Homecoming (Empire High Book 6)

  Homecoming

  Empire High Book 6

  By Ivy Smoak

  Copyright 2022 Ivy Smoak

  All Rights Reserved

  Want a behind-the-scenes look at my journey as an author? The ups, the downs, the movie deals…I’ll share it all!

  And as a special thank you for joining, you’ll get an exclusive copy of my short story, Matthew Caldwell - The Untouchable.

  CLICK HERE to join the party!

  To Ryan.

  These books almost broke me.

  Thank you for holding me while I cried.

  CONTENTS

  Title

  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

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Matthew Caldwell - The Untouchable

  A Note From Ivy

  Chapter 1

  Saturday

  Matt

  I took a deep breath as I put my foot down on the gas. I thought any second now I’d start panicking. But I felt eerily calm with my decision.

  There was a reason I’d proposed to Brooklyn when we were so young. Because I’d always known what I wanted.

  A wife.

  Children.

  A family.

  A home.

  I’d wanted all of it with Brooklyn. When I first saw her step into Empire High, it was like I could see it. There was a piece of her missing. And I wanted to fill it. I wanted to be enough for her.

  I’d pictured saying “I do” in front of all our friends. I’d pictured a house full of kids. I’d pictured painting our kitchen yellow to remind her of her mother. And drinking hot chocolate on snow days. I’d desperately wanted all of it.

  But when she passed away, I told myself I couldn’t have those things. I’d promised her forever.

  And I’d been drowning ever since.

  I’d let myself miss Brooklyn so much that I’d forgotten I needed to live my life. But I knew what I wanted now. I knew what I needed. And I didn’t think Brooklyn would be upset about it. If anything, she’d be furious that I’d been taking time on this earth for granted. Because if there was one thing we both knew, it was that you were never promised another day.

  Mourning her for the past 16 years was torture. I was destructive in everything I did. And if I kept going the way I was…my time would be cut short.

  I took another deep breath as I turned down the street toward Kennedy’s apartment. I was still waiting for the panic to set in.

  But…it didn’t. This was right. I was allowed to move on. I had to move on.

  I pulled into an empty spot outside Kennedy’s apartment, cut the engine, and took a few more deep breaths. Kennedy was Brooklyn’s best friend. My head told me this was all wrong. But my heart? I was falling in love with her.

  I reached into my pocket and pulled out Brooklyn’s engagement ring. At the time I’d given it to her, it had meant everything to me. Passing on a family heirloom to her in hopes of creating our own family.

  I’d dug it up from the spot by her grave because I thought it would feel like an end. Like giving me my heart back. And it did.

  The mud and grime caked on it didn’t take away from its beauty. I’d get it cleaned later this week. And once it was all clean…I’d put it in the room with all the paintings of Brooklyn. Or I’d pack it all up in storage. Tucked away somewhere I couldn’t look. To give me the space I needed to find myself again. This ring would always belong to her. But I needed my heart back.

  I opened up the glove compartment and placed the ring inside of it. I closed it and took another deep breath.

  I’d always love Brooklyn. She’d always have a piece of my heart. But she couldn’t have the whole thing anymore. I still wanted the same things I’d always wanted. And I couldn’t have them with her.

  And honestly, the way I was feeling had nothing to do with her. Because I was lying to myself. I wasn’t just falling for Kennedy. I’d already fallen. I’d already made my decision. I was ready to fucking live my life.

  I was going to propose to Kennedy. Tonight. I had no ring. Just a bag of to-go fries and some tulips. And I knew that Kennedy wanted to go slow. But I could no longer afford to do things slowly. I’d wasted too much time. And for the first time in 16 years, I felt free. I was happy. I was excited about my future instead of drowning in my past. And it was all because of her.

  I’d propose tonight. She wouldn’t care that I didn’t have a ring. Kennedy never cared about stuff like that. She understood that actions were more important than material things. But I’d still find her the perfect ring tomorrow. Something that made me think of her instead of the past. Neither of us needed any more reminders of Brooklyn. We’d always love her. But it was too painful to be reminded of her every single day.

  I took another deep breath, waiting for the guilt to seep in. But it didn’t. I felt at peace. I picked up the fries and the tulips and climbed out of my car.

  Sixteen years ago, Brooklyn had found her engagement ring. My proposal to her hadn’t been grand. And this time I didn’t even have a ring. You’d think I would have gotten better at this the second time around.

  I hit the call button and waited. And waited. I hit it again and there was still no response. I balanced the flowers and bag in one hand and pulled out my phone. Kennedy knew I was coming. I’d just texted her about it when I left the graveyard. I pressed on her name on my phone to call her.

  But it went straight to voicemail.

  I took a step back on the sidewalk and looked up to the window of her apartment. It was pitch black. Had she fallen asleep? I tried calling her again, but it went straight to voicemail for a second time.

