When Tomorrow Starts Without me

by Stacy Claflin

  Kenna

  Two months later…

  * * *

  Archie, my parents' Bergamasco, nuzzles up to me and licks my face. I laugh at the pup who looks like a sheepdog with dreadlocks, and pat his head.

  My mom—it now feels surprisingly natural to call my birth parents Mom and Dad—turns to Rogan, who has his arm around me. "Will you play your songs for us before the party? I've been dying to hear you."

  Rogan glances at me and arches a brow.

  I smile. "It's up to you."

  "On one condition."

  The look in his eyes makes my heart flutter. "What?"

  "That you sing with me."

  I gasp. "No, I'm a terrible singer."

  Theo used to torment me to no end when I used to sing, saying how I sounded like a horse begging for death.

  "You?" Dad exclaims. "Your singing instructor said you had more potential than anyone she'd ever worked with."

  "I had a singing teacher?" I don't know why this surprises me, but almost everything does, since arriving at my parents' mansion.

  "The best one we could get." Dad smiles at me. "She was thrilled with your capabilities."

  Rogan squeezes my shoulder. "Will you sing with me? These songs were written for and about you. It would only be right if you sing them with me."

  My heart thunders in my chest. "I don't know…"

  "Please." Mom begs me with her eyes.

  Dad puts his arm around her and imitates her expression.

  How can I say no to that? "Okay, just don't anyone make fun of me if my natural talent has disappeared."

  "Never," Mom promises.

  Dad nods.

  I turn to Rogan.

  "I would never make fun of you."

  My heart continues beating wildly. "Okay, I'll do it."

  Rogan grabs his guitar from the corner of the room and returns to the couch.

  I'm shaking so hard, there's no way I'll sound good. But at least nobody in the room would dream of making fun of me.

  Rogan sits and strums a few notes.

  I recognize the song right away. As I hum the tune, my entire body relaxes.

  He belts out the first line, then nudges me.

  I take a deep breath, then join him halfway through the next sentence. It feels right, singing the lyrics with him. I sing them loudly, but not enough to overpower his delicious voice. Our voices melt together, sounding as though they were made for one another.

  Mom covers her mouth, her eyes shining. Dad beams, obviously proud of me.

  Once the song is over, Mom rushes over and nearly knocks me over with her hug. "You sound like an angel, Briar Bear."

  After she lets go, Rogan kisses my forehead. "I had no idea the talent you were hiding from me!"

  "Uh, me neither." My face flames.

  "I'm serious, Kenna. You need to sing with me—in the band."

  My mouth gapes. "You can't mean that. I have no experience."

  "Who cares about that? You have talent. You're a natural. Let the agent your dad found have a listen. She'll agree."

  Dad jumps to his feet. "Forget her! I have an even better idea."

  My stomach twists. "What?"

  "A reality show! The public is already obsessed with you—Briar Ensgate, the stolen toddler back from a horrific kidnapping all these years later. There's already an outcry for more of you. I've demanded the media to give us privacy. A show would satisfy everyone. The people would be able to get your story directly from you, and you two will become a singing sensation. I'll even fly your band in if you want."

  I turn to Rogan. "What do you think?"

  His face is pale. He turns to my dad. "Are you serious?"

  "Do I look like I'm kidding?"

  Rogan shakes his head.

  "You two in? I have some calls to make, but only if this is what you two want." Dad locks his gaze with mine. "If you don't want to be in the spotlight, just say the word."

  I struggle to find my voice. It's hard to picture myself on stage with Rogan—or at all. I was never one of those kids who dreamed of being in the spotlight. That was something too far removed from my reality.

  "Babe?" Rogan kisses my cheek.

  I turn to him. "Do you mind… I mean, would you be okay with sharing the spotlight with me?"

  His expression softens. "Are you kidding? Nothing would make me happier. Prouder. I'm not bad on my own, but together—we're pure magic."

  "You really think so?"

  He pulls me against his chest, squeezing me as he tightens his grip. "We have so far to go, getting you out of your self-deprecating mindset."

  It's a good thing Mom and Dad have me in family counseling with them. Maybe the therapist can fix me, or at least help me fix myself. Or better yet, I'll make the necessary changes with the help of the three people in this room.

  "So…" My dad's voice is muffled because Rogan's arm is pressed against my ear. "Is that a yes?"

  Rogan releases his hold on me, and I sit up straight. We hold each other's gaze. He cocks a brow. "Is it a yes?"

  I bite my lower lip. "Is it?"

  "It is, if you'll sing with me. If we form a band together." He takes my hands in his.

  My heart thunders so loudly, it's all I can hear. I've never been more scared, but this fear is different. It's good. Pushing me toward something better instead of away from a nightmare.

  I take a deep breath and nod.

  "Yes?" Dad asks.

  "Yes!" I jump up, and before I know it, all four of us are jumping up and down, hugging each other.

