Becoming Carter Cover Reveal

Title: Becoming Carter (The Carter Series #2)

Genre: Erotic Suspense

Release Date: May 17th 2014

Synopsis

Before she met Kelvin Carter Jr., Lily Hayes was in search of all the things a woman desires in a man: love, excitement, passion, spontaneity, and commitment. Since that fateful day in Applebee’s, she’s gotten everything she ever wanted. Kelvin is her everything, and she is his.

Lily’s love for Kelvin made his family ties to the mob easier to accept. Now, however, Kelvin’s decisions from the past are coming to haunt them in the present, and both of their lives are at stake. The “other family” is out for revenge, and the couple has to look behind them everywhere they go.

Lily has made her choice. She’s accepted Kelvin and all of the baggage that comes with him. But, what about the danger? Is she willing to accept her life being in danger for the sake of being in love?

And, how can they ever feel safe if they can’t trust the man who’s promised to protect them? The man whose arrogance may have caused a war between two families. The man who Kelvin Jr. has seen do terrible, ruthless things in his lifelong pursuit of power. The man who opposes their love in every way. The man who runs the Carter Family. The boss. Kelvin Carter Senior.

*This book is intended for mature audiences*

Teaser

“Don’t worry about a thing, baby. I got you.” I opened my eyes and found Kelvin standing in the hallway. There were no lights on, and his naked body was surrounded by darkness as he stood there staring at me. As I marveled at the perfectly proportioned muscles and tattoos that covered his body—not to mention his astonishing package—I was distracted when I noticed he was holding a gun at his side. The look on his face was one of passion, but also one of pain and worry. I didn’t know what was going on, so I smiled at him, trying to gauge the situation and see if he’d smile back. He did, and it was still the best smile I’d ever seen, even in total darkness. He waved at me, telling me to follow him as he turned around and walked into the living room, but he didn’t turn on any lights. “Kelvin, wait up,” I said, my voice echoing loudly through the penthouse. I felt my heart starting to beat faster with every step I took. I didn’t want to lose him. I didn’t want to be without him in this darkness, so I started running down the hallway and turned into the black living room. The only problem was that when I got there, there was no living room, and Kelvin was gone. The only thing in the room was a man. A man whose face I couldn’t see. All I could make out were the tattoos on his hand. The same hand that was pointing the gun at my face. My eyes bulged, and I tried to scream for Kelvin, but no sound came out of my mouth. Instead, it was another sound I heard—the sound of a trigger being squeezed and the gun going off…  

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Cover Reveal: Forever Baby by Ellie Wade

 

Olivia Marshall is nervous as she embarks on a study abroad program to Spain with her best friend Nolan. Besides the obvious new adventure of living in a foreign country for the summer; there is something else bothering her. A familiar unsettling feeling resonates within and she can’t decipher the significance of it.

Spain turns out to be more of an experience than Olivia had imagined. She meets Andres, a mysteriously gorgeous guy who takes her places she has never been. Her newfound loves brings all of her insecurities to the surface causing her to question everything. She fights the negativity in her head that refuses to let her find happiness.

Despite her flaws Andres seems to love her, but she can’t truly accept it. What is real? What is an illusion? If something seems too good to be true it usually is. How does Olivia hold onto the best thing to ever happen to her if she can’t trust it? Or does someone else already have her heart?

After Olivia leaves the fantasy world of Spain behind she has choices to make that will change the outcome of her future. It isn’t until those choices are made that she understands the ramifications of her actions, but at this point…is it too late?

#1

“I was never planning on finding love in this lifetime. It was not anything I desired. I was content living my life on my own, but you changed all that. With you, I didn’t even have a choice. From the moment I saw you, I knew my life would never be the same. I am destined to love you.”

   

#2

I laugh. “Our study sessions, huh? I don’t see you doing any studying.”

“I’m studying you, of course,” he says.

“Well, that isn’t very intellectually stimulating.”

“Olivia, you have no idea how fascinating you are to me. You’re a work of art and I will never tire of studying you. Ever.” The way he says “ever” makes a blossom of hope open deep inside.

FACEBOOK * WEBSITE * TWITTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST

Ellie Wade resides in southwest Michigan with her husband, three young children, and two dogs. She has a Master’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University and is a huge University of Michigan sports fan. She loves the beauty of her home state, especially the lakes and the gorgeous autumn weather. When she is not writing, you will find her reading, snuggled up with her kiddos, or spending time with family and friends. She loves traveling and spending the summer camping with her family in their camper.

