*~*Love Note: Everett to Parker – Ten Below Zero by Whitney Barbetti*~*

Author:   Whitney Barbetti
Genre:   New Adult, Contemporary Romance

“In here,” he said, pushing on the skin above my heart, “you’re ten below zero. And you’re closer to death than I am.”

My name is Parker. My body is marked with scars from an attack I don’t remember. I don’t want to remember. I choose to live my life by observation, not through experience. While people are laughing and kissing and connecting, I’m in the corner. Watching them live. I’m indifferent to everything, everyone. The only emotion I feel with any kind of depth is annoyance, and I feel it often.

A text message sent to the wrong number proves to be my undoing.

His name is Everett, but I call him rude. He’s pushy, he’s arrogant, he crowds my personal space, and worst of all: he makes me feel.

He chooses to wear all black, all the time, as if he’s waiting to attend a funeral. Probably because he is.

Everett is dying. And he’s spending his final days living, truly living. In doing so, he’s forcing me to feel, to heal. To come face to face with the demons I suppressed in my memory.

He hurts me, he fulfills me, he completes me. And still, he’s dying.

Wow…Everett wrote Parker a fantastic note…

Keep reading to see the full Love Note!

Dear Parker,

You’re a real pain in the ass sometimes, but you’re my pain in the ass. And what have I told you before? There’s pleasure in some pain. You’re my greatest pleasure and every single moment with you is worth whatever pain I’ve endured to be here, with you.

This morning I asked you if an animal had taken up residence and then died in your hair. You called me an asshole. I told you I loved you. And you told me you hated me. But then your sweet, crooked smile slowly bloomed and you told me in a whisper that you loved me. You’re still uncomfortable saying the words, but your eyes sparkle every time you do.

I don’t think you know what it does to me, that sparkle. Let me put it this way: that sparkle, your spark – its life defined. You’re living, Parker. Your heart is beating and your blood is pumping and you’re finally getting out of the house and talking to people who aren’t me. You’re not calling all of them assholes. You save that word for me.

And your eyes. They’re sparkling for me.

Last night, you curled up against me in bed while I surfed through channels and I know how much you hate that – you only whined three times. At one point, you reached for my hand and laced your fingers with mine with your arm draped across my stomach, your scar on display. When your breathing grew deeper, I lightly ran the tip of my finger down the scar that cuts into your cheek.

The words fell from my lips easily, comfortably. As if they were always meant to be said, to you. “I love you.”

I knew you were awake because with each word I spoke, you squeezed my hand. Three squeezes in all.

I don’t ever want to forget this, forget you. I love you, Parker. I do.

-Everett (the Asshole)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am a wife to one and a mom to two humans and one cat. When I’m not changing diapers or cutting food into tiny bites, I escape to Starbucks for hours.

I write character-driven New Adult novels, heavy on the emotional connection. I LOVE love. I love writing about broken characters who find their soul mates.

I love hearing from readers!