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by Kay Blake Genre: NA/Adult Contemporary Romance Release Date: August 10th 2018 Summary:
Sometimes love’s a drug. The rush can be so addicting. All that matters is the high. Not the consequences. Not the damage left in its wake.
Adrian Robinson was a college football star, with his future all mapped out. He didn’t expect to fall for feisty Leah Hunter. Nor did he expect the destruction left in its wake when it all came to an end.
Now, Adrian’s a hotel magnate and one of the most eligible bachelors in the world.
He has it all, except the one woman he has kept in his heart for years. And he’s willing to do anything to get her back.
Leah hasn’t seen Adrian since the day she was forced to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.
When Leah is assigned to write a piece on him for her magazine, remnants of their torrid romance still burn like yesterday.
Will the high be worth it this time? Or is it destined to crash and burn?
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DQHYPH8
Excerpt:
Adrian laughed sitting up. “Well, maybe it’s weird that you haven’t let it go yet, but I have to admit I do admire that kind of dedication.â€
I smiled and got off of his arm to playfully push him.
“Here you go teasing me again,†I said sticking out my tongue in a mock manner.
“No teasing. Just stating what I noticed. That is it. I promise. I don’t want a repeat of earlier.â€
My stomach at that moment dropped and all the fluttering started again. It was as if there was a family of butterflies were fluttering around in my stomach and I was helpless to stop them. I didn’t know why, but I did like Adrian more that I had cared to admit. It was why he got under my skin so much because even though he was the kind of guy I would normally stay away from.
I played with my fingers trying to think of a good excuse to have him leave. I need him to get out of my space so I could think clearly again. Him and I wouldn’t work. I knew that. I knew that better than he probably did. We were too different from each other and had different goals. It was all I needed to know and for that reason, we wouldn’t work out. I needed him to get out of my personal space, and I could go back to keeping my distance. That was the only way I would be able to do that. If he stayed away I could keep all these confusing feelings at bay.
“Leah?†Adrian said softly interrupting my thoughts and I turned towards him.
“Yes?â€
“You are probably the most beautiful girl on this campus. No, you are the most beautiful girl on this campus and you don’t even know it,†he said.
“What do you mean?â€
“You’re just you. I like you. The real you underneath that mask you wear.â€
And with that his fingers lightly touched my face to tilt it towards his. I could feel my heart thumping hard again against my chest and all of a sudden I felt lightheaded. He was making me feel crazy, but in a good way. He leaned towards me as my heart raced, and his cologne invaded my nostrils. Leaning in his lips lightly touched mine. Almost grazed them, and I sighed. He took that as a go head, and his kiss hardened as he pried my mouth open with his tongue. I felt myself tremble as he pulled me into his arms, and my head started to spin. This wasn’t supposed to feel this way. I was sure of that. I wasn’t supposed to feel dizzy, almost drunk, but at the same time it felt so good. It felt right.
About the Author
Kay is an award winning author who writes sassy, sexy and sweet contemporary and interracial romance. She is from arguably the greatest city in the world. (New York). She is a sarcastic sweetheart who prefers snuggling at home with a good book. Kay is a mom of 3 cubs and a wife. Kay indulges in strawberry cheesecake, horror movies, Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, wrestling and of course a happily ever after. She is also the creator of Bookish Brown Girls, a platform dedicated to promoting books written by women of color.
Author Links:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorkayblake
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authorkayblake
Title: Tryst
Author: Shaniel Watson
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 9, 2018
Cover Design: Opium House Creative
Three things you absolutely must not do, especially when you're the boss.
One… have an affair with your summer intern.
Two… have an affair with your friends’ daughter.
And three… have an affair with your ex's niece.
It's going to be a brutally hot summer in the city, and someone might just get burned.
 
 
Shaniel Watson is the author of the Imperfections Series. Her first book was published in 2015. She writes stories she likes to read, sultry emotional stories with imperfect characters who eventually get their happy ending.
