My entire world feels like it’s shattering at my feet.
“Third grade!” I holler before he can get too far. The muscles in his back tense, rippling beneath his shirt as he waits for me to continue. “You were the only person who showed up to my birthday party. Everyone else went to Victor’s, but not you. We bowled for hours, and when I cried, you sat beside me and told me Victor’s party was lame.”
I hate having to do this, because my little crush that was built through the years doesn’t compare to what he had with Mia. My memories are all I have, though.
“Fifth grade when the school held those lock-in movie nights.” He slowly faces me. “They showed Jurassic Park, and I was scared.”
“So I held your hand,” he adds to my memory.
“And then there was seventh grade.” I shrug.
“What happened in seventh grade, Hannah?” He ambles to me, and I bite my lip, so damn scared of losing him.
“We were on the bench behind O’Connell’s house. It was summer time, and he had everyone over to swim. I’m not even sure how long we sat there together.”
“You pulled me to the side, because you wanted to tell me something.” His eyes widen as he remembers the day I’m talking about. “And then Mia showed up, and I ran to her, so you never got to tell me what it was you wanted to talk about.”
“And then the following Monday, Mia told me you kissed her.” I know none of this will make a difference. “So, I distanced myself, which was nearly impossible, since from that day forward, you were basically everywhere Mia was. You just forgot about me.”
“I’ve been lucky in knowing what it is to be loved by her for all those years.” He draws closer, but there’s a distance in his eyes I choose to ignore, wrapping my arms around his waist. I listen to the steady beat of his heart, hoping, but already knowing this will be the last time I feel him against me.
“Please don’t do this.”
“You can feel it, can’t you?” His hands run up and down my back. A part of me wants to sink right into him, but the other part of me, the hardened part of my heart, tells me not to. It will only make this harder. He sighs so heavily, and I close my eyes to prepare myself for it to shatter. “It’s slipping away from us both.”
“It doesn’t have to,” I beg, gripping tight to the back of his shirt, petrified of the moment he lets me go.
“Our relationship has been built on the back of lies, and I can’t get rid of this gut-sinking feeling in my stomach.”
“What are you trying to say, Nick?”
“We were wrong after all.” He releases me. Witnessing him backing away from me steals the breath from my lungs. “This is nothing. All you had to do was keep one fucking promise, Hannah.” He shakes his head. “I’ve already lost her, and now, I’ve lost you.”
“Nick!” I scream as he walks away.
His steps quicken until he’s at the door. With his hand on the window, I hold my breath, waiting for him to turn around and tell me he doesn’t mean anything he’s said, that we’ll figure it out, together.
That never happens, though. He pushes on the glass, disappearing into the darkness outside.
Like the invisible tether wrapped around our hearts has snapped, I no longer feel the connection. I may have saved him from the darkest moments in his life, but I destroyed him in the end.
With heart-wrenching sobs, I fall to the floor. A puddle of a human, I lie here, wondering how I got to this place, how I allowed myself to become this girl.
A girl willing to break a promise to her best friend.
A girl who did everything in her power to keep the one promise that didn’t matter.
Is it possible to mourn the lost love of someone you never truly had?
To be continued...
The last book in the Hand Over My Heart Duet will be coming out this year! I’m so excited to bring you more from Nick & Hannah!
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Acknowledgement
This is always the hardest part for me. I won’t lie. It’s not because I don’t have a trillion people to thank, but I’m always afraid I won’t have the right words to express my gratitude.
First is and always will be my husband, Bryan. He’s always and continues to be my biggest cheerleader. He listens to me ramble and ask questions out loud that I don’t want the answer to because I figure it out on my own before he has a chance to give his input. It’s because of him, I get to pursue my dream.
Second, I have to thank my fearless editor, Katie, who humors me and allows me to be who I am as an author. You always believe in my stories and help me become a better writer. Thank you for your friendship.
To Julie Deaton, you are amazing. You always squeeze me in somehow into your schedule and I’m forever grateful since I’m a really poor scheduler. I will never, and I mean, never publish a book without your eyes on it.
To Meagan Brandy, who always is there for me to bounce my ideas off of. You are the reason why Nick and Hannah aren’t grown ass adults in this story. It wouldn’t be what it is if that first conversation didn’t go the way it did. THANK YOU always, for your insight and friendship. Even if you NEVER answer my messages the same week, I send them.
To all the ladies in Lindsey’s Avid Readers, you are literally my light in the dark tunnel. You always find ways to cheer me up, encourage me, and your endless support is basically my fuel every single day. I love all of you.
To Ena at Enticing Journey Book Promotions, thank you for everything during this release. You are amazing to work with. Everything feels so seamless and I know it’s because you work so hard.
To my review team girls... What can I really say? You jumping up and down, begging me for my stories is enough to keep me going. Your constant posts and encouragement makes me love this job {can’t really call it that} even more.
To the bloggers/promoters/readers.... All of you! I’m forever grateful for you taking a chance on my stories! You are the backbone of everything I do and if it weren’t for you, none, and I mean, none of this would be a possibility. YOU ARE THE ROCKSTARS.
More from the Author
Our Worlds Series
When Our Worlds Collide (High School-New Adult) #1
When Our Worlds Fall Apart #2
When Our Worlds Stand Still #3
When Our Worlds Ignite (Dan & Violet-Spin off) #3.5
When Our Worlds Go Silent #4
Standalones
You’re to Blame (New Adult Romance)
Angels of Belle Meade (Paranormal Romance)
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About the Author
Lindsey Iler is the author of the Our Worlds series. She's had her feet planted in the state of Michigan since she was born and she still lives there with her husband and four kids.
When she's not writing, she's spending time with family and friends, listening to music, and reading.
Lindsey writes mature young adult/new adult romance. She falls in love with every character that pops into her head and is notorious for writing long chapters in her notes on her iPhone.
She finds inspiration from music and the people around her.
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