by Tasha Ivey
And I know that if I didn’t have Callie in my life, I wouldn’t have survived the death of my brother, my best friend. It’s still hard, and sometimes, I’ll have a lapse where I really struggle to even take another breath. It’s the times that I get the urge to call Shane to ask him what band sings a certain song or pick on him when the Cowboys lose a game. Or how I’ll get flashes of the accident scene that still has a tendency of plaguing me. Callie can see it in my eyes, I swear, and she’s right there beside me, fighting my demons away.
Without her . . . I couldn’t begin to fathom where I’d be. But I know it wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now. Happy. Content. In love. And about to be a father.
I glance around through Giano’s at our friends. We came here to celebrate Makenna and Sawyer’s engagement today, but I think it’s a celebration of how far we’ve all come. Makenna’s grief, Sawyer’s depression, my insecurities, Dalton’s . . . uh, well, I haven’t really figured him out yet, William’s distrust in everyone, and we all know Callie’s biggest problem was me. We’ve all grown, helped each other to become better people. Which is exactly what life is all about.
“Well,” I snicker, turning back to Callie, “I probably haven’t said anything sappy like this in a long time because it’s taken me all this time to come up with it. But even if I don’t say it enough, I always feel it.”
“I know.” She tugs me down closer to her with a look in her eyes that I know all too well. Something that tells me we’ll be sneaking out of the party a little early. “I know exactly how you feel because it’s there in every kiss.”
COMING IN 2014
ONE OF THE most stressful parts of writing a book is writing the acknowledgements. I struggle to find the right words to express my gratitude toward everyone that has helped me along the way, and I worry so much about leaving someone out. So if you’re reading this, thank you. You, who picked up this book, choosing mine over so many other incredible books out there. You, who have blogged and shared my work with your followers, whether you have twenty or 20,000. You, who have shared with your friends and shouted from the rooftops for everyone to read my book. You, who left a heartfelt, honest review. You, who encouraged me and pushed me to keep writing, even when I didn’t want to. You, who connected with me on Facebook or Twitter, telling me how much you enjoyed it or telling me you can’t wait for more. You are the reason I write. You are the reason I push myself to write better. You, my friend, are my inspiration and motivation. Without every single one of you, I couldn’t do what I do. So thank you from the very bottom of my heart.
Thank you, Letitia Hasser for making my cover so gorgeous. You are seriously talented, and you deserve a lot of credit for putting up with me. To my interior formatter, Julie Titus . . . you’re my saving grace. Thank you for being so willing to help me on such short notice. I owe you big!
Sprinting Sisters, thanks for pushing and shoving and giving me a kick in the rear when I need it. You always keep me laughing. Holly Malgieri, you are a rock star . . . a very organized one. Thanks for everything you do for me and for keeping me grounded when I’m freaking out! And I have no clue how I’d survive without Cezanne Dilbert. Girl, you’re like my very own shepherd, keeping me going in the right direction. Thank you for your loyalty and friendship. There are so so many authors that have supported me and offered constant advice and encouragement. I could never name them all, but you know who you are. You’re all such incredible people. Bloggers, no matter how big or small you are, I appreciate you so much. Many of you have gone above and beyond my expectations, and I’m honored to call so many of you friends. And I couldn’t ever forget about The Ivey League. You ladies are a-maz-ing. I’m so blessed to have such a fantastic support system, and you’re all way too sweet to me. Love you, ladies! And to my readers, words could never express how thankful I am. Thank you for every book you read, every mention to your friends, every review you leave, and every communication with me. You’re my driving force.
And last, but not least, a HUGE thanks to my family. Not only do you support me every step of the way, but you also keep me grounded and at least halfway sane. The word “love” could never be enough to communicate what I feel for you. You’re my world.
And this is “the freaking end”…until next time. (See, BJ Harvey and Sarah Dosher, I told you I’d have it in here somewhere!)
TASHA IVEY IS a literature fanatic, whose love for the written word fostered her development into the writer she has become. A lover of an extremely erratic mixture of literature, she has been influenced by authors from Jane Austen and E.M. Forster to Charlaine Harris and Alyson Noel. But her biggest influence and literary hero? Nicholas Sparks. Aside from writing, since she doesn't have anything other than a shriveled up prune on the left side of her brain, she prefers to spend her time being creative in other ways like painting, cake decorating, and various types of crafts. That is, if the constant voices streaming through her head allow her to stop making up stories for a while. Lucky for her, she has a huge supportive family, including her amazing husband and two kids, who doesn't complain too much when she hangs out with her characters more than she does with them. Sophie, the dog, however . . . she does complain. A lot.
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Other Titles by Tasha
Destiny Ever-changing
Every Breath