Finding Focus

by Jiffy Kate

I practically rip the front door off its hinges when I open it to see Dani and Graham squaring off on the porch. My blood is boiling, but I put a calm smile on my face. I like to catch my enemies off guard. The surprise tactic is where it’s at. “Time to scoot, buddy. I think the lady’s made it perfectly clear how she feels.”

  “Oh, I see how it is. You’re slumming it, huh, Dani? My dad was right about you. You’re a waste of my time.”

  “Just leave, Graham!” Dani yells.

  I never thought I’d hit someone using a cane, but there’s a first time for everything. I clench my fists, ready to attack, but Graham finally uses his brain and starts walking toward his car. As a last insult, he spits on the ground before getting in and driving off.

  I look over at Dani and try to gauge how she’s feeling. She doesn’t look sad. She looks pissed. I just hope she’s not pissed at me.

  “Dani? Baby, are you okay?” I step closer to her, wanting to touch her, but not wanting to push too much.

  As soon as her eyes find mine, her fierce expression cools and she gives me a confused smile.

  “Of course I am. Why?”

  I chuckle, relieved, wondering why I’m so surprised by her response. I shouldn’t be. She’s incredible.

  “You didn’t think I was going to leave with Graham, did you?”

  “I hoped not. I even prayed you wouldn’t, but I had to let you make up your own mind.”

  “Micah, my mind was made up a long time ago.”

  “I was afraid I’d missed my chance.”

  “Your chance at what?”

  I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the nerves I’m sure are about to come, but they don’t. All I feel is peace and contentment. Looking down into her deep green eyes, I just know. I know I love her. I know I want to spend every second of every day with her. “Telling you how much I love you.”

  Her eyes light up and a hopeful smile plays on her lips. “Well, here’s your chance.”

  I place my hands on her hips and gently pull her to me. “Sheridan Paige Reed, I love you so much. I should’ve told you sooner, but I was scared. You think you might love me back?”

  She wraps her arms around my neck and stands on her toes, barely touching her mouth to mine.

  “Yeah, I think I just might.”

  The thought that she feels the same way has my heart practically beating out of my chest. Relief floods my veins as she looks up at me. I see it in her eyes.

  “I need to hear you say it.”

  “I love you, Micah Landry. You’re my south.” She takes my face between her hands and presses her lips to mine, planting herself even more firmly into my heart and soul. When she pulls back, she looks deep into my eyes with so much warmth and contentment. “You’re where I belong.”

  Sheridan

  IT TOOK ME TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, but I can honestly say I finally know where I’m going in life. I’ve found my focus—my sweet spot, if you will. It wasn’t an easy road getting here, but the journey is what makes the destination so sweet. Had I not been through the challenges I’ve faced these past few months, I might not have realized how amazing this feels. The truth is, had I not lost my job and then my boyfriend, I might still be lost.

  That old saying that hindsight is 20/20 is so true. If I’d known then what I know now, I’d never have lost a moment’s sleep or cried a single tear over Graham Harrison. In fact, I’d have followed my heart a lot sooner and allowed it to lead me back home.

  But, timing is everything, and I’d go through a dozen heartbreaks if I knew Micah Landry was waiting for me at the end of it all.

  After Graham made his last-ditch effort to win me back, if that’s what you can even call it—such a pretentious prick—Micah and I holed up at the cottage for a couple weeks. It was blissful. I was able to finish my article and turn it in ahead of schedule. Piper was pleased. The editor-in-chief was pleased. The article comes out in two weeks and I can’t wait to see it in print. I even snuck a picture of Micah in there. He doesn’t know it yet, and he’ll probably shoot me, but he was better than any model I could’ve paid to be in the shot. And when you catch someone truly enjoying something, rather than staging it, the feeling translates over to the picture.

  Piper seems pretty confident she’ll be able to keep me busy with freelance work for the magazine, but I’ve also sent my résumé and portfolio over to a few other magazines. Freelance is what I should’ve been doing all along. It allows me to be creative and totally immerse myself in a project. Plus, I can pretty much live anywhere, which is the biggest benefit. It’s the reason why I’m currently standing in the middle of an empty apartment.

  I’ve packed up everything I want to take and given away all of my furniture, including that disgusting bed I never slept in again after walking in on Graham and Kaitlyn. The only thing not in a box is my suitcase full of a few days’ worth of clothes, my toiletries, and the air mattress I found in the top of my closet.

  It’s kind of weird knowing I’m only going to be in New York for two more nights, but I’m not sad. I’ll miss my Chinese Restaurant and Central Park, but that’s about it.

  Well . . . and maybe the Brooklyn Bridge.

  And Rockefeller Center.

  But, other than that, everything else I want is in Louisiana.

  Fortunately, I have plenty of pictures, and New York is only a three-hour plane ride away. I won’t be a stranger. I’ll be back.

  When my phone rings, I grab it without looking to see who it is. I already know.

  “Hello,” I say seductively.

