by Clara Kensie
When we were done and the kitchen was clean—an easy task thanks to Jillian and Logan’s PK—Deirdre shooed everyone away, ordering us to go study. We had a lot of classwork to make up, and we’d all be taking summer school.
We camped out in the family room with our textbooks and notes, Tristan next to me and giving me the occasional kiss. After awhile, I took a break and lifted the fog, allowing visions of happy Connelly family moments to filter through. Jillian, Logan and I would be part of those happy family moments from now on.
The heartless thing about the past is our inability to change it. It’s too late to make any alterations.
We could not change the past. But we could take charge of our future.
And my future would be spent in this cluttered, chaotic, happy home in Lilybrook, with Dennis and Deirdre, and Jillian and Logan and Ember, and two dogs, two cats and one bunny rabbit. And with Tristan, my blue-eyed, broad-shouldered, perfectly heroic boyfriend.
My future would be spent surrounded by love.
* * *
Run. Run.
Muscles aching, lungs burning, heart bursting, I ran against the April wind down a path lined with trees just beginning to bud.
It felt fantastic.
Tristan was only a few feet ahead of me. For our first jog in Lilybrook, he’d taken me to a trail that wound around Lilybrook Park. As we had in Twelve Lakes, we ran in a clockwise direction. He was almost fully up to speed, but I was still a little weak from my long, fog-induced slumber.
But I was catching up to him.
He stopped, turned, and wiggled his blue baseball cap, which he wore backwards on his head. “If you catch me,” he said, “I’ll let you keep the hat.” Then he shot off again.
That was all the inspiration I needed—the same challenge he’d issued once before, in Twelve Lakes. I’d beaten him then; I could beat him now.
I charged forward at full throttle, zooming past the budding wildflowers, feet pounding in rhythm. Left-right-left-right.
Within seconds I reached him. “Ha! Caught you!”
But he turned and caught me in his arms instead, and gave me a kiss. “Us,” he said as he put the hat on my head. “You and me.”
And my heart echoed in rhythm: thump. Thump-th-thump.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, and together, we stumbled to a tree just off the path and sank behind it.
By the time we came out from behind the tree, clothes disheveled, hair tangled and lips tingling, we were too tired to finish our run. We walked home instead, hand-in-hand.
THE END
Acknowledgments
Writing my second book was a completely different experience from writing my first book. Tessa and Tristan encountered new adventures and challenges, and so did I. I faced both personal and professional obstacles in the course of writing this book, and I am exceptionally blessed to have a large support group of friends and family.
Thank you to Erica O’Rourke and Hanna Martine for being the initial readers of Run to You Book Two. You gave me indispensable advice and encouragement from the first word to the last.
Erica and Hanna, along with Lynne Hartzer, Eliza Evans, Ryann Murphy, Melonie Johnson, and the Aphrodite Writers: Thank you for your friendship, knowledge, and laughs. I feel a sisterhood with you that is unparalleled.
I am continually inspired by the talented and generous writers of Chicago-North RWA.
Special thanks to Maya Rock for your critical eye and spot-on editorial notes.
Thanks to the incredible team at Harlequin Teen, and especially my editor, Natashya Wilson. You are thoughtful, patient, insightful, honest, and fun. Your direction and insight made this book what it is.
Huge, enormous, colossal thanks to my rock star agent, Laura Bradford. You give me guidance, pep talks, frank advice, and sometimes, a shoulder to cry on. You always know what to say, and it is always the perfect thing.
Big hugs to the book blogging community! “Meeting” you was one of my most delightful experiences as a new author. Thank you for sharing your love of books with me and the rest of the world.
Thanks to my neighborhood friends, college friends, and high school friends who always ask how the writing is going and occasionally drag me back to the real world. Tina and Liz, thank you for inviting me for coffee every Friday morning, even though most of the time I can’t make it. Mary & Mike and Lisa & Rosie, I look forward to our Sunday Night Viewing Parties all week long.
Thanks to my unfailingly supportive parents, Judi & Richard and Chuck & Bonnie.
Thank you, always and forever, to my beautiful children. You amaze me every day.
Thanks to my husband, Glen. I couldn’t have done this without you. You are my hero.
And finally, I want to thank you, my wonderful readers. It means the world to me that you care enough about Tessa and Tristan to read more of their story. Thank you for reviewing my books online and for recommending them to your friends. Thank you for your emails, too. I cherish each and every one of them. It is truly an honor to be part of your lives.
