Shattered: A Salvation Society Novel by Bella Emy (pdf to ebook reader .TXT) 📕

been great is barely scratching the surface. He’s been wonderful, and each day, I find myself falling faster and faster for him.

Children’s laughter surrounds us as their parents chase them from one ride to the next. Every October, before fall really gets underway, the town has a carnival to celebrate its history and of course, make extra money.

I feel the soft squeeze on my hand from Kalen and my face turns to meet his gaze. He’s smiling at me, and I automatically smile back. He’s beautiful.

“Hi, babe,” he whispers. He leans his head down and kisses my forehead.

“Oooh, can we go on the Ferris wheel, baby?” Erin’s voice breaks in. She and Jason are walking hand in hand just a few feet ahead of us. They stop and so do we.

Jason looks up at the ride coming up to our right. “Of course we can, sexy,” he says to her and leans down to kiss her on the lips. Then turning around to face Kalen and me, he asks, “Are you guys going to join us?”

He looks down at me and I just stare back at him with my eyes lighting up and nod my head. He nods back and then faces Jason. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

“Yay!” Erin shouts and we make our way to the ride, lining up on the side of it.

Kalen leans against the banister as we wait in line and I position myself in between his legs. My head softly lands on his chest and I wrap my arms around his waist. His arms embrace me back, and I swear, I could stay forever in this moment, with him holding me just like this.

He kisses the top of my head. “I adore you, Alexa Alderidge.” Another small kiss on the top of my head.

I tilt my head up and look into his eyes with a smile. “I will always be yours, Kalen Starling.”

He chuckles and I love that we say this very phrase to one another each and every time. Sometimes I say my line first; sometimes he says his first. It’s something we started doing after our first date down at the creek. It’s like saying I love you without freaking the other person out. At least that’s how I have come to interpret it. I’m just glad we have our own little thing that no one really knows about except for the two of us. It feels private and intimate and like it’s just he and I in the world.

Our turn finally arrives to board the Ferris wheel minutes after Erin and Jason get on. I scoot in first and he follows me in, waiting for the attendant to make sure the door is securely locked and we’re set to go.

I lean against him and look out over the town as the ride begins to take off. “I love riding Ferris wheels,” I say excitedly.

He smiles once I gaze back at him. “I was never really a fan… but now I am.”

I bite down on my bottom lip slightly and then reach up to let my lips crash into his.

Mmm. I love kissing his full lips. If we were ever to get stuck up here, this is exactly the way I’d want to go. I can die happy with him by my side.

As I pull away, I tuck a loose strand of my dark brown hair behind my ear and say, “Are you always this sweet, Kalen Starling?” I bat my eyelashes seductively and playfully with a smirk.

I have a feeling he loves my flirtatious tone and gestures if the look on his face is any indication of it.

“Only with you,” he answers.

I chuckle and punch him playfully in the chest. “Liar.”

He laughs and grabs my hand. “For real, babe. No one has ever made me feel the way you do every single day since we’ve been together. It’s been the best.”

I crinkle my nose with a smile and then place a soft kiss on his. “You are the best.”

He grabs me tighter and pulls me against him. I love this. Feeling him next to me. Laughing and joking around like we’re the only two that matter, and right now, it’s as if there’s just him and I in the world.

But it all comes to an end way too soon. As the ride spins and we finally reach the starting point once more, we pull our lips apart at the sound of Erin screaming toward us, demanding our attention. Her arms are waving from left to right as Jason stands beside her; a worrisome look is on his face.

“What?” I shout back, squinting my eyes at Erin. Then turning to face Kalen, I ask, “Did you hear what she said?”

“Something about Kennedy, I think.”

My eyes widen. “Oh, no.”

I turn back to face Erin, and the ride comes to a halt. As the attendant lets us out, we rush and are met with a frantic Erin and Jason by her side.

“It’s Kennedy!” Erin begins saying. “She’s in trouble… we’ve got to run.”

We arrive at the house where Kennedy is about fifteen minutes later. Apparently, it’s a friend of Tisha’s... a college friend. Turns out, it’s a frat party.

“How do you know she’s here?” Jason asks as the four of us enter the house and begin our search.

There’s loud music, alcohol, and people making out in the corners of the rooms. This is the typical scene for a college party, but Kennedy should not be here. None of us should be.

Erin pulls Jason by the hand, and Kalen and I follow closely behind them. “Because I heard her talking earlier on the phone. She was trying to be discreet about it, but I heard her anyway.” Erin leads us through the crowded place. “Where the hell is she?”

We stop once we reach the back of the house. Erin notices a blonde-haired girl leaning against the counter of the kitchen and walks up to her.

“Excuse me, do you know where I can find Tisha or