I'll Give It All

Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
About the Author
Also by Gianna Gabriela


Copyright
I’ll Give It All
Copyright © 2020 Gianna Gabriela
ISBN Ebook: 978-1-951325-31-2
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, or by any other means, without written permission from the author. The only time passages may be used is for teasers, blog posts, articles, or reviews, so long as the work isn’t being wrongfully used.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, events, and incidents portrayed are solely from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual places, people, events, or other incidents is coincidental or are used fictitiously.


Dedication
Kayden & Ari have a long journey ahead. So sit back and enjoy the ride.
Love,
Gianna


1 Ari Cole
“Do we need to go now?” I ask Mercedes as I lie on the extra comfortable hotel bed. Why do these always feel better than the ones at home? I could stay here and sleep forever. Mercedes is the first friend I made at USU, partly because we were roommates, though we know that could go either way, but we also just got along really well. Now we’re inseparable, though sometimes I wish we could separate.
She nods. “We have the week off and it’s spring break, Ari. We’re in Mexico. We can’t just stay inside the whole time,” she says as she opens her suitcase.
I sigh loudly and sit up. “Can’t we just stay in and rest, just for today? We can do anything you want tomorrow,” I tell her, hoping to change her mind. We flew to San Diego late last night, then drove across the border into Mexico. We slept a few hours before Mercedes woke me up ready to get her day started. She already wants to paint the town whatever color is running through her head. I just want to see the inside of my eyelids for a little while longer.
I make a big deal out of yawning so she sees how tired I still am. “We can rest beachside,” she responds, waving me off.
I hear the distinct sound of a growl coming from my empty stomach. “I’m hungry,” I tell her. “Let’s just order room service and watch a movie.” I keep trying to convince her, but I know it won’t work. I lose most of my arguments with Mercedes–not because my arguments are weak but because Mercedes isn’t the type of person who doesn’t get her way. I’d hate her if not because her personality gets me out of my shell. She forces me to do things I think I don’t want to do but end up loving, so I give in more often than I should.
I watch as she grabs her favorite bathing suit from her suitcase then turns to look at me. She shakes her head like a disappointed mother. “I can’t believe you want to stay in and watch a movie,” she says, repeating my words. When she says them though, I can hear the disgust in her tone.
“I’m tired,” I repeat. “We can always go later.” There’s no rush. We are here for a week after all.
She looks at me sternly. “Go find your bathing suit. We can have breakfast then hangout at the beach.”
I watch as she disappears into the bathroom with her bathing suit in hand. I get off the bed and try to shake off the tiredness. I could always let her go on her own, but then I won’t hear the end of it. Plus, it’s Spring Break. I came to Mexico to enjoy the break, not hang out in my hotel room. Even though today’s only day one, I can understand Mercedes’ excitement to hit the beach, especially with the weather back in Virginia.
We gotta start the break the right way. Set the right tone. So fine, I’ll bite.
Knowing Mercedes is probably almost ready, I get up and walk around to the other side of the bed to where my suitcase lies on the floor.
Unzipping my suitcase, I search through my things for my bathing suit. When I told Mercedes I only brought one bathing suit to college with me, she was outraged. Apparently, I needed to have multiple. According to her, I needed a bathing suit for each day of our vacation. That is outrageous. Why would I need seven different bathing suits when one could do the job just fine? Swim, wash, dry, repeat.
I laugh, remembering the shocked look in her eyes as I keep searching for the bathing suit behind every piece of clothing I packed. I search and search but cannot find it. Instead, I find a two-piece burgundy bathing suit that I know for a fact belongs to Mercedes. “Mercedes!” I shout.
She comes out of the bathroom with her green bathing suit already on. It looks amazing on her, which isn’t surprising. Mercedes could wear a trash bag and look like she was strutting the runway. I wouldn’t be shocked if a modeling agency tried to poach her from the military. “Yes?” she says sweetly, but I can see the devious smile take over when she sees what I’m holding.
“This,” I start, lifting up the suit. “Is yours,” I finish, getting the distinct feeling that she’s up to something.
She nods. “It was… but I decided to give it to you,” she says, shrugging.
“Um, okay, thanks,” I tell her. I don’t really do two-piece bathing suits though. “Have you seen the one I told you I was packing?” I ask. My one piece black bathing suit is the only thing I’m comfortable wearing.
She nods again.
I wait a few seconds for her to say something but when she doesn’t, I follow up. “Well, where is it?”
She bites her lip. “Well, that one-piece suit looked like it belonged to your grandmother, so I swapped it out for one of mine.” She what?
“Are you telling me my one piece is