Shaniel lives in New York and is a proud mother.
      
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Series: Off Track Records
Author: Kacey Shea
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 16, 2018
Cover Designer: Cover Me Darling
Photographer: Wander Aguiar
   
 Young. Gifted. Privileged.
I can’t help where I come from, or who I am, but believe me when I say it’s not what I want. Not that anyone’s ever asked. My dreams don’t fit within the confines of my parents’ wishes, so when I’m presented with the opportunity of a lifetime, I grab it by the balls.
Playing drums for rock sensation 3UG is everything I’ve wanted and more. Yeah, so the gig requires a dash of blackmail and a slip of betrayal. I can live with that if it brings me the freedom I’ve always wanted.
There’s just one problem.
The girl.
Cliché, and yet I can’t help myself when it comes to her innocence and allure. She has secrets. Don’t we all? But if I don’t uncover what she’s hiding, my time playing rock god is up.
No girl is worth that. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
HINDER is the third Off Track Records novel, and can also be read as a standalone. Want to start from the beginning? Detour and Derailed are available to read free with KindleUnlimited too!
 
The bed dips as he sits and stretches across the mattress on his side. “So, what should we do tonight?”
“I was going to sleep.”
His brow rises with a hint of mischief. “Are you accepting applicants to join you?”
“Leighton.” I draw out his name, pretending I want nothing of the sort, when in reality there’s no need to apply. He’d be hired on the spot.
“What? Just saying. I’m interested. And I’ve been told I make a great cuddler.”
“Cuddling?” I chuckle, shaking my head. “You list that on the application?”
“Hell, yeah. Right next to gives good oral and open to kinky shit, and underneath always uses protection.”
Lord. My body tingles with the thought and I can feel a blush move up my chest. I school my features so I don’t give away the surge of desire rushing through my veins. “Regular Prince Charming.”
He laughs. “You’re fun to tease. I can see why Austin does it all the time.”
Teasing. Because he’s really not that into you.
He holds a hand up before I can reply. “Mostly teasing . . . I actually undersold my cunnilingus abilities. I’m quite the stud in that department.”
Oh. The breath whooshes from my chest and my entire body comes to attention. “Do you . . . ?” I bite at my lower lip and drop my gaze to the bedding, tracing my fingernail along the white sheets. “Do you have a lot of experience with that? To be able to list your advanced oral on a resume like that?”
“You’re adorable when you blush.” He pushes up onto his elbow and reaches for me with his other arm. The pad of his thumb brushes over my cheek, lingering as his voice drops to barely a whisper. “It starts at your cheeks, at least I think it does, but I’d be okay with going shirtless to confirm.”
“Stop.” I swat his hand away and set my mostly full glass of champagne on the nightstand. It gives me time to relax my nerves. He has no clue the feelings that stir in my gut when he does stuff like that. How one playful touch lights my skin on fire with an ache for more. I take one of the pillows and hug it to my chest before facing him again. “I was asking a serious question.”
“You want to know how I got good at eating pussy.” His brows shoot up and that damn smirk tells me how entertaining he finds my question.
I don’t need a mirror. My cheeks heat to the point they must match my hair. “Screw you!” I lift the pillow and toss it at his head, but he only catches it and laughs.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.” He settles back on his side and I mirror the movement so we’re facing each other. He levels his stare and swallows, his strong jaw working back and forth. There’s no longer a hint of humor in his gaze. “Serious answer. Something I don’t love to share, because, well, it’s not as impressive as the alternative.”
His response piques my interest. “I’m waiting.”
He winces. “I watched a lot of porn.”
“Oh.” It’s the only response I can muster as my body comes alive again with a flood of desire. Why is the thought of that so hot? It shouldn’t be.
“Yeah, mostly amateur stuff. Those women don’t fake orgasms as much, so I figured it was the place to start. And, well, ever since I started applying my research to actual partners . . . ” His gaze lifts from the space between us to my stare. “I haven’t had an unsatisfied customer yet.”