Playlist
Author Note: This is the playlist I listened to over and over while writing and revising RUN TO YOU Book Two (parts 4–6). No matter how many times I hear it, I never get tired of it. ~Clara
“Wildflowers”—Tom Petty
“Down in a Cold Dirty Well”—Justin Nozuka
“Bad Things”—Jace Everett
“Fireflies of Montreal”—Laurena Segura
“All Too Well”—Taylor Swift
“The Reason”—Hoobastank
“Candy Machine Gun”—Haley Bonar
“Silhouette Serenade”—Vendetta Red
“Open Season”—High Highs
“Dead Hearts”—Stars
“Do You Realize??”—The Flaming Lips
“The Adventure”—Angels & Airwaves
“Agenda Suicide”—The Faint
“Ghosts and Creatures”—Telekinesis
“Hold On, Hold On”—Neko Case
“Home”—Phillip Phillips
“Home Again”—Michael Kiwanuka
“Just a Game”—Birdy
“I Want You to Want Me”—Cheap Trick
Listen to my playlists on Spotify!
RUN TO YOU Book One
RUN TO YOU Book Two
Q & A with Clara Kensie
Was writing the second book (parts 4–6) in the RUN TO YOU series different than writing the first book?
Yes, it was very different, and much more difficult. It took me several years to write and revise the first book, and I only had a few months to write the sequel. I had a very old first draft that I used as a general outline, but the story was completely different by the time I finished the second draft (for the better, of course!). Melanie and Aaron weren’t even in that first draft. Weird, right? Now I can’t imagine Book Two without them. The story changed again, quite dramatically, after the second draft—especially Part Six. Also, the books were published as a serial instead of as two complete novels. Book One had natural cut-offs for the serial episodes, but for Book Two, I had to shuffle much of the plot around to make it work in the serialized format.
Of the new characters in Book Two, which one is your favorite?
I love Aaron. Sweet, smart, wounded, love struck Aaron.
How do you come up with characters’ names?
Character names are very important to me. I can spend hours deciding on the perfect name. Each name has to be appropriate for the character’s age and the time and setting of the book. And since I will be using the names a lot, I want to like them. Sometimes I change a character’s name three or four times before the final draft. Jillian was originally named Quinn, Ember was originally Erin, and Nathan was originall
y Grayson. But their original names just didn’t “feel” right, so I kept changing them until they did.
Were any of the events in RUN TO YOU based on things that happened to you in real life?
No events, but some of the characters are based on people I know in real life. My husband is unfailingly supportive of all of my endeavors, the same way Tristan supports Tessa’s. Melanie’s seeking ability was inspired by my daughter’s uncanny skill of finding lost things. Tessa has nightmares, and so do I. We both paint murals. I love to wear my husband’s oversized hoodies the same way Tessa loves to wear Tristan’s. Deirdre’s dislike of housework and cooking comes directly from me. I even have a plaque hanging in my kitchen that reads, Please excuse the noise and mess, we are busy making happy memories.
Will there be more books in the RUN TO YOU series?
Nothing would make me happier than to continue the Run to You series! I have stories for Jillian, Logan, Ember, Aaron, and Melanie (can you guess which ones I’ve paired up?) and even a prequel about a teenage Dennis and Deirdre. And of course, I have a few more adventures in store for Tessa and Tristan as well. These stories are all in my head for now, but I would love to share them with you one day.
How can I find out more about the RUN TO YOU series and learn about your future projects?
There are lots of ways! You can:
Sign up for my newsletter.
Visit my website at clarakensie.com.
Subscribe to my blog.
Follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and Facebook.
Send me an email.
Read on for an excerpt from another unforgettable
Harlequin TEEN digital-first story
FORETOLD
(Book 1 of SISTERS OF FATE)
by Rinda Elliott.
Available now at your favorite e-tailer!
About the Author
Clara Kensie grew up reading every book she could find and using her diary to write stories about a girl with psychic powers who solved mysteries. She purposely did not hide her diary, hoping someone would read it and assume she was writing about herself. Since then, she’s swapped her diary for a computer and admits her characters are fictional, but otherwise she hasn’t changed one bit.
The complexities of family, friendship and love have always intrigued Clara. Wanting to study human nature, in college she triple-majored in psychology, sociology and social services, then threw in a criminal justice minor for good measure. She interned at a group home for troubled teen girls. She visited prisons. Today Clara lives outside Chicago with her husband, their two kids and their trouble-making cat, appropriately named The King of Chaos. She writes twisty mysteries and chilling thrillers for young adults—but it’s the romance that will take your breath away. When she’s not torturing her characters, she’s on Twitter and Tumblr, reading YA lit or looking for her keys. Visit her website at clarakensie.com.
A family on the run from a deadly past, and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…
Looking for more Clara Kensie? Be sure to catch all 6 parts in her fast-paced, romantic-suspense serial, Run to You. Available now in ebook format.