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Book Blitz: To Know Me by Marcy Blesy

To Know Me by Marcy Blesy 

(To Know Me #1) 

Publication date: August 21st 2013

Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

To know me is to die.

Seventeen-year-old Mae is convinced that the consequences of her poor decisions have caused the untimely deaths of her dad, sister Laura, and grandma who all die within a year, no matter how ludicrous her thoughts seem to those she loves. The solution? Run away so no one else she cares for gets hurt (even if she has to keep a GPS tracker on her phone at all times).

Desperate to earn her diploma and salvage something of her life, she transfers schools when people get too close. After switching to Woodson Prep with only two months to go until graduation, Mae keeps her goals in sight. But when she meets Ty, the “perfect boy” with his own secrets and a relentless interest in Mae, she must decide if she can stop running from the past and still protect those she loves.

___

TO KNOW ME is the first book in a new YA romance series that follows Mae from her senior year in high school through her first two years in college as she learns to accept the consequences of her past mistakes that keep impacting the relationships with those she loves...and those she shouldn't.      Out now:  TO KNOW ME...TO LOVE ME...TO FORGIVE ME...and coming in summer 2014: TO CHOOSE ME.

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Purchase:

 Amazon

Excerpt #1:

“Is this for me?” I ask as Ty stands in the center of the clearing with

a yellow rose in one hand.

“No. It’s for that grandma who’ll be passing this area in about ten

minutes. I’m just practicing my delivery.” He’s so cute when he’s

being sarcastic. I take the rose. In an instant I am shocked back to

the day of Laura’s funeral. Everyone in her sixth grade glass

brought roses to the cemetery to lay upon her grave, yellow ones,

her favorite color. “Why aren’t you smiling?” Ty asks. “Did I do

something wrong?”

“N…no.”

“Your hand is shaking,” he says coming over to my side. “Sit

down.” He points to the picnic table. “Mae, if you don’t tell me

anything I won’t ever be able to help you. I want to help you. I know

what it’s like to need help. There’s a lot you don’t know about me,

too. And I’m willing to tell you. It’s weird because I hardly know

anything about you, but I feel like we’re a lot alike.”

“We’re nothing alike,” I say. I want to tell him. But if I do? Then

what? He won’t understand. No one does.

“Is yellow not a good color for brunettes?” he jokes. I can’t help but

smile. He takes the rose, breaks off the stem, and tucks it behind

my ear. He leans in to smell the rose and kisses my cheek. Only

the crunching of sticks from the older couple on the path stops him

from reaching my lips.

AUTHOR BIO

Marcy Blesy is the author of several middle grade and young adult novels and short stories. Her picture book, Am I Like My Daddy?, helps children who experienced the loss of a parent when they were much younger. She has also been published in two Chicken Soup for the Soul books as well as various newspapers and magazines. By day she runs an elementary school library and enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys.

Marcy is a believer in love and enjoys nothing more than making her readers feel a book more than simply reading it. She likes to connect with her readers via twitter (@marcyblesy), email (mablesy(at)yahoo.com), or her blog(www.marcyblesy.com).

Author links:

http://marcyblesy.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AmILikeMyDaddy

https://twitter.com/marcyblesy

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6587358.Marcy_Blesy

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Cover Reveal: Perfect Opposite (Paperback) by Zoya Tessi

Perfect Opposite by Zoya Tessi 

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Publication date: May 18th 2014

Synopsis:

Their wishes were simple and modest. Fate had other things in store though, and she can be a real bitch sometimes.

- All he wanted was to get the job done and somehow to endure those long months playing nanny to a spoiled little rich girl. Without strangling her with his bare hands in the process. Well, it is going to be much easier said than done.

- All she wanted was to escape the past and live like any other nineteen-year-old girl. Her plan definitely didn’t include the arrogant, tattooed savage, with his awful mohawk hair and lack of social graces, whose only mission was to stick real close and mess up her life.

But, people aren’t always what they seem to be, are they?

Goodreads

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AUTHOR BIO

A teenager in an adult's body. A rebel in the guise of an ordinary citizen. A lady with very unladylike language. A dreamer with a rational mind. A woman born into the wrong era, she still believes that chivalry's a feat to define the perfect man.

