BONUS CHAPTER #2

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A/N:

This bonus chapter takes place BEFORE the first one that was posted and the epilogue. These chapters will tend to bounce around a little but timing wise, but hopefully they still make sense.
Anywho, here's the second bonus chapter!

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I fucking loathe airplanes.

I know they're safe to be on for traveling, they wouldn't be stuffing people inside like sardines if they weren't, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. That doesn't mean I feel safe in them. One wrong move and an airplane becomes a giant, metal, flying death trap.

Yeah, not my cup of tea.

And yet somehow I managed to be on a flight from Denver, Colorado to California. All it took was one pleading look from Mabel—during a Skype call no less—and I stuffed myself in a window seat and sat white knuckled the entire way.

It'll be the first time we've seen each other face to face in a little over a month. Mabel, Hazel, Tyler, and I have pooled our money together to rent a beach vacation house for the week. I'm the last to be arriving since I was busy helping my sister move into her new apartment in Denver, so I take a taxi from the airport once I've landed.

My mind is exhausted from the anxiety flying brought on, but as I sit in the back of the cab my body is buzzing with excitement. As soon as the driver pulls into the driveway I hand over a fistful of cash and slip out the door with my luggage, darting for the front door to the beach house.

It's nothing overly impressive. A simple bungalow with floor-to-ceiling windows to let in the natural light and enhance the view of the beach. It sits on a hill with half of the house lifted off the ground to keep it safe from high tide and erosion of the beach.

No one answers the door when I knock so I quietly let myself inside, finding an open, inviting living area and kitchen. I can see Tyler and Hazel out on the deck through the sliding glass door. He's cooking hotdogs on a grill, shirtless with nothing but swim trunks and sunglasses, while Hazel sunbathes in a lawn chair on the opposite side of the deck.

I head down a narrow hallway to where two bedrooms are positioned directly across from one another. One of them has the door open, and I assume it's the room Tyler and Hazel picked, so I gently knock on the other room's door.

Mabel answers the door in just a robe, her dark hair damp and clinging to her cheeks. Her skin has darkened already from the sun, and she's even acquired new freckles that pop against her sun-kissed face. Her pale green eyes seem extraordinarily bright in contrast to the new tan she's sporting.
Seeing her is like a breath of fresh air. My muscles automatically relax as the nervousness I felt before leaves my body.

I pull her against me, dropping my bags on the floor, and hug her tightly. "I missed you."

She squeezes her arms around me tightly and pulls back to press a kiss to the underside of my jaw. "I missed you too."

I follow her inside, her small hand clasped in my own. "Why are you in just a robe?"

"I was in the shower, but I was just deciding whether or not I wanted to put on a bathing suit," she replies, ducking her head to hide her sudden embarrassment.

I reach out with my free hand to tilt her chin up. "Why are you acting embarrassed?"

Mabel shrugs and disentangles herself from my hold, moving to sit on the bed. "I don't know if I want to go swimming."

I turn and close the bedroom door before crossing the room once again to sit next to her. "Why?"

Her arms automatically encircle her midsection and she hugs herself tightly, keeping the robe secure.

The scars. I suck my lower lip between my teeth and bite down. It's probably the scars.

Since the assault—really it was an attempt on her life—Mabel has been so unsure of showing skin, especially her midsection. Her stomach is covered in thick, raised scars now. No matter what I still think she's the most gorgeous woman on the planet, but I know they bother her. I'll never be able to completely understand how painful it is for her to see them, never understand how seeing them doesn't make her think "I'm a survivor."

"You're beautiful no matter what you decide to wear," I tell her reassuringly.

A faint smile pulls at her lips. "You have to say that."

"I do not," I protest, smacking a wet kiss on her cheek. "Has anyone else seen them?"

"Just you and me."

"Do you want me to leave while you get dressed?"

Mabel shakes her head, twisting the belt for her fluffy white robe around her hands. "No, it's okay."

I nod and she stands up again and crosses the room to her luggage. She rummages through them and pulls out a one-piece swimsuit and a pair of jean shorts. I stay quiet while she undresses, watching from where I sit on the edge of the bed. The thick scars that get uncovered as she disrobes are heart wrenching to see. A reminder for both of us of what's happened, but probably in different ways. When I see them, I think about how she's still here. How this magnificent, strong woman is still breathing next to me, but I know Mabel sees them in a different light. To her they will probably always be a reminder of the pain she's had to endure to be here.