“That’s . . . ” Sexy. Hot.
“Pathetic?” he offers, scrunching up his nose.
“I was going to say resourceful.” I bite my lip, because maybe he’s onto something. One of the worries I have about sex, once I find a partner I want to share the experience with, is that I won’t know what the hell I’m doing. “Maybe I should . . .” I catch myself before the rest of the words tumble from my mouth.
“What was that?” He tilts his chin with his gaze.
My face heats with the fire of a thousand suns and I can’t look him in the eye.
“Opal. Oh, Opal . . .” The way he says my name only makes this more embarrassing. “Are those naughty thoughts going through that gorgeous head of yours? Because I’m gonna need you to share.”
I scoff and meet his gaze. “I’m not telling you anything.”
“Come on, please? I’ve always wanted to get inside you.” He coughs and clears his throat. “Your head, that is.”
“Mmm hmm.” Eying him suspiciously, he only laughs.
“I swear it. Tell me, Opal. I’ll keep your secret.”
 
 
 
 
Kacey Shea is a mom of three, wife, and indie author who resides in sunny Arizona. She enjoys reading and writing romance novels as much as her son loves unicorns, which is a lot.
When she's not writing you will find her playing taxi cab to her children while belting out her favorite tunes, meeting friends or family for food and to share some laughs, or sweating it out in the gym. Kacey finds that picking up heavy weights repeatedly is good for her mental health as much as it is for the physical.
She has an unhealthy obsession with firefighters. It could be the pants. It could be the fire. It's just hot. On occasion she has been known to include them, without their knowledge, in her selfies outside the grocery store.
Kacey one day aspires to be a woman hand model in a sexy photo shoot. You know, the woman's hand raking across the muscular back or six pack stomach of the male fitness model. Yep, that hand.
Until that day comes she will continue writing sexy, flirty romance novels in hopes to bring others joy!
Kacey enjoys interacting with her fans so please feel free to stalk her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
  
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Title: Remember That Night
Series: A Taking Chance Novel
Author: Katrina Marie
Genre: Sweet New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 14, 2018
 Darcy Quinn doesn’t do sloppy seconds—even if they are her own. She has reinvented herself just in time for college and is determined show the world she is stronger than ever so no one can hurt her again…especially Derrick Rhodes.
For as long as he can remember, Derrick’s only wanted two things: to play college ball and to be Darcy’s man. This all came to a crashing halt a year ago. He lost his future and his girl. Now he'll stop at nothing to make the team and win Darcy back for good.
Can the two of them find a way to overcome the past and become the people they have always wanted to be? Will Darcy take a chance on loving again?
    
 
The mirror in the bathroom is foggy from the shower. The towel leaving streaks across the glass as I wipe it to see my reflection. Blonde hair in stringy wet tendrils, eyes wide with nerves and excitement.
