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The Unexpected First (The Unexpected Series Book 2), page 1
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The Unexpected First KU
The Unexpected Series
L. Clara
Contents
Copyright
A Note from the Author
Dedication
Trigger and Content Warnings
Playlist
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Epilogue One
A special Thank You
Also by
Acknowledgements
About the Author
First Edition published by 2024
Edited by C. Eileen Editing
Proofreading by Lauren Petrie Editing
Cover Design by Nerd Sisters Designs
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
This is a work of fiction that includes sexually explicit language and situations. All characters portrayed in sexual situations are 18 or older.
L. Clara asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.
A Note from the Author
If you or anyone you know is the victim of sexual assault please reach out to RAINN, the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)
You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.
If you are anyone you know is in struggle with substance abuse/addiction, please call the The Recovery Center of america at 888-978-0903
If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please reach out for help.
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 Text “START” to 88788
If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or going through a crisis, you can call or text the 988 Lifeline, which provides 24/7, free, and confidential support. Call or text them by dialing 988 or live message/chat with them at their website: https://988lifeline.org
To the person on Facebook who asked for a rec with a spicy scene while on the tattooing table... you're welcome
Trigger and Content Warnings
Include but are not limited to:
Sexually explicit content
Stalking
Detailed oral rape/sexual assault with a weapon
Hand Necklaces
Tattooing
Sex at a tattoo shop
Murder
Murder in self-defense
Death of a parent
Mention of drugs (no on page use)
Mention of previous suicide attempt and scar covering (not MC)
Mention of previous DV (not MC)
If any of the above warnings may be triggering to you, please do not continue. Your mental health matters more than this story.
Please feel free to reach out to L. Clara at lcturnspages@gmail.com with any questions regarding triggers.
Playlist
Dancing In The Sky ~ Dani and Lizzy
If this is the last time ~ LANY
Never Say Goodbye ~ Bon Jovi
War Of Hearts~Ruelole
Whole Heart ~ Jessie Reid
Waiting Game ~ BANKS
You Are The Reason ~ Calum Scott
Photograph~Ed Sheeran
Evermore ~ Taylor Swift ft Bon Iver
All I Want ~ Kodaline
THE UNEXPECTED FIRST PAPERBACK 5
Figure You Out ~ VOILA
I Like Me Better ~ Lauv
I miss you, I'm sorry ~ Gracie Abrams
Another Love ~ Tom Odelle
Castles ~ Frey Ridings
Back o( Bitch ~ Guns N' Roses
I Knew You Were Trouble )Taylor's Version& ~ Taylor Swift
Earned It ~ The Weekend
I See Red ~ Everybody Loves an Outlaw
Into it ~ Chase Atlantic
Lost in the Fire ~ Gesaffelstein, The Weekend
Taste ~ Ari Abdul
Sleepless ~ Dutch Melrose
Take What You Want ~ Post Malone Ozzy Osbourne + Travis Scott
Never Let Me Go ~ Florence Z The Machine
All I Wanted ~ Paramore
Shameless ~ Camila Cabella
The Best I Ever Had ~ Limi
Hypnotic ~ .ella Day
You Should See Me In A Crown ~ Billie Eillish
Scars To Your Beautiful ~ Alessia Cara
Panic Room ~ AuØRa
Head Above Water ~ Avril Lavigne
Never Leave ~ Bailey .immerman
I'm Gonna Find You ~ L>CH ANAM
I Did Something Bad ~ Taylor Swift
Survivor ~ Scott Stapp
Prologue
Ten years ago
I sit next to her bed, with tears streaming down my face. Her frail hand is clenched in mine, Jack’s position mirroring mine at her other side. I glance up at his face to find the tear stains along his cheeks, and it breaks my heart even more. His dark blue eyes red from tears, his dark hair no longer styled from the way he’s been tugging at it while we’ve been waiting for any news. My big brother has always been the fiercely strong one of the two of us. Always there to rescue me from my pain. This time, we’re drowning together.
My best friend, Hadley, has been plastered to my side since we found out about the accident. Never leaving me, even to go to the bathroom. I had to put a stop to her joining me in the stall, making her wait outside. I may be breaking, but damn, I have boundaries.
