Destination Love 1: Break the Rules (English Edition) E-Book

Kaiden Emerald

• Herausgeber: via tolino media
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Since a special encounter on the children's playground, Casey and Logan have been inseparable friends. Even the fact that Logan is a little older and attended a different school doesn't dampen their friendship. It's just too bad that both of them are drifting further and further apart due to their professional paths. To counteract this and rekindle the good old days, Logan takes his best friend's advice and proposes a road trip together to the dancer. Casey agrees and decides to spend his summer break with a little adventure. But what he doesn't know is that his best friend is gay and secretly has a crush on him.

Leseprobe

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Dedication

Foreword

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Destination Love Volume 1: Break the Rules

By Kaiden Emerald

Imprint

Copyright © Kaiden Emerald, 2023

https://www.kaiden-emerald.de

mailto:[email protected]

Layout: Kaiden Emerald

Book cover design: © Kaiden Emerald © Shutterstock

Layout designed by © Kaiden Emerald

Editing: The „Korrifeen“ – Mel, Mims & Flash

Production/ Printing: Tolino Media

Original edition, published 01/2023, edition 2.

Translated from German into English. The author is not from America, but has researched the places and events there to the best of his knowledge.

Maildrop 24

Kaiden Emerald

Holderäckerstr. 8

70499 Stuttgart

Germany

All rights reserved.

This work is protected by copyright. Any use without the consent of the author is prohibited. This applies in particular to electronic or other reproduction, translation, distribution and making available to the public.

All persons and names in this e-book are fictitious. Similarities to living persons are purely coincidental and not intended.

Dedication

Thank you, dear reader, for taking the time to join Logan and Casey on their road trip and I hope you will be well entertained and able to sink a few hours into the story.

Most especially, I thank in advance all those who review, review, and recommend this booklet. Without this support Casey and Logan would probably not find their way to one or the other reader.

Foreword

~ A voyage of discovery does not consist in looking for new landscapes, but in getting new eyes. ~Marcel Proust (1871 - 1922)

Every journey offers a variety of opportunities to broaden one's horizons. In a short time it is possible to get acquainted with foreign cultures and to experience the customs, food, idioms connected with them, also to explore foreign flora and fauna. We move away from the familiar. From our daily environment, the people who make it up, the customs. We set ourselves free for an adventure.

But a journey can not only take us very far, it is also capable of bringing us back. To the origin of our being. To ourselves. A journey of discovery that takes place on a mental level. Every step we take requires courage. At the same time, each one that leads us closer to ourselves is more valuable, but at the same time more power-consuming, than those we take far away. But what about when we have arrived at ourselves? Can we bear what the inner mirror of our soul reveals? Can we accept it and accept ourselves as we are? Or will we form a distorted image to be the way society wants us to be?

Courage is the indicator, the key to happiness. The adrenaline in our bodies is the drive that oils the engine - the heart - which we are only too happy to cheat ourselves. We disguise wishes, dreams and hopes under a concrete-heavy cloth, under which we hide day after day. Secretly, however, we dream, even hope, that someone will snatch it away from us. In doing so, we have to break free ourselves. Lose everything that puts us in chains. From the flow of expectations, from the ideology of society and the self-imposed delusions that rest on our souls like iron masks.

If we succeed in opening our eyes to what our heart intends for us, we can simply be. Life in its purest form. Enjoy and discover. Without shyness and without fear.

Day 1

Logan

With a skillful swing, Logan heaved the heavy sports bag into the trunk of his Jeep. Cursorily, he went over the list in his head. After all, it would be pretty stupid if he forgot something important on his trip with Casey, of all things.

"It's all there," Alice confirmed to him, as if she had read him.

Logan took her words to heart. She'd probably be right. All that was missing was his friend.

"Get back to me between now and then!" his girlfriend snapped him out of his thoughts. No sooner had the request been made than she had her arms wrapped around him. As she did so, her blond hair, tied into a bun, tickled his nose and almost made him sneeze.

"I will," he promised, returning the hug sheepishly. "Thanks for the help."

