Opposing Sides Read online

  Opposing Sides

  The University Park #1

  by CM Doporto

  All Rights Reserved

  Published by: CM Doporto

  Cover art by: Cora Graphics

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content. Any trademarks mentioned herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.

  Dedication

  To my mom.

  Thank you for not being a helicopter parent.

  I love you.

  Acknowledgements

  I’d like to thank my husband for his continual support. I can’t do this without you babe. To my son, for allowing me to write when I should be playing with you.

  A huge shout out to my critique partner, Sam. Your help has been wonderful, and I’m glad we work well together. Many thanks to my street team, CM Doporto’s Heroes and Heroines. I appreciate your dedication and time with supporting my books and getting the word out. A big thank you to Smexy Fab Four for managing my team and getting things back on track for me. Sheri for agreeing to edit the book for me. You know I’m not perfect. Thanks to Cora Graphics for creating another beautiful cover!

  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the bloggers and reviewers who take the time to read and post reviews. Your support of indie authors helps get the attention of readers we work hard to obtain.

  A huge thank you to you, the reader. Without you there would be no one to read my story. I appreciate you taking the time to read it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it.

  Most of all I want to thank our Heavenly Father for providing me with the opportunity to do what I love, write.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  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 1

  “Lexi, are you okay?” Delaney snapped a pic that broke me from my incoherent gaze.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” I forced a smile to my roommate and good friend since junior year, while she captured photos of me. “Thinking of everything that needs to be done in the next few months.”

  “Oh, sweetie. I don’t want you stressing yourself over the details,” Mom said, squeezing a hug from behind. “That’s why we hired Melissa, remember? The wedding planner is there to handle all the details so you don’t have to worry.”

  I huffed out a breath. “I know but it’s still a lot that I have to manage and with school—”

  “Lexi, if there is anything you need, just say the word.” My fiancé’s mom, Suzanne, gave me a thorough look over. “And I think that dress is absolutely perfect. Collin will be speechless.” She pressed a hand to her chest as her eyes glazed over with tears.

  “Oh, I couldn’t agree more.” Mom fluffed the back of the A-line style dress that had lace up to my neck.

  I pulled on the neckline, gasping for air. “I actually like the other one better.” I pointed to a strapless ball gown with an organza ruffled skirt that had a sequined bodice. “This one has too much lace.”

  “Oh, but it’s beautiful.” Mom lifted my arms, continuing to admire the dress that was made for a conservative young female. After all, that’s who I was supposed to be. “The other one shows too much skin.” She took my fairytale dress and handed it to the sales lady. “We will pass on this one.”

  “But what if I wore a jacket? I’m sure Pastor Clifton would be okay with it.”

  “I think my husband would agree that the dress you have on is more suitable. Olivia what do you think Lexi’s dad would say? I mean…” Suzanne continued to ramble with my mother about the wedding dress they had chosen for me. Yes, that’s correct. The one they chose, not me.

  Sadly, I couldn’t picture myself walking down the aisle in it. Aside from hating it, I had serious reservations about saying ‘I do’. I felt like Collin and I were marrying to appease our parents instead of marrying for love. We had known each other since we were thirteen and had been together for the past four years. Everyone expected us to marry. So when he asked for my hand, I naturally accepted.

  “Lex, seriously girl, what’s up with you?” Delaney continued clicking her camera from different angels, demanding my attention.

  “Like I said, I have a lot on my mind. Mid-terms are approaching and so is the wedding.”

  She cast a doubtful stare. “Mid-terms are two weeks away. Relax.”

  “This is my senior year and I have to stay focused.”

  She lowered the camera. “It’s my senior year too. And I say we should make the most of it.”

  Placing my hands on my hips, I said, “You said that last year.” Delaney never took anything seriously, including her school work. Luckily for her she was naturally smart, and a gifted photographer. I knew she had a bright future ahead of her.

  Her eyes darted to the side, making sure the mother’s weren’t listening. “That’s because I can never get you to do anything fun. All you do is study and play the piano. But this,” she pointed at me, circling her finger, “is all about you, not me. You’re getting married.” She chucked my arm and I rolled my eyes at her. “You’re supposed to be in love and excited. Screw exams and thinking about school.”

  Delaney was right. I should have been in la la land, dreaming about marrying my prince charming. But for some reason, I just didn’t feel it. Something was seriously wrong.

  “Easy for you to say. I don’t ace exams like you.”

  “Oh, whatever.” She spun around like a hopeless romantic, grabbing a veil from a nearby rack and flinging it over my head. “Bend over so I can fix it.” Robotically, my body leaned forward, allowing her to adjust the sheer material over my face. “Okay, take a look.”