Only twenty minutes after we made it to the hospital, Hadley and I walked out of the bathroom to find Greyson fucking Mancini standing alongside my brother. Several inches taller than Jack, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes that look gold in the harsh hospital lights, stands my brother’s best friend, the object of my infatuation since I was ten.
“Hey, Ry,” Greyson’s sympathetic tone nearly makes me crumble, and my only response is a nod of acknowledgment. He pulls Hadley in for a side hug and releases her back to me. It doesn’t escape my already fragile emotional state that he’s never given me that kind of attention. I know Hadley looks at him like a big brother, but damn, what I’d give for a hug right now.
I sniff back the tears and try to put my mask back in place. After our dad left when I was only two, it’s just only ever been the three of us. Mom always said “Batteries have treated me better than any man. I don’t need one.” She never dated since the day he left. I have to be strong. I have to get us through this. Someone has to help her through this.
Doctor Rutz comes in to speak with us after an hour.
“Ryan, Jack, I’m sorry to tell you that your mother likely won’t make it through the night.” He rakes his hand through his hair like he’s anxious to share the news we had been dreading. “The injuries to her brain and spinal cord are too severe. She won’t wake.” He pauses, grippi
He doesn’t bother sticking around with us after that, slinking out once he delivers her prognosis.
“No, Jack, she can’t leave us. How are we supposed to make it through without her?” A sob wracks through my chest as the words come out. He stands, walking to join me where I’m sitting.
“We just have to, sis.” His voice trembles as he says the words.
With Hadley on my right side, Jack on my left, and Greyson looking across my mom’s still form, I hear the shrill tone of the machine indicating her heart has stopped beating.
I collapse into my best friend, seeking comfort. I hear a loud crash and crunch a second before Jack’s warmth disappears from my other side.
I jolt upright, looking around to see Greyson’s fist through a wall. I jump up, crossing the room, taking his hand in mine.
“Grey, what the hell is wrong with you?” The question comes out in a shriek. He doesn’t say a word, his hazel eyes meeting mine in a silent conversation. I raise my hand to stroke his face, but he jerks away from me like I’ve struck him. I drop his hand and move away. “Get that checked, please.” I stand and turn back to Hadley, who has an expression of confusion mixed with the heartbreak of my mom's passing. I look back at her body, and the tears start flowing again.
A week later, Jack and I stand together at a graveside service with our closest family and friends, mourning the loss of our mother.
Hadley has been with me every day, never leaving my side. She’s held onto me through all the nightmares and tears.
Greyson and Jack have been out drinking nearly every night, stumbling home at all hours. I don’t know how well my brother is coping considering how many times they’ve both come back to our house, barely able to make it through the front door.
Before the service, we found out Mom paid the house off and set enough money aside for both Jack and me to be set for college. Talk about a double-edged fucking sword. I get to live out my dream without my biggest cheerleader, apart from Hadley, in my corner.
The day is a blur of people offering their bullshit condolences. I dissociate about halfway through, not realizing that we are the only ones left until the sun is setting. Hadley holds onto me as I say my final goodbyes. Jack and Greyson follow closely behind us as we make our way to the car.
Two weeks after Mom’s death, Greyson and Jack stand out in front of our house next to a U-Haul van. I walk up to them from where I parked my car, with panic rising in my chest. The unease causes everything I ate that day to churn in my stomach, ready to make a reappearance no one needed nor wanted to see.
“What’s going on, guys?” I ask quietly.
“Greyson is leaving. He got a tattoo apprenticeship in Miami.” Jack explains, pausing for a moment, watching for a reaction. “He’s leaving now. He was waiting so he could say goodbye to you.” My big brother shoves into Greyson’s shoulder with a silent admonishment as he walks away.
“Ry,” Greyson holds a hand out towards me, which I just glance down at. “I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure.”
“So, you’re sure now. You didn’t have to hide that from me, Grey.” I reply as a defeated sigh passes my lips. “I’m proud of you. You’ll do great!”
“Ry,” he pulls me into an embrace for the first time in our lives with a low growl in his chest.