She pulls the open-backed bathing suit up over her hips and slides her arms through the thin straps. It enhances the natural glow of her tanned skin, and hugs her subtle curves, but also covers the parts she no longer wants seen.

When Mabel finishes she turns back to face me with a nervous smile.

"Ready?" She holds out her hand and I'm quick to stand up and grab it again, grateful for the contact.

We step out onto the back deck together, our fingers still intertwined. Hazel lifts her head at the sound of the glass door sliding shut and offers me a polite smile. The two of us still don't get along all that well, but we tolerate each other for both Tyler and Mabel's sake. Neither of us would prefer to be left alone together, but we do have a mutual respect. Hazel is great for Tyler and she cares deeply for Mabel, I know that her beef with me stems from the fear that I'll hurt her best friend.

Tyler turns and shoots me a lazy smile, throwing one arm out to give me a hug while he wields a pair Of metal tongs in the other. "You guys are just in time. Food is just about done."

"Thank God somebody here knows how to cook," Hazel laughs.

"Anything I can do to help?" I offer.

Mabel let's go of me to sit down next to Hazel and the two of them begin flipping through magazines and chatting amongst themselves. Tyler hands me a plate and has me hold it while he takes the hotdogs off the grill.

"Was your flight okay?" he asks.

I shrug with a nervous laugh. "Nobody died."

"I don't see why you're such a puss about flying, man."

"We all have fears," I reply defensively.

Tyler rolls his eyes with a chuckle. "Come on, let's go get the chips."

I follow him inside the house to the kitchen after placing the plate on the patio table. He begins rummaging around through the cupboards and the fridge, pulling out a variety of chips and a six pack of bottled beer.

"So I've got a question for you."

Tyler pauses, a pack of buns held between his teeth as he turns around to face me. "What's up?"

"I'm thinking about asking Mabes to move in with me." I keep my voice low, glancing outside to where Mabel sits with Hazel. It doesn't seem like they've heard me, they're still lost in their own little world.

The package slips out of his mouth and falls to the floor. "Shit. Really?"

I stoop down and pick up the buns. "Yeah. Is that cool? I already talked to Luke and he seems okay with it."

Tyler wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "I mean, it works for me. Less rent I gotta pay, ya know? I just never thought you would get this serious about someone so quickly. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just surprising."

"I love her," is all I say.

"I know, man."

"So it's cool?"

He nods, grinning from ear to ear. "Mabes is a helluva woman. I'm sure she'll be a great roommate. Maybe I should ask Hazel to move in too, then we'd never have to cook or clean."

"Hazel will have your balls if she finds out you just said that," I tease.

The tips of his ears turn pink as he shoots a nervous look out onto the deck. "Don't tell her I said that. Bro Code, remember?"

"We'll see." I wave him off with a laugh and carry an arm load of food back outside.

✖️✖️✖️

Later that night, Mabel and I take a walk along the beach. It's cheesy and romantic, but I call tell she's eating up every goddamn minute of it. And I'll be honest, so am I. I'd give her the world on a fucking silver platter if I could, but for now I guess a walk under the stars on the beach will have to do.

My muscles are screaming in protest, far too tired from the day of travel, good food, and beer, but I don't care. Right now, it's worth it, and it'll still be worth it tomorrow when it feels like my body is half-dead.

Mabel walks ahead of me, her bare feet splashing softly in the wet sand. She's pulled on a thin zip-up hoodie to ward off the faint chill the night brings, but I've stuck to wearing just my t-shirt from earlier and a pair of gray basketball shorts.

She turns to face me, waiting until I catch up, and presses the beer she's carrying to her lips. "You know, you're quite the romantic."

I roll my eyes and reach behind her to pinch her ass-cheek once I'm close enough. She yelps with a giggle and swats away my hand.

"And a pig."

I slap a hand against my flat stomach and wiggle my eyebrows at her. "Nothing piggish about me, babe."

"You sure eat like one," she teases, poking my side with her free hand.

"I do not."

Mabel raises a delicate eyebrow at me. "Really? You ate like four hotdogs and nearly an entire bag of chips. A family-size bag of chips might I add."

I stick out my lower lip in a mock pout. "I'm used to having to eat a lot because of hockey."

"You're not in hockey anymore. Your metabolism is going to catch up with you," she chides teasingly.

"Ah, whatever. You'll still love me when I'm fat. Right?"

