Love Always Wins

It’s been nearly ten years since Justine stepped foot into her childhood town. Growing up a Crawford was never easy. Not when her family has been feuding with the Andersons for as long as their town existed. Neither family was willing to leave and instead, divided the town into two sides. One that the Crawfords resided in and the other where the Andersons did.

For Justine, the feud was something she wanted to avoid as much as possible. Only during high school, Tyler Anderson would never leave her alone. It didn’t make any sense why he couldn’t just let her be—not until the night he kissed her, made her fall entirely for him. After high school, their plan was to elope, only she discovered a secret that would change everything. A secret that led to more, which led to her being gone for nearly ten years.

Now, she’s home, but she’s not the same girl anymore. She’s running from ghosts that the feud between her family and the Andersons don’t even begin to compare to, but her heart still longs for what might have been if she hadn’t discovered that secret. Even though she knows she should stay away, she simply can’t fight the attraction—the love that’s always been there between her and Tyler, and it wins out far too often.

Tyler’s spent the last nearly ten years missing the only girl he’s ever loved, and while he’s engaged, the marriage is intended to be a complete sham. A way to keep gossip and questions and matchmaking at bay for both him and Angela. But when he runs into Justine, there’s nothing on earth that can keep him away from her. No one can stop his heart from wanting what it has since he was fourteen—Justine as his. She might be a Crawford, but she’s always been his, and nothing anyone says will stop him from pursuing it—even if in secret still—not even Justine’s attempts to pull away from him.

He knows she’s still hiding something from him, and he intends to find out what, so he can ensure that the love between them is the only thing that wins out in the end. What his family says won’t stop him. What her family says certainly won’t. The only thing in this world he’s ever wanted is back within his grasp, and he’ll do everything he can to claim it, and Justine, as his for life this time. Even if it means giving up everything to be with her. Even if it means giving up his little sisters he’s always been there to support if they, or his parents, disown him.

Just as he’s convinced Justine to come home to him entirely, both of their worlds are turned upside down when one of the twins goes missing. The rest of Justine’s secrets come tumbling out leaving Tyler holding his breath as not just one of the people he loves is in danger, but two are as Justine helps rescue his sister. He can’t imagine spending ten hours without her, let alone the rest of his life if anything happens to her. There’s no guarantee that she’ll come home safe this time, or how their families will react to the news that they’re together. All he can do is trust that like their love, everything will work out, but when it comes to their fathers and the feud, nothing is guaranteed.

TW: discussions of abuse, assault, kidnapping, predators, violence, depression and PTSD (and church) throughout the story

With strong language, some heavy emotional material, and a HEA (I promise), Love Always Winds is approximately 67,850 words. It is intended for an adult audience and may include subjects that are sensitive to some readers.