Cover Reveal ~ Emotionally Compromised ~ by ~ Alex Rosa

Alex Rosa has given EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED a makeover and to celebrate, the book is on sale for $0.99 for a limited time! Check out the new cover, read an excerpt and be sure to grab your copy before the price goes back up!

About EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED

“A smile will get you far, but a smile and a gun will get you farther” -Al Capone.

Federal Agent Alex Turner deals better with guns than boyfriends, and prefers it that way. Her emotional range is bleak, but her aim is damn near perfect.

Thinking saving the world is a far easier task than dating, Agent Turner springs at the opportunity to prevent young scientist Marcus Gibbs from selling his biological weapon to the highest bidder. With her goal in sight, and Marcus eating out of the palm of her hand, an obstacle she doesn’t see coming interferes. Meet Jeremy Hunt — the distractingly handsome CEO of Sunscape Biotechnologies, and Marcus’s boss and best friend.

A man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, Jeremy’s never been one to take no for an answer, which has Agent Turner realizing for the first time that her wit might get her farther than her weapon. With no protocol or training to reference when it comes to matters of the heart, she worries that this might be her hardest assignment yet.

Add EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED to your TBR!

Get EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED for $0.99 on Amazon!

 

Read an excerpt from EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED

The car pulls away, and I’m alone with Jeremy, who’s now standing right next to me.

I stare into the distance, not wanting to make eye contact even though I know he’s staring at me. I bob back and forth on my heels, waiting for a cab, wishing for this moment to be over. He scoffs, and I still don’t budge.

As if he can’t take it, he says, “Really?”

The statement almost offends me. I turn to look at him, and it’s a blatant mistake. He stands with hands in his pockets in a nonchalant sort of pose, his dress shirt rolled up revealing his muscular forearms. My mouth starts watering. Focus.

“Excuse me?” I ask.

“You’re kidding right now, right? That stunt you just pulled with Marcus. Is this all because I grabbed your ass?” He’s coming dangerously close to being crude, and I get right to the point.

“Is this because I offered him my number, and not you?”

His mouth forms a hard line, and he’s all tough CEO, but I’m no mouse and I stare right back. After a moment, he’s back to trying to hold back his smile.

“Maybe it is.” He pouts.

When Jeremy pouts, it’s a remarkable sight. I gulp over my last thought.

“Well, I would say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”

As if dumbfounded, he continues, “Why Marcus? Why him? He’s been a drunk slob all night.”

Is he really putting down his friend? I wonder if talking about his friends this way is a habit.

I turn to look away because I can’t think of a logical response. He knows I’m attracted to him, and I will not let him take advantage of that fact. I can tell he thinks it’s funny that I’m giving him the silent treatment, and it annoys me.

He leans in somewhat close, and in a mocking tone, he says, “Is it these blue eyes? Are they too much for you?”

Before I can stop it, a laugh erupts from my mouth, and I look at him and roll my eyes.

“Mr. Hunt, you’re definitely not used to not getting what you want, and it almost pleases me that I can affect you so.”

He bites his lip, nodding his head as he looks away.

“You’re toying with me.”

Maybe I am.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About ALEX ROSA

Alex Rosa lives in Los Angeles, California. By day she’s a Digital Marketing Manager and by night a writer of swoon-worthy books. With nearly ten years of writing experience, she has published five novels, including the Tryst Series with Intermix, Penguin Random House’s digital imprint.

She finds her home amongst words, whether it be in books or in film. A pop culture fanatic, cemetery creeper, and self-proclaimed nerd, she’s always following her favorite fandoms, the latest foodie finds, or picking her next city excursion or outdoor undertaking.

Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that’s just the way she likes it.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Cover Reveal ~ Revved to the Maxx ~ by ~ Melanie Moreland

Cover Reveal Banner

Cover Reveal

Title: Revved To The Maxx
Author: Melanie Moreland
Release Date: September 3, 2020
Cover Photographer: Eric D Battershell
Cover Model: Nelson Lopes
Cover Designer: Monark Design Services

Cover

 ABOUT

Maxx Reynolds needs help.

His shop, house, and life are all in a state of disarray.

In desperation, he turns to the internet to hire a new employee, thinking it will make his life easier.

What he expects is a fellow named Charly.

