The Consequence of Loving Me: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Aftershock Series Book 1)

by Kat Singleton

  I didn’t think I would ever be ready to fall in love again when I met Maverick, but it turns out for the right man, I was.

  He’s taught me so much in the year and a half we’ve been together. He’s taught me how to fight my own battles—instead of doing it for me.

  On days it’s hard to love myself, he gives me reminders.

  On days I know I’m being difficult, he doesn’t falter.

  I look out at the ocean when I think about everything that has happened in my twenty-two years of life.

  I’ve been through some traumatic things—but I survived them.

  Not only did I survive them, but I found happiness afterward.

  “I love you, Maverick.”

  “I love you, too.”

  We both stare out at the ocean as the wave wraps around our feet, carrying the last of my guilt with it when it retreats.

  Acknowledgments

  Okay, I need a minute here. IS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENING? If you’re reading this, it means you have made it to the very end of my book baby and I need a hot minute to let that soak in. Is this real life? I still can’t believe this. While I’m stuck in perpetual shock that my debut is officially out into the world, I need to thank numerous people for getting me here. I couldn’t have done it without so many rad people behind me.

  First, my husband. When I told you I wanted to write a book, you didn’t look at me like I was crazy. There were so many nights I wasn’t present because I couldn’t get these characters out of my head. You put up with it like a champ and always supported me in following my dream. You also suffered through the MANY car rides where I obsessively listened to TCOLM’s playlist. For that, I thank you. Especially because I know some of the songs that inspired this story really aren’t your jam. I love you with everything I have. You are my very own book boyfriend. Thank you.

  Mom, I have no idea if you’ll be reading this. Part of me hopes you won’t because well…there’s sex. Awkward. But if you are…hi, Mom! You are my biggest hero. My forever role model. You’ve given me the world, and I hope to give a fraction of that back to you someday. I love you.

  Courtney, where the hell do I even start with you? I didn’t know we would become such smutty soul sisters—but we did—and you are stuck with me forever. You’ve read all the words I’ve ever written (even when they sucked) and I appreciate you so much. Your dedication to my words and characters have always meant so much to me. Thank you for always being my biggest fan. I love your ass so much.

  Christina, you are like a magical fucking fairy godmother who took this book in its rawest form and helped me polish it into something I’m so proud of. I will never be able to thank you for taking me on as a debut author even though I suck at using contractions and I could write a whole paragraph before I end the damn sentence. You always made me feel like I was important to you and that my book mattered, and that means the world to me. Thank you. Will you be my editor forever and ever? I won’t let you leave me.

  To my betas. Y’all got this book when it still needed a LOT of work and you still loved it hard. Tasha, you gave me inspiration for one of my favorite scenes with the spin the bottle suggestion and I loved the way it played out. You rock. Thank you. The Consequence of Loving Me could be so different (and not in a great way) if it weren’t for you ladies. So many thanks to all of you and your ideas that helped make this book the way it is.

  Ashlee, Ashlee, Ashlee, you fucking teaser and trailer rock-star. You understood my vision and aesthetic for this book when I only gave you small fragments of it. You are so badass and I’m so lucky to call you a friend now, too. You’re fucking stuck with me. THANK YOU.

  Kat Savage, you gave me advice more times than I can even count. It was so touching that a successful author like you would take the time out of their day to help me navigate the waters of self-publishing. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  To the bloggers and bookstagrammers out there. There are so many I could name here. You guys deserve all the praise in the world. I developed my passion for writing after sitting on the sidelines for so long as a blogger myself. I know the passion and dedication you put into each and every picture, post, and review you share on social media. I know the vast amount of book options out there, so the fact that you chose to read my words with your precious reading time is so humbling. Keep being badass out there; as an author, I appreciate it so much.

  Last, but not freaking least, to the readers. I know the risk you take when reading a novel from a debut author. Thank you for trusting me enough to read the words I so desperately wanted to share with the world. I will never be able to explain how much it means to me. I will continue to pour my heart into the stories I want to create as a thank you.

  About the Author

  Kat Singleton is a debut author who lives in the Midwest. She lives with her husband and their two very lazy doodles. Before she ever wrote her first words, she was a book blogger who fell in love with reading at a young age. In her spare time, you can find her surviving off iced coffee and sneaking in a few pages of her current read. Being an author was a dream of hers—for years and years. She’s excited that dream has now become a reality.

  Facebook Reader Group: Author Kat Singleton’s Reader Group

  Email: authorkatsingleton@gmail.com

  Website: www.authorkatsingleton.com

  If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

  And stay tuned for the second book in the Aftershock Series—Lily and Aspen’s story.

  (Buckle up. It’ll be a wild ride.)

  Sign up for my newsletter to get sneak peeks into new works!

  https://mailchi.mp/b181694ef033/katsingleton

  Thank you so much for reading.

  Pinterest Board: http://bit.ly/tcolmpinterest

  Spotify Playlist: http://bit.ly/tcolmplaylist