  It had been thirty minutes tops since I’d texted her. She’d seemed excited for me to come over. I scrolled through our texts to see if I’d said anything stupid. Sure, that was probably one too many eggplant emojis. But I’d only been joking around. Kind of. Had that scared her off?

  Fuck.

  What was I doing?

  She told me she wanted to take things slowly and I’d basically propositioned her for sex. And I was about to propose. I’d probably lost my mind. But it didn’t feel like I had, and that was somehow even more worrisome.

  I hit the call button again, but she still didn’t buzz me up.

  A chill ran down my spine and I turned around, but there was no one on the sidewalk behind me. I knew that Jefferson’s mom wasn’t a hitwoman now. And Mr. Pruitt said that he wasn’t having me followed. No one was watching me. But…I still felt uneasy. I couldn’t quite explain it. Like something about the fall air was off. Like something had suddenly shifted. And I had the strongest sense of déjà vu. Like I was here
to see Brooklyn instead of Kennedy.

  My phone buzzed and I quickly looked down. But it was just a text from Tanner asking me when I’d be home. I sighed and looked back up at Kennedy’s window. I was here to see Kennedy. Not Brooklyn. And I wasn’t against climbing up there. I’d gotten pretty good at it in my teens.

  Before I could jump up to grab the bottom of the fire escape ladder, an old man walked out of the building. I ducked inside just as the door was closing. I took the steps two at a time. My heart was hammering against my chest when I reached her floor. But my excitement for the proposal was gone. I was worried something was wrong. Because even if Kennedy hadn’t answered her phone, Mrs. Alcaraz surely would have answered the buzzer. It was almost 11 o’clock. They had to both be home. Just like I was supposed to be home by now, thanks to Tanner’s stupid house guest rules.

  I didn’t even glance at Brooklyn’s old apartment door. Something definitely felt off. And now my heart was beating even faster. I hurried over to the Alcaraz’s and knocked.

  No response.

  I knocked louder.

  No response.

  “Kennedy!”

  No response.

  “Mrs. Alcaraz!” I yelled louder and pounded on the door with my fist.

  “Shh,” said Kennedy with a sniffle from behind the door.

  Not just behind the door. But low. Like she was sitting on the floor. And judging from the sniffle she was definitely crying.

  “Kennedy?” I said and pressed my hand against the wooden door.

  “Please, lower your voice,” she said with a sob.

  She was definitely sitting on the ground by the door. I knelt down. “Kennedy, open the door,” I said a little quieter.

  “I made a mistake, Matt,” she whispered through her sobs. “I knew I should have never kissed you. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry.”

  Sorry? Why was she sorry about that? Kissing her was the best thing I’d done in years. “Kennedy, let me in.”

  “I…I can’t. Please just go.” Her voice shook with each word.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I can’t let you in.”

  “Okay. Then come out.”

  “No,” she said through her sob. “You have to go.” There was so much pain in her voice.

  “Kennedy, I’m not going anywhere until I see you.” I needed to pull her into my arms. I needed to tell her than no matter what was wrong, she had me now. We were an us. I wanted to take away her pain.

  “Matt, please, I can’t do this. Please just go.”

  “I don’t know what’s going on, but I know what’ll make you feel better. I have fries.”

  There was a muffled sob. “You can leave those by the door.”

  “Kennedy, you’re being ridiculous. Let me in right now, or…I’ll knock down the door.”

  “No you won’t.”

  “Yes I will. I’m dead serious.” This door looked pretty flimsy, honestly. I made a mental note to get the Alcarazes a more secure door.

  My threat was greeted by silence.

  “Okay. I’m doing it,” I said. I set down the fries and flowers and stood up.

  But before I could ram my shoulder into the side of the door, Kennedy opened the door the tiniest crack and squeezed through. She gently closed it behind her. Her eyes were red and the tears weren’t even dry on her cheeks. She looked like she might be sick. But I didn’t even care if it was contagious. I needed her in my arms.

  I pulled her close, but felt her hand against my chest, pushing me back.

  “Kennedy…”

  “Please don’t touch me,” she said through another sniffle.

  I took a step back, even though it pained me. I’d always listen to her telling me no. I knew what she’d been through. And I wouldn’t put her in that position again.

  She folded her arms across her chest, but it wasn’t in anger. It was more like she was hugging herself. Holding herself together. She was looking down at the ground, like she couldn’t even look at me.

  “Kennedy.” What the hell was going on? What happened to the flirtatious texts? We were on the same page here. I knew that we were. What the hell had happened in the last half hour? “Kennedy?” I said a little softer.

  “We’re done, Matt,” she said.

  “What?”

  She finally looked up at me. And her eyes didn’t match her words. She looked like she wanted to be back in my arms. Like she wanted me to kiss away the tears on her cheeks.

  “Baby…”

  “Don’t,” she said more firmly. “I’m so sorry. About all of it. I wish I could just undo the last few days. I just want to undo them.” The tears started streaming down her cheeks again.