What he gets is a quirky, sassy, red-head name Charlynn who runs circles around him.

And she’s all woman.

He can’t stand her.

He can’t keep his hands off her either.

Preorder eBook Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/RevvedToTheMaxx

Add to your Goodreads TBR:
https://bit.ly/RevvedToTheMaxx

 Read an Excerpt:
“You like older men, Red?” 

Paperback Coming Soon

RTTM Wrap

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

NYT/WSJ/USAT international bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of thirty-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.

While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.

Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.

Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at  flavia@bookcaseagency.com

Visit Melanie on Facebook
Join her Reader Group Melanie’s Minions
Sign Up for her Newsletter
Check out her Website
Find her on Twitter
Get release updates from Bookbub
Purchase all her books or read on KU on Amazon
Follow her on Instagram
Read Excerpts on Book+Main
Buy branded merchandise on Moreland Books shop

MM Logo

 

Cover Reveal ~ The Wrong Brother ~ by ~ Amanda Siegrist

 

 

Title: The Wrong Brother

Series: perfect for you #1

Author: Amanda Siegrist
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Cover Design: Amanda Siegrist

 Release Date: August 11, 2020

Blurb

 

Objective: Get hired as a temporary secretary
and find out if Champ Holloway is a dirty, cheating scumbag.
Time Frame: One week.
Gabby would do anything for her best friend, Mia. Anything.
That’s what besties are for, right? But going undercover at her boyfriend’s
work to find out if he’s cheating seems a bit extreme. Except she can’t say no.
Never to Mia. The moment she walks in and sees her boyfriend, she
knows she made a mistake. He’s sex on a stick, and she wants to take a
delicious bite. He’s also a bit too arrogant, needs to work on his pleases and
thank yous, and he never smiles. Everyone should smile at least once a day.
It’s one long week of a battle of wills, sinful glances, and keeping her hands
to herself. All she can do is repeat Mia. Mia. Mia. This is all for Mia. Until
she realizes…there are two Mr. Holloways. And she got hired by the wrong one.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS  

Pre-order Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Excerpt
“Mia, come on, talk to him. See if he’s cheating on you. You’re
obviously getting a feeling that he’s doing something wrong if you’re asking me
to do this. It’s a little extreme for me to go ‘undercover,’” Gabby said, using
quotations with her fingers on the word undercover, “to see if your boyfriend
is cheating on you.”
“Since when are cheaters honest? Like he’s going to say, ‘Yeah, Mia
baby, I’m not cheating on you.’ He’d never admit it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, God, does he call you baby? That’s
so…so…disgusting.”
“It’s sweet. It rolls off his tongue like butter melting on a piece of
warm bread. I love it when he calls me that.”
“If you say so. Look, Mia, I can’t take a week off work to go incognito
at his work. There’s no way in hell I could lie on the application about prior
employment. It’s not in me to lie like that.”
“You don’t have to lie. You were a secretary before.” Mia smirked.
“That’s another quarter.”
Gabby raised her eyebrows in disbelief, almost spitting out the small
gulp she had consumed. Then she rolled her eyes. “Stop making me swear. I’m
blaming you. And I was a secretary when I was nineteen. I’m twenty-nine now.
We’re a little too old to be playing these games. Talk to him.”
“I can’t. I don’t want to see him lie to my face.”
“If you think he’s cheating, I repeat—dump. His. Ass.”
“You’re almost up to a dollar.”
“Mia!” Gabby knew she was trying to irritate her.
“I need solid proof before I confront him.” Mia produced another pouty
face that was hard to resist. “I need you to do this. His secretary is on
maternity leave. It’s only a temp position, so it’s not like you’d be lying
that much when you leave after a week. He’s been talking about how all the applicants
have been horrible. He’ll hire you on the spot. I know it. Like you said, one
week. That’s all I’m asking. I need to know. Then I can dump the lying,
cheating, scumbag for sleeping around on me.”
Gabby gulped the rest of her drink, wiping her hand across her lips as
if she gained a mustache from the sweet red wine. “How do I let you talk me
into shit like this?” She groaned. “Yes, I know, I now owe a dollar.”
Mia screamed in delight, grabbing Gabby around the waist. “You’re the
best bestie ever.”
“Fine, bestie. One week. No more.”
“Yes! I knew I could count on you. His name is Champ Holloway.”
“I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.”
(Copyright © 2020 Amanda Siegrist)
Author Bio
I’m a USA Today Bestselling Author that loves to write sweet
contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, although I am partial to
romantic suspense. Honestly, I love anything that has to do with romance. As
long as there’s a happy ending, I’m a happy camper. And insta-love…yes, please!
I love baseball (Go Twins!) and creating awesome crafts. I graduated with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, working in that field for several years
before I became a stay-at-home mom. I have a few more amazing stories in the
works. If you would like to connect with me or see important news, head to my
website at http://www.amandasiegrist.com.
Thanks for reading!
Author Links