Zoya spent years doing volunteering work all across Europe, from cleaning school basements in Northern Russia to excavating Stone Age artifacts in Euskadi (the Basque country) and renovating castles from the middle ages in Southern France. She always dreamed of working with 'Doctors without borders' somewhere out in Africa, but ended up doing an 'ordinary job' in one of the smaller European countries.

Her greatest passion is devouring each and every book that comes within her reach.

Author links: 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7732489.Zoya_Tessi

http://zoyatessi.wordpress.com/

https://twitter.com/ZoyaTessi

We are extremely excited to bring you the cover reveal for Laura Kaye’s HARD TO COME BY! 

Published by Avon Impulse, an imprint of HarperCollins, HARD TO COME BY is a thrilling Romantic Suspense novel in Laura’s Hard Ink Series. It is the third full-length novel in the series and is due to be released on November 25th!!

   

  ABOUT HARD TO COME BY:

Caught between desire and loyalty… Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team—sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there. When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he's become. Derek’s easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn’t trust. As the team’s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away…  

Pre-Order at Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes

Hard to Come By on Goodreads

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To(8/19/14)

  Praise for the Hard Ink Series: 

 For Hard As You Can: "TOP PICK! There is a sinister and desperate edge to this tale that will keep readers glued to their seats. Kaye has dark romantic suspense nailed!" ~ RT Book Reviews Magazine 

 "Hard As You Can is another five star read. The characters Ms. Kaye has created are wonderfully broken and the drama is gritty, but the burgeoning romance and the tight-knitted relationship of the team leaves you with a sense of redemption. A must read series!" ~San Francisco Book Review 

 For Hard As It Gets: "Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward 

 "Sizzling romance... The intriguing tattoo parlor and military background will appeal to fans of Suzanne Brockmann and Lindsay McKenna." ~Publishers Weekly Review

 "Kaye's depiction of sexual tension and her sex scenes are masterful and this will appeal to fans of Maya Banks' KGI and Julia Ann Walker's Black Knight's series." ~Booklist  

 

ABOUT LAURA KAYE: 

 Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.       

  Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp Hard to Hold On To on Goodreads Hard to Come By on Goodreads

Book Blitz: Dancing on the Edge by Kit Bakke

Dancing on the Edge by Kit Bakke 

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Twelve year-old Dot is not a dancer, but after her mother’s sudden and senseless death, she finds herself dancing on the edge…of everything.  After her whole world unravels in seconds, Dot is propelled on a voyage to discover the meaning of her past, and of her mother’s greatest gift to her.

With all familiar anchors swept away, Dot’s trip becomes a struggle between finding that gift and running away from a future that feels so bleak.  Pack your bags for a memorable, powerful journey into life in the wake of profound loss.

 Goodreads

Purchase:

Amazon

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From Chapter 1: The Red Tsunami

No one had expected Dot’s mother to die. It was a freak accident, Dot heard 

the medic say when he screeched the van into the Emergency Room driveway of the 

hospital and doctors and nurses ran out to rush Thea’s prone body through a door 

labeled Major Procedures. Although everyone moved quickly, it was already too late 

to do anything but talk.

Staring at the blue yarn or the yellow walls wasn’t enough to block the 

pictures of that cloudy Saturday afternoon. Dot couldn’t stop them from unreeling 

over and over again in her mind. Against her will, she watched her mother and 

herself leave their neighborhood branch of the Seattle Public Library, as they’d done 

hundreds of times ever since Dot was two years old, happily loaded with two weeks’ 

worth of adventure, fun and, just possibly, wisdom.

Next she saw her mother and herself outside the library entrance, holding their 

books and pointing at the clouds in the sky with their free hands. Dot remembered 

every word of their discussion about the definite preponderance of nimbostratus 

formations. They agreed it might rain soon, so they decided they’d better take the bus 

instead of walking. Most of Dot and Thea’s decisions were like that—choices made 

together after an interesting chat. Thea always said she learned as much as Dot when 

they talked like that, which always made Dot feel good.

Dot stared harder at the tufts of blue, trying like crazy to hang on and not 

go past the cloud conversation. But she failed, like she always had this past week, 

and the next memory reel started up, the one where she walked to the corner with 

her mother. For the millionth time Dot watched as she and her mother stood waiting 

for the light to change so they could cross over to their bus stop. Then came the 

completely and totally unstoppable scene—the part when the big red trailer truck 

roared by and its huge, sticking-out side-view mirror hit Thea right at eye level. Dot 

heard the damp thudding sound echo again and again as it smashed the top of her 

mother’s head and broke her neck. It was over in a flash.