"Oh, not for that."

Oh yes Alice!" he objected mentally. After all, it wasn't a matter of course that she had come all the way to his parents' house with him and advised him on packing for his big trip. Sighing, he climbed into the jeep.

"Have fun, you two," Alice wished him before he settled into the seat. Just then, his mom came running up. "Logan Mason! Were you going to run off without saying goodbye?" she scolded. Before he could say anything back, she pressed a wet kiss to his cheek. "Drive carefully, honey. And take care of yourselves."

"We will," he replied, strapping himself in. "Give Dad a hug for me."

Diana smiled and gently slammed the driver's door. Logan parked the car out and waved goodbye to the two women. It was high time to pick him up.

Casey

A balmy summer breeze blew across Arlington's streets as Casey left the parking lot behind. Wistfully, he entered the small flower store next to the cemetery. The plaster had crumbled from the facade in places, not to mention the paint was gradually peeling. Some of the tiles on the roof were damaged, and even the frame that framed the milky door glass had seen better days. The white foil lettering that greeted him in Emmy's flower garden had already turned yellow.

Still, Casey was happy to come. The whole getup lent an endearing charm to the setting. If nothing else, the abundance of every imaginable plant and colorful bloom exuded a remarkable air of harmony and kindness of heart that was truly lived in the little store. Never once had he been able to spot a wilted flower or a bent leaf on his plants. Nor had he ever experienced his order being unfinished here. As soon as he opened the nostalgic door, a small bell clamped above the doorframe lovingly welcomed him.

"Ah, Mr. Jones. Your flowers are ready."

"Thank you," he replied kindly, placing a twenty-dollar bill on the counter as usual. "Keep the change."

With a smile, the salesman, Emmy's husband, handed him the bouquet. White lilies, their elegance accented by ornamental grasses, and leather ferns as binder greenery. Each part of the bouquet was artfully placed, just to his liking.

"Give my regards to Emmy," Casey said goodbye. Presumably the shopkeeper was just doing some errand again.

"I will!" the man called after him.

With a good feeling he left the shop. After all, now he would not be able to take care of the grave maintenance for a few days. So it was better to freshen everything up again and add a new bouquet worthy of the resting place of his adoptive parents.

A cursory glance at the clock assured him that there was still plenty of time to get back home before Logan picked him up. With a loud squeak, the old iron gate gave way and swung open inward. Hardly a soul was loitering in the cemetery at this time, which bothered Casey very little. So he had his peace and could remember completely undisturbed the two people who had once raised him.

Routinely, he pulled on the gardening gloves he had brought with him and tended to the weeds that were barely there. He was here far too often to fear a real overgrowth of wild plants. It was a course of action that met with little understanding outside the crew. "What does he hope to accomplish? Does he want to bring them back to life?" "Does he think there's a prize here for excessive grave maintenance?" He had always accepted such and similar accusations from the community.

Even though the words rarely reached him and he was aware that there was almost certainly much more gossip behind his back, he wished he had taken the easier route. Urns would have been much easier to care for. He could have placed them at home. Even if he had erected a shrine and prayed in front of it, it would have been done away from public view.

But Casey did not think he was entitled to such a decision. After all, he did not know whether it would have been right for the two of them to be burned. The question never came up during their lifetime. Then they died only a few days after each other. He could sympathize with his mum that she had lacked the strength to go on without her husband. Casey himself had also had a hard time with it. In his ignorance, he had therefore opted for the classic variant, but had a vase-like device attached to the double grave. From this he took now the meanwhile withered flowers of his last visit and arranged the new ones. With a ready watering can he got water from the cemetery well and watered the thirsty flowers. Last but not least, he knelt on the ground, slipped off his gloves, took his prayer chain from his pocket and wrapped it around his hand. With his hands together and his eyes closed, he said a mental prayer. In doing so, he hoped the two would want for nothing where they were now.