Run to You Part 1: First Sight
Run to You Part 2: Second Glance
Run to You Part 3: Third Charm
Run to You Part 4: Fourth Shadow
Run to You Part 5: Fifth Touch
Run to You Part 6: Sixth Sense
Order your copies today!
Be sure to also catch these other great Harlequin TEEN titles, available now:
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout (novella)
Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott
Stir Me Up by Sabrina Elkins
Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin
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“Captivating, mysterious, fun, and deep…for readers of John Green or any realistic YA authors, I would highly recommend this new wonderful novel.”
—Fresh Fiction
Five Strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost. Don’t miss one of the most anticipated debuts of 2014, Let’s Get Lost (August 2014), by Adi Alsaid.
Available in ebook.
Order your copy today!
Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named Leila.
She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.
Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila’s own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth—sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you’re looking for is to get lost along the way.
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
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HarlequinBlog.com
Three days after the end of the world began I had two choices—drive into a river or hit a deer. The light of the full moon reflected off the snow; the white stuff falling from the sky came in thick, noisy sheets that slammed the roof of my Honda Civic and coated the windshield.
Snow, in my experience, had always been soft. This version was pissed, spitting at the world with a vengeance. It made clear vision impossible.
Didn’t do much for traction, either.
I had to go so slowly. Exhaustion burned my eyes, dragged at my lungs. I’d lost hope of finding a cheap hotel. The last one had been so full, people had actually been sharing rooms with strangers. I’d had two offers while scurrying back to my car in the parking lot. Hadn’t taken them. If I’d learned one thing on this long trip, it was that people turned into complete freaks when they were scared and a sudden Earth-wide snowstorm made for one wicked fear catalyst. I’d seen fights in grocery stores, fights in snowdrifts on the sides of highways and had even watched one lady jump into a car and drive off while the owner stood holding the gas pump nozzle.
And the directions I’d printed sucked.
It had taken me three days longer than expected to get here from Florida. I’d always wanted to come to this supposed place of great magic nestled on the edge of the Ouachita Mountains in eastern Oklahoma, but Mom freaked every time I brought it up. Too much magic, she said. Plus, the rumors of a real gloaming meadow upset her. As far as the Norse knew, there were only a couple in the United States. My two sisters and I had been conceived in the one up north. Nothing like knowing exactly where your mother had sex with a stranger.
The snow let up slightly and I leaned forward like that would help me see well. I slowed even more, the car going barely faster than a crawl. I’d known what this snow was all about the second it had started.
When my sisters and I were kids, my mother’s idea of a bedtime story had been a creepy Norse rendition of the end of the world. Ragnarok. Three years of winter, a great tidal wave and then fire burning across the land. And during all this, there would be battles between warriors who carried the souls of the old gods. Blood and death—my mother’s idea of a nurturing bedtime story.
Kat, Coral and I hadn’t believed her until the souls of the norns inside us made themselves known. I was nine the first time I felt mine. Triplets like us, the norns had been goddess sisters, similar to the Greek fates, but they hadn’t woven thread
s of prophecy as some stories told; they’d carved runes into wood. The Norse called them the Wyrd Sisters. Kat, Coral and I preferred to think of them as the sisters of fate because the whole damned situation was weird enough.
The car swerved, causing my hands to sweat as my hold on the steering wheel turned to a death grip. My cell phone buzzed in the front pocket of my jeans but I ignored it, too scared to reach for it because I was pretty sure I’d left the actual road at some point.
I risked one hand off the wheel long enough to rub my temple. This anxiety was eating me alive. I’d been driving too long and my head had ached the past twenty-four hours. I missed my sisters. We’d never been apart this long before.
So when the flash of brown stepped in front of my car, I panicked and swerved. The car hit a patch of ice, glanced off a tree and sailed with a groaning, metallic cry right over a ravine and into fast-moving, icy water.
The jarring crash rattled every bone in my body.
Shock froze me for a second or two. Then the terror hit. I screamed as the car floated down the river, slamming into boulders and tree limbs like some tricked-out carnival water slide. My suitcase flew between the bucket seats and hit my shoulder, knocking me into the steering wheel.
Blinking, I wrapped my cold fingers around the wheel until they cramped. I couldn’t see crap! Ride it out or abandon ship? The decision was ripped from me when everything came to a jarring stop.
The car had lodged into...a fallen tree. I took a deep breath. But then the vehicle tilted and my head slammed into the driver’s side window. Metal groaned again. The weight of the car pushed into limbs, causing shrill, screeching noises as they scraped the door.
Freezing water soaked into my jeans and through my T-shirt, ribbed turtleneck and my favorite jean jacket.