Dot never imagined the world could change so fast. One second she had a 

mother, and the next second she didn’t. One second she was an ordinary kid with 

ordinary problems, a second later she was an orphan who was afraid of everything. It 

wasn’t just her mother who had lost her hold on life.

AUTHOR BIO

Kit Bakke spent the last half of the 20th century as a political radical (SDS and the Weather Underground), a pediatric oncology nurse, and an information technology consultant. In the 21st century, she became a published writer. Her MISS ALCOTT'S E-MAIL has led to further writing adventures, including being a founding member of Seattle7Writers (www.seattle7writers.org) and a chapter in HOTEL ANGELINE. Her latest book, DOT TO DOT, is a story of travel, discovery and possibly magic. Young teens, if they are good readers, like it, and so do adults.

Author links:

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Website

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Book Blitz: Spark by Bambi Bellamy

Spark by Bambi Bellamy 

Publication date: April 15th 2014

Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance

Synopsis:

WARNING: Spark contains sexy neighbors who love getting it on… with each other. Graphic language and sex scenes abound. Be advised, this is no sweet romance. Contains hard pumping and ridiculous sexual situations and scenes to make your toes curl. If you can finish Spark without getting hot and bothered, I would check for a pulse. 18+ only!

Newlyweds Violet and Hunter are new in PussyWillow Falls, and they’re loving it.

Everything is beautiful, including the people.

Things heat up FAST when Violet satisfies her husband while they both watch a menage a trois over the fence going on in their neighbors backyard.

But, when the mailman, the paper boy and all the neighbors come calling for a piece of the Violet and Hunter action, was PussyWillow Falls a swinging paradise, or a swinging hell?

Goodreads

Purchase:

 Amazon

Excerpt:

“Jack, this is Violet, one of the new neighbors from across the street,” Julia told 

him.

Reaching across, he grabbed my hand and leaned down and placed his lips on 

the back of it. My cheeks burned, and the feel of his lips on my hand was making 

my temperature rise by at least ten degrees. “Nice to make your acquaintance, 

Violet, but I'm afraid that I'm going to have to make this short and sweet, as I 

have to get ready for work and be on the road in less than ten minutes.”

Stripping off his boxer shorts, he stood in front of me for what felt like minutes, 

until he finally walked away with this huge baton swinging between his legs. 

Julia slapped him on his bare ass, and then turned back to her coffee like it 

was no big deal. I was starting to see that Julia and her husband were very 

comfortable in their own skin and didn't mind public displays of affection, or 

nudity.

 “My apologies for my husband; he really doesn't have a shy bone in his body.” 

I didn't know what to say, and the fact that I had just seen my new neighbor 

completely naked had taken me aback a bit. Drinking my cup of coffee, I was 

soon to see Jack come out in a very expensive tailored suit that probably cost 

more than the first car I owned.

“Wow, he really does clean up well.” 

I couldn't get the image of his huge length out of my mind, and then began to 

play over certain images of him taking me from behind and pulling my hair at the 

same time.

“I know that look, and I see that my husband has made a lasting impression on 

you.” 

There was no denying the fact that he had a massive length, and that his body 

was cut out of stone and doing some remarkable things to my libido, but I wasn’t 

going to admit that to her. 

“Hey, you have nothing to worry about from me, as my husband and I have a 

very open relationship, and I think you know what I mean by that.” 

She was actually giving me permission to fantasize about her husband Jack, and 

maybe even take it to another level altogether. Ever since Jamaica, I had seen 

sex as something that I could truly get used to having on a daily basis. Now that 

I have had some of the best sex of my life, I wanted to do some comparison-

shopping and see what else was out there that could tickle my fancy. It's just that 

I didn't think I was that type of person to turn to another, especially when I had a 

very caring and supportive husband at home. 

“No, no… looking will do just fine.” I think that she was a little disappointed at my 

reaction, and was hoping that she was going to be able to convince me to slide 

into their matrimonial bed. “Hunter isn't that type of man, and I don't think I am 

that type of woman.”

“Jack and I were exactly like you ten years ago, but we have since found that 

we like to experiment with other like-minded individuals. If you have to take a 

few baby steps, then I would suggest that you come over for the barbecue this 

weekend, and you can meet some of our neighbors and maybe see if anything 

else catches your attention.” 

