Exhale

Exhale Charity Parkerson Punk & Sissy Publications Copyright The scanning, uploading, and distributing of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not take part in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Brief passages may be quoted for review purposes if credit is given to the copyright holder. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Any resemblances to person(s) living or dead, is completely coincidental. All items contained within this novel are products of the author’s imagination. —Warning: This book is intended for readers over the age of 18. Some of my books contain allusions to past abuse and trauma. I try to have nothing triggering on page and treat every situation with care. Copyright © 2023 Charity Parkerson Editor: BZ Hercules & Consultants Photographer: Eric Battershell All rights reserved. Contents Author Note Introduction Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten About the Author Content Warning Author Note This story might be triggering for certain audiences. Please check the content warning after the About the Author section for a list of triggers. Introduction They were best friends who fell in love years ago. Then everything fell apart. Now one of them is looking to turn back time. When Billy was in his last year of high school, Neo and Billy were inseparable, even though they were from opposite sides of the tracks. Then, one night, Billy ruined everything, and Neo hammered the nail in the coffin. Despite still seeing each other all the time, and almost fourteen years later, they still haven’t spoken about that night. But nothing has changed for Billy. There is no one else out there for him. No amount of fame or fortune could buy or replace Neo. Neo is the one for him. Always has been. It’s long past the point Billy should have let the past go and dogged Neo’s every step until he gave in, but there’s no time like the present. Now he just needs Neo to cooperate. Neo is fine with Billy being the one, even though they’ll never be together. For him, it’s a nice memory to look back on as long as he doesn’t get to the part where Billy chose his rich friends over him. That’s okay. Neo got his revenge. They’re even and are cordial these days. So what if he can’t stop eyeing Billy’s very nice physique and gorgeous eyes? That’s life. He’ll live. All he has to do is keep resisting Billy’s nonstop advances because Neo knows the one truth that will never change. Money will always choose money in the end. Exhale is the second book in Charity Parkerson’s Fresh Hell series, where it's something different every day in the battlefield known as life. These are a combination of sports, bi-awakening, and several other sub genres with interconnecting characters. This series is best when read in order. Chapter One Even though Billy received the same invitation each year on nearly the exact date, he still couldn’t stop staring at it. Some people, maybe even most people, had fairly normal relationships with their father—or no contact at all. Billy wondered sometimes if he wouldn’t be better off if he could manage that last one. Truly, other than this one huge event every year, his dad never expected to see Billy. This, though, this he couldn’t avoid. Hell, maybe he hadn’t completely given up hope. “Hey.” Billy’s eyes fell closed. He tucked the invitation beneath a stack of letters, pasted on a fake smile, and turned. “Hey. How have you been?” Billy crossed the room and briefly embraced Tripp. Even though Tripp was technically an employee, since he played for the football team owned by Billy’s father—the team Billy ran—Billy still considered Tripp a friend. Tripp had married Billy’s best friend, so it was unavoidable. Plus, Tripp was just a likable guy. He was genuinely nice. Too few people were. Tripp accepted Billy’s one-arm hug. “I’m good. How about you?” “Me? I’m always amazing, but I’m not the one who’s been enjoying an extended honeymoon.” The happiness that lit Tripp’s face made Billy feel things he hated. He shouldn’t be jealous. Billy lived a life most men would kill to have. Tripp had the life Billy had always wanted. “Yeah. Well. I’d be better if Omri wasn’t hundreds of miles away now.” Billy pulled a face. “Yeah. That stinks. I hate he had to immediately leave for work as soon as you two got back. How was the trip, though?” Billy motioned toward the leather couch behind Tripp. He needed Tripp to sit and relax before he hit him with the real reason he was there. “This is the best time of year to visit Switzerland.” Billy nodded. “True.” Tripp eyed him. It was obvious he knew something was up. “You didn’t call me here to talk about my honeymoon.” “That’s also true.” Billy blew out a slow breath. He fucking hated this. “I don’t know if Omri told you, but this is usually the time of year he accompanies me to the Hamptons for my father’s annual weekend birthday celebration. Obviously, since you two are married now, I can’t expect that of him any longer or ask that of you.” “I mean, he’s filming on a Naval ship in the middle of the Pacific, or I might have been fine with it.” A small smile touched Billy’s lips at Tripp’s claim. He shook his head. Tripp was one in a million. “My dad knows he’s married now. That sort of defeats the purpose.” Tripp’s forehead furrowed and Billy knew he wasn’t explaining himself well and that couldn’t be