Novels by Luna Hills

EvelynMira's idea of a small after-party had to be the equivalent of putting me in a tight spot. We piled into cars, nine of us in five vehicles, and headed to a bar.I was the only one without a ride-along because everyone suddenly had a partner. She wanted to call it off at the last minute, but I assured her I was fine.I'm not bitter about everyone being a couple, but I'm the only one fresh out of a public engagement.I was lying through my teeth and it was not my best performance, but she was too happy to see it. Just like she forgot to mention that Connor would be attending because I'm seated at a table for two like everyone else, staring at my half-full glass when he walks in.Walks up to me and asks—"Is this seat taken?""What are you doing here?" I ask, cocking my head and glaring at him.He turns to Mira, who is tongue-deep in her husband, and then turns back to me."Mira? We met after the reception, and she said I could come. It's supposed to be a small gathering for frien

Evelyn"Hey, you—"The words die on my tongue as someone steps in front of me, wearing a dark blue two-piece suit with a small smile on his lips. My chest swells uncomfortably, and my stomach bottoms as I stare at him."Evelyn," he whispers my name. "I—it's good to see you.""It's not good to see you," I snap and then mentally berate myself for not being able to control my emotions.Everything comes flooding back—the disbelief I felt when I was reading that message, the anger that followed, and the ache in my chest as I drank until I blacked out.How I hoped that he would find me as I packed my things from the apartment two days later, even though I had scheduled it at a time I knew he would be out.When he called my mom, I wished Connor would have ignored her answer and come looking for me.But none of that happened, and as the weeks went by, I slowly found a way to deal with the pain. It no longer made me feel like I was drowning in my sorrows.And now...he's here, and it feels like

ConnorKen sucks his teeth."I'm not sure, but if I were pissed at someone who I thought loved me and wanted to get away, I might try to throw them off my trail.""Or not," he shrugs. "Evelyn might have been telling him the truth because she didn't factor in you coming to look for her."The big question is, how could I have missed it? For God's sake, she lived under me. I should have heard the noises or seen something—her, the moving people.I tell Ken."If she did it when you were at work, then you wouldn't have noticed," he says. "What about her parents?"I shake my head, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel."I doubt it. Evelyn told me how she moved out of their house because they were overbearing. She wouldn't go back there. But," I hesitate on discarding the possibility, "do you think I should call just to be sure?""Her father is a tough man, but her mom and I might have struck up a friendship when they came to my office.""Then you should call," he says.Grateful that I did

Connor It feels like the elevator cannot go any faster as I stare at the doors, my heart pounding and my palms sweaty. If anyone told me that making amends with the love of my life would be the scariest thing I ever did, I wouldn't have believed them. But it is. Ken pats me on the back. "You've got this. Just go with your gut and don't try to make excuses. Be a hundred percent honest." "Okay," I nod. "Okay." The doors open, and I step out, heading for Evelyn's door. Ken tells me that he'll stay by the elevator to give us some privacy. As I get closer, I remember all the times I stood in front of her door, teasing her or asking her if I could come in. I recall the first time she let me in and how intimate it felt to finally be in her space. I can't believe I am going to lose all of that. But, come to think of it, I haven't seen her car in the parking lot since the evening of the gala. I was too out of it to pay attention the next morning, but I noticed her spot was empty yeste

Connoied when she said she had feelings for me."What did you do, Connor?" Ken repeats.Letting out a sigh, I tell him about the party, how I went out looking for Evelyn and found her on the phone with her mom. I narrate what I heard as best as I can to Ken, making sure to add a few phrases verbatim.He looks at me confused when I finish, shaking his head."And you didn't ask her what she meant by that?""It was pretty clear," I respond.Ken leans forward, and his posture is almost intimidating. Almost."Are you certain it was what you think? You said you heard her on the phone, talking to her mom. You had no way of knowing what was being said on the other end, did you?"I shake my head. "No. But did I have to know? If you heard Mira on the phone saying the same thing, what would you think?""The first thing I'd do is ask her why," he replies. "Her response might break me or clear things up, but it's better to know for sure than to think something that is not right."There's a knock

EvelynI don't know how she knows I'm here—my guess is that I must have drunk-dialed her—but I follow her to a corner table.Mira pulls out the chair for me to sit, and I do so. She pulls out the other one and does the same."So, do you want to talk, or do you need me to watch over you while you drink, take you home, and then talk about it in the morning."All I want to do is forget.I don't want to see Connor tomorrow and I have to ask if he meant that we're never going to be an item, if he was deceiving me all this time, if he couldn't see that I was in love with him before he broke my heart with one text message.Digging into my bag and opening the message, I thrust my phone at Mira. She looks at me with concern before taking it and seconds after, her eyes widen as her lips part slightly."What," her eyes meet mine, "is this?""I thought he was going to propose tonight," my voice breaks from the start. "One stupid reporter said that Connor," I sniff, "talked about a wedding and I a