Chapter: Part 45 | H E R • P R O M I S E I’m so done for.The way I feel about Adam, after knowing him for such a short amountof time, can’t be good for me. I mean, it feels good, but it’s definitely dangerous.We’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks now, and I’m smitten, totally smitten. I’m a smitten kitten. And clearly a massive geek.We’re at the beach. It’s early morning, and I have to be at work in a few hours. But we’re all here this morning, surfing at the beach just outside Adam’s house. Max is out there with Grady, Base, Tad, and Paige. Adam and I quit surfing a while ago. We’re sitting up on my rock, and I’m sketching a picture of them all surfing.Adam is here, with me. He’s wrapped around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder, while he watches me draw.His lips skim over my shoulder, and his teeth graze my skin, making me shiver. His fingers trace over the skin on my stomach where they’ve made their way under the hem of my tank top.We haven’t done anything more than kiss.He knows I’m a virgin.
Last Updated: 2023-03-02
Chapter: Part 44 | H E R • F U T U R E Pulling my black, skin-tight, off-the-shoulder dress out of mycloset, I bit my lip. It was sexy yet elegant, even with the thigh slit, and I loved it. But I’d never worn anything like this before in front of Dane, my boss. It would feel weird.My gaze flicked to the more formal dress further along the closet rail, but then I remembered what Dane had said to me yesterday before I left o-Verve ...Don’t dress as my PA. Wear what you’d wear to go on a date, not what you’d wear to go to a business dinner.I looked back at the black dress I was holding and gave it a firm nod. Yes, this would do. I’d throw on a light layer of makeup, add some jewelry, maybe curl the ends of my hair and leave it down. First, I needed to shower.Blowing out a breath, I put a hand to my fluttering stomach. First dates were always nerve-wracking. But this wasn’t a real date, so I technically had no need to feel nervous. There was no pressure to impress, no worry that this might end up being a waste of my time,
Last Updated: 2023-02-25
Chapter: Part 43 | H E R • L O V E Later that day, I parked in the lot outside my apartment buildingand switched off the engine. It wasn’t a very well-lit parking area, so I was glad that dusk hadn’t yet completely fallen. There were many times I’d needed to stay late at the office to help Dane with one thing or another, so I often didn’t make it home until it was super dark.Slipping out of my car, I locked it with the remote fob and then dug the can of pepper spray out of my bag. It was only a short walk to my building, but a girl could never be too careful.Crossing the crack-ridden pavement, I glanced around. There was no one hovering about. All I could hear were my heels clacking on the ground and the sounds of street traffic.Reaching the footpath that led to the main entrance, I neatly sidestepped the cans, wrappers, and crinkled flyers that littered the ground near the overflowing trash can.I could afford to live in a nicer neighborhood, I just preferred being near my family. Especially my father, Simon.Insi
Last Updated: 2023-02-25
Chapter: Part 42 | H E R • S T A R T Stopping at my desk, Hanna regarded me warily. “Uh-oh, youreyelid’s twitching. What’s wrong? Did someone mistake you for the model on the Syphilis Awareness billboard again?”I narrowed my eyes at my friend and coworker. “No. And I don’t look anything like her.” We’d had this conversation already. But Hanna liked to poke at me in that way that only one of your closest friends would.“You have the same pale blue eyes and high cheekbones. Her hair isn’t exactly the same platinum blonde shade as yours, but it’s close.”People always assumed my hair color came straight out of a bottle. In truth, I’d inherited it from my half-Swedish grandmother.“But she doesn’t have your blunt bangs or Jessica Alba-mouth,” Hanna went on because, yeah, she was a pain in my ass when bored.“Can we not talk about the model who looks nothing like me, please?”“Of course.”“Great. If you’ve come to speak to Dane, he’s not yet back from his lunch meeting, but he shouldn’t be much longer.”“I came to check on
Last Updated: 2023-02-24
Chapter: Part 41 | H E R • F A M I L Y Entering the water, I paddle out on my board, pushing through the waves. Paddling out farther, I need big waves.I need to surf Evie out of my head.I need the peace that only being out here can give me.It’s been five days since our talk. I haven’t spoken to her since. I havecaught glimpses of her on my way back in and out of the hotel as I pass by the coffee shop, but I’ve avoided going in there.I’ve had to go to Starbucks. So, now, I’ve lost my decent fucking coffee as well.I’ve been staying away from her for many reasons, and it’s not just the fact that she broke my heart. Seeing her again has screwed me up so much.I knew I wasn’t over her—I’d have to be stupid to ever think I was—but I didn’t realize how badly I’d want her again. The urge to touch her and taste her was overwhelming. Just breathing the same air as her was fucking killing me.Standing there, staring at her, I was eighteen all over again.From the moment I’d seen Evie sitting up on that rock eleven years ago, I’
Last Updated: 2023-02-24
Chapter: PART 41 | H E R • V I E W S My alarm is going off with an annoying insistence. On a groan, I reach over and slam my hand on it, turning it off.Time for work.Ugh.Summer has only just begun, and I’ve worked the last seven daysstraight as a favor for Grady. I can’t wait for tomorrow when I can sleep in. I’m only doing the overtime because Grady is the best boss ever—a retired pro surfer, and the Shack is his life—and he asked me because we’reshort-staffed at the moment. I’m also doing it because I need the money. Paige, who works part-time in the shop with Base and me, has been on vacation. And Tad, who does the surf lessons with Grady, has been out sick with the flu. So, Grady has been pulling Base out of the shop to help with the surf lessons. So, I’ve been manning the shop alone. But Tad and Paigewill be back tomorrow, so I’ll get the day off. Yay!For tomorrow, I was thinking, once I drag my ass out of bed, that I mightactually spend the day at the beach and lie out in the sun, read a book, swim, and may
Last Updated: 2023-02-24
LOGIN