  I took a long hard stare in the mirror as the clicks reverberated in my ear. For the past twenty years, I had been shielded and protected by my parents. I was homeschooled and forced to commute to the university my freshman and sophomore year. College should have marked the time of my life, but it didn’t. The veil I wore was much like the shield I had been wrapped in for my entire life. But I was ready to tear it down and show the world who I really was and see what it had to offer.

  “No. I don’t like it.” I yanked the veil out of my hair and tossed it to her.

  “Oh, okay.” She leaped forward, barely catching it by the end of the material. “We can find another one—”

  “Nope. I’m not wearing a veil.”

  Mom quickly turned in my direction. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

  I walked to a counter and picked up a clip decorated with sparkling jewels. “Nothing. I just don’t want to wear a veil.”

  “No veil?” Suzanne asked. A light frown emerged from her porcelain smooth skin.

  “Sorry, I don’t like the feeling of something hanging in front of my face.” Using a vanity mirror, I pulled my hair back and positioned the comb to the side, allowing my brown hair to cascade forward. I smiled, liking the style much more. But the expression of happiness wasn’t real. It was forced and had fake written all over it. But no one seem
ed to notice because this was the Lexi everyone knew. Sweet, agreeable, quiet, and well respected. But that wasn’t me.

  “Well, I suppose,” Mom said, with a tone that spelled disappointment.

  “Ooo, I like that.” Delaney captured another shot while I held the deceptive smile. “I can’t wait for June. It’s going to be one helluva a party.”

  With that comment, Suzanne cast a disapproving look at my crazy roommate. Delaney covered her mouth. “Oops, sorry about that.”

  Delaney didn’t always think before she acted and instead made decisions on impulse sometimes regretting them. But that’s who she was and she was the one person I knew that really enjoyed life.

  “I think the comb is very becoming of you, especially if you wear your hair down.” Suzanne placed locks of my hair in front of my chest, trying to cover up my breasts.

  Despite all the lace, they were more noticeable and for once I didn’t mind. After all, Mom had convinced me to keep them tucked away and hidden because no respectable girl flaunted her breasts for people to see, especially to guys. Her voice echoed in my head, only your husband should have the honor of enjoying them at the appropriate time. If only I could get Collin to enjoy them now before they sagged to my waist.

  I eased the comb from my hair and handed to Suzanne. “I do like it.”

  “I think we should buy it then,” she said, with a gentle smile.

  “Mom?”

  “I guess,” she sighed.

  “Thanks. I’ll change so we can go.”

  Dying to get out of the awful dress, I grabbed Delaney’s hand and pulled her into the dressing room with me. “Unzip me, please.” I held up my hair, waiting to be released from the chastity gown.

  “Damn, this zipper’s stuck.” She tugged on it and I felt my body break out in a sweat.

  “Please don’t tell me that,” I sighed.

  With another tug she unzipped the constricted bodice. “There we go.”

  My lungs took in a full breath of air. “Thank God!”

  She helped me step out of the heavy dress and my body automatically felt twenty pounds lighter. I slipped on my jeans and shirt and stuffed my feet into my Toms.

  “Lexi, I’ll tell the sales lady we’ll take the dress.” Mom’s voice carried over the dressing room door.

  Covering my face with my hands, I shook my head.

  “Tell her you don’t like it.” Delaney whispered in my ear.

  My shoulders dropped. “It’s pointless.” No matter what I wanted, my mother would never agree. I was the result of helicopter parents doused with a thick layer of strict upbringing. And why? Because my parents feared that I would make the wrong choices and end up pregnant like my mom did in high school with my sister. They did everything in their power to make sure the three of us didn’t embarrass or shame the family. At the rate Collin and I were going, they had nothing to worry about.

  To make matters worse, my sister set the bar so high that even with high heels on I doubted I could reach it. She was a successful attorney with two children and a partnering husband who worked alongside her battling court cases. They were a match made for high society, fitting in perfectly with the yuppies in upper Dallas with all the money they rolled in and flaunted.

  Thank God, I didn’t care to wear those high-heels. I was happy working on my degree to be an English teacher. Money didn’t matter to me, because in the end all I really wanted was to help kids succeed. But most of all, I wanted to be happy and in love. I hoped that by marrying Collin, he would show me love and give me that fairytale ending that I read in romance books. Ones that my mother forbid me to have.

  I opened the door and walked past my mom and the sales lady. Delaney followed me, staying close behind.

  “Lexi, you could have hung the dress on the hanger.” Mom scolded, as she scampered into the dressing room. “I’m so sorry - she’s probably tired. It’s been a long day…trying on dresses.”

  The sales lady flashed a sardonic smile and then said, “We can put the dress on hold for a week, if you are unsure.”

  “That would be great,” I quickly announced.

  Mom shook her head. “I’m sure that’s the perfect dress for her, she’s tried on so many.”

  “It’s the prettiest one by far.” Suzanne added.