 

Cover Reveal ~ Violence ~ by ~ Lily White

#VCR

Violence Wrap

♦ ♦ ♦

#VCR-2

Title: Violence

Series: Antihero Inferno Book 3

Author: Lily White

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Day: July 29, 2020

Release Tour: July 29 – 30, August 1, 2020

Cover Designer: Lori Jackson Designs

Photographer: Michelle Lancaster

Model: Lawrence Templar

♦ ♦ ♦

#VCR-3

VIOLENCE Cover Final

Seventh Circle

Violence

Also Known As Ezra Cross

He’s one of a pair.

Identical twin to Damon.

And an enforcer for the Inferno if one is ever needed.

I knew better than to get involved with him.

With his aggression.

With the constant fights.

With the games the twins were known to play with every woman stupid enough to fall for them.

We made a mistake when we met again as adults.

I fell in love.

He fell in love.

His brother fell in love, too.

What used to be a good time is now a tragedy.

Our story is messy.

It’s cruel.

It’s forbidden.

Despite all that, Ezra refuses to let go.

add-to-goodreads-button

♦ ♦ ♦

#VCR-7

Enter the Cover Reveal Giveaway here!

♦ ♦ ♦

#VCR-4

IMG_4275

Lily White is a bestselling author who likes to dabble on the dark side of romance. She is most known for her Masters Series, Target This, Wishing Well, and The Five.

When she isn’t writing as Lily White you can find other books by her under M.S. Willis where she has penned the Control Series, the Estate Series, and Because of Ellison (contemporary romance).

Lily enjoys stretching her writing muscles by continuing to challenge herself with each book she publishes.

#VCR-5

84faf-website 481e5-facebook 868e4-twitter 1a806-instagram goodreads AMAZON 2 ed575-newsletter

group icon - black bookbub

♦ ♦ ♦

#VCR-8

Join the Antihero Inferno Series promotion here!

♦ ♦ ♦

HOSTED BY TNS MAIN

website gold facebook gold twitter gold instagram gold gold label_newsletter Pinterest gold youtube gold

MASTER LIST - JOIN OUR TEAM

 

Cover Reveal ~ It Matters to Me ~ by ~ Wendy Owens

#IMTMCR-3

81991492_2712811278931960_131087946453166039_n

♦ ♦ ♦

#IMTMCR-4

Title: It Matters To Me

Series: Wandering Hearts

Author: Wendy Owens

Genre: Women’s Fiction / Contemporary Romance

Cover Designer: Emily Witting Designs

♦ ♦ ♦

#IMTMCR-5

It_Matters_To_Me

Kenzie feels like she’s suffocating, smothered by her own life.

After graduating from college, her boyfriend Ben goes to work for his father in the family auto body shop. He assures her once he can take care of them financially, they’ll move forward with their lives together. The problem is, she’s not sure she wants the happily ever after, at least not with him.

Aiden is an expert at loving them and leaving them. He likes being a bachelor because he never has to worry about getting hurt. Growing up with his billionaire abusive father after his mother killed herself, he’s lived with enough pain to last him a thousand lifetimes. But his new photography assistant has him questioning his choice to keep everyone at arms length.

Is Kenzie enough to make him risk the pain?

Just when they all think the pieces of her lives are finally falling into place, a tragedy leaves everyone questioning the things that truly matter to them. A heart will be left broken, the question is, who’s heart will it be?

#IMTMCR-7

♦ ♦ ♦

#IMTMCR-9

Enter to win the Cover Reveal Giveaway HERE!