The Fall semester starts in a week, and this is the last time I will be able to see him. I wasn’t looking for a relationship over the summer. But he charmed me and made me laugh. I thought it was going to be just a fling. One last hoorah before I started over in a new town. Not that I had any sort of relationship prior to him. Nobody goes for the geeky, quiet girl. I blow dry my hair, trying to decide what I’m going to wear tonight. A pink sundress hangs over my door, but I don’t think I want to wear it anymore. I want tonight to be special…for both of us. As soon as I shut the blow dryer off, I walk into my room and head straight for the walk-in closet. It’s not huge, but it’s a decent size. I don’t have enough clothes to fill it. On the right side, my fandom t-shirts hang in all their glory. Everything from Harry Potter to the Walking Dead. Jeans line the shelves below them. On the left, and the emptiest area of my closet, hang the very few dresses I own. Aside from the dress hanging on my bathroom door. I slide the hangers to the side, searching for the perfect dress. Too plain. Too blah. Pushing over three more dresses, I find the perfect one. It’s the one thing all girls have in their closets. The little black dress. The last time I wore mine was during my induction into the honor society. The floor is littered with sneakers, Vans, and Converse. I know there are a few pairs of heels in here somewhere. I shuffle through the shoes, throwing them aside. It looks like a minefield in here. Finally, I find the black heels I’m looking for. Inspecting them, I’m not that crazy about wearing them. But, they are the only pair I have so they will have to work. Shoes in one hand, I use the other to pull the dress off the hanger and place them on my bed. My curling iron is plugged in and heating up. I open my makeup case and study the few contents in there. Mascara, lip gloss, and eyeshadows in neutral colors. I don’t bother with the eyeshadow or lip gloss. Instead I sweep the mascara onto my lashes, then go to Mom’s bathroom. She has so much makeup. I don’t even know what half of it is, but I spot a tube of lipstick and grab it before heading back to my room. The curling iron slides to the bottom of my hair easily. Forming small waves at the ends, just enough to give my hair a little bit of bounce. I open the tube of lipstick. It’s bright red. I’ve never worn this color before, and I’m not sure I can pull it off, but I put it on anyway. The girl looking back at me in the mirror is not the one I was before getting ready. The bright lipstick makes me feel more mature and confident. Like I can conquer the world. Rushing down the hall, I call out, “Mom, Dad. I’m going out, I’ll be back later.” “Okay, honey,” Mom says from the kitchen. “Be careful.” “I will.” That’s the thing about being the good, nerdy girl. Your parents don’t even bother asking where you’re going. They just assume it’s to meet up with friends from various school clubs. I’ve never even had a curfew. Grabbing my keys, I walk out the door, and practically sprint to my car. Ready to see the guy that’s stolen my heart. *** It’s ten ‘til seven when I pull up to the restaurant. This place is packed. How are we even going to get a seat? After parking the car, I take one last look in the visor mirror, making sure my lipstick hasn’t smudged. There’s a bench right outside the restaurant and I take a seat to wait. Twenty minutes later I still haven’t gotten a response. Maybe he’s stuck in traffic or can’t find his keys. I text him, hoping he’ll answer. Darcy: Are you almost here? Another ten minutes go by, then thirty, and still no response. Tears are welling up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I can’t believe he stood me up. He’s always been early. I don’t understand. Was he just playing me? Barely containing my sadness, I march to my car, unlock the door, and slide into my seat. The second the door is closed, I let my sobs free. Let all the emotion welling up inside me find their way out through the hot, salty tears streaming down my face. Another half hour has passed before the tears begin to slow, and anger takes control. I was so stupid to think someone like him would ever want someone like me. He’s attractive, athletic, and the complete opposite of who I am. The shy, meek girl. The one nobody truly sees. With a new resolve, I put the key in the ignition and start my car. I leave for Hilltown University next weekend. It’s time for a change. I will not be the girl everyone sees through. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to be a party animal either. But, it’s time for my nerdy ways to hit the road. Never again will I let someone make me feel the way I feel tonight. He may have broken my naïve heart by not showing up, but he is also the catalyst to a new and improved version of me. 
Katrina Marie lives in the Dallas area with her husband, two children, and fur baby. She is a lover of all things geeky and Gryffindor for life. When she’s not writing you can find her at her children’s sporting events, or curled up reading a book.