A cloud was driven on by the wind and gave way to the bright rays of the midday sun, which eagerly settled on his face and made him feel the warmth through his closed eyelids. Somewhere, not far away, birdsong could be made out. It sounded as if they were shouting something to each other or trying to outdo each other with their singing. A light breeze carried a flowery fragrance that almost brought tears to his eyes. Silently, he thought of the older couple who had been unable to have children of their own and had raised him as lovingly as he could have wished.

He remembered back that it had been damn hard to let them go. To accept what he couldn't change anyway and how important his friends were. They had picked him up and somehow got him through this difficult time. Mina, his manager, had even signed adoption papers for him since he was still a minor. Over time, however, he learned to cope with the grief and hold the joyful memories inside.

Today, he could recall them and revel in the good times whenever he wanted. So this time, too, he rose with a smile on his face, tidied up and took one last look over his work before heading for the exit.

Logan

On the way to his best friend, Logan reviewed the last few months. They had found little or no time for each other, which he bitterly regretted. Deep in thought, he remembered the beginning of their friendship. Today was a summer day just like when they had first met. He was already going to school and playing soccer with a couple of boys his age on the grassy area next to the playground. At some point, the ball rolled over to the sandbox, where a little boy was using a shovel to pile up the sand into a heap. His grandmother, he assumed at the time, was sitting on a bench reading a magazine. The little boy looked lonely, which made him kind of sad himself.

"Hello, my name is Logan," he greeted the strange boy. A bright pair of blue eyes looked up at him shyly. Even then, he was fascinated by the intense color. "What's your name?"

A question to which the little boy remained silent for the moment. Undeterred, he continued to shovel, then finally did answer, "Casey."

Still Logan remembered his own laughter. "Casey? Really? That sounds like a girl's name." The shovel in the boy's hand froze in mid-motion.

"Hey, what's up? Are you coming now?" one of his playmates wanted to know. But Logan could not take his eyes off the motionless boy. To this day, he puzzled over what had gone on in Casey's mind back then. At one point he had asked, but when his friend dodged the question, he didn't probe further.

"Go on without me," he replied, finally throwing the ball back. Then he joined Casey in the sand. "Can I play?" Again those fabulous eyes focused on him. But this time, tears shone in them. The little guy nodded, wiped the wet film from his face, and handed him a couple of ramekins. "Hey, want to build a really big castle?", Logan tried to cheer him up. Finally the little boy gave him a smile, agreed, and together they built a huge sand castle. From then on, they met more often. The fact that Logan was three years ahead of him had never mattered.

A year after Logan started his architecture degree, Casey transferred from high school to a dance academy and found a second family in his crew. The head of the academy even took over Casey's guardianship after he lost both parents. In this way, he was able to run his own household at the age of seventeen. Which in the meantime was already three years ago.

Where did the time go? For the next few days, the crew went their separate ways and would only reunite later. Since Logan's semester break was just beginning and he was afraid he might lose sight of Casey, he had taken Alice's advice and suggested the road trip he was now picking him up for. Still, he felt a little sick to his stomach at the idea. What if we drifted apart too much?

Casey

Casey crossed the street to the parking lot. Only here did he risk another glance at his wristwatch. He was horrified to discover that more time had passed than he had originally planned. Logan would hardly be angry if I explained where I was, and he wouldn't leave without me. I also have to pack up a bit of stuff ...

Still, he didn't want to keep him waiting any longer. He revved the Mustang's engine and took a not-quite-legal shortcut through an industrial park. Actually, he had wanted to pack up last night, but the efforts of the last few days were making themselves felt. His crew and he now had several weeks of hard training behind them and had rehearsed their choreography for the fall. Before that, however, there were a number of individual competitions that he finally got to participate in after his twenty-first birthday in the fall.

When he arrived at the underground garage, Logan was already waiting with his cell phone in hand. Maybe he was about to call me and ask where I was? But he merely looked up and grinned cheekily at him. Casey turned off the engine, got out of the car and locked it. "Hey," he greeted his friend, pulling him briefly into a welcoming hug. "Sorry, I was still at the cemetery."

