The Way Back Read online

  A NOVEL BY

  Copyright © 2021 by Melissa Toppen

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted by U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission of the author.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, establishments, or organizations, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously to give a sense of authenticity. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. This book is intended for 18+ older, and for mature audiences only.

  Edited by Amy Gamache @ Rose David Editing

  Proofread by Marjorie Lord

  Cover Design by Melissa Toppen

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Disclaimer

  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

  The Way Back Playlist

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  Also By Melissa Toppen

  Chapter One

  “CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, Gracie? No more college. It seems unreal.” My best friend, Emma, chimes in from beside me. Lowering the remainder of my bags into the trunk of my small white Prius, I turn to face her.

  She beams at me through her large, black sunglasses as her long, light brown hair blows in the breeze. Emma has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. We were inseparable as kids and even attended the same college. So it only makes sense that as we embark out into the world of life after college, that we do it together.

  “I'm gonna miss it here,” I admit, closing the trunk of the car. Miami University isn't only the place where I have spent the last four years of my life, but it’s also a place that holds so much of my father inside the walls. Leaving all of it behind is bittersweet.

  The professors, the handful of friends that I have made along the way, but I think I will miss feeling the closeness to my father more than anything. I can still see his face, his wide smile and big brown eyes. Not a day goes by where I don't miss him incredibly. It's so unfair that he was taken away from me at such a young age. Some people never get to know what it's like to have such a warm, amazing man as a father. It's just a shame I got such a limited amount of time with mine. The day he died was the worst day of my life or at least it was until...

  I shake my head, trying to rid my mind of the thoughts of Kyle. Now is not the time to go back to that place. No. Things are different now. I’m leaving for New York in a little over a week and that is where my focus needs to be.

  “Of course you're going to miss it, Gracie. We all are,” Emma says, smiling when she catches sight of Carver making his way down the steps of our co-ed dorm.

  “What are we missing?” he asks, stopping in front of us, a crooked grin across his handsome face. “You're only going to be gone a week, Em. No need to cry about how much you're going to miss having me around. I'm sure you will find a way to get through it.” He leans against the passenger door of my car, crossing his arms in front of his broad chest.

  I can't help but take a moment to stare at the attractive, goofy man standing in front of me. Carver won my heart on the first day of our Poetry class together. It was the first semester of my freshman year and making friends was at the bottom of my priority list. But even I was not immune to his boyish good looks and witty charm.

  We bonded over our love of literature, and of course, Carver's ridiculous attempts to woo me. After that, he became one of my best friends. Sharing the same co-ed dorm as me and Emma, we all became a package deal. The three amigos.

  “Don't be an ass, Carv. I’m talking about Oxford,” Emma answers with a small frown. “I never thought I would become so attached to Ohio of all places, but I did and now... Well now, I’m just sad to say goodbye.” She sighs, turning to face the dorm that holds so many of our college memories inside the walls.

  “Not me. Hell, I for one cannot wait to get the hell out of this place.” Carver lets out a light laugh.

  “Well, it's different. You grew up here. Of course you can't wait to escape.” Emma rolls her eyes. Carver immediately starts mimicking her. It's one of his favorite things to do and it drives Emma nuts, and no doubt that's why he continues to do it. Emma is a spitfire and getting her riled up is quite entertaining. Even I can admit that.

  “So one week with the fam, huh?” Carver pins his brown eyes on me and cocks his head to the side. “I'm not gonna get a phone call in a week saying you've changed your mind, am I?”

  I can't help my knee jerk reaction to smack him across the chest.

  “Please. One week with my family and I’ll be more than ready for New York.” I lean against my car next to him. He peers at me through a strand of his dark blonde hair that he keeps short on the sides and a little longer on the top. Not too long, but just long enough that a few sexy pieces fall right across his forehead.

  “That's my girl.” He elbows me lightly. “Well I guess this is goodbye, ladies. My flight leaves in two hours and we all know how long it takes to get through airport security. You have everything you need?” he asks, pushing himself away from the car to look at me.

  “Yep, we’re all set,” I reassure him, turning my attention to Emma. Her dark eyes are glistening over as she once again looks back at the dorms.

  “I just... I still can't believe it's over. College is over. And now here we are, getting ready to start our lives in New York City of all places. It's a little scary when you think about it.”

  “Hey.” I step up next to her to nudge her shoulder. “You are going to do great things, Emma Davenport. Just you wait. New York Theater will not know what hit them.”

  “Damn right they won't.” She laughs, straightening her shoulders. Even though she is only a little over five feet tall, she carries herself like she's larger than life. That is one thing I have always loved and envied about my best friend. Her confidence is something I wish I had even a fraction of.