 
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Title: Wrecked
Series: Charming Knights #1 (stand-alone series) Author: Shana Vanterpool Genre: Upper YA Contemporary Romance Release Date: August 2, 201
Blurb:
Welcome to Charming High. Sorry, we’re fresh out of charm … Hallie: I am a star. I’m not famous, before you make that mistake. Although, I guess I kind of am. Or I will be anyway. My future was planned long before I was born. The definition of a star is a fixed luminous point in the night sky that is an incandescent body like the sun. I am a star. I am fixed. I am luminous only when no one is looking. I was stuck to repeat the same night every single day. Until I met Wreck. And he showed me how alive I could feel within my cage. Wreck: I am a knight. I’m not a knight in shining armor, before you start thinking I’ll save you. I am a knight in raging darkness. Until I met Hallie. And she showed me how to break free of my battle-torn armor. Wrecked is the first book in the Charming Knights series by Shana Vanterpool. An exhilarating upper YA contemporary romance series set deep in the lives of Charming High’s most beloved football team. Where the limits of good and evil are pushed, desires and dreams are twisted, and readers are immersed into the lives of people who have it all. Except their freedom…
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40383321-wrecked
Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited): Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F5TSPV5 Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F5TSPV5 Amazon: AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07F5TSPV5 Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07F5TSPV5 
Review:
I absolutely loved how messed up this book was. It was insane with all the controlling, threatening those the characters’ loved, how money-hungry some were. Then you had the kids who were so flawed … Wreck was not redeemable at all, except for his love for Hallie, which was REALLY intense and real-world scary. However, when you realize what Hallie meant for him, when you see his POV, you can’t help being okay with it, as Hallie eventually was. He is the most insane and dynamic character I have ever read. He was immature, a stalker, obsessed with one thing in life, and prone to screaming in people’s faces and ruining lives. And yet, he was fiercely protective and loved to the depths of his black soul. Oh, and Wreck’s real name … totally wrong. So wrong. I gasped out loud when I got to that part of the story. Hallie seemed pretty normal, though she did have the whole “I demand it, so let it be done” attitude. She was the most mature character in the book, yet she loosened up a bit for the first time in her life with Wreck. She was loyal, she had dreams, and she protected those she cared about. And I felt so bad for her in the beginning of the story. Not that I didn’t later, but her quick backstory in the beginning was so heartbreaking for a teenage girl. This book is not a sweet, HEA YA. The only thing YA about it is the fact that the kids are in high school. It’s dark, it’s depressing, it’s filled with troubled people and the extremes they will go to, to escape the lives they were born in. There are so many dark secrets revealed. There is underage drinking and drugs. There is violence and abusive relationships in all forms. It’s a wicked book. Wickedly good!
5 Stars
Author Bio:
Romance author, coffee drinker, and bad boy aficionado. Every second not spent breathing is an opportunity to write and read. I live in Northern California with my family and actress dog, Halle Bella. (Just Bella when she decides to cut the crap.) Escaping with a good book is something I live for and I write so others can do the same.
Social Media Links:
Website: ShanaVanterpool.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Shana-Vanterpool-404672296399311 Twitter: @ShanaVauthor - https://twitter.com/shanavauthor Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/shanavanterpoolauthor Instagram: @ShanaVauthor - https://www.instagram.com/shanavauthor/ 
Title: The Best Man: A Novel
Author: Kat Tammen
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 9, 2018 KINDLE UNLIMITED
 Emelia Sullivan and Andy Dalton have been friends since they were five years old—the day his family moved in to the house next door. Connected by bedroom windows that faced each other and a treehouse they shared in the backyard, the two became lifelong best friends. Emelia loved Andy with all her heart.
But not like she loved his older brother, Samuel.
Tall, handsome, and the absolute best at everything he ever did, Samuel Dalton captured Emelia’s heart without even trying. He was her first, and longest-lasting, crush.
Children grow up and move away from home. With effort, some ties are strengthened by time. Some are frayed, on the verge of breaking.
For Emelia, coming home to see Andy over summer break is easy. Finding out Samuel is home for the summer too, however, provides a challenge she is determined to overcome. Will a friendly competition for the title of “Best Man” help Samuel see Emelia is not the same little girl he left behind years ago?
No matter how long she’s been away, home is the place Emelia can count on, where everything always stays the same.
Until it all changes.
 Kat Tammen lives with her husband and son in a small town in Illinois, just across the river from St. Louis, Missouri. A true blue Cancerian, she enjoys writing stories which take readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride. From laughing to crying, and everything in between, she writes authentic and relatable characters readers care about.