  “Is that how you answer the phone for all the guys who call?”

  “No, just you,” I sigh. “Besides, you’re the only guy who calls. The only guy I want to call.”

  “I like that. Let’s keep it that way.”

  “I was planning on it.”

  “Good,” Micah says. The growl in his voice goes straight to my stomach, causing it to tie into a tight knot, and a warmth spreads through my body.

  “God, I miss you,” I tell him, lying down on the hardwood floor, wishing he were here.

  “I miss you so much, baby. You have no idea.”

  “Oh, I think I do.” My voice takes a bit of a sad turn. I can’t help it. When he calls me, I’m reminded of just how much I miss him and that I’m here alone when I want to be with him . . . and Annie, and Sam, and Deacon . . . and Cami and Carter . . . even Tucker . . . and closer to Piper. I sigh heavily into the phone.

  “You okay?”

  “Just feeling lonely and sorry for myself.”

  “It’s not gonna be much longer. Then you’ll never have to be lonely again.”

  I close my eyes and a smile breaks across my face. “You always know just what to say.”

  “I wish I was there so I could do something rather than say something. I’m a lot fonder of actions.”

  “You’re really good with actions.”

  “That’s right, and don’t you forget it.”

  “Well,” I tease, “it has been a few weeks.”

  He growls into the phone again, letting me hear his frustration. “Seems as though I need to remind you.”

  “That’s what I was hoping for.”

  He chuckles and I can imagine him running a hand through his hair, a smirk placed firmly on his lips. “Tell me something good.”

  “I’m going to see you in two days.”

  “What else?”

  “You’re never going to have to go back to New York again,” he says, pausing. “Unless you want to. And hopefully, I’ll be with you.”

  “I want you with me always.”

  “And I’ll be able to kiss you any time I want.”

  “Oh, do you plan on living in Baton Rouge?”

  “No, but it’s only forty minutes away. If I need a kiss bad enough, it’s a short drive to get my fix.”

  I laugh into the phone, rolling onto my side. “I love you.”

  “I love you so much it hurts.” He pauses, and then says, “Tell me somethi
ng good.” In the background, I hear a door shut and some shuffling. It sounds like he just got into his truck.

  “I have my entire apartment packed and the movers will be here tomorrow.”

  “Look at you, you little worker bee.”

  “Hey, when I set my mind to something, I get shit done.”

  “I love that about you.”

  “I love everything about you.”

  “Even my stinky feet?”

  “Those, I tolerate, but everything else? Yeah, pretty much.”

  There’s a knock at my door and I’m not sure who it could be. I’m not expecting anyone until the moving company tomorrow.

  “Hey, someone’s at the door. Can I call you back later?”

  “Yeah, sure,” he says.

  “Okay, love you.”

  “Love you, too.” I’m just getting ready to push end when I hear him say, “Oh, and, Dani?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I can’t wait to kiss you.”

  I smile, loving his random thoughts. “The feeling is mutual, Micah Landry.”

  I end the call and pull myself up off the ground, groaning at my sore back, legs, arms—everything is sore from packing and moving boxes around.

  When I unlock the door and pull it open, I can’t contain myself. I squeal like a child and drop my phone to the ground, launching myself at the best damn thing I’ve seen in two weeks.

  “Micah!”

  He picks me up and puts his lips anywhere he can find exposed skin, kissing my lips, cheeks, forehead . . . down my neck, inhaling deeply along the way. “God, you’re a sight for sore eyes. I love you so much.”

  “I love you,” I breathe, kissing him as he stumbles into the apartment and slams the door behind us with his foot. “What are you doing here?” I ask between kisses.

  “I thought you could use some help.”

  “You’re crazy,” I say, laughing and kissing him some more. My heart is so happy, it feels like it may burst.

  “I also thought we should do these last couple of nights in New York properly.” His lips are on my neck, taking away all coherent thought. The feel of his hands on my ass and his body pressed against me causes a fire to ignite deep within my belly and my head starts to spin.

  If I had to take a field sobriety test right now, I’d fail miserably.

  Micah takes a second to look around the apartment. “Holy shit, you really did get everything emptied out of here.”

  I nod, smiling. “Yep.”

  “Where the hell were you planning on sleeping the next two nights?”

  Pointing to the air mattress still in its box, I say, “There”.

  “Oh, hell no. Uh uh.” He shakes his head and slowly lets my feet slide to the ground. “That’s not gonna work for what I had in mind.” He pulls his phone out of his back pocket and begins pecking away at the screen. A minute later, he puts it to his ear. “Yes, I was wondering if you have a room available for tonight and tomorrow night?”

  There’s a pause, and he looks over at me, his eyes blazing with what I know now is want and desire. He wets his bottom lip with his tongue, reaches out for me, and grabs my waist, pulling me to him. “That’s perfect,” he says into the phone, but it sounds like a double entendre. Leaning forward, he brushes his nose along my jaw, nipping at the skin as he goes. His days’ worth of stubble deliciously stings my skin, making every nerve in my body feel like a livewire. “Micah Landry,” he says. “That’s right. Thank you.”