"No problem," Logan replied placatingly. "You're here now."

"Yeah, best come upstairs with me first. I'm afraid I'm not quite done packing yet."

"Never mind."

Together they stepped into the elevator. Casey pushed the button for the fifth floor. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Oh, no, just a few minutes," Logan replied a little too quickly.

I'm sure he's just trying to soothe my guilty conscience, Casey amused himself inwardly. After unlocking the door, he held it open for his guest. "Sit down," he asked him.

Logan first slipped off his shoes and then took a seat on the two-seater in the living room, which was adjoined by a small kitchenette. He let his eyes wander in wonder. That's right, he hadn't been back here yet, it ran through Casey's mind. "I did a little rearranging," he explained, disappearing briefly into the kitchen.

Last time, the couch had still been in the corner of the room and the music system had been free on the floor. Now he had put up shelves and placed the speakers on them. In addition, he had created a cozy sitting area. The walls were now medium blue instead of white. They were emblazoned with posters of break dancers performing impressive moves. Logan knew by now that they called themselves B-Boys.

"I can see that."

"Would you like a drink?" he called to his friend from the kitchen.

"A water, if you have it."

"Sure." Casey returned and handed him a glass, noticing as he did so that his laptop's screen saver was no longer active. A message was to blame, now blinking penetratingly.

"What is it?" inquired Logan, taking a sip.

"Oh ... Ryan sent me something," Casey explained as he hovered his cursor over the icon.

"Ryan from your crew?"

"Yeah, that's the one." Casey couldn't contain his curiosity and opened the file. Briefly he was surprised to find quite a few pictures in it, then it lit up for him. "Ah, these are the pictures from New York." They had been on tour there in the spring. So far there had been no opportunity to introduce Logan and the crew to each other, but now at least he could show him photos. Casey joined him on the couch, texted Ryan back a quick 'thank you' and opened the pictures in gallery view. The very first one was a group photo.

"The tall one with the star tattoos on his arms is Ryan. Next to that with the afro is Carrie. This one is Tess. You can hardly see her without a baseball cap and that one is Matt, our captain. He coaches us, too. I've really learned a lot from him," he explained.

Logan was visibly curious, wanting to know more details, and examined the faces closely. Casey clicked on and commented on the following pictures with little anecdotes.

After an alarmed glance at his wristwatch, he noticed that he had dirtied himself in the cemetery. "Look, I'm going to jump in the shower real quick and pack up so we can get going. You're welcome to keep looking in the meantime. I'll hurry."

"Take your time," Logan reassured him as Casey hurried into the bathroom.

Logan

After briefly wondering if that was really okay, he clicked on. The following pictures showed the two girls, Carrie and Tess, taking boisterous selfies. Tess was indeed wearing a cap on almost every one. Peeking out from underneath was her sleek brown mane. Despite her pronounced tan, she was nowhere near the Latina complexion of her colleague. Actually quite pretty girls, if one is interested in such.

As he looked on, he saw the skyline of the Big Apple and Casey, who was stuffing a sandwich into his mouth. Matt was standing next to him, talking to him. Ryan seemed to be the photographer, after all, he had only been in the group photo so far. Another shot showed a stern-looking lady with chin-length hair dyed red and nerd glasses. She was a bit older than the other crew members. Probably the manager.

A few clicks later, he caught sight of Casey, bare-chested. He wanted to continue, but his finger remained on the mouse for a moment. His friend looked damn good and all at once it occurred to him that maybe this road trip was a stupid idea after all. After all, he was only outed to his parents and Alice. His gaze traveled over Casey's toned chest, finely defined abs, lower to the waistband of his pants. With a jerk, Logan switched to the next image before his mind started to imagine any weirdness.

Pinching is not an option now. The trip is a done deal and Casey is straight! The admonishing thoughts showed effect and his imagination gave rest. After a few landscape pictures, Casey was finally back. He performed some moves that were close to those on the posters in the living room. It would definitely be interesting to see him in action. I can certainly see his passion. Again, pictures of the captain followed. In one, Matt even had his arm around Casey. Both were looking at the camera and smiling. Matt seems to be a bit older than the rest of the troupe. Casey's bright blue eyes stood out, while his friend's were grayish.