Mabel makes a face like she's pondering the idea and takes far too long to answer.

"Right?" I insist, narrowing my eyes at her.

She laughs wholeheartedly and it's like music to my ears. Her entire face lights up with amusement. "Maybe. I thought I made it very clear that I'm only with you for your hot bod."

I wrap an arm around her, tucking her face into my chest and ruffle her hair. "Shut up."

"Okay, okay, okay," she gasps between fits of laughter. I let her go and she smooths down her hair. "Yes, I'll still love you when you're fat."

"You better." I snatch the beer from her hands and take a pull from the bottle before handing it back. "I want to ask you something."

"As long as you're not proposing." She pauses for a moment and then her green eyes widen, reflecting back the pale moonlight above us. "You're not about to ask me to marry you, are you?"

"No." Not yet anyway. Maybe some day. "It does have to do with our future though."

She tilts her head to one side, her amusement shifting to cautious curiosity. "Okay."

"Do you want to move in with me? I know it wouldn't technically be our own place, and Luke can be pretty annoying and difficult to deal with sometimes, and the house is filled with an insane amount of testosterone for one girl alone to handle but—"

She clamps her hand down over my mouth, muffling the next words that tumble out. "Shh. You're talking a mile a minute."

Because I'm nervous, I want to say. Mabel is the only woman who has ever made me second guess myself, but I guess it's not necessarily a bad thing. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me from getting too cocky.

She removes her hand, bringing it behind me to twirl the hair at the nape of my neck around her fingers. My own hands automatically find purchase on her hips, and her skin is warm beneath my fingertips as I pull her flush up against me. The smell of sea-water is mixed with her usual fruity scent and it tickles my nose in the most delicious way possible.

Her gaze flickers down to my lips and then back up to my eyes as she continues to play with my hair. "You want me to move in with you?"

"Mhmm," I hum my agreement from deep in my throat.

Her pink tongue slips out a fraction of an inch to wet her lower lip before disappearing again. It's been far too long since I've kissed her. I've missed it, craved it even at times, and now is no different, especially with her right in front of me.

The cool beer that's pressed between us, still clutched firmly one of her hands, is such a contrast to her heated touch. The condensation from it dampens my shirt, soaking down to my skin beneath it. She tugs lightly on my hair and I lower my head so our noses nearly touch.

"Okay," she whispers.

"Yeah?"

"Yes, I'll move in with you."

I close the distance between us, pressing my lips firmly to hers. She laughs softly but kisses me back wholeheartedly, her tongue peeking out to tangle with my own. She tastes like her usual mixed with the bitterness from the hops in the beer.

Keeping one hand splayed across the small of her back, I bring the other up to the back of her head to wind my fingers into her hair. Her silky strands glide against my calloused fingers.

Soft. So fucking soft. I'll never understand how girls get their hair so soft.

Mabel pulls back slightly to catch her breath and her thumb strokes lazy circles into the side of my throat, causing me to shiver. Her skin is flushed pink, from her chest to her cheeks.

"Do you wanna head back to the house?" she asks breathlessly, keeping her eyes downcast.

I know what she's insinuating. Even though she's not looking directly at me, I can still see the desire swirling in the depths of her pale green eyes.

"Fuck yeah I do."

Without another thought, I stoop down and wrap an arm around the backs of her thighs, flinging her over my shoulder. The sound of her laughter mixing with my own fills the night air as I begin the trek back down the beach to the rented house, my toes squishing in the wet sand.

I fucking love this woman.

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I've missed writing for these two 😭❤️

Thanks so much for +215k reads you guys. My heart is literally overflowing from the continued love and support you all have given me.

A few people have come forward asking about a sequel for Alex & Mabes, and I just want to make it clear to everyone that it's not in the cards...for now.
After BObs (Beautiful Obsession) and BF (Beautiful Frenzy) have been finished then maybe I can move on to a sequel for BT, but if I were to move forward with that idea it would just have too many spoilers. It's hard enough writing these bonus chapters and having to leave out important details regarding Hazel & Tyler and Lizzie's stories, I can't imagine going through writing another story and having to do that 😅😅

Also, a little side note, I will be marking this story as "completed" on WP, but know that there will still be more bonus chapters to come.

Hope you enjoyed, and make sure to check out BObs from my profile if you already haven't.

You guys are the absolute best readers a girl could ask for 😭❤️
Lots of love,
Kat✌🏻

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