Imperfectly Criminal
Page 22
The End.
For Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse
If you are experiencing violence, you can access the National Domestic Hotline at
1-800-799-SAFE or www.TheHotline.org for information, support, and local referrals.
Over 60% of rapes go unreported and 97% of rapists never spend a day in jail (https://www.rainn.org/statistics).
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, I hope you will report, or encourage the victim to report. Even if you don’t succeed, you may save a future victim.
For more information, you can contact RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) at www.rainn.org or their hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.
Acknowledgements
As always, I have to thank my husband first. Without him, I would know nothing of romance.
I would like to acknowledge my friend Marcy Renee Barnett. I loosely based the character of Dean’s mom on Marcy’s own struggle with cancer. Unfortunately, Marcy lost the battle and passed away while I was editing this book in August of 2014. Marcy, if you’re out there, I miss the poems you would leave on my desk every year for my birthday, your crazy stories, and your sweet laugh. You were one of the strongest and sweetest women I’ve had the pleasure of having in my life. I would also like to acknowledge my beautiful mother-in-law, Deborah Ann Frame who also died from cancer shortly after I was married. Debbi, you are missed every day. Because it’s a topic near and dear to my heart, a portion of the proceeds of this novel will be donated to Cancer Research Institute http://www.cancerresearch.org/giving-to-cri Please consider donating if you can.
A huge, giant, big, sloppy kiss to YOU the reader, and everyone who read Imperfect Chemistry and then took the time to e-mail, blog, review, send me messages on Facebook, Twitter, my blog, etc. Your support and kindness has meant so much to me, you have NO IDEA.
A special thank you to the bloggers over at Book-a-holic Fairies (Midnight Fairy and Hazel the Rock Chick Fairy) for making the sweetest book trailer EVER and including me in a wonderful giveaway. Also, Tawnya Peltonen of One More Chapter for being an early beta reader for this book—helping to inspire the change to make it a multiple POV—and for all the support you’ve given me and all kinds of other writers. You are amazing and the work you do is so appreciated, I don’t think you could ever realize how much!
Kristen Fetty—you are one of the inspirations behind Freya, and I have to thank you for helping me release my own inner crazy. I love you, always.
For all my wonderful betas ESPECIALLY Jennifer King Ortiz and Jenny Juchtzer for reading multiple drafts! I apologize for being a pain in the ass! And my other early readers, Precy Larkins, Suzanne Payne, Jen Marie Thorne, Maggie Reyna, Maria Michel, Mercedes Johnson…this book would suck without you.
A big thank you to all of my co-workers who bought, read, brought in copies for me to sign, and have generally supported the crap outta me. I love you crazy people. Big thanks especially to Mike Austin–for always listening to me ramble on about writing nonsense—and to Ken Moore for being a big goofball and the inspiration behind a lot of the wacky in Imperfect Chemistry (aka Intolerable Biology). Your check is in the mail.
Becca Ruhl—for all the different ways to call someone a douche. Tell the real Cameron I’m sorry I killed him off, but it had to be done.
Another big thanks to my boss, Becky Archer for supporting, buying, making other people buy and read, etc. I appreciate your efforts to force me into a book signing. It’s still never going to happen ;)
Thank you to my book designer Sarah Sprinklepants over at Sprinkles on Top Studios. You are OVER THE TOP talented and amazing and I can’t wait to work with you in the future! Also the models featured on this cover: Chase Riner and Catie Chapman. You guys are so amazing and sweet! And good looking! How did you win that genetic lottery?
My editor Haestella (find her on Fiverr!). You are wonderful! These words would be much crappier without your diligent corrections and feedback.
And last, but most certainly not least, #TheGoatPosse. I don’t know how I got so lucky to be a part of a supportive, eclectic, silly, and amazing group of some of the most talented people on the planet, but let me tell you…I love it! Goat members: Ashlee Supinger, Angela Cook, J Lea Lopez, Darke Conteur, Suzanne Payne, Lisa Ann O’Kane, Bethany Crandell, Precy Larkins, Anita Howard, Jennifer Prescott, Rioghnach Robinson, Eric Devine, Amy Rolland, Michelle Simkins, Justin Holley, Kalen O’Donnell, Kerri Maniscalco You guys rock my goat socks!
