First, I had to remember how to breathe. Then, I had to learn how to survive. Two years, three months and sixteen days had passed since I was the Rowe Stanton from before, since tragedy stole my youth and my heart went along with it.
When I left for college, I put a thousand miles between my future and my past. I’d made a choice—I was going to cross back to the other side, to livewith the living. I just didn’t know how.
And then I met Nate Preeter.
An All-American baseball player, Nate wasn’t supposed to notice a ghost-of-a-girl like me. But he did. He shouldn’t want to know my name. But he did. And when he learned my secret and saw the scars it left behind, he was supposed to run. But he didn’t.
My heart was dead, and I was never supposed to belong to anyone. But Nate Preeter had me feeling, and he made me want to be his. He showed me everything I was missing.
And then he showed me how to fall.
Check out the other books in the Falling Series…
I’m that teenaged girl who has MS. You haven’t met me, but you’ve seen me around. You probably know my sister. We’re twins, and she’s the pretty one. Maybe you’ve heard about my reputation, how much I like to hook up at parties—how easy it is to get me in bed, get what you want, and forget about me after.
Forget what you think you know. I’m leaving that girl behind.
College is all about new beginnings. So from now on—I’m just Cass. And the rest…it isn’t written yet. And no one else gets to write my story for me.
——–
“Tyson Preeter doesn’t do can’t.”
That’s exactly what I want people to think when they see me. I am strong, invincible, confident, intelligent—arrogant. I’m the man who always finds a way around, over and through—until there’s nothing left. Since losing my ability to walk six years ago, I’ve relearned life. I don’t need sympathy. I don’t want charity. And I don’t do love.
It’s better this way, saves my disappointments for me, and me alone, and it saves my strength for everything I want.
But Cass Owens is about to wreck everything. She’s about to steal all of my strength away from me, because she needs it more. She’s about to break all of my rules, and break down all of my walls. She’s about to own me…completely.
And I’m about to let her.
* This is the second book in the Falling Series, and it is scheduled to release Dec. 5. Book 1, This Is Falling, is out now. Each book can be read as a standalone and will focus on a different couple.
I’m the selfish one. I suppose that’s the nicest thing people say about me. I’ve heard the other things, too. “Paige Owens is a pretty girl with nothing else to offer. She’s just a good time at a party. She’s stupid, heartless, cold and useless. All she cares about is getting a guy to look at her. Why would anyone want to be her friend?”
Some of those things are true. Others were true. They’re all hurtful.
None of it matters.
I’m ready to make the hard choices. I’m ready to face the consequences. I’m ready to be the girl I was before, and I’m done being the one who lost her way.
I’m ready to become the girl Houston Orr sees when he looks at me.
Houston isn’t a star athlete. He doesn’t play in a band. He’s never going to be president, and his life is so far away from simple and easy it isn’t even funny.
He wasn’t part of my plan. But I’m starting to think plans are overrated, and maybe our stories are what we make them. And mine depends entirely on me, and the choices I make…starting now.Houston is my fairytale. He’s perfectly imperfect. He’s poetry and life. He’s truth and heartbreak, all rolled up in a tall body with dark hair, broad shoulders and green eyes that lull me into submission. He’s nothing I ever thought I wanted, but the very thing I need. He’s the only guy I’ve ever really loved, and he thinks I’m a princess. I fell into him, and now I’m holding on.
But sometimes life takes away our ability to choose. Sometimes…things aren’t in your control. Sometimes, it hurts to be selfless. My only hope is that when it comes time to choose, I get it right.
Welcome to my once upon a time and wish for happily ever after.
Casey Coffield has a growing list of personal flaws he keeps locked away in his head:
He’s never on time.
His list of IOUs to his best friend is endless.
Money is always short.
Goals are never in reach.Oh, and he’s decided to add college drop-out to that list, too. He doesn’t really think that last one’s such a bad thing, but his family insists it is, so it stays on the list.
