When I woke from the buzzing of my phone, I was torn from a dream in which Sam and I were walking on the beach—our beach. He was barefoot and devastatingly handsome in a linen suit. I wore white. My eyes were forced open before I could get to the good part I saw coming. Gleaming sun and blue skies for miles were replaced by bright florescent lighting and chipping paint. Damn whoever was interrupting this beautiful fantasy. I had every right to hit decline and send to voicemail, but when I saw the name flashing across the screen, there was no way I could ignore it.
Memphis.
“Impeccable timing.” I mumbled to myself before answering it. “Hello?”
“London! Thank God I got you. Where are you?”
Is he serious? Like no time had passed. Like all of us hadn’t been trying to reach him for months on end. I wanted to hang up, but more than that, I wanted him to know what a fuck-up he was.
“I’m at the hospital, Memphis. Waiting for our mother—and Sam—to come out of surgery. He’s giving her one of his kidneys as we speak. I kind of have my hands full right now—not to mention my heart—so what’s up, huh? What do you want? Why are you calling me now?”
I could hear movement, the phone shifting from one hand to another, his hands fumbling to hold it. “Shit! I didn’t realize that was today.” His voice was muffled as he cursed.
I sprang from my chair and walked to the other side of the room so as not to disturb Jean, who was still asleep.
I was so angry I could have killed him had he been in front of me. “Are you telling me you knew this was happening and you still didn’t reach out? You are such a piece of shit, Memphis! We needed you and you ignored us. What the hell is wrong with you?”
“London, please stop. You need to listen to me.”
I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at it as if he’d just spoken a foreign language. The only thing stopping me from ending the call and blocking the damn number was utter curiosity. Why now? Why was he calling after all this time if not to express concern for our mother?
When I brought the phone back to my ear, Memphis was frantic on the other end. “Hello? London? Are you there? I think I lost her, man. What should we do? Maybe you should try calling her.”
There was someone else in the background. The voice was familiar but too distant and muffled to make out. This entire call was getting more confusing by the second.
“I’m here,” I finally said. “Who’re you talking to, Memphis? What’s going on?”
He expelled a long sigh of relief. “I know this is a bad time. I’m so sorry I didn’t answer you, that I’m not there. I’ll make it up to you, and to Mom, I promise. But-but we need you, London. We’re in a lot of trouble.”
Never mind the desperation in his plea. God knew what kind of trouble he was in to resort to calling me of all people. He said we. Who was he in trouble with? And why did he think they deserved help from me?
“Who’s we, Memphis? Who are you with?”
The line fell silent for so long I wondered if he lost his nerve and hung up. But when he spoke again, the name that fell from his lips caused me to gasp so loudly I woke Jean and almost dropped the phone.
“I’m with Hunter. We’re on our way back to New Bedford. I’ll explain everything when we get there.”
Oh my God. This can’t be real. The room was a fuzzy haze spinning around me, my legs shaky and useless. I held on to the nearest chair to prevent myself from falling, as if that would stop any of this from being true.
As soon as he mentioned Hunter’s involvement, I knew this was no minor inconvenience. This was life or death. Even though Sam helped me bury my past over the course of the last three months, I was a fool to think it would never come back to haunt me.
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
OH, GUYS, I’M truly sorry! I swore I would never, ever do something like this and here I am going back on my word with this “sort of” cliffy. Well, have no fear! Take My Breath Away, Book Two in the Every Breath Duet, is coming soon and all your questions will be answered. I could have wrapped things up with a wayyyyyy longer version of this book, but come on . . . where’s the fun in that? And don’t you need more Sam and London??? I know I did, and I can’t wait for you to see what’s in store for these best friends turned even better lovers. So, hold tight and don’t hate me too much for making you wait.
First thing first, as always, I owe a big, huge, massive thank you to everyone who took the time to read this story. There are so many talented authors and incredible books to choose from, so I am humbly honored that mine made it into your hands and into your hearts. I appreciate you reading and would absolutely love you to leave a little review and/or recommend this book to your book buddies. I consider every single reader a special piece of my book family, so thank you again for all that you do and all that you are.
