Redemption

Redemption

Redemption

(Love, Life, & Happiness series #6)

Sheena Binkley

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2015 by Sheena Binkley

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or

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purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it,

or it was not purchased for your use only, then return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you

for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are

not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this

manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of

the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to

publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means,

including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Editor: Jamie Fleming-Dixon

Cover Design: Gabrielle Prendergast

Formatting by: Sheena Binkley

Published in the United States of America

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me and for continuing to watch over me each and every day. I am forever grateful for all you have done for me and continue to do in my life every day.

To my husband, Ethan Faulkner, thank you for supporting me throughout my journey. I truly appreciate it, and I love you for that.

To my family and friends, thank you for your continuous support. I'm happy that you all support me and my dream.

To Jamie Fleming-Dixon, thank you so much for continuing with me on my writing journey. I know I took some time off from being indie to go the traditional route, and I'm happy that you want to continue as my editor. I truly appreciate it.

Gabrielle Prendergast, thank you for the wonderful cover. I truly appreciate your talent because I would have been clueless on creating one, lol. But thank you!

Laurencia Smith (Alithea Smith), thank you for being my literary sister and also a great friend. I can't wait until your debut is released (which I hope will be soon)!

Shawnda Hamilton, thank you for all that you do. Just know that you will be a part of my writing journey regardless of which route I take after this book.

Last, but not least, the readers. Thank you for being patient with me as I completed my series with my publisher. I know you all were waiting for this book, and I definitely didn't want to disappoint you all, so I was determined to have it released. I appreciate the support you all have given me, and I will continue to be grateful. Again, thank you!

Other Books By Sheena Binkley

Available Now:

In Love With My Best Friend series

In Love With My Best Friend (Camille & Trevor)

A Chance at Love (Tia & Charles)

The Wedding Part I (Camille & Trevor)

The Wedding Part II (Camille & Trevor)

Love, Life, & Happiness series

Love Unbroken (Riana & Shawn)

Trust Me (Cheryl & Marcus)

Unconditional Love (Britney & Jayden)

The Way We Were (Monica & Donnell)

Love Always (Riana & Shawn)

Something Just Ain't Right series (Hayley & Morgan)

Something Just Ain't Right

Something Just Ain't Right 2

Something Just Ain't Right 3

Our Love (Charlie & Michael)

No Other Love series (Kevin, Carla, & Jennifer)

No Other Love

No Other Love 2 (coming soon)

PROLOGUE

I stared at myself in the mirror, taking in the hurt and sorrow in my eyes. For 22 years, I didn't understand why my eyes always looked this way until today. Now, I could see that all of the issues I'd faced and the hurt I'd caused led to the one good thing in my life slipping away.

When I was in high school, I was young and foolish. I'm still young, but I've finally wised up. I had created a persona, trying to be someone who made everyone happy, including my parents. Never could I have imagined that the one person I was hurting most was myself.

I didn't have a leg to stand on. I did what I could to get the approval and the love that I longed for. And in the long run, it bit me in the ass.

As I continued to stare at my reflection, I realized that my life could have been more enjoyable if I'd actually lived, if I'd stood up for myself and lived for myself and not anyone else.

Now, I'm ready to take back everything that I have lost.

It's time to redeem myself from everything that I have done...

ONE

Three weeks earlier...

So, Nathan, what are your plans for the summer?

I looked at my dad as I took a sip of orange juice. One thing I really didn't want to do was return home for the summer. I wished I could have stayed at Texas Tech for as long as I could, but since I'd recently graduated, I didn't have any other options.

Some college graduates probably had everything figured out. They probably had begun their search for a position in their fields a while ago and may already be living on their own. I was the complete opposite. Besides playing football, I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do career-wise, and since I financially relied on my parents, I didn't have any money, so I was forced to come back home.

So much happened during my last year of college. One of the biggest things was suffering a ruptured ligament during the homecoming game, which I knew was the end of my career. After two surgeries, the doctor confirmed: I had to think of another profession, especially if I wanted to continue walking. So I had to hang up my football career for good. Now, I have to think long and hard about what I want to do, because I couldn't continue staying with my parents.

I have no idea yet, Dad.

Don't you think you need to be looking for a job? Even if it's not in your field, you just need something to get by, my mom suggested while putting a piece of watermelon in her mouth.

I glared at her and sighed. She was right, but sometimes, I'd rather be the one making suggestions instead of someone else.

I am, Mom. In fact, there's a city-wide job fair coming up soon, so I will be attending.

Nate, we know football was your life, but now that you can no longer play, you have to find other options. Since your major was Political Science, I could always find something for you to do at the station or with the city, my dad said, picking up his coffee cup.

I looked toward the window and exhaled. That's definitely something I didn't want to do.

Thanks, but I can figure out my own profession.

Well, you need to decide on something, because you're not staying here rent-free. We allowed you to not have a job while you were in school, but that is over. You need to find a job and soon, my mom continued.

I know, and I will. May I be excused?

My dad nodded, and I got up. I rushed to my room and closed the door. Having a police chief and a city official for parents provided heavy connections for a job in the city, but that's not what I wanted. Honestly, I didn't know what the hell I wanted, but I needed to figure it out soon.

My phone beeped; I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at the screen. My cousin, Porsha, had texted me, asking if I was coming to Grandma Hattie's birthday party in three weeks. I continued looking at the screen, not knowing what to text. Honestly, I didn't want to go, because I would have to face the family and one person in particular: Shawn. Smug bastard. Just one look at him and I'll probably punch him.

I replied, letting Porsha know that I'd think about it. She replied, saying that I better come since it is her 90th birthday. I rolled my eyes and sighed. She sent another text, letting me know that everyone would be there, including my archenemy, with a smiley face.

The family knew about the little plan Shawn and I had created, and everyone knew about the fallout. Grandma Hattie tried to get us to reconcile countless times, but honestly, that wasn't going to happen. We didn't like each other before the plan, so there was no love lost for me or him.

Another text came through, and I opened the attachment. An image of a