♦ ♦ ♦

#IMTMCR-6

headshot

Wendy Owens was born in the small college town, Oxford Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went onto a career in the visual arts. After several years of creating and selling her own artwork she gave her first love, writing, a try. She has released the YA fantasy series, The Sacred Guardians. She has authored the NA Romance series, The Stubborn Love Series as well as a Women’s fiction series, The Wandering Hearts. Her personal favorite book though is her YA Contemporary romance, Wash Me Away.

When she’s not writing, this dog lover can be found spending time with her tech geek husband, their three amazing kids, and two pups. She loves to cook and is a film fanatic, and hasn’t met an ugly house she wasn’t dreaming of renovating.

#IMTMCR-8

black icon-website black icons-facebook 868e4-twitter 1a806-instagram goodreads AMAZON 2 bookbub

♦ ♦ ♦

HOSTED BY TNS MAIN

website gold facebook gold twitter gold instagram gold gold label_newsletter Pinterest gold youtube gold

MASTER LIST - JOIN OUR TEAM

 

Cover Reveal ~ Only One Night ~ by ~ Dani Rene

Title: Only One Night: A Fusion Universe Novel

Author: Dani René
Genre: Steamy Romance
Release Date: August 10, 2020
Cover Design: Kari March

 

 

 

USA Today Bestselling Author, Dani René, brings you a steamy romance written in the Fusion Universe of the New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Proby.

 

Elisabetta has been running from her past for far too long, but when she lands in Portland, she’s ready to start fresh. Her love of cooking brings her to a place she can call her own. She’s determined not to get involved with anyone. Her focus is the bakery. But one meeting with realtor, Rome Donovan, knocks the breath from her lungs. No man has ever affected her like he does.
The more she pushes, the more he pulls, until finally, the beautiful baker relents and agrees to a date.
It’s only one night.
That’s all it can ever be.

 

 

 
Dani is a USA Today Bestselling Author of a variety of genres, from romantic suspense to dark erotic romance and even BDSM romance. She loves to delve into the raw, emotional journeys her characters venture on, and enjoys the dark, edgy, and sensual scenes that fill the pages of her books. Dani’s stories are seductive with a deviant edge with feisty heroines and dominant alphas.
 

HOSTED BY:

 

Cover Reveal ~ Legacy ~ by ~ Laura Pavlov

 

 

Title: Legacy

Series: Montgomery Brothers #1
Author: Laura Pavlov

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations

Release Date: July 21, 2020

 

Blurb
Ford
I don’t have time for distractions.
I have a billion-dollar company to run. A father to grieve.
A legacy to fulfill.
Harley DeLuca is not my type.
She’s snarky.
She’s stubborn.
And she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen—even in
her ridiculous grungy tennis shoes.
I can’t get enough of her.
Harley
I was a mistake from the moment of conception.
The sins of my mother have followed me like a nightmare in a
horror flick.
I’m determined to make a life for myself, free of my past.
I have three goals.
Open a bakery.
Keep Gramps safe.
And forget that I’m Valentina DeLuca’s daughter.
There’s no room in my life for a man.
Especially an arrogant, condescending jerk like Ford
Montgomery. 
But now he’s my business partner.
My friend.
And if I’m not careful, he just might be—everything. 

 

Pre-order Links
$2.99 for pre-order only!
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Author Bio
Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that
will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college
sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost-grown kids, and dog-whisperer to a couple
crazy yorkies. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily
ever after.
Author Links

 

Cover Reveal ~ The Trouble With Wanting ~ by ~ Jillian Liota

Today we have the cover reveal for The Trouble with Wanting by Jillian Liota! Check out the gorgeous cover and be sure to pre-order your copy today!

Title: THE TROUBLE WITH WANTING

Author: Jillian Liota

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 20th

About The Trouble With Wanting:

Ruby Roberts is heading to Cedar Point to connect with the father who left her behind. Easy conversation with the handsome man sitting next to her isn’t what she’s expecting from her cross-country flight, but it’s not something she’s complaining about, that’s for sure.

Boyd Mitchell is flying home for some end-of-summer relaxation and time with his favorite people – his family. A talkative seat-mate that pulls him out of his shell is the last thing he wants, but he can’t seem to resist her charm.