On paper, he’s a zero. But in person, when he’s mixing tracks for a sea of bodies at the hottest clubs and parties, he’s downright irresistible. Just-right stubble on his chin, body of a boxer and a smirk that stimulates all the right nerves—women have never been a problem. They flock to his swagger and fall for his charm…fast.
All except for this one.
Purple hair, gray eyes, a raspy voice and sass, Murphy Sullivan is a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll. And her and Casey? They have history. He can’t remember it, but she wrote a song about him—and it’s not exactly a love song. But it is good. Damn good. And uncovering her inspiration just might be the key to solving a few of his shortcomings—not to mention open doors to his own big break in the music industry.
But sometimes dreams get messy when they collide. Sometimes life changes patterns. A past paints the wrong picture and futures get cloudy. The only question that remains is who will you choose when the dust settles—you? Or the girl of your dreams?
** This book is a Falling Series spin-off. It can be read as a standalone. **
OMG these two are the cutest – what starts out as a love note turns into something SO amazing!
Keep reading to see the full Love Note!
Rowe,
I’ve made it. Durham, North Carolina. I’ve laid down at least a dozen Kevin Costner jokes since getting here, and the locals are not amused. I guess what I’m saying is you don’t have to worry about a sexy groupie tying me up to make sure I’m on top of my game on the field. Seems that plot was strictly for the movie. Though the people of Durham do love their baseball. I caught today, and I struck out twice. They booed the minute the last pitch was called. Coach says they forgive easy, but I have a nice bruise from a half-full beer bottle on my cheek that says otherwise. I think my head just isn’t in the right place. I think I miss my lucky charm.
I miss you. (You’re the lucky charm, by the way, so when you read that back…it’s kinda like I miss you twice. That’s a lot of missing. Just want to make sure I get credit.)
Anyhow, I know you’re busy finishing your senior year, and I know that your field studies are going to be demanding, but I’ve been thinking—six months of shit-small towns is going to be hard. And not seeing you is going to be harder. So I went ahead and did something crazy. I bought you a seat to every game. A good one. Front row, right above our dugout, everywhere we are. One hundred and seventeen of them. I know you can only make a handful, but I wanted you to have a seat just in case. Always. The best seat in the house…or at least the best seat that $2,719 could afford over a dozen stadiums.
Starting with this one.
I know it’s short notice for this weekend, but given that it’s Valentine’s Day, I thought you might be up for a road trip. I happen to know a place you can stay 😉 And I promise to hit the snot out of the ball if you’re here, which means no booing and no tossing concession items at your guy. So for what it’s worth, coach would really like to encourage your attendance. I would just like to add that you’re beautiful.
Love always,
Your Nate
Dear Nate,
I’m gassing up right now. I’ll be there by first pitch. And you better not strike out, otherwise I’m going to find your friend with the well-aimed beer darts and join him with a few of my own. Kidding (I would never throw beer. Your brother would be disappointed in me. I would throw wet pretzels—they stick.) As for the little bit about it being Valentine’s Day, well I might have a few after-game activities in mind. You’re going to have to earn them though.
Love,
Your Rowe
Dear Rowe,
I may have taken three extra batting practice sessions to get ready for tomorrow’s game. Looking forward to the after-game activities.
Love,
Nate
Dear Nate,
I didn’t know bowling meant that much to you.
Rowe
Rowe,
Clearly, you’ve never seen me bowl.
Nate
Nate,
You know I didn’t really mean bowling, right?
Rowe
Rowe,
I’m counting on it.
Your Nate
Nate,
Good. I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed when I took you for pedicures instead.
Rowe
Rowe,
How could a man ever be disappointed with pedicures?
Love,
Nate
P.S.
If you really mean pedicures, I’m in trouble.
Nate,
I don’t.
😉
Rowe
Rowe,
Thank god!
I love you.
Nate
Ginger Scott is a writer and journalist from Peoria, Arizona. She is the author of four young and new adult romances, with her fifth title, This Is Falling, set to release in late August 2014.
Scott has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.
When she’s not writing, the odds are high that she’s somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Scott is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork ’em, Devils).
Sara Yates says
This is so dang cute.