by C. B. Lee
Jacks and Jills are watching from the corner, and both of them meep and hover forward. Jess is pleased to notice that Abby could have upgraded Chả to the newest design, even given it the ability to fly, but she kept the original shape and functions.
“I, ah, I can fix that,” Abby says, twirling a finger in her hair. “I mean, I’m so used to building things with my powers, I probably messed up when I was—”
Jess curls an arm around her waist and draws her close, kissing her without hesitation.
Abby kisses her right back.
The robots spin about them, making celebratory-sounding noises. Jess opens her eyes and realizes that Chả is chasing Jacks and Jills, like a disobedient puppy. She laughs, picks up the robot, runs a hand along Chả’s new silver casing, and laughs. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Jess’ DED lights up with a new notification—a message from Emma.
“Hey, there’s a new episode of The Gentleman Detective out,” Jess says. “We usually watch it with Bells. Wanna come?”
Abby raises an eyebrow. “Weren’t we going to try and figure out what to do about the corrupt League and the NAC cover up? I know that my mom said to wait, but—”
“Hmmm,” Jess says. “That’s not going to get done in one night, and you know we’ve done all we could. Pretty sure the only thing we could do at this point is wait and worry about what they’re going to do next.”
“That’s true,” Abby admits. “So we might as well have fun and be normal for a night, right?”
Jess laughs. “Well, I hardly think we’ll ever be normal, but I heard that’s overrated.”
Acknowledgments...
Writing this series has been a rollercoaster of emotion. I’m so thankful to my friends and family for the support they’ve given me.
Thank you to my parents for encouraging me and also especially my mother, who listened to all my questions about my fictional immigrants and also endured strange phone calls about where accent marks go. I forgive you for talking my ear off about how to make the meatloaf, and, as you can see, I did not include the recipe.
I am indebted to the LGBTQIA+ activists who came before me for the rights and freedoms we enjoy today and continue to strive for.
To the amazing team at Duet Books and Interlude Press, thank you for giving my little story a home. Candy, thank you for every little thing you do, behind the scenes and getting all the parts of this beautiful organization together. Annie, endless thanks to your passion and time, and being open when I said, “Um, so I don’t think it can be one book? It’s... going to be three?”
Thank you to CB, my wonderfully talented name twin and incredible person through and through; your artwork has blown me away every time you reveal a new cover. The first time I saw mine I cried and had to walk around to collect myself; everything about it was incredible and absolutely captured all the elements we talked about. Thank you for making it clear she’s Asian on the cover, thank you for drawing Jess with such style and aplomb, thank you for everything, everything, everything.
Kate, your friendship and encouragement were the only things that pulled this story out of my head and into existence. Those first few weeks when I started were so rough; thank you so much for believing in me, for telling me to write, for keeping me level-headed, for laughing with me and being there in all the stages in which this was written.
Darling, darling Jennifer, thank you for the endless amounts of positive messages when I thought I couldn’t keep going, for the steadfast encouragement and suggestions. Michelle, at the drop of a hat, you stepped up, and I cannot even begin to talk about how much it meant to me during that busy time. Bells and Emma, thank you for being wonderful friends and allowing me to name my characters after you. Zane, Hunter, and Mel, thank you for all the discussion and encouragement and letting me bombard you with questions. I guarantee you this will continue for books two and three.
Mai, Laura, Cal, Kelly Ann, Stacey, Niamh, your talent and friendship inspire me and I’m always be grateful for your energy and positivity. Freck, Michelle, Sylvia, Em, Maggie, Mel, Tay, Frek, Beth, Rachel—amazing writers, and even more amazing friends— endless thank you’s for the infinite moments of laughter and joy, the support and the love.
And definite love to the writers of NaNoWrimo Los Angeles, whose writing sprint sessions made much of this novel possible.
Last, but never least, for everyone who started this journey with me and read my writing from the beginning. Thank you for being my anchor.
About the Author...
C.B. Lee is a bisexual writer, rock climber, and pinniped enthusiast from Southern California. A first-generation Asian American, she is passionate about working in communities of color and empowering youth to be inspired to write characters and stories of their own. Lee's debut novel Seven Tears at High Tide was published by Duet Books in 2015 and named a finalist in the Bisexual Books Awards.
COMING IN 2017
NOT YOUR VILLAIN
C.B. Lee
Bells thought he had it made when his powers manifested early. He kept it a secret at first, using his shapeshifting abilities to live in the body he's meant to. The superhero thing came later—after all, it's an honor to be selected for the Heroes' League of Heroes.
But Bells isn't able to fight crime as Chameleon for very long before he and his friends discover the League is corrupt and the power-hungry, former-hero Captain Orion is loose with a dangerous serum that renders meta-humans powerless.
Catch the bad guy; save the day. Bells has a lot on his plate, especially considering he also has to graduate from high school and figure out how to tell his best friend Emma he's in love with her.
One story
can change everything.
@duetbooks
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For a reader’s guide to Not Your Sidekick and book club prompts, please visit duetbooks.com.
NOW AVAILABLE
from Duet Books
Seven Tears at High Tide by C.B. Lee
Kevin Luong walks to the ocean’s edge with a broken heart. Remembering a legend his mother told him, he lets seven tears fall into the sea. “I just want one summer—one summer to be happy and in love.” Instead, he finds himself saving a mysterious boy from the Pacific—a boy who later shows up on his doorstep professing his love. What he doesn’t know is that Morgan is a selkie, drawn to answer Kevin’s wish. As they grow close, Morgan is caught between the dangers of the human world and his legacy in the selkie community to which he must return at summer’s end.
ISBN (print) 978-1-941530-47-4 | (eBook) 978-1-941530-48-1
Buy Now: Smashwords
The Star Host by F.T. Lukens
Ren grew up listening to his mother tell stories about the Star Hosts—mythical people possessed by the power of the stars. Captured by a nefarious Baron, Ren discovers he may be something out of his mother’s stories. He befriends Asher, a member of the Phoenix Corps. Together, they must master Ren’s growing power, and try to save their friends while navigating the growing attraction between them.
ISBN (print) 978-1-941530-72-6 | (eBook) 978-1-941530-73-3
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The Rules of Ever After by Killian B. Brewer
The royal rules have governed the kingdoms of Clarameer for centuries, but princes Phillip and Daniel know that these rules don’t apply to them. In a quest to find their own Happily Ever After, they encounter meddlesome fairies, an ambitious stepmother, disgruntled princesses and vengeful kings as they learn about life, love, friendship and family—and learn to write their own rules of ever after.
ISBN (print) 978-1-941530-35-1 | (eBook) 978-1-941530-42-9
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