When Boyd and Ruby end up in the same lakeside town, their banter and flirtation quickly become a steamy fling that leaves them both breathless. Neither of them are expecting to find a romance that has them both reconsidering everything they used to believe about love.

As their time in Cedar Point comes to an end, the two will have to decide whether they want their connection to turn into a real-world relationship, or whether wanting more is nothing but trouble.

Pre-Order Today:

Amazon

About Jillian Liota:

Jillian Liota is a new author writing contemporary romance and new adult fiction. She lives in Kailua, Hawaii with her amazing husband, 2 cats, and 3-legged pup.

She is the author of the new adult romance novel The Keeper, which focuses on a female college soccer goalie, as well as the follow up novella, Keep Away. Her newest release, Like You Mean It, is in the contemporary romance genre and has a more mature voice, as it follows a pregnant mother finding love in a new town. The next novel in the Like You Series, Like You Want It, will be published in Spring 2019

She has a master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs, and she is passionate about all things improvement, development and organization.

She’s also a big fan of taking walks with her husband and dog Maia, reading romance (obviously), watching a handful of horrible reality TV shows, and exploring the island she calls home. Check out her Contact page for more information on how to connect.

Connect with Jillian:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Email

Cover Reveal ~ Can’t Fight It ~ by ~ Kaylee Ryan & Lacey Black

Title: Can’t Fight It

Series: Fair Lakes #3

Authors: Kaylee Ryan & Lacey Black
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creative Covers

Release Date: July 30, 2020

 

Blurb
Colton
From the
moment she showed up on my doorstep, I knew our lives would never be the same.
I felt it deep in my soul that she was going to change us forever. I didn’t
know how, but I knew she was important. I tried to maintain the distance
between us, but it was too strong to fight.
With each passing
day, I saw a future I never planned flash before my eyes—one with a fairytale
ending. The only problem is that someone wanted to take that away from me, away
from us. I just found her, and no way am I letting her go that easily.  Hollis is family, my family, and I’ll do
whatever it takes to protect her.
Hollis
Colton
Callahan wasn’t what I expected. I was in desperate need of a fresh start,
ready for something new, but all it took was one look at those intoxicating
blue eyes for me to reevaluate everything. I tried to stay detached, but
something about him just called to me.
It took no
time at all for me to fall. Not only for the man I share a living space with,
but also his son, Milo. The problem is my past is not too far behind, trailing
behind me and slowly catching up. When it finally does, I have a choice to
make—run away, leaving them behind, or stay and fight, potentially putting them
in danger. Either way, I could lose it all.
Pre-order Links
Only available at the following retailers 
for a limited time

Also Available
FREE for a limited time!
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Always free in Kindle Unlimited
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Kaylee Ryan
Kaylee Ryan is a
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.  When she’s not spinning
tales of happily ever after, she’s reading or spending time with family.
Born and raised an Ohio girl, Kaylee resides in Cincinnati with her husband and
their son.
WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

GOODREADS
Lacey Black

Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading and writing.
She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an
opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey
is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you
mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her
husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves shooting guns and
should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.

 

Cover Reveal ~ Drowning In Stars ~ by ~ Debra Anastasia

Screen Shot 2020-07-02 at 10.43.07 PM

BLURB:

… he walked a tightrope five stories up just to hold my hand. 

Gaze: I moved into the building next to Pixie when I was eleven. She blew bubbles through my window. I shot my Nerf gun through hers. We both had secrets, but one of us was fated to get hurt. I wanted it to be me. 

Pixie: When I was afraid of the dark, he would shine a light in my window. We shared our popsicles and I taught him how to get a good swing on the playground. I never imagined I’d have to decide who got to live and who didn’t. I chose him –and he could never know.