Running her hand down my arm, she was licking her lips and looking at me like 

she wanted to jump on top of me.

“I will talk it over with Hunter.” Pulling away from her was a little bit more difficult 

than I imagined, as her fingers dug into my skin, as if she desperately wanted to 

keep me sitting beside her and talking about the birds and the bees. 

It wasn't like I was adverse to anything else, but just didn't know if I was the 

type of person who could find myself having sex with somebody who wasn't my 

husband. My parents always taught me that a marriage was built on trust and 

honesty, and when one person stepped out on the other, it usually meant that the 

relationship wasn't as strong as they both believed it be.

Book Blitz: You Make Me by Erin McCarthy

You Make Me by Erin McCarthy 

(Blurred Lines #1) 

Publication date: April 21st 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

The guy she wants…

Growing up on the coast of Maine with a revolving door of foster siblings, Caitlyn Michaud spent one intense and passionate year falling in love with her foster brother, Heath. Then he left without a word. The betrayal devastated Caitlyn and made her vow to forget the compelling bad boy. But forgetting his sensual touch and their deep all-consuming friendship is easier said than done.

Isn’t the guy she needs…

Determined to move on, in college Caitlyn has risen above her small town impoverished roots and has joined a sorority, reinvented her appearance, and landed the right boyfriend. Pre-law major and frat president, Ethan, is thoughtful and always laughing, and he makes her feel happy, calm. He also gives her the social acceptance she craves.

But the perfect world she tried so hard to attain is ripped apart when Heath appears one night out of nowhere. Caitlyn remembers all the reasons why she loves him, even if they don’t make sense to anyone but her. Out of the military, Heath is as brooding and intense as ever, and he is determined not only to win her back, but to exact revenge on everyone who kept him from her…

And when one love allows her to breathe, but the other feels as essential to her life as air, how does she choose between them?

Goodreads

Purchase:

 Amazon:

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AUTHOR BIO

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written almost fifty novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for New Orleans, tattoos, high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.

Author links:

http://www.erinmccarthy.net/

https://twitter.com/authorerin

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7941.Erin_McCarthy

Book Blitz: Ransom by Rachel Schurig

Ransom by Rachel Schurig

Publication date: April 28th 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

**The first book in a brand new series from USA Today bestselling author Rachel Schurig. This New Adult Contemporary Romance novel is a complete story with no cliffhanger.**

Daisy Harris has no reason to suspect that her day will be any different than usual. She’ll go to class, alone. She won’t speak or make eye contact. She’ll spend her entire day doing her best to go completely unnoticed. That’s what life is like for Daisy now—an endless cycle of loneliness and fear. A life lived hiding behind the walls she so faithfully maintains.

Then she sees it. A magazine, left behind in class. A simple picture—just his face. And it changes everything.

It’s been a year since she’s seen Daltrey Ransome. A year since he and his brothers left town to pursue their dreams of rock and roll superstardom. A year since he left Daisy behind—left her to watch as everything she knew crumbled around her. She’s been running from Daltrey ever since, desperate to keep her secret.

But she can’t run anymore. And now that Daltrey has found her—the girl he’s loved his entire life, the girl he’d give up everything for—he’s determined never to let her go again.

Goodreads

Purchase:

Amazon

Excerpt: 

I wake up, alone in a dark hotel room, my heart racing, scared out of my mind. When

I finally figure out where the hell I am, I rub my aching chest. I’m glad I’m not on the

bus, glad there’s no one in here to see me like this. I’m pretty sure the wetness I feel on

my cheeks is tears, and my brothers would never let me live that down.

Knowing sleep isn’t going to return anytime soon, I climb out of bed and head for

the mini bar. I grab a cold beer, even though I could probably use something stronger.

You’re too young for a drinking problem. So-called rock star or not.

I take the beer to the small balcony of my room and lean against the railing, looking

out over the lights of Memphis. We played a kick-ass show, and I should still be on a

high from it. The crowd was amazing. Everything felt right in the world, for a few brief

hours. I could forget about the knowledge that I’d traveled halfway across the country

without actually seeing any of it. Forget the fact that the tour bus, though more luxurious

than our old van, was cramped and starting to make me feel claustrophobic. Forget about

how tired I was and how my throat hurt pretty much every day now. When we played

like that, when we somehow managed to tap into that almost magical, synched-up, out-

of-body place I can’t even describe, I could forget about all the shitty stuff and remember

why we were doing this in the first place.