A firm believer that life is too short to not have fun, she tries not to take herself too seriously. She’s been known to break into song mid-sentence, and frequently recites random movie quotes. She wishes sarcasm had its own font and thinks wine should be considered its own food group. She’s also very proud of the fact that she can solve a Rubik’s Cube. Most of all- she truly believes all you need is love.
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Title: The Calm Within
Author: Crystal A Blanton
Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: April 16, 2018 KINDLE COUNTDOWN SALE JULY 9-JULY 15 - $1.99
 When you are lucky enough to find love, take it in both hands and hold onto it like it’s your lifeline. Don’t let go. Don’t let it slip through your fingers.
My name is Kinsley Carmichael. I’m one of the fortunate ones, I found my true love.
I experienced it, felt it, tasted it.
He was my best friend, my soul-mate.
Life without him would be incomplete.
So what happens when that love is taken away? Is it possible to come back from something like that? Is it possible to want to move on? Can a person be granted more than one chance of an all-consuming love in one lifetime? I’m not sure, and I don’t know if I have the strength to find out.
This is my story… in all of its tragic glory.
The Calm Within
Chapter 1
Kinsley
“It’s our birthday, Kit,” Ryker says softly through the phone. It’s midnight on the dot and I know he hasn’t slept a wink with the way the rasp grips his words.
“It’s my birthday, Ryker. You turned seventeen six months ago.” I pull the cover over my head and put the phone on speaker.
“Exactly six months ago, which means it’s my half birthday. That’s just as important.”
I smile at our familiar words, my eyes remaining closed so I can imagine him by my side. “Ryk, one year I’m going to surprise you and say something different.”
Our laughter coincides, dancing together until it’s dispersed into thin air.
“I’m holding you to it. We only have forever.” A contented sigh passes his lips. I can feel how he has more to say. “I hope you enjoy your day.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting.
“Will I not see you?” We’ve spent all of our birthdays together—at least all the ones we could.
“You will,” he hesitates, “I just don’t know when.”
“Oh.” It’s barely a word, but I know he can hear the frown in my voice. A minute goes by, the faint whisper of our breathing the only sound.
“Well...I’ll let you get back to your beauty sleep.” He rustles with the phone. “Lord knows you need it more than me.” His words are lighter, yet I hear no smile.
“Ryk?” I pause. Not for his response—for my own courage. “Fall asleep with me?” The words are not the ones I was going to say and he knows this but gives it no attention.
“Always.”
Crystal A Blanton lives in the Show Me State with her sarcastic, loving husband of fifteen years and two crazy, wild sons. She has a love for reading, writing, warm weather, Zero Ultra Monster Energy drinks, massages, traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and chocolate; in no particular order.
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Title: Remember That Night
Series: A Taking Chance Novel
Author: Katrina Marie
Genre: Sweet New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 14, 2018
Darcy Quinn doesn’t do sloppy seconds—even if they are her own. She has reinvented herself just in time for college and is determined show the world she is stronger than ever so no one can hurt her again…especially Derrick Rhodes.
For as long as he can remember, Derrick’s only wanted two things: to play college ball and to be Darcy’s man. This all came to a crashing halt a year ago. He lost his future and his girl. Now he'll stop at nothing to make the team and win Darcy back for good.
Can the two of them find a way to overcome the past and become the people they have always wanted to be? Will Darcy take a chance on loving again?
The mirror in the bathroom is foggy from the shower. The towel leaving streaks across the glass as I wipe it to see my reflection. Blonde hair in stringy wet tendrils, eyes wide with nerves and excitement.