Together they looked like two typical playboys. Guys who played with women. Then there were shots of Ryan, who Logan thought was more down to earth. Suddenly, the toolbar flashed. Ryan had apparently sent something else. More photos, no doubt. This time, however, a video appeared. Hmm ... I was allowed to look at the photos, why not the movie? With a mouse click, he checked the duration of the clip. Barely four minutes. When shower sounds came from the bathroom, he started the film.

"We're finally here!" the girls shouted, hugging each other. Startled, Logan lowered the volume. The movie showed the crew's abode. Casey and Matt rolled their suitcases into the same room, although there was only one large marital bed. Then Ryan must be filming. As if on cue, Ryan panned to himself briefly and grinned into the lens, confirming Logan's suspicions.

Then the kitchen and living room could be seen. Finally, he filmed into the bathroom and was chased away by screaming girls with cucumber masks. Logan smirked. This crew seems like a really crazy bunch. Next, Casey and Matt were recorded working out together in an exercise gym. Casey did rope skipping, topless, Matt did some pushups. After that, they practiced some choreography. At the very least, they both expertly spun around on the floor, performing elaborate figures. Awesome! Suddenly, a clapping sound was heard and Logan jumped up. No, the sound was part of the movie. Tess applauded them, which made the dancers look up in surprise. Obviously they hadn't realized they were being watched.

In the next sequence, Casey was lying on the floor and didn't move, so Logan got a brief fright. Shit, what's next? Tense, he stared at the screen where Matt was just crouching down with him. "Hey kid, you can't sleep here. We gotta go."

"I'm not sleeping at all!" protested Casey, blinking and trying to get his bearings.

"No, of course not," Matt agreed with him, to all appearances stifling a laugh as he helped Casey up.

The following scene was obviously shot at a party. It showed the captain in a club making off with two girls in short dresses and high heels. What a Casanova. Casey watched him from the bar shaking his head and had a drink with a slice of lemon in his hand. Hmm ... Surely that's not a Coke. He's not even allowed to do that yet.

Afterwards, they recorded at another club. The mood at the party seemed boisterous and again the youngest of them sat at the bar, this time together with Matt. The latter drank a beer and watched as Carrie and Tess danced together, getting closer and closer.

"You know what would be really hot right now?" shouted Matt to the girls. "When you guys kiss!"

Tess grinned cheekily at him and waved it off.

"I bet you wouldn't dare!" Now she turned fully and came toward him.

"I don't dare?" she went into his spiel. "Okay, I dare to make out with Carrie if you two do the same." With that, she pointed both index fingers at him and Casey at the same time. The set down the drink he was about to sip from and looked at him uncertainly.

"Okay, you've got a bet!" admitted Matt, however, and watched her walk back. Only then did he look to Casey and notice him nervously playing with his straw. "Relax, kid. It's just a kiss," he spoke more softly to him. "Now watch and enjoy." Matt pointed his bottle at the girls, to whom the camera now panned as well. Both danced close together, letting their tongues circle around each other while looking at the guys. After a few seconds, they gave up the intimate kiss and broke away from each other.

"Now it's your turn!" shouted Carrie to them, amused. Ryan shifted position so he could get a better shot of the two of them.

The shower noises died down, but right away Casey seemed to be rummaging in the bathroom cabinets. He is probably packing up his toiletry bag. Logan decided to keep watching, but left the mouse hovering over the cross so he could close the video at any time.

"Drink," Matt advised his teammate, taking another sip from his bottle himself before setting it down on the counter. Casey dispensed with the straw and drained the rest of his glass in just one swig. Matt came closer, grabbed Casey's face with both hands and leaned forward. Both closed their eyes as their lips met. Matt proceeded more brashly than Casey, sucking on the latter's lower lip and demanding entrance with the tip of his tongue. Only tentatively did his counterpart open his mouth and let Matt's tongue in. A short but wild battle broke out.