  He slides the phone back into his pocket. Cupping my face, he pulls me to him, devouring my mouth with his—slow, then fast. Hard, then soft. His teeth graze my bottom lip, biting down gently, conveying how desperately he wants this—me. I grip his shoulders, pulling myself closer, holding on for dear life.

  “I want you,” I mutter. “So damn bad.” My breaths come heavy and quick. “I’ve missed you so much. I didn’t even know I could miss someone so badly.”

  Micah pulls back and looks at me. His piercing look goes straight to my soul. “I couldn’t stand being away from you another day,” he confesses. “That’s really why I’m here.” He smiles, and it lights up the room, painting the walls with sunshine. “See? Selfish.”

  Tears well in my eyes, unexplainably.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks, kissing the first tear that slides down my cheek. “Are you sad about leaving?”

  “No,” I say, letting the tears fall, because I’m not sad. The smile on my face contradicts that idea. “It’s like a sunshower,” I tell him.

  He smiles again, looking at me like I’ve hung the moon. “Like a sunshower, huh?”

  “Yeah, you know when everything is sunshine and happiness, and the rain comes, but it doesn’t bring with it all the bad stuff, just rainbows?”

  “God, I love you, Sheridan Reed.”

  He does. He loves me. And he doesn’t just tell me, he shows me.

  FIRST THINGS FIRST, WE'RE THE realest.

  Oh, wait. Iggy already used that one.

  Well, let's see . . .

  What some people don't know is there are two of us and we're both Jennifers. How lucky are we? The most common name from the 70's! Our parents were so original.

  We found each other through Twilight and tornadoes. Sounds like a crazy combination, but it's true. We were roaming around in the same groups of people on social media, but we hadn't really became friends. But that all changed on a stormy Oklahoma night when we noticed that we were both experiencing the same tornado warnings.

  We met a week later for lunch and the rest is history. We already knew we had the whole Twilight thing in common, but what we learned that day is that we both loved music and traveling. Together, we've been everywhere. Well, not everywhere, but a lot of places . . . Seattle, Forks, LA, New York, Chicago, Philly, Nashville, and New Orleans, where our hearts reside.

  About six months after we met, we also realized we both had a passion for writing. When we started outlining our first story, we thought that would be it. One story and done. So, we dumped everything we loved into those 100,000 words. If you're familiar with the term "crack fic", that was kind of what it was for us. We had fun with it and let ourselves live on those pages.

  But it was like Lays potato chips.

  We couldn't write just one.

  So, twenty stories later, here we are—publishing our first novel. And how crazy is it that we went back to the beginning.

  Finding Focus was originally a Twilight Fan Fic titled Southern Comfort.

  CONNECT WITH US

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  WHAT A JOURNEY THIS HAS been; and as with any journey, there are so many people who have helped us along the way. So, we thought we'd start at the beginning.

  We'd like to thank our Fic Sensei, Michelle Hager, and our long-time love, Charity Harrington. They were our first readers and we love them. We'd also like to thank Nic, The Ficwhisperer, for for seeing something in our little story and putting us up on The Lemonade Stand.

  To Debra Anastasia and S. L. Scott, we say thank you for being so supportive from the very beginning. Your professional advice and handholding has been invaluable.

  To Team Jiffy Kate, thank you doesn't seem like enough. Christine Viox, Rachel Pooler, and Pamela Stephenson your corrections, comments, and suggestions are what kept us going through the re-write. Lynette Nichols, Katie Boberg, Amy Viar, and Amanda Daniel thank you for being awesome pre-readers. Without all of your sparkly red pens and insightful reviews, this story wouldn't be what it is today.

  Sitting back and reflecting over the past four years, we get a little teary-eyed. We realize that so many people played a part in getting us to this point and we couldn't be any more grateful. There's no way we'd ever be able to list all of you by name, but you know who you are.

  We also have to thank Stephenie Meyer. If it weren't for her and her books about vampires, we'd never found each other, let alone all of our amazing friends an
d our passion for writing. Twilight Forever.

  We'd also like to thank our professional team: Indie Solutions by Murphy Rae for our editing and proofreading, and Jada D'Lee Designs for our beautiful cover. Heather Maven, you are a force to be reckoned with and you have the best connections. Thank you for taking pity on two newbies and being so helpful! Christine at Perfectly Publishable, you are amazing. Your professional touches are just what we needed. We can't say thank you enough! Lori Wilt, the way you stepped in and helped us promote our book has been nothing short of a God-send. Thank you.

  These acknowledgements and dedications wouldn't be complete without us thanking our amazing families for their support. We also thank God for blessing us with creative minds and the drive to follow our dreams.

  And all of you, our wonderful readers, thank you. Thank you for your support and friendship. We love and appreciate y'all so much.