There are a few very important behind-the-scenes ladies that helped to make this all possible. A colossal “thank you” for their attention to detail, timeliness, and unending perfection goes to my editor, Brenda Letendre of Write Girl Editing, my cover designer, Najla Qamber of Najla Qamber Designs, and my formatter, Christine Borgford of Type A Formatting. I love you ladies for being the ultimate dream team and for never failing to make my books pretty from the inside out.
I’d like to thank Heather White for being an absolute doll, a wonderful friend, a genius at what she does, and an all-around amazing person. Thank you for believing in me and for everything you do, both big and small, to make sure all my bases are covered. I appreciate having you in my life and thank my lucky stars you were sent my way. Love ya, chickie!
To my fabulous betas Cleida Roy, Jennifer Mirabelli, and MJ Fryer for giving me your complete honesty and cheering me along, and for doing both when it was needed most. Your opinions mean the world to me, so thank you for devoting your time to reading and helping me make this story the best it could be.
To my beta bitch from the very start, the one, the only . . . Patricia “Trish Mint” Leibowitz, otherwise known as my Blanche. Really, though? What am I supposed to say? I could probably say a million things, but I’m not sure any of them would be adequate enough to explain what you mean to me. I hate the expression “ride or die” but honestly, that phrase totally sums it up for us . . . don’t you think? You have been a support system equal to more than a thousand people throughout the process of my writing journey and beyond. This book, this entire story, would not be the same if not for your tireless and selfless efforts to help me make it what it turned out to be. You yelled at me, you cried with me, you pushed me, you coaxed me, you made me do things I questioned, you praised me for doing things you didn’t see coming, but all along, you were my constant. And you made every single moment an unforgettable ride! Thank you for being a friend, my favorite Golden Girl. I don’t know what the hell I would do without you, so please don’t go anywhere . . . like ever. I love you, Rita <3
It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway . . . my family and friends are the most amazing people in the world. I love each and every one of you for supporting my dreams and encouraging me every day to do what I love most. To my husband and daughters especially, for giving me the time and space I need to get in my zone and plop myself at that table with my words, uninterrupted. I know it’s hard to consider sitting at a laptop all day “working,” but I think it’s safe to say it’s finally sinking in. Thank you for trusting me to adjust our lifestyle and hectic schedules so that I can still be there for you while doing something for me, too.
Last but certainly not least, thank you to Give Me Books, the countless bloggers, readers, fellow authors, and all of my lovelies in the Gotta Have Faith group for helping me get the word out about this release, doing your pimping magic, and just being you. No matter what gets thrown our way in this crazy industry, I still have an intense love and devotion to this community of book lovers. Words are our lives, so choose them wisely and share them lovingly.
Don’t forget to stay tuned for Take My Breath Away,
Book Two in the Every Breath Duet, coming October 1, 2018. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart for being a supporter of all things Faith!
STANDALONES
Moore to Love
Garden of Goodbyes
Garden of Goodbyes on AUDIO
The Hipster Chronicles
THE DREAM SERIES
Man of My Dreams
Back to You
After the Storm
THE GRAYSON SIBLING SERIES
Keep Me
Keep Her
Keep Us
THE FATE SERIES
Feel Again
First Came You
Freeing Destiny
FAITH ANDREWS IS LIVING OUT her dream right outside the greatest city in the world, New York City. Happily married to her high school sweetheart, she is the mother of two beautiful and wild daughters, and a furry Yorkie son named Rocco Giovanni. When she's not tapping her toes to a Mumford & Sons tune or busy being a dance mom, her nose is stuck in a book or she's sitting behind the laptop, creating her next swoon worthy book boyfriend. Coffee addict, lover of wine and cheese, and sucker for concerts and Netflix, Faith believes in love at first sight and happily ever after.
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Every Breath You Take (The Every Breath Duet Book 1) Page 28