I’ve also recently finished my Southerland series. Who doesn’t love a hot Southern man? The series starts with Feel Like Home, and the books are all standalones connected by a family that falls hard for love. I’ve written a bonus Southerland novella with a little surprise. It’s on sale for $.99, but I’ll be happy to send it to you for free if you sign up for my mailing list. I’d love to hear from you at [email protected] and you can find me at www.authorevelynadams.com
I don’t do newsletters so I won’t crowd your inbox. I only send announcements when I release a new book or find a particularly juicy sale. No spam and you’ll know right away about the next book. I don’t want you to miss a single story. By the time I’m finished, I love all the couples I write about. I hope you do, too!
Many Blessings!
Evelyn
Over It
By Christine Bell
One
Melissa
"Holy shit."
"Right?” I stood back and stared out the ceiling to floor window and shook my head in agreed amazement. “It’s unbelievable.”
Ashlynn and I had seen a bit of beach and ocean as we'd flown overhead, but now, with it just a few dozen yards away, the beauty of Monaco’s coast was breathtaking. I dropped my bag on the floor and threw my arms around my friend. "Thank you. I don't know what I did to deserve this, but thank you."
“Call it payback for all of those term papers you practically wrote for me.” She hugged me awkwardly and let out a chuckle before extricating herself from my grasp. The move, as always, made me just a little sad.
I was a hugger, but I could totally respect that Ashlynn wasn't big on touching. The problem was, I couldn't help but think that she would've been if things had gone differently for her. I remembered her from when we were kids, she'd been carefree and happy, and we’d walked around everywhere with our scrawny arms slung around each other. It was only after we'd started college--after Royce--that she'd turned into a whole other person.
A person who flinched when others moved too quickly. A person who couldn’t get out of bed in the morning or do her schoolwork because she was so mired in the pits of despair and a bone-deep depression. A person neither of us recognized.
The nauseous feeling that always accompanied thoughts of Royce washed over me and I pushed it away resolutely.
We were here now and everything was going to be all right. It was finally over. And Ashlynn had paid for my trip from her trust fund because she wanted us here on Spring Break together so we could close the chapter on that old life and have a fresh start on her new one.
Her strained smile was a solid indicator that it was going to take more than a stellar view of the Mediterranean for her to start that process.
"Stop thanking me. I wouldn't want to be here without you, Melis. And seriously, it's Peggy's money anyway and she's got plenty."
Peggy was Ashlynn's oft-married mother. Her last husband had left her a cool ten million and Peggy was nothing if not generous to her only daughter.
"Well, I already sent her my famous chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, so now I'm thanking you. But I promise, I'll stop now." I picked up the handle to my rolling suitcase and yanked on her arm. "Let's drop our stuff off, get our suits on and get on that beach. I hear a rum runner calling my name from here."
She nodded and tucked a lock of jet-black hair under her floppy sun hat. "Sounds like a plan to me."
We made our way to the elevators, and made an effort to keep the small talk going. Making plans for that night, wondering out loud if we might win at the casino.
"Supposedly there's a concert Saturday night at the main venue. Lots of buzz about that."
I didn't mention that there was also supposed to be a major boxing match that night as well. Fists flying was the last thing she needed to see right now. We had eight glorious days ahead of us, and I was determined to pack them full of fun and healing for my friend. By the time we were on our way back to New England and the dreary March weather, I wanted to hear her say she was "fine" just one time and really mean it.
Baby steps.
When we got down to the beach half an hour later, there were already dozens of other sun worshippers on the sugary white sand, but we found an open spot and staked our claim. We'd just moseyed over to the beach bar when a cute sandy-haired guy came jogging over to us in a pair of board shorts. A wide smile split his slightly sunburnt face.
"Hey! We're looking for two more for a volleyball game. What do you say?"
I shot a look at Ashlynn, sure she was going to put the kibosh on that, but she shocked me by nodding hesitantly. "Yeah...um, yeah, sure."
"I'm Lance," he said, sticking out a hand. We both introduced ourselves and shook before promising to come over as soon as we ordered.
We got our drinks--a frozen rum runner for me, and a pina colada for her--and then picked our way over to the volleyball area where about a dozen people milled around chatting.
"All right, we have enough for seven and seven," Lance said.