  “And she's back,” Carver jokes, pulling Emma into a hug. “I'm gonna miss you, Em,” he says, planting a kiss to the top of her head.

  Carver stands at least a foot over Emma and with his broad frame wrapped around her very petite one, she all but disappears in his arms.

  “You too, Carv. Do us a favor and don't get into too much trouble before we get there.” She pulls back to give him one of her striking smiles. Emma really is a gorgeous girl, but she is also super talented.

  She spent the duration of our time at college perfecting her skills by majoring in Performing Arts. Her dream is to be on Broadway someday and I have no doubt that she will make it. She’s amazing on stage and her voice; well let's just say she has no problem giving anyone listening to her goosebumps.

  I went a little more practical with a degree in English. I have always wanted
to be a writer, and since I can do that from just about anywhere, it made sense for me to join Emma in the Big Apple. Besides, she has been attached to my hip for so long, I’m really not sure that either of us could make it without the other.

  “Me, trouble?” Carver chuckles. “Nah. Mike's picking me up at the airport and I plan to spend a few days getting our stuff settled before my first day of work.”

  “Thank you again for doing this. I hate that you get stuck with the whole moving part.” I mean it, but at the same time I can't help but be a little relieved that I get to bypass most of it. The majority of our stuff is already there as Carver's uncle drove out last week to pick up everything we didn't absolutely have to have for the following two weeks.

  Carver and his uncle, Mike, are the only reason that me and Emma can even afford to go to New York in the first place. His uncle owns his own PR business and Carver will be working for him in a pretty important role. His uncle also owns our apartment building and is letting us live there for next to nothing. I haven't seen it yet, but from the pictures Carver showed me, it's a pretty nice place and not a bad neighborhood either, considering it's located in the heart of the city. The only thing I know for sure is that there are three bedrooms. No way was I going to share a room with anyone after four years of living with people. I need my own space and luckily, I am going to have it.

  At first I rejected the offer. I didn't like the thought of having to depend on my friend's family to make my way. But at the end of the day I caved, more for Emma than anything. I know how badly she wants this and I would never forgive myself for standing in the way of her dreams. Besides, it was either live with Carver or stay with my brother, Alec, and that I knew wouldn't work. With how overprotective he is, I wouldn't be allowed to leave without him as my personal chauffeur.

  “It's what friends do.” Carver shrugs before pulling me into his chest and wrapping his arms around me. “Have fun this week, Gracie. You deserve it. I’ll have everything ready when you arrive next week.”

  “Thanks, Carv.” I speak into his chest as I squeeze him tightly. “Love you.”

  “Love you too.” He releases me just as his cab pulls up to the curb. “You girls be good. And for the love of god, Em, try not to miss me too much.” He flashes her another wicked grin before climbing into the back of his cab. He gives us a wave as the cab pulls out into the street. I watch the car until it disappears around the corner before turning my attention back to Emma.

  “Well, you ready?” I ask, making my way around to the driver’s side of my car. She looks back over the campus one last time and nods, climbing into the passenger seat.

  We settle into our normal routine as we make our way to Toledo. Emma sits in the passenger seat singing along to every song that comes on the radio while I laugh lightly next to her. Got to love her and her theatrics. Even in the car, she's flailing her arms around and singing into a water bottle like it's a microphone. I guess performing is hardwired into certain people. It doesn't matter what we are doing, Emma always finds a way to incorporate her love for the arts wherever we go.

  Emma has accompanied me on this trip every year since we were thirteen. The lake house on Marblehead has been in my dad's family for years, and we have spent the first week of every summer there for as long as I can remember.

  The week together was never the same after my dad died when I was twelve. Knowing that he grew up there, or at least spent a great deal of his childhood there, was just as much of a curse as it was a comfort. But my mom swore to keep the tradition alive, and even though me and my two brothers are now grown and out on our own, she still insists that we make time to spend that week together every year. Most people probably think it’s weird that we lived in Colorado but chose to vacation in Ohio, but given it’s where my dad is from, it always made sense to me. It was a way for him to stay connected to where he came from and for us to stay connected to him after he was gone.

  As anxious as I am to get to New York, I can't deny that I need this time with my family. I need a week to recover from finals, graduation, and my impending adulthood. No one can distract me quite like my brothers and only now am I realizing just how much I miss them.

  Pressing my foot down on the gas pedal, the car accelerates a little faster. Emma notices, turning to me with a grin. “Getting anxious?” she asks with a knowing smile.

  “Just ready to get there and have a week of doing nothing.” I sigh, switching lanes on the freeway.

  “You won't hear me complain. One week of staring at Alec and Ian in nothing but board shorts. Oh yeah, a girl could get used to that.” She giggles when my hand swings out to smack her arm.

