Fighting for Rain

by Easton, BB

  “I love you,” I declare between kisses.

  “Love you more,” Wes says before intercepting my lips with his own.

  The moment the seam of our mouths meet, I feel as if I’ve been struck by lightning. I’m rooted to the earth through his strong body, captured and suspended in his glowing, buzzing stream of electricity. I grip his face harder as the current courses through us—blinding and devastating and healing and hot—and Wes angles his head to take me deeper, using my mouth as a vessel for everything left unsaid.

  He kisses me feverishly, impatiently. As if he has more love to give me than time.

  And that’s when it hits me.

  I know this kiss.

  I know this kiss all too well.

  Wes

  I knew from the moment I first laid eyes on Rainbow Williams that I would end up dying for her. I didn’t want to believe it, I didn’t know how or why, but when Rain needed help, God gave me a gun with a single bullet, a dirt bike, and a clear highway all the way to Franklin Springs. Out of all the sad sacks of shit he could have chosen for the job, he picked me, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.

  I just wish that fucker would have let me have more time with her. But, he’s never given a shit about what I wanted before. Why start now?

  When I first hear the rumble in the distance, I slow our kiss, pulling her soft body to me even tighter. I memorize every curve, every sigh, and I smile.

  “I found a stash of cash in a tackle box in your parents’ closet,” I murmur against her lips. “It should be enough to keep the lights and water on until you can find a job.”

  “Wes?”

  “And there’s extra ammo in your dad’s sock drawer.” Holding her up with one arm, I snake a hand between us and pull the revolver out of my holster. “Keep this on you at all times. Sleep with it under your pillow, okay?”

  I tuck the muzzle into the back of her jeans and pull her tank top down over it.

  “Wes, you’re scaring me.”

  The bump and crunch of tires over gravel signal that our time is up. Two car doors slam, followed by a third.

  Rain’s bright blue eyes go wide, and I hate the panic I see in them.

  “Hey.” I grab her face like I did during the execution today, forcing her to look at me. “It’s okay. You’re gonna be okay.”

  “What’s gonna be okay? What’s happening, Wes?” Rain’s shrill voice is drowned out by an authoritative bang, bang, bang on the door.

  “Georgia State PD. Open up!”

  Rain shrieks and covers her mouth with her hands.

  “We have the premises surrounded! Open up!”

  “Oh my God, Wes! I have to hide!” she whispers under the sound of more pounding, her eyes darting all over the room.

  “No, baby,” I shush her, grabbing her face again. “They’re not here for you. You did nothing wrong. Just promise me you won’t go back to Bitchass Park, okay?” I give her a phony smile. “Stay here. You’re safe here.”

  “What’s happening, Wes?”

  The banging intensifies to the point that I’m afraid they’re going to break Rain’s new goddamn door down.

  “It’s open!” I yell, holding her stare as long as I can.

  The door flies open behind her, and in walks a brick shithouse of a cop, followed by the bitch who called them.

  “That’s him,” she declares, pointing a righteous finger in my direction. “That’s the man who procured the antibiotics.”

  Rain spins around at the sound of her voice, shock and betrayal twisting her beautiful features. “Mrs. Renshaw! What are you doing?”

  Rain turns to the officer and spreads her arms wide, as if she can single-handedly protect me from the law. “It was me!” she shrieks. “Take me! I gave him the antibiotics! Not Wes!”

  The cop flashes Carter’s mother a questioning look as I walk around Rain’s outstretched arms and kneel before her. Her teary eyes drop to mine, and her fingers thread into my hair as she shakes her head from side to side.

  “No …”

  “It was me. I saved Quinton Jones’s life.” My words are directed at the cop, but my eyes are holding Rain’s heartbroken stare. “And even if it wasn’t, you can’t execute her …”

  I press a kiss to Rain’s belly and smile, knowing that a part of me will live on with her forever.

  “She’s pregnant.”

  Wes and Rain’s story continues in Dying for Rain, available here.

  Playlist

  This playlist is a collection of songs that I either mentioned in Fighting for Rain or that I felt illustrated a feeling or a scene from the book. I am grateful to each and every one of the brilliant artists listed below. Their creativity fuels mine.

  You can stream the playlist for free on Spotify here.

  “A Little Death” by The Neighbourhood

  “Alligator” by Of Monsters and Men

  “Alive with the Glory of Love” by Say Anything

  “Alone Together” by Fall Out Boy

  “Baby Girl, I’m a Blur” by Say Anything

  “Back to Your Love” by Night Riots

  “coachella” by lovelytheband

  “Dream” by Bishop Briggs

  “Everyone Requires a Plan” by The Lumineers

  “Explode” by Patrick Stump

  “Flawless” by The Neighbourhood

  “Green Eyes” by Coldplay

  “It’s a Process” by Say Anything

  “Let the Flames Begin” by Paramore

  “Mean” by Taylor Swift

  “Nervous” by K.Flay

  “Numb Without You” by The Maine

  “Rainy Girl” by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

  “Simple Song” by The Shins

  “The Archer” by Taylor Swift

  “The Only Exception” by Paramore

  “watch” by Billie Eilish

  “When It Rains” by Paramore

  “when the party’s over” by Billie Eilish

  Books by BB Easton

  STAND-ALONE ROMANTIC COMEDY

  Hilarious. Honest. Hot as hell.

