Anger flashed across his face and he tried to hide it. His pleading ended up with him calling me names and storming out of the apartment. I had hurt his pride, set him off; a dangerous combination.
I know little miss blond slut wasn’t Deacon’s first betrayal; I just chose to ignore the signs that were right in front of my face. I chose to believe the pretty lies he told me. The excuses ranged from working late, to stopping at the gym or running into an old friend. When he realized the lies were becoming more frequent he tried to bury my questions and disappointments with flowers, shopping sprees or sex that was driven more by anger than passion. For a while, I desperately clung to the lies and the illusion that everything was fine. While his affairs mattered and of course they hurt, the simple truth was that they were only part of the problem. I didn’t want to be in a marriage that only works when I played dumb and pretended to believe the lies and allowed things to always be on his terms.
I want more.
I need more.
I deserve more.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I cannot thank the readers enough for the constant encouragement I receive daily. Interacting with each and every one of you has been such a blessing and I’m so thankful.
My brother, Ryan, isn’t here to see this story. A lot of Ryan Stone is who my brother was. Shy, awkward, very cute (yes I can say that as his sister) and loved by everyone.
The word thank you seems so small when it comes to my best friend, Yvette, but without her, my stories don’t work. She’s my constant and for that I’ll be in her debt forever.
There are plenty of people to thank that held my hand during Lost in You.
Miller & Cola – the late night chats and pre-reading helped me through that very rough patch.
Toni – I appreciate every encouraging word and most amazing help ever. I love knowing that I can just hand you a chapter.
Brandon – without your most spectacular images Ryan and Hadley would just be names. Thank you for the amazing promotions.
Jodie – thank you for taking the helms on this one. I owe you!
Sarah – your vision is one of the most amazing aspects of writing. You help create the story with what you make for the cover.
Tasha – thank you taking such an amazing photo and willing to let me put a story behind it. From the moment I saw it. I knew this was fate.
Fallon & Alyssa – good thing your red pen works wonders. Thank you both for the constant support and editing.
There are so many bloggers that I’ve become friends with, but my fear is that I’d forget someone. So… if we talk, text, email, tweet or Facebook – thank you for all your support. I can’t even begin to tell you how much it means to me.
To my family – thank you for being so supportive and hashtagging our conversations – they make me laugh, even when I’m rolling my eyes. Mom; Dad & Beth book two - I’m on a roll.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heidi is the author of USA Today, Kobo, Digital Book World, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestselling novel, Forever My Girl.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.
During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games.