The Fall semester starts in a week, and this is the last time I will be able to see him. I wasn’t looking for a relationship over the summer. But he charmed me and made me laugh. I thought it was going to be just a fling. One last hoorah before I started over in a new town. Not that I had any sort of relationship prior to him. Nobody goes for the geeky, quiet girl. I blow dry my hair, trying to decide what I’m going to wear tonight. A pink sundress hangs over my door, but I don’t think I want to wear it anymore. I want tonight to be special…for both of us. As soon as I shut the blow dryer off, I walk into my room and head straight for the walk-in closet. It’s not huge, but it’s a decent size. I don’t have enough clothes to fill it. On the right side, my fandom t-shirts hang in all their glory. Everything from Harry Potter to the Walking Dead. Jeans line the shelves below them. On the left, and the emptiest area of my closet, hang the very few dresses I own. Aside from the dress hanging on my bathroom door. I slide the hangers to the side, searching for the perfect dress. Too plain. Too blah. Pushing over three more dresses, I find the perfect one. It’s the one thing all girls have in their closets. The little black dress. The last time I wore mine was during my induction into the honor society. The floor is littered with sneakers, Vans, and Converse. I know there are a few pairs of heels in here somewhere. I shuffle through the shoes, throwing them aside. It looks like a minefield in here. Finally, I find the black heels I’m looking for. Inspecting them, I’m not that crazy about wearing them. But, they are the only pair I have so they will have to work. Shoes in one hand, I use the other to pull the dress off the hanger and place them on my bed. My curling iron is plugged in and heating up. I open my makeup case and study the few contents in there. Mascara, lip gloss, and eyeshadows in neutral colors. I don’t bother with the eyeshadow or lip gloss. Instead I sweep the mascara onto my lashes, then go to Mom’s bathroom. She has so much makeup. I don’t even know what half of it is, but I spot a tube of lipstick and grab it before heading back to my room. The curling iron slides to the bottom of my hair easily. Forming small waves at the ends, just enough to give my hair a little bit of bounce. I open the tube of lipstick. It’s bright red. I’ve never worn this color before, and I’m not sure I can pull it off, but I put it on anyway. The girl looking back at me in the mirror is not the one I was before getting ready. The bright lipstick makes me feel more mature and confident. Like I can conquer the world. Rushing down the hall, I call out, “Mom, Dad. I’m going out, I’ll be back later.” “Okay, honey,” Mom says from the kitchen. “Be careful.” “I will.” That’s the thing about being the good, nerdy girl. Your parents don’t even bother asking where you’re going. They just assume it’s to meet up with friends from various school clubs. I’ve never even had a curfew. Grabbing my keys, I walk out the door, and practically sprint to my car. Ready to see the guy that’s stolen my heart. *** It’s ten ‘til seven when I pull up to the restaurant. This place is packed. How are we even going to get a seat? After parking the car, I take one last look in the visor mirror, making sure my lipstick hasn’t smudged. There’s a bench right outside the restaurant and I take a seat to wait. Twenty minutes later I still haven’t gotten a response. Maybe he’s stuck in traffic or can’t find his keys. I text him, hoping he’ll answer. Darcy: Are you almost here? Another ten minutes go by, then thirty, and still no response. Tears are welling up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I can’t believe he stood me up. He’s always been early. I don’t understand. Was he just playing me? Barely containing my sadness, I march to my car, unlock the door, and slide into my seat. The second the door is closed, I let my sobs free. Let all the emotion welling up inside me find their way out through the hot, salty tears streaming down my face. Another half hour has passed before the tears begin to slow, and anger takes control. I was so stupid to think someone like him would ever want someone like me. He’s attractive, athletic, and the complete opposite of who I am. The shy, meek girl. The one nobody truly sees. With a new resolve, I put the key in the ignition and start my car. I leave for Hilltown University next weekend. It’s time for a change. I will not be the girl everyone sees through. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to be a party animal either. But, it’s time for my nerdy ways to hit the road. Never again will I let someone make me feel the way I feel tonight. He may have broken my naïve heart by not showing up, but he is also the catalyst to a new and improved version of me.
Katrina Marie lives in the Dallas area with her husband, two children, and fur baby. She is a lover of all things geeky and Gryffindor for life. When she’s not writing you can find her at her children’s sporting events, or curled up reading a book.
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