It sends a thrill through my body that I’ve never experienced before. His masculine scent of sandalwood and juniper invades my senses. After wishing to be this close for five years, he chooses now, moments before he’s going to walk out of my life, to touch me. I pull back with tears threatening to break free.
“I can’t wait to see how amazing you become.” I plaster on a fake smile. “Bye, Grey.”
I turn on my heel and run into the house past my brother, who, if looks could kill, would be up on homicide charges right now.
Chapter One
He peels my top off over my head. His warm mouth moves rapidly from my lips to my neck and chest, like he isn’t sure where to start. I groan as he pulls the cups of my bra down, exposing my breasts to the cool air, my nipples taut with arousal. With no coaching necessary at this point, he latches his mouth to my right nipple, sucking it between his teeth and biting down to elicit a feral cry in ecstasy at the delicious pain. Heat is rushing to my core, and I’m so ready for this to really get started.
“Fuck yeah, Ryan,” he moans, even though I haven’t touched him yet. Before I can shut him up with my lips against his, he comes closer to whisper in my ear. “Say something dirty, baby.”
As if someone dumps a cold bucket of water over my head, all the arousal I was feeling is gone. The heat turns to ice, and my wells dry up. Leaning into him, I whisper back. “Something dirty.” I stand and grab the few pieces of clothes he was able to take off of me and pull them back on.
“Sorry, Jax, we’re done here. No hard feelings. Yeah?” I chuckle as I leave the room.
The next morning I wake up deciding I need to forget the previous night's events. Jackson has been nice the few times I’ve been around him but obviously, that was a mistake to take it further. I grab my phone and send a message in the group chat that is pinned to the top of my messaging app, right above Jack.
Ryan
Mud House? Need Caffeine.
Not awake enough to form full sentences, I flop my head back on my pillow as I wait for a response, which doesn’t take long.
Pickle
You gave him a mouth hug, didn’t you?
Hadley
Oh. My. God! Say it’s not true! Jax?! Of all people! This man has insisted on spending all of his money on strippers for years now!
I shake my head.
Ryan
Don’t worry, Moms. I didn’t sleep with him. He dried me up before it could even get that far. He got to a solid second base before it ended.
Pickle
You poor thing. You need to get those cobwebs swept out from in there. Are you going to let me do it for you yet?
Hadley
Kat! LOL
Pickle
What? I love Clay and all, but it’s not like Ry and I haven’t had sex before. I’d bang both of you if you’d let me. My girls are sexy!
Ryan
Obviously I was better than Clay if you’re still bringing it up.
I giggle to myself. She’s been randomly dropping hints about being with women lately.
Ryan
Can we please meet for coffee, you crazy bitches.
I don’t bother waiting for a response. I dress in a hurry; I pull on my favorite navy blue yoga pants that are as soft as butter and a thin-strapped teal crop top. It’s unseasonably warm for this time of year, so I’m enjoying showing off the extra skin for a while longer. My flat stomach is on display, the supple skin along the underside of my breasts barely contained. My trusty waterproof hiking boots cover my feet. They don’t know it yet, but we’re going on a hike to one of my favorite spots for a photoshoot. With my shoulder-length blonde hair styled in beach waves pulled halfway up into a clip with a few rogue tendrils framing my face,
I grab my camera bag and everything else I keep at home for shoots outside of the studio. Once my Jeep is packed, I drive over to Mud House to find Pickle and Hadley hovering around the counter, chatting with our friend, Kayleigh, who just so happens to be the owner.
“Hey, babes!” I call as I walk over towards the girls.
I’m not two steps from them when I hear my name from a familiar voice behind me. “Ryan Elise Sage!” I groan as I turn towards my brother's voice.
“What, Jack?” I roll my eyes at him, “You act as though we didn’t just see each other this morning.”
“Yeah, I know, but there’s something that came up that I wanted to tell you before you found out on your own.” His dark blue eyes morph from stern to gentle.
“Oh, cut the shit, big brother. What is it?” I give him my best, I’ll throat punch you, look. Before another word left his mouth, I heard Hadley squealing behind me.