She walked a tightrope five stories up just to save my life…

Screen Shot 2020-07-02 at 10.42.16 PM

COMING AUGUST 9th

★☆★☆✶⭑⭐✩Drowning in Stars is a full 100k standalone.✩★⭐✯⭑☆★☆★✶⭑

Sign up here for first live notification:  https://bit.ly/NewsletterDebra2020

                             Add Drowning in Stars to your TBR list: https://bit.ly/DISGOOD

Follow Debra on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2ZtTlCV

Sign up for the Newsletter here:  https://bit.ly/DIStars

Get in on the giveaways in the Daredevils: http://bit.ly/DebrasDareDevils

Screen Shot 2020-07-02 at 10.42.42 PM

Debra Anastasia’s writing is imaginary, dark, comedic, and the perfect sexy. Drowning in Stars is the perfect representation of her! — Tijan NYT Bestselling Author

Full of gut wrenching angst and poignant emotion, Drowning in Stars is a hauntingly beautiful must read. –Helena Hunting NYT Bestselling Author

Screen Shot 2020-07-02 at 10.43.45 PM

To celebrate this cover release go here for a $50 Amazon gift card giveaway by Debra: https://www.debraanastasia.com/drowing-in-stars-giveaway

Screen Shot 2020-07-02 at 10.44.11 PM

Short excerpt:

The ache in my chest hurt again. I didn’t know how to be me without her. 

Medium excerpt: 

And then he came in for the kiss. It was him and I was so used to him, but in a totally different way. A new way. Changing everything and realizing that nothing really had to change. He was already mine. His kiss was just ours. Incredibly different from the accidental kiss when we were kids. 

His lips tasted good. Slow and gentle, but my heart was racing so fast. He stopped and checked my eyes. I nodded slightly. I was good. This was good. He was making my mouth mine, letting me be the one that decided to be kissed. And then I wasn’t thinking anymore. 

I was just a girl kissing a boy and free falling into the beauty of permission.

Long Excerpt: 

I wanted to go find Pixie 

There was no hiding at my height now. In my next class, Ashlin sidled close. “Hey, you wanted to see Pixie? You’re going to see a lot of her soon.” 

If she was superman she couldn’t have timed it better because the fire alarm went off. I followed the flow out the door, the teachers closing doors and flicking out lights. I didn’t like how Megan and Ashlin snickered with each other. 

They gathered near a group of girls that all had their phones out. Their attention was pinned on a door like they were cats ready for a mouse to pop out. 

It was cold outside. I stood near my last class, but it was more a loose cluster. When the door finally popped open, the fire alarm was starting to give me a headache. 

The spoils of mean laughter made me grit my teeth. I’d been bullied enough to know that that particular noise was always accompanied by someone else’s pain. 

Her hair was shorter than when we were kids, but her face was an instant balm to my raw heart. Pixie. 

But I went from calm to confusion. My normally gutsy Pixie looked like she was trapped in her worst nightmare. She hung her head for a few beats of the alarm. Flashes went off. The crew of girls snapping pictures. 

Pixie was hugging her body and I realized why with a gasp. She was only in a pair of underwear. She was topless and hugging her breasts as a way to cover herself. 

I jumped through the kids in front of me, using their shoulders to hold myself up and swing my long legs through. I flat out sprinted to get to Pixie, peeling off my basketball jacket from my old school as I moved. I covered her from the front, pulling the arms behind her back. 

She looked up in my eyes. Her confusion and relief collided. 

I slipped my sweat pants off and held them out to her feet. She stuck them in one and at a time and then jumped so I could yank them up the rest of the way. 

The world swirled around us, blurry and useless. I used the time to cuddle her to me, holding the jacket closed while she wiggled her arms inside. I leaned over her and snapped up the back. She was covered. 

“Gaze?” She held up her hand, well it was her hand but it was dwarfed by the extra fabric of my long jacket on her. She almost touched my face before squinting. “You can’t be?”

I watched as her soul knew what her brain refused to come to terms with. 

“I am. It’s me and I’m back.” 

Teachers came into our orbit, asking questions. The snide assholes were there too, but the pictures and video continued, I saw it in my peripheral. I’m sure my boxer briefs were super exciting. 

Pixie pushed on my chest. “Are you cold?”

“No.” It was her. I could still smell her strawberry shampoo and tsee the small dusting of freckles on the bridge of her nose. They were my own personal constellation that I’ve always wished on a million times. 

About the Author

Screen Shot 2020-07-02 at 10.44.43 PM

 

Debra creates pretend people in her head and paints them on the giant, beautiful canvas of your imagination. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and writes new adult angst and romantic comedies. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two amazing children.

   

Connect with Debra

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debra.anastasia/

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DebrasDaredevils/

Newsletter: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Debra_Anastasia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debra_anastasia/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/debraanastasia/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vVuo45

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-anastasia