Through the Lens (Click Duet #1) (Bay Area Duet Series)
Page 20
The hair on the back of my neck stands at attention. A boulder sinks in my gut. Before I even turn around, I know Cora is standing behind me. I feel her. More than likely, she was curious as to what was taking me so long to return. She has no idea who Layla is, but Layla knows about her. Not her name, but that the one person I cared about most lives here. Right now, I am one-hundred-percent certain she knows this is her. And I know her well enough to know she is about to fuck everything up.
Before I turn to face Cora, I give Layla a glare of warning. Wordlessly telling her to keep her mouth shut and leave. But her smile grows wider and I know nothing good will come of this.
“Gavin—” Cora calls out behind me. “Is everything okay?”
I school my expression and turn to face her. “Everything is fine.” I want to add more, but I am at a loss for what to say.
“Hi,” Layla speaks up, my body going rigid at the sound. “I’m Layla. And you are?”
Layla extends her hand in Cora’s direction, but I step in front of her and block their possible connection. I don’t want her touching Cora, let alone getting within arm’s length.
“And you need to leave,” I tell her over my shoulder, trying once more to close the door.
“Why are you being so rude, Gavin?” Layla says, her pitch an octave higher and she reaches out and touches my bicep. I cringe away from her and start pushing the door closed, only to be met with Layla’s boot.
“Gavin, what’s going on?” Cora asks, hundreds of questions skittering across her face.
“Yeah, Gavin, what’s going on?” Layla’s tone becomes venomous and shrill.
I stand between the two of them, hoping this nightmare will end. Praying I fell asleep while Cora and I were watching television and this is all one huge, fucked-up dream. But somewhere in the back of my mind, I know it isn’t. And Layla is really standing here. And I am about to lose Cora all over again. Because what other plausible reason would Alyson have for bringing Layla here? None. Not a single one. And I don’t know which emotion holds more power over me in this moment—fear or fury.
The silence in the room has every nerve in my body on edge. My heart slams against my ribcage, grabbing the bones and rattling like a madman. I can’t breathe. Can’t speak. The light at the end of a very long tunnel slowly dims and fades. I have no idea what to do. Where to be. How to function. But just as I am about to spew out something, Layla shatters the silence in the room. Along with everything that matters in my life.
“Well, since no one else is speaking, I guess I’ll take the stage.” Layla steps closer to me, her hands clasping around my arm. “Like I said, I’m Layla. Gavin’s fiancée.”
Fuuuuck…
To be continued…
The conclusion of the Click Duet will be here June.08.2021. Preorder Time Exposure now from your favorite book retailer and have it available to binge on release day!
Thank You
Thank you so much for reading Through the Lens, book one in the Click Duet. If you would take a moment to leave a review on the retailer site where you made your purchase, Goodreads and/or BookBub, it would mean the world to me.
Reviews help other readers find and enjoy the book as well.
Much love,
Persephone
Click Duet Playlist
Here are some of the songs from the Click Duet playlist. You can listen to the entire playlist on Spotify!
I Still Wait For You - XYLØ
Malibu Nights - LANY
i love you - Billie Eilish
High School Sweethearts - Melanie Martinez
The Beach - The Neighbourhood
Falling - Harry Styles
Out Of Love - Alessia Cara
BLUE - Troye Sivan, Alex Hope
More by Persephone
Depths Awakened
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Distorted Devotion
Swept off her feet by love, life takes a dark, unexpected turn. Now the love of her life may be the cause of her death. Check out this gripping, romantic suspense.
Undying Devotion
A long-term couple with a secret life. Their friends envy the bond they share, but remain oblivious to their lifestyle and how deep the bond lies. A turn of events has her wanting to spill every secret.
Beloved Devotion
She asks the love of her life to marry her. When her girlfriend hesitates, then says yes, she is determined to learn why. As the pieces start to fall in place, she discovers she doesn’t know her fiancée at all.
Ink Veins
Persephone Autumn’s debut collection, Ink Veins, explores topics of depression, love, and self-discovery with a raw, unfiltered voice.
Sweet Tooth
Two people with the same rule. No dating. What happens when they bend the rules? A steamy standalone romance with a trigger warning.
Connect with Persephone
Connect with Persephone
www.persephoneautumn.com
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Acknowledgments
Always at the top of my list… my family.
To my wife for dealing with my rambling, wacky schedule and need to pull my hair out on occasion. No matter what happens, you let me get it out before I go homicidal. And you’re the best pimp. Love you!
To my daughter for always being my cheerleader and helping me navigate the ever changing world of social media. I can’t wait until to pay you to do it all. Love you!
To my dad, who graciously takes my books and supports every adventure I take. Love you!
To Ellie and Rosa at My Brother’s Editor… you ladies are a dynamic duo. Cleaning up my manuscripts, providing insight, and saying all the best things. Love you!
To Kat Savage… I love your face! Thank you for always making my books beautiful. And thank you for your wisdom and expertise when I ask or suggest really stupid shit. That’s why I don’t do graphic design.
To all the party people in Persephone’s Playground… my level of gratitude for your continuous support puts a smile on my face. Thank you for always being there, for reading my words and getting excited for more. Love you!
To my ARC and promo team… being an author is hard! You help make it easier. Thank you for helping me spread the word, reading my books and giving your input and feedback. I am forever grateful for all you do!
To all my author peeps… thank you times a thousand! We all understand the insanity of being an author and I’m so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my corner. Dee Lagasee, Kat Savage, Mel Walker, Andi Burns, Ellie Isaacson, Elle Thorpe, Victoria Ellis, Christina Hart, J.R. Rogue, JA Stone, TK Cherry, Carmel Rhodes, QB Tyler, Harlow Layne and a super long list that grows longer each day. I love each and every one of you!
To Patricia… thank you for making my first book trailer! You make me love the book even more!
To Shelly… no matter what, you support everything I do! I wish there were GIFs that would reach through the screen and hug people. I’d hug you daily for all the love and support you give. Thank you for every shared post and kind word! xoxo
To every person who purchased this book… thank you so much for reading my words. Not a single day goes by where I am not humbled by people enjoying the stories I put on paper. No set of words will express my never-ending gratitude. Thank you on repeat! xoxo
About the Author
Persephone Autumn lives in Florida with her wife, crazy dog, and two lover-boy cats. A proud mom with a cuckoo grandpup. An ethnic food enthusiast who has fun discovering ways to veganize her favorite non-vegan foods. If given the opportunity, she would intentionally get lost in nature.
For
years, Persephone did some form of writing; mostly journaling or poetry. After pairing her poetry with images and posting them online, she began the journey of writing her first novel.
She mainly writes romance, but on occasion dips her toes in other works. Look for her poetry publications and a psychological horror under P. Autumn.