About the Author
Mary Frame is a full time mother and wife with a full time job. She has no idea how she manages to write novels, except that it involves copious amounts of wine.
She doesn't enjoy writing about herself in third person, but she does enjoy reading, writing, dancing, and damaging the ear drums of her co-workers when she randomly decides to sing to them.
She lives in Reno, Nevada with her husband, two children and a border collie named Stella.
Contact Mary
e-mail: maryframeauthor@gmail.com
Twitter: @marewulf
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryFrame
Deleted Scene
This book is never ending, right? I had to share this scene that I was forced to cut because it really didn’t fit. But I had such fun writing! For those who read Imperfect Chemistry—there’s a scene where Freya describes to Lucy how Dean comes upon her hiding in bush. It’s mentioned briefly in Imperfectly Criminal. I had to write it because it was so funny in my head, and I want to share it even though it didn’t quite fit with this novel. Flashbacks are tough when you want to move the story forward. It’s short, but I hope you enjoy!
Mary
***
I can’t believe Jensen is cheating on Lucy. At least, I think he’s cheating on her. I’m sure that I’m not projecting my own insecurities and relationship failures onto their relationship because that would be crazy.
I mean, what else should I think? I just saw some hot blonde walk up and hug him, and it wasn’t a friendly little pat on the back kind of hug, we’re talking full body contact, lasting longer than a few seconds kind of hug. We have exited the friend zone.
Then they walked together back to his place.
Is it weird that I followed them?
No. I’m just a really good friend.
What might be weird is the fact that I’m hiding behind some bushes across the alleyway, watching them walk into his side of the house.
“Cheating asshat!” I mutter under my breath.
At least, I thought it was under my breath, but maybe not because Jensen suddenly whips his head in my direction.
Shit!
I drop down and try to hide myself more in the bush. It’s winter, though, so there’s not much foliage to take cover with, and there’s sharp little pokey things on the bare branches sticking me in the head. I wait a few seconds, heart thumping, before risking a glance back up.
I don’t get very far.
Damn it.
My hair is caught on some of the spikey things. I can’t get loose. I try to untangle myself, but it’s not working.
That’s when I see the pair of black and white Converse stop just behind me and to the side. It’s pretty much all I can see, since my head is caught in a downward facing direction.
“Nice Chuck’s,” I say.
“What are you doing?”
I know that voice. I know it, because the last time I heard it was a month ago when I had to pay up the rest of the $100 I promised him, and all I had was a giant wad of ones and a jar of change. We met in the cafeteria and he made me wait while he counted each. And every. Penny.
Cheap ass.
“I…dropped my ball.”
So, I don’t lie well under pressure.
“Your ball.”
He doesn’t sound as if he believes me. Odd.
“Right,” I say. “One of those tiny little bouncy balls, I got it from a twenty-five cent machine at the grocery store.�
��
“And you went into a bramble bush after it?”
“It has sentimental value.”
I’m still struggling to untangle my hair because he’s standing, like, right next to my ass and I’m sure it’s not attractive, all the jiggling happening back there while I struggle against the bush.
“Here,” he says, sounding put out. “Let me fix this.”
I stop my jiggling when I feel his fingers deftly poke around my head.
After a minute, something gives and I’m able to pull out of the bush completely.
I straighten and look at him. He’s wearing dark jeans, dark jacket, dark shirt, and the black Chucks. Damn it, he’s hot.
“Thanks,” I say. “I thought I would be late for criminal law.”
He cocks his head at me in a totally adorable way and then he speaks and the adorableness fades. “Isn’t that a little advanced for you?”
“You’re such an ass!” I roll my eyes before stomping away.