  Kenna

  The crowd claps and cheers, only this time, it isn't a dream. A faded, forgotten memory. This time, it's so very real.

  Colorful lights flash around us, then a bright spotlight. It moves around the stage, before landing on Rogan and me. I turn to him and our gazes lock, then he gives me that smile of his, followed by a little wink.

  My heart races, because of him. Not because of the cameras or the people or the song we're about to sing.

  Ashton starts the music off with a quick drum solo, and the crowd goes even wilder. Then the guitar blends in.

  Rogan gives a little nod. He belts out the first line, then I join him and immediately, our voices melt together like one.

  The crowd cheers and claps even louder. I catch sight of my dad behind the cameras, and he's beaming like he couldn't be prouder. Mom joins him, giving him a quick kiss, and her expression matches his.

  My palms sweat, but I manage to keep my focus. This is really happening. Even though it's our third performance for the show, I still halfway expect to wake up back in Washington somewhere.

  But that won't happen because I'm home. Mom and Dad have completely redone my room, giving me total reign over the design. I couldn't help myself—it looks like something that belongs in a castle. I want to feel like a princess every morning when I wake, no matter how corny that sounds.

  Rogan is staying at my parents' guesthouse, and that's where the band practices—at all hours of the day and night. Mom and Dad had already soundproofed it years ago.

  My life couldn't be more perfect. Well, except for the demons of my past that still haunt my dreams. And sometimes during the day when I see someone and for a moment think it's Theo, Liz, or Merle.

  Now that I have the life I should've had all along, all that is fading. I look forward to the day it's forgotten. Though for now, I hope Merle and Theo have been able to watch my new reality show from jail. I want them to know how well I'm doing despite them.

  I've won, with the help of my real family. With people who actually care about me.

  Rogan and I finish singing, then two beats later, the music stops. The crowd goes crazy.

  I step closer to Rogan and set my mic in its stand. He pulls me close and stares into my eyes. Everything else fades to the background.

  "I love you, Kenna." He presses his mouth on mine before I can say a thing. I kiss him back, and he lifts me up and spins me around.

&nbs
p; I open my eyes and stare into his. "And I will always love you. You not only literally saved my life, but you wouldn't give up on me. Now I have the family I never knew was looking for me."

  "You saved me too. Now I know what's really important in life." He cups my chin, gives me a mind-melting kiss, then turns back to the crowd.

  We bow, and they grow even louder, wanting more.

  Author's Note

  Thanks so much for reading When Tomorrow Starts Without Me. (If you skipped ahead to this first, please stop reading unless you want spoilers.) I hope you enjoyed Kenna and Rogan's story as much as I've enjoyed writing and rewriting it! Even though I've spent so many hours with the book, I want to sit down and read it again. I can't get enough of these two!

  * * *

  As an author, I put bits and pieces of myself into each of my books. But I've put more of myself into this book in particular over any other I've written to date. The events of the story are very much fictitious, but the emotions are as real as they come. I've shed tears for Kenna's plight, my heart raced as the train came toward Kenna, and I literally shook before Rogan had to tell her about Caroline's suicide. And those weren't the only feels I experienced—those are just the ones that stick out in my mind.

  * * *

  Most of all, I enjoyed watching the story unfold. I can plan out as much as I want, but at some point the characters take over and do what they want. They surprise me. Some of the best twists and turns are the ones I never see coming. If you don't write, that may sound odd, but I assure you it's true! Sometimes the characters really mess up my plans. Luckily, I didn't plan out too far in advance this time. Kenna and Rogan took over more times than I can count.

  * * *

  I have plans for Sutton's story coming later this year. I'd love to tell you more, but things may change. It's probably safe to say she'll be in college, opening on the worst day of her life. I can already see the scene clearly in my mind. Her story will be completely different from this one, but will leave everyone with all the feels as this one did. You'll see the cover of her book in the preview section after this author's note.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased it. Your review will help other readers find my work. Reviews can be short—just share your honest thoughts. That's it.

  * * *

  Want to know when I have a new release? Sign up here for new release updates. You'll even get three free books!

  * * *

  Thank you for your support!

  * * *

  ~Stacy

  Previews

  I hope you enjoyed When Tomorrow Starts Without Me! I'm planning to write's Sutton's own heart-felt novel later this year (2018) and it's called The Only Things You Can Take.

  Sign up for book updates to be notified when the book releases.

  If you haven't read my other works, I have many others while you wait for Sutton's story! I write romance, thrillers, and paranormal romance. If you liked this book, the following are ones I think you would also enjoy…

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  Wracked with guilt and determined to find answers, Alex teams up with an unlikely ally at the police department. As the clues reveal a pattern of missing girls, the kidnapping case becomes a race against time to save Ariana. What cost is Alex willing to pay to keep his daughter alive?

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