  Delaney turned around to face me and stuck her finger down her throat.

  I raised my brows agreeing. Picking up the skirt of the dress, I gave it one more look over. Before I could answer my mom spoke up.

  “If you can hold the dress for us that would be wonderful.”

  I breathed another sigh of relief. Maybe I wouldn’t look like a mid-century prude after all. “Thank you, Mom.”

  ***

  A breeze swept through my hair, kicking up leaves as signs of autumn appeared across the campus. In Texas, autumn never lasted more than a few weeks and since Mother Nature was bipolar, you had no idea if it would be sunny and eighty or cold and forty. Checking the weather app on my phone was a daily ritual. I untied the hoodie from my waist and put it on.

  I crossed the street and opened the door to the quaint burger joint where we ate frequently. The smell of the sizzling grill hit me and my stomach growled. Memorabilia from various sports hung from the walls, showing off the university’s wins over the last decade. To the right I spied Delaney sitting next to my brother, Luke, in a booth. They appeared to be in a deep conversation, and I noticed how they held a steady gaze on one another.

  “Hi.” I dropped my backpack on the bench across from them, disrupting their chat.

  “Hey, Sis.” Luke turned slowly, as if he didn’t want to break eye contact.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you were coming.” Delaney glanced at her phone. “You sent a text about twenty minutes ago.”

  Uh huh. Are you sure you wanted me to show up?

  Although they denied having an interest in each other, they sat really close for having a friend’s only status. “Sorry, I had to call the writing center. They want me to tutor someone and we were trying to coordinate schedules.” I pulled out my wallet. “Did you two already order?”

  “Yeah, about five minutes ago.” Luke rubbed his chin, and I knew he was thinking about something. It was kind of weird being a twin; I could sense things about him. We had similar quirks even though we didn’t like to admit them. Something was up and that something had Delaney’s name written all over it.

  “I need to hurry. I have to meet a student in forty-five minutes.” When I turned around, I stumbled into Collin.

  “Lexi,” he caught me between his strong arms and I took advantage of the proximity of our bodies.

  “Sorry, I didn’t see you.” I placed my hand on his chest, and stared into his pale green eyes, dying to make that connection with him. “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

  He released my arms and unhooked his backpack, placing it on the floor next to the booth.

  So much for that wish.

  “Professor cancelled it. I sent you a text but when you didn’t respond, I figured you might be here. Thought I’d eat lunch with you.”

  “Great,” I smiled, glad that he wanted to spend time with me. Between school and his baseball practices and games, I jumped at any opportunity for us to be together. “Unfortunately I have to be at work in forty-five minutes.”

  “That’s fine.” He shrugged, showing a little too much indifference. “What do you want to eat?”

  Collin usually ordered for me and took it upon himself to do things without asking. At first I liked it, but since the engagement, I felt like he was trying to control me rather than be considerate. I was conflicted between longing for discretion and wanting to be closer to him. “Sure. I’ll have the chicken and roasted green chile burger, no fries, and water with lemon.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

  I slid into the booth, thinking of the millions of things I had to do and why I agreed to take on another student, when I already had two others I was tutoring. I had been
working as a student consultant in the writing center since the beginning of my junior year. It was a great way to earn money for expenses and since English was my major, it helped reinforce everything I learned. I inhaled a deep breath and reminded myself how much I loved helping people and that it would be worth my time.

  “You okay, sis?” Luke placed his hand on mine.

  “Yeah, just a lot going on.”

  “She’s stressing about the wedding,” Delaney chimed in.

  “And school.” I plucked out a few napkins from the holder as I tried not to think about the nuptials.

  Luke raised a brow. “The ceremony’s in June. Of next year. Isn’t it a little early to be worrying?”

  I laid the napkins on the table and folded them neatly. “Yes, but there’s so much to do and—”

  “I get it.” Luke held up his hands. “Please spare me the details.”

  Collin sat our drinks on the table and then turned to Luke. “Is she obsessing about the wedding, again?”

  “What do you think?” Luke smirked.

  “I told her not to worry about anything. We have plenty of time to get things in order. Delaney you’ll be helping besides the wedding planner, right?” Collin asked.

  “Yes and I told her this should be fun. But you know Lexi—”

  “She wants everything to be perfect.” Luke added.

  “No I don’t.” I pounded the table. “And will you stop talking like I’m not here.”

  “I’m sorry.” Collin planted a kiss on my cheek. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I was only trying to be supportive.”

  Collin had a funny way of showing his support. And although I did like things in order it was mainly because I worked hard to make my parents happy. I saw myself falling into the same trap with Collin and I didn’t want to.

  “I know. Forget about it,” I said, as I touched his hand. The bend in his arm caused a bulge to rise under his sleeves. I focused in on the size of his bicep, running my fingers along the ripples and curves.