  44 Chapters About 4 Men: A Memoir

  THE 44 CHAPTERS ABOUT 4 MEN PREQUEL SERIES

  Darkly funny. Deeply emotional. Shockingly sexy.

  SKIN (Knight’s backstory, Book 1)

  SPEED (Harley’s backstory, Book 2)

  STAR (Hans’s backstory, Book 3)

  SUIT (Ken’s backstory, Book 4)

  THE RAIN TRILOGY

  A gritty, suspenseful, dystopian love story.

  Praying for Rain

  Fighting for Rain

  Dying for Rain

  FOR UPDATES ON NEW RELEASES, SALES, AND GIVEAWAYS, SIGN UP HERE.

  Acknowledgments

  Ken, every good thing I have, I have because of you. This family, this home, this career that I love so much, this fridge full of premade lunches, this freshly cut grass. You quietly and systematically make all of my dreams come true while I run around frantically and manically dreaming up new ones. Wes thinks God sent him to save Rain, and I think God (or the universe or whatever the hell that thing is that you don’t believe in) sent you to save me. I love you so much.

  To my mom, Ken’s mom, and his sister—Thank you for never hesitating to watch our kids so that I can try to find that ever-elusive work-life balance thing everyone’s always talking about. I’m so incredibly lucky to have your love and support, and so are Baby BB and Mini Ken.

  To my content editors, Karla Nellenbach and Traci Finlay, and my copy editors, Jovana Shirley and Ellie McLove—Thank you for always treating me like the fragile, delicate flower that I am as you hold my hand and walk me through the emotional minefield that is editing. Not only are you excellent at what you do, professional, and prompt as hell, but you also handle my sensitive little artist heart with care, and I love you for it.

  To my beta readers and proofreaders, Tracey Frazier, April C., Sara Snow, Sammie Lynn, Rhonda Lind, and Michelle Beiger DePrima—It never cea
ses to amaze me the way you guys put your lives on hold to read my babies. Giving someone your time and attention is an expression of love, and what you do for me is nothing short of that. Thank you.

  To my publicist, Jenn Watson, and the rest of the team at Social Butterfly PR—Thank you for always being there, whether I need you to help me spread some good news at a moment’s notice or need some Advil and an Uber after a long night of bad choices. You guys are absolute rock stars. (And I should know—I’ve seen you do karaoke.)

  To my agents, Flavia Viotti, Meire Dias, Maria Napolitano, and the rest of the team at Bookcase Literary Agency—Thank you for being as excited about my books as I am. It’s so nice to work with a team of people who share my vision. I can’t wait to see where we go next!

  To Larry Robins and J. Miles Dale—Thank you for changing my life. I can’t wait to squeeze you both on the red carpet. Netflix, baby! You did it!

  To Stacy Rukeyser—I know you’re not involved in this project, but I want you to know that I think you’re amazing.

  To Colleen Hoover—I plan on mentioning you in every book I ever write. So … hey, girl!

  To all my author friends—Thanks to you, I don’t have competitors; I have coworkers. I’m not isolated; I’m inundated with love and support. You share with me your time, your advice, your encouragement, your resources, and often, your platforms to help me succeed in an oversaturated market where so very few do. Thank you for letting this pink-haired, foul-mouthed, new kid sit with you. I love you, and if I can ever lend a hand, let me know!

  To the girls (and a few boys) of #TeamBB—Thank you for the gorgeous Instagram teasers, the Facebook shares, the five-star reviews that never fail to make me cry, the thoughtful gifts, and the tireless pimping you’ve showered me with over the years. It is because of you, forcing your friends and book clubs and sisters and significant others to read my books—oftentimes under the threat of physical violence—that I’ve been able to pursue this dream at all. I’m humbled by your rabid, relentless support and proud to call you all friends.

  About the Author

  BB Easton lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, with her long-suffering husband, Ken, and two adorable children. She recently quit her job as a school psychologist to write books about her punk rock past and deviant sexual history full-time. Ken is suuuper excited about that.

  BB’s memoir, 44 Chapters About 4 Men, and the spin-off 44 Chapters novels are being adapted into a steamy, female-centered dramedy series for Netflix called Sex/Life. Coming late 2020 or early 2021.

  The Rain Trilogy is her first work of fiction. The idea, fittingly, came to her in a dream.

  If that sounds like the kind of person you want to go around being friends with, then by all means, feel free to drop her a line. You can find her procrastinating at all of the following places:

  Email: authorbbeaston@gmail.com

  Website: www.authorbbeaston.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/bbeaston

  Instagram: www.instagram.com/author.bb.easton

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/bb_easton

  Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/artbyeaston

  Amazon: author.to/bbeaston

  Goodreads: https://goo.gl/4hiwiR

  BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/bb-easton

  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/bbeaston

  Selling signed books and original art on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/artbyeaston

  Giving stuff away in her #TeamBB Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/BBEaston

  And giving away a free e-book from one of her author friends each month in her newsletter: www.artbyeaston.com/subscribe