I had felt that tonight, for the first time in weeks, and the sensation had been

fantastic. I should have slept like a baby. But here I was again, drinking a beer by myself

at three in the morning.

I keep having dreams about her.

Which is pretty fucking ridiculous because I haven’t talked to the girl in about a

year. Daisy made it perfectly clear that, for whatever reason, she was done with me—just

like that, years of friendship, gone. And I don’t even know what the hell I did.

Okay, so I left, but she always knew that was going to happen. We planned for it,

for Christ’s sake. Worked for it. Both of us. She had every bit as much to do with our

success as anyone in the band. She was our biggest supporter, our loudest critic. We

never performed a song without her hearing it first, never played a gig without her there.

She was with us on that first horrible so-called tour, riding around Pennsylvania, Ohio,

and Indiana to all those dingy dive bars. She helped us plaster the towns with our flyers

and sell our homemade CDs, just waiting for our big chance.

And when it came, when we got the call from Grey Skies that they wanted us to open

for them, she was there then, too. She sat at our kitchen table, just like she had a thousand

times before, waiting with bated breath for my dad to get off the phone with their

manager. When he finally hung up and confirmed that our big break had appeared, she

was the first person I grabbed as the kitchen erupted around us. She was happy for me—

not the fake kind of happy that you think another person wants to see. She was genuinely,

honest-to-God, screaming-her-face-off-while-hugging-me happy.

The only bad thing about those hectic, heady weeks before the tour was leaving her.

I wanted to tell her then, the thing I’d always known but been too afraid to say, but I

didn’t. I couldn’t imagine saying those three words—finally saying them, out loud, not

just in my head where I imagined it constantly—and then leaving. So I held my tongue,

and my tears, as I hugged her one last time before heading for the airport.

Maybe I should have said it. Maybe then she wouldn’t have disappeared the way

she did. But I had a plan, damn it. I was going to come back, take her to her prom, the

way we always talked about, and drop the bomb that I wanted us to be more. The way it

played out in my head was that she’d be so happy she’d be willing to leave with me. She

would forget about the business school she never really wanted to attend to come on tour

with us. I wanted to experience this with her. I wanted to show her the world.

Taking another sip of beer, I wonder—not for the first time—what in the hell I could

have done to piss her off so much. She stopped taking my calls about three months after

we left for California. By then we’d recorded our album and started to tour as the openers

for Grey Skies. I used to call her every night, eager to tell her all about life on the road in

a proper tour. We had a lot more free time back then, and I was actually getting a chance

to do things in the towns where we stopped. Was that it? Was she jealous?

But that wasn’t like Daisy. I cannot imagine that she would throw away a thirteen-

year friendship out of jealousy. It didn’t make any sense. But one day, she didn’t answer

when I called. And didn’t respond to my voice mail. Or my increasingly panicked text

messages. My emails went unanswered, too.

I tried for weeks to reach her, calling her house, her phone, her dad’s phone. He told

me flat out she didn’t want to talk to me, but I still couldn’t accept it. Even when her cell

number was disconnected, when my emails started to come back with the message that

there was no such address, I didn’t get it. It wasn’t until she finally called me to cancel

our prom plans that I realized what she’d been trying to tell me: She didn’t want to have

anything to do with me.

I replay those weeks all the time, wondering what I could have done differently. I

always come back to the same thing: I should have gone home. I should have told my

dad to screw himself and gotten on a plane. They could have managed without me for a

few days. Even if they couldn’t, even if it would have jeopardized our chance to open for

Grey Skies, I should have done it anyway. Daisy was worth it.

But I didn’t. And now she’s away at college, probably having the time of her life,

forgetting all about her old friend. I can see her so clearly, sitting on a green lawn,

surrounded by friends, like some fucking commercial, her brown curls blowing in the

breeze as she laughs. The image makes my chest ache again. She’s gone, man. Accept it.

I look out over the city again, my beer bottle empty. She is gone, hundreds of miles

away, totally out of my reach. And I’m here, alone in the middle of the night, haunted by

memories of the only girl I ever loved.

AUTHOR BIO

Rachel Schurig lives in the metro Detroit area with her dog, Lucy. She loves to watch reality TV and she reads as many books as she can get her hands on. In her spare time, Rachel decorates cakes. Her THREE GIRLS series is available now from Amazon!

Author Links:

Website: http://rachelschurig.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rems330

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelSchurigAuthor

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