There was love in my heart for a boy once before, and it was a love that consumed my entire being and blinded me from truth. It was a love that made me see things differently, that soon lifted a veil I didn't know was there once I saw his darkness. I'd been enchanted by him, and I'd fallen for him fast. But over time, it had withered away just as petals do. In place of love, a new feeling blazed away - hatred.
Sometimes your best friend can be so much more than that.
In this best friends to lovers story, Abby struggles in dealing with her newfound feelings for her unavailable best friend Matt. She must also accept who she's become and rediscover who she wants to be... and she must fight to be unleashed from the one who's just dying to drag her back down with him.
Sixteen-year-old Abby Henderson learned a thing or two from dating bad-boy Dennis Whitmore: always trust your gut, actions speak louder than words, never let your guard down. After realizing he's just a bad guy and ending things in Submerged, she's determined to move on... but Dennis has other plans. Not long after fighting for her life and firing a bullet into her living room wall just to get him to leave, he promised things weren't over. As promised, she's left to endure relentless stalking by her deranged ex. He waits for her after school by her car, leaves notes on her windshield, parks his black truck up the street in her neighborhood, and breaks into her house.
Then there's Matt. She confessed to her best friend that she's in love with him, but he walked away. She thought she'd lost him. After learning of what happened the night of homecoming, Matt remains by Abby's side, supporting and protecting her like always. But now their relationship is rocky. Abby is determined to win his trust back and prove her feelings are genuine.
At school, her best friend's new girlfriend has begun spreading rumors about Abby's sex life, convincing everyone she gets around. From finding whore spraypainted on her locker and the driver's side door of her car to dealing with sexual harassment from boys, Abby must survive the halls of McFall in addition to dodging Dennis.
Once Matt discovers his girlfriend is behind the rumors, he ends their relationship. Feeling guilty over the damage his ex caused, and desperate for the rumors regarding Abby to stop, he devises a plan: fake date. Knowing this will further shatter her heart once they end their fake relationship, Abby agrees to go along with his plan. When Dennis starts calling Abby, Matt picks up. In a moment of anger, and hopeful he'll back off, he tells Dennis he and Abby are together now.
And then... things end up not being so fake.
Now that Dennis believes Abby has moved on, he's driven further over the edge. On a stormy night, after the lights have gone out, things take a turn and change their lives forever.
Cook, K. R.: - "
K.R. Cook is a romance author residing in Texas with her husband and their three beautiful dogs. When she isn't creating captivating fictional worlds and love stories, she's spending time with family, plotting her next book, engaging with other readers and writers, and creating social media content. Fall is her favorite season - when the air turns crisp and magical, you'll catch her enjoying a hot double spice chai tea and putting sweaters on her pups (don't worry, they love it).
For more information on books, visit her website and subscribe at authorkrcook.com.
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