  “Gross, Em. Those are my brothers you're talking about.” I stick my tongue out in a fake gag. “That's just nasty.”

  “Sorry girl, they may be your brothers but there is nothing gross about either of them.” She winks and then slides her sunglasses back in place before breaking into another song, officially ending the conversation.

  PULLING UP TO THE TWO story lake house is like returning home from a long vacation. While it feels like I have been gone forever, this place still feels like home. Everything looks exactly as it did this time last year. My mom hired contractors to do some remodeling a couple of years ago and while the house is much nicer now, the foundation of the home still holds true to its original form.

  The outside is gray with white shutters and trim. A stone walkway leads from the back of the house that faces the road to the front which faces Lake Erie. I exit the car and stretch my body, staring out over the peaceful water.

  The house sits on a small patch of land peppered with shade trees and flowers. It really is one of the most peaceful places in the world. A concrete stairway leads from the back deck of the house down to our private dock where Rob's new white speedboat is sitting proudly in the water. Mom said he had it delivered here last week and is dying to try it out.

  “Em, get up!” I shout through my open door, watching my best friend stir in her seat before finally peeling her eyes open.

  “We're here already?” she mumbles, slowly lifting herself out of the passenger seat.

  “Easy for you to say. You slept nearly the entire drive,” I say, making my way around the back of the car to retrieve our bags.

  “Yeah, sorry about that.” She smiles sweetly and takes her duffle bag out of my hand, slinging it over her shoulder before grabbing her suitcase.

  “I think we beat everyone here. I thought for sure Mom and Rob would be here by now,” I say, punching the garage code into the keypad. The door springs to life and Emma follows me inside.

  I drop my bags on the kitchen floor before grabbing a quick drink of water. The interior of the home is bright and airy. Every detail of the house is done in cream, white, and tan, all the way down to the furniture.

  “God I love this place,” Emma chimes from her spot in front of the large bay window that looks out over the lake.

  “Yeah, me too,” I agree, retrieving my bag from the floor before making my way through the open floorplan to join Emma in the living room. “Come on, we better claim our room or we're gonna end up sleeping in the same bed all week.” I bump my shoulder against hers.

  “It's not like we haven't slept in the same bed numerous times before,” she needlessly points out, following me up the staircase that leads to the second floor.

  “Yeah, I know. I think my legs are permanently bruised from all your kicking,” I tease. Sleeping in the same bed as Emma is like trying to sleep in the middle of an earthquake. Not only does she kick the crap out of me and usually ends up pushing me out of bed, but she also talks in her sleep, which is quite entertaining, but difficult to sleep through. At least in separate beds I have a small chance of getting a little rest.

  I follow the hallway that leads to the far right side of the second floor before pushing my way through the last door at the end. This room has the best view of any of the bedrooms with a wall of windows that look out over the water.

>   It’s decorated in pale blue and yellow and really pops against the light filtering in through the windows. Unlike the downstairs, which is all hardwood floors, this room has beige carpet and very little in the way of décor; two double beds, each with their own nightstand and a long, oak dresser along the left hand wall. Add in a large portrait of a sailboat on the back wall and that's about all there is.

  I toss my bag on the bed closest to the windows and flop down. Emma claims the other bed on the far left wall and immediately begins stripping out of her tank and yoga pants.

  “Em, what the hell are you doing?” I ask on a laugh as she struggles to get her pants off without losing her balance.

  “Changing, duh!” she exclaims, pulling open her suitcase and dumping the contents on top of her bed. She rummages through the pile of clothes before pulling out a little black bathing suit. She sets it aside and then pulls out another bikini, this one fire engine red. “Here.” She tosses it over her shoulder at me.

  I eye the scrap of material and then immediately toss it back to her. “I'm not wearing that!” I shake my head, laughing when she throws it back at me again.

  “Oh don't be like that. We both know that you have yet to go bathing suit shopping and I want to lay out. So put the damn suit on and stop your bitching.” She cocks her head to the side, both hands firmly planted on her hips, silently daring me to challenge her.

  “I'm almost positive that this will cover about half of one butt cheek,” I whine, holding up the thin material. “Even if it weren't a size too small, I still wouldn't wear something this... Well, this slutty,” I say apologetically.

  “It's a bathing suit, Gracie. Relax. And it's not too small. Last time I checked, we're the same size, so stop making excuses and come on.”

  “Fine...” I sigh, knowing she has a point. Besides, it's just Emma and my family. It's not like it really matters if I lay out in a barely there bikini, right? I have no one to impress. Even still, I have never been one for flaunting my body. Not that I'm uncomfortable with my size six figure, because I'm not. It's just not my style.