knew I had Jenna. She hadn’t completely come over to my side. Hell, she’d yet to budge from her corner. However, I knew her resistance toward me was weakening.

Jenna had always been a sweet woman. I’d fucked up my chance with her three years ago. But, those years gave me plenty of time to grow up. I had no solutions for us. Each day was a watch, wait, and react where Jenna Ashe was concerned. My greatest ally was our love for our daughter. I’d use that to my advantage and eventually return us to where we belonged—as a family.

I have a quick meeting with Johnny and Marcus this afternoon, and we thought we’d turn it into a dinner meeting. Would that be all right with you? Could you bring Alex?

A disgruntled, aggravated sigh blew out of her mouth. I chuckled on the inside. If I’d laughed at her, she would’ve kicked my ass with just a glare. Do I have a choice? Her tone made me want to kiss those pouty lips.

You always have a choice, Jenna. If you want it to be just the three of us, I can let Marcus and Johnny know that we’ll join them another time. I knew what she was thinking and called her on it. No, it can’t be just the two of you and me alone, or me with my friends’ families. Like it or not, the three of us are a family. The sooner you accept my attempts at making amends, the sooner we can begin to heal. I see no better future than one with our daughter, you, and me as a family. Soon after, I’d like to try and have more kids. Aside from the fact that we make beautiful babies, it’s never good to be an only child. If anything, for our daughter’s sake, we need to give her a sibling.

Jenna stared at me as if I’d grown five heads and all fives mouths were talking at the same time. What frustrated me most about her and our situation was her refusal to dig deep and to tell me what was on her mind and in her heart. I wanted a conversation. I wanted her to yell at me, to tell me what an asshole I’d been. What I would give to watch her lose it and eventually find comfort in my arms. It wouldn’t happen. Jenna wasn’t there yet. As to when she’d get there was anyone’s guess.

What time and where? was all she’d say. No response to anything I’d said. I might as well have been talking to myself.

Is that all you have to say? I asked in frustration.

She watched me. With caution she asked, What else am I to say?

"Anything! I answered loudly. Tell me what you’re thinking, how you feel, what you want from me, from us. You’re so damn closed off. You frustrate the hell out of me. I’ve given you everything of myself. You’ve given me nothing. Tell me what you want! No different than usual, she began walking away. I grabbed her arm and pulled her into my body. Talk to me, Jenna." I asked desperately.

She finally answered, When you first came to us, I told you that all I expected was for you to love Alex and to be there for her. That’s all I need from you. House, vacation, dinner, companionship—that’s not your job where I’m concerned. I’d prefer to take care of myself, but I’ll also not fight you. It takes too much out of me to go against your will. For now, I’ll follow the plan you’ve laid out. Just know that there will be a time when I’ll be on my own again. When that time comes, I hope you’ll be a gentleman and allow me to leave.

What? What does that mean? I went from frustrated to outraged. She was thinking of leaving me? You’re going to take yourself and Alex away from me? Is that what you’re threatening?

She was still in my arms but her arms didn’t return the embrace. I wished she would hold me back. "Your daughter loves you, and I’d never hurt her. I’m only letting you know that there will come a time when I’m strong enough to walk away from you and to love again. When that time comes, please don’t stand in my way. After all you’ve put me through, I