As the girls applauded enthusiastically, Logan realized that he was sitting there with his mouth open and his pants were getting tight. Shit!, he cursed himself and was about to end the video. But then the room they shared was visible and Logan's curiosity won out. Casey was lying on his side and Matt across the bed. He had his arm wrapped around him. "Help me!" begged Casey Ryan.

"Matt! Let him go!"

Briefly, the latter opened his eyes, furrowed his brow, and then turned to the other side. Casey managed to free himself and thanked his rescuer.

The next scene showed everyone eating breakfast. "You and Matt ... Are you a couple now?" asked Ryan, to which Casey choked on his cereal and Carrie slapped him on the back. His complexion was getting redder by the second.

"I don't think either of them are seriously into men, Ryan," Tess interjected reproachfully.

"I'd make an exception for you, kid," Matt spoke up and winked at Casey, who was now spitting his water halfway across the table, making everyone laugh. No, Casey is certainly not gay. For a moment, Logan felt ashamed for considering that. He should know better, know him better. Nothing more came now, that had been the last clip.

Only seconds later, Casey stepped out of the bathroom dressed and holding a small bag. "You can put that one out, I'll be right there," he promised.

Logan nodded and shut down the laptop. He caught a brief glimpse of Casey's bedroom before he closed the door. Mint green walls, then. The bed is pretty big, too. Interesting. – No, it's not interesting! Casey is off limits!, Logan called to himself and finished his water. He took his glass to the kitchen and quickly rinsed it. His friend, meanwhile, came back into the living room armed with a large gym bag. "So we can," he announced, leading the way.

"Want me to help you carry it?" offered Logan as he headed for the elevator.

"Go ahead, thanks."

Arriving at the Jeep, Casey loaded his gym bag in the spacious trunk. "There, we're ready for anything," Casey remarked as he glanced at the rest of the travel gear. He even spotted a small grill and a tent.

"I hope so," Logan announced proudly, motioning for him to get in. Yes, Casey is handsome, and I'm going to spend the next little while with this handsome man. After all, I brought this on myself.

Casey

Do I really have everything? The question raced through his head again before he closed the trunk lid. It would be stupid if we had to turn around because of me. But he didn't need much more than clothes. All the survival stuff was Logan's responsibility. After all, his dad had the whole garage full of it. From a tent to a grill to sleeping bags to fishing gear. As a kid, Logan had always had the most adventurous stories in store. Back then, it had always been their father-son thing.

Going out, into the wilderness. Once he told of a bear on the far shore of Victory Lake that they had watched while fishing. Only vaguely did Casey remember the one time he had been allowed to go along. They had fished and sat around the campfire together. On sticks, he and Logan had grilled marshmallows over the flames while Mr. Mason prepared the fish.

The nights had been so clear they could see thousands of stars in the sky. Logan's dad had used a special, probably quite expensive laser pointer to show them each constellation. Casey had been truly impressed with the man's knowledge at the time, but at the same time worried that the laser beam would attract aliens to them. Fortunately, Logan had talked him out of it, or he probably wouldn't have been able to fall asleep.

Everything was so simple back then, Casey remembered. They could enjoy their time without a care in the world. Today, on the other hand, they were prisoners of an eternal cycle. No job, no money, no apartment, no electricity, no food. That made this trip all the more liberating. This is going to be great! Just not having to do anything. To be allowed to live into the day. Without any constraints or obligations to be at a certain place at a certain time. Just let your mind wander.

Casey got into the car and put on his seatbelt. He was more than ready for this trip and with Logan by his side, it was sure to be fun. Just like when they were kids.

Logan

Logan got in on the driver's side. Casey was already seated and had fastened his seat belt. He smelled damn good and his undried hair curled slightly. The wet splendor lay seductively against the back of his neck. His tank top clung tightly to his body, leaving little to the imagination. Logan felt as if he could trace the contours of his muscles with his fingers, if he were allowed.

---ENDE DER LESEPROBE---