  “How can you say that?”

  She just shook her head.

  “Whatever you think is wrong with us…we can work it out.”

  “Matt, we were always meant to be friends. Nothing more.”

  Every word out of her mouth was a complete lie. I needed to pull her into my arms. I needed to show her that she was wrong. But she’d told me not to touch her. And I couldn’t. I couldn’t cross that line when she’d told me no.

  I felt paralyzed. I needed to make her understand how wrong she was. So I said the first words that popped into my head: “I love you.”

  She shook her head. And her bottom lip trembled as she tried to hold it together.

  “I’m in love with you,” I said again.

  “No. You’re not.”

  “Yes I am.”

  “Matt,” she said. “No. Take it back. Take it back,” she sobbed.

  I couldn’t bear it. I knew she’d told me no. But she was breaking right in front of me. And I wanted her to know that I’d be there to catch her when she fell. I put my arms around her again.

  For a second she tried to push me away, but then she melted into me. She sobbed into my shirt. Her back shook with her breaths and I just held her tighter.

  She was crazy if she thought I’d ever walk away from her like this. She needed me. And God, I needed her too.

  Chapter 2

  Saturday

  Brooklyn

  Sixteen years ago, my father ruined my life. I never should have given him a chance to ruin it again.

  And I definitely wasn’t going to give him a third chance.

  The gun started shaking in my hand when I heard footsteps on the other side of the door.

  I knew I was doing the right thing.

  My father was a monster.

  And for half my life, he’d convinced me that I was too. That everyone was better off with me dead. It didn’t matter whether it was true or not. What kind of father did that? What kind of father tore his daughter down instead of building her up? He’d known how broken I was after my fight with Matt. He’d known I was vulnerable. And he’d taken advantage of me. He’d never loved me.

  He’d told my mother to get rid of me.

  He’d stolen my kidney.

  And I forgave him. I let it go. But I couldn’t ever forgive him for what he’d done to Miller.

  No.

  Never.

  Nunca.

  My father was a monster. And he deserved to die. Miller deserved justice. Jacob deserved that for his father. I had to do this. For Jacob. For Miller. For myself.

  I took a deep breath to steady my hand. And then I cocked the gun as the door slowly opened.

  My father was standing there in some weird little nightcap and nightgown. I would have laughed if I wasn’t so fucking angry with him. He’d just ruined my life for the second time. I’d been happy back in high school before he kidnapped me. And I’d been happy now in my life with Miller.

  Why did he have to do this to me? Why was he always trying to break me? Why couldn’t he just let me live my life? I clenched my jaw to try to stop the looming tears.

  “Angel,” he said with a sad smile.

  My hand started shaking again. He looked ridiculous. And the sad smile on his face jus
t made the whole thing even more ridiculous. Why was he sad? I was the one that was sad. He’d taken everything from me. For a second time. I was barely holding on.

  “You’re okay.” He put his hand to his chest. “Thank goodness you’re alright.”

  Thank goodness? I couldn’t tell whether he seemed surprised or confused. But tears started forming in his eyes. And I had the oddest sense that he was…relieved. It wasn’t the reaction I was expecting. He wasn’t supposed to be relieved that I was okay. He’d been trying to kill me. He was probably just trying to throw me off because I had a gun pointed in his face.

  I tried to steady my shaking hand. “Yeah, I’m okay. No thanks to you.”

  The sad smile turned into a frown. “What?”

  God, I wanted to pull the trigger. There would be something really satisfying about seeing his blood splatter on the oriental rug behind him. I thought hitting a target in a shooting range felt good. This would be a million times better. My father deserved to die.

  But…he wasn’t supposed to be acting this way. He was supposed to be begging me for his life. Not dressed in a nightgown looking relieved to see me. He wasn’t even reacting to the gun at all. Which just made me angrier. Did he not think I was going to pull the trigger? Because I was. I lifted the gun higher.

  “You’re not thinking clearly.” Miller’s words echoed around in my head. Clear as day. The memory of his voice a whisper in my ear. He’d told me that when I wanted to shoot the deer that was eating my Henry tomatoes. He knew I didn’t really want to shoot an animal. But then he’d convinced me to learn how to use a gun just in case there was a real threat. My father wasn’t an innocent animal. He was a real, living, breathing threat. And maybe if I’d come back sooner…maybe if I’d confronted him after all these years…none of this would have happened. Miller would still be alive. I’d still be dancing with him in our kitchen right now.

  I couldn’t stop my bottom lip from trembling. I couldn’t afford to think like that. I’d lived a life full of regret and heartache until I met Miller. He’d healed me. He’d reminded me what living felt like. And he deserved so much more than the end he’d gotten. I’m thinking clearly, Miller. I promise I’ve thought it through. I’m doing this for our family. I’m doing it for you.