It’s official! Forget You is out today!
Here’s a look at the first chapter, if you haven’t already read this on A Bookish Escapes blog.
Enjoy!
PROLOGUE
People enter our lives at random…or so we often think. For others, though, they believe sometimes it’s a stroke of luck, or a simple twist of fate, that forces this seemingly chance meeting to occur; that it was simply meant to be.
It’s the people we meet this way whom we tuck into our hearts, never wanting to let go. It’s these people that leave an imprint larger than we ever thought possible on our souls, these people who are forever tattooed into the essence of who we are, because after meeting them, we’re never the same.
These are the people whom you never wish to see harmed. The people you hope and pray will never forget you…
CHAPTER ONE
EVA
Incredible eyes I couldn’t quite determine the color of stared at me across the distance. Never being one to break eye contact first, I held the guy’s stare. When his lips twisted into a sinful smile as he grew closer, I arched an eyebrow. I knew his type. Cocky, arrogant, self-centered—well, maybe not self-centered, considering he was obviously part of the National Guard—just the type of guy who would get under my skin, and toy with my heart strings more than I deserved before dropping me.
He was trouble. That was all I needed to remember.
My eyes remained focused on him as he continued to jog with his group toward the bench I was sitting on. Before the group reached me, the guy’s pace slowed, and he went from near the front to the back in a single controlled motion. Sweat glistened his muscular chest in the afternoon sunlight, and I couldn’t force my eyes away from him.
Who the hell was this guy, but more importantly, why the hell was I reacting this way to him? Had my libido been so neglected it was ready to pounce on the first nearly naked piece of eye candy it saw in the flesh?
As the stragglers of his group passed, his sergeant in command—or whatever the guy was—barked for him to pick up the pace. Soldier Boy grinned wider, and shifted his gaze away from me for the first time in ninety seconds. A sensation I couldn’t name trickled through me at the sudden shift of his eyes. As I stared after his retreating form, I pursed my lips together and wondered what the hell I was feeling. Whatever it was, it mingled and intertwined with an ever-present sense of loneliness that had been inside of me for far too long.
Slapping my notebook closed, I decided I’d had enough fresh air and tepidly warm sunshine for one day. After gathering my textbooks, I scooped up my coffee before heading to my vehicle.
Gareth’s Park may have been beside the local National Guard post in Norhurst, but I wasn’t the type to study there for that reason. Although, the slight chance of seeing built hotties running laps all sweaty and sexy-like should have been enough enticement to make it a studying staple. I studied there because it was quiet—for the most part—and no one would stare at me as though I were crazy.
There was a set of picnic tables designated for studying in my apartment complex courtyard, but apparently, when I moved in someone forgot to attach the memo to my lease about it being taboo to use them. This resorted in me being stared at through mini-blinds for about twenty minutes by various neighbors before I finally let the awkwardness of the moment win and headed back inside.
From that point on, I tried a variety of places to cram besides my living room. None of them could hold a candle to Gareth’s Park. The library was too eerily quiet, and the coffee shop down the street was filled with too many noisy people wondering what you were studying and why such a pretty girl had her nose stuck in a book all the time.
Here, no one asked questions and no one stared—until Soldier Boy.
As I hoisted the straps of my tote bag higher onto my shoulder, I spotted my green Ford Escape and dug my keys out of my front pocket. After unlocking the doors, I tossed my bag in the back, and climbed into the driver’s seat. Soldier Boy’s face flashed through my mind, and I took in a deep breath. He was sexy as hell—there was no doubt about it—but it wasn’t his good looks that had him flashing through my mind on repeat. It was the way he’d locked his eyes on mine, how he’d been just as unwilling as I was to be the first to look away.
It took a confident person not to be afraid of eye contact.
The list of characteristics I’d thought about upon first seeing him and his wayward smile blasted through my mind, reminding me of why I shouldn’t give him a second more of my time. His image might be a good one to pleasure myself to during a dry spell, but that was about as far as I would allow him to consume me mentally.
Starting now.
Pulling up my grocery list on my phone, I checked it again for anything else I might need to add. A text popped up as soon as I closed my notepad app. I smiled at the sight of Mindy’s name.
Hey! Hope studying is going well. There’s a party happening tonight at Wes’s house. Wanna come?
Mindy Pendergrass had taken my title of newest waitress at The Point—the pub I worked at—about three weeks ago. I’d worked at another local diner for over a year, but when the owner died and the place was left in the hands of her slimy son, I couldn’t handle working there anymore, so I quit. The Point had been hiring, and it paid more hourly. It was a no-brainier to apply. I’d gotten the job on the spot, and I was grateful beyond belief.
Rereading Mindy’s text, I thought about how to answer. Tonight we both were off. I’d already done all the studying I could handle for one day, but I wasn’t sure I felt up to a party at Wes’s, of all people, frat house. Wes was exactly what Soldier Boy was—arrogant, cocky, full of himself—and I preferred to avoid guys who fell in that category.
I’d learned in my Human Behavior and Social Environment section of study that sometimes people find themselves in vicious cycles. My vicious cycle happened to be dating guys who fit the sexy, bad boy stereotype, which always seemed to resort in my heart getting trampled. When I broke down each of the guys, I concluded there was a certain thread of traits they each had in common. If I avoided those traits, my theory was that I might be able to find someone worth a damn.
So far, that presumption had attracted guys who were obsessed with their cell phones, socially awkward, or ordered a Cosmo when I did…for themselves.
Another text came through, and I glanced at the screen of my cell.
Well?
I don’t know. I’ll think about it and get back to you. Okay? ~ Eva
It didn’t take her but a second to respond.
Please! I don’t want to go alone.
Mindy’s words burned through my mind, and my subconscious whispered for me to answer with a three-lettered response—yes.
Going to parties solo sucked. I knew this from personal experience. So I caved.
What time is it? ~ Eva
It couldn’t hurt to go to this thing and attempt to have some fun. Hell, maybe I’d even find a one-night stand that would turn into something more, exactly like I was always reading about. Just because it was a college party didn’t mean it would be completely devoid of boyfriend-worthy guys. From the way images of Soldier Boy were flashing through my mind on repeat, I’d apparently starved my libido long enough. Maybe it was time to go on the prowl again.
Yay! I’m so glad you’re gonna come! It starts at nine. Wanna carpool?
Carpool? I hated carpooling to parties. If I wanted to get the hell out of there for whatever reason, then I didn’t want to have to wait on anyone.
No. I’ll drive myself. I won’t be able to stay too late, because I’ve got plans tomorrow morning. ~ Eva
Complete and total lie. All I had planned to do was my laundry and more studying.
I was in such a funk. I blamed it on my friend Blaire’s approaching wedding. There was nothing that could make a girl feel worse about her single status than being invited to a wedding and having to stare at the box where you were supposed to check plus one. I didn’t have a plus one, but damn if I didn’t want one. At least as a date to the wedding. I was the habitually single friend. Sure, I dated, but it never seemed to pan out as anything. All of my friends were in monogamous, long-lasting relationships. Even my best friend had traded in his playboy ways for the girl of his dreams.
I’d hit that point in my life where everyone was either married, in a serious relationship, or having babies, and here I was nearing twenty-five, and still kissing through a crap ton of frogs looking for Prince Charming.
No biggie. I’ll see you there!
I tossed my phone into the cup holder, and didn’t bother responding. I’d only known Mindy for as long as she’d worked at The Point, which was for about three weeks. She was from someplace in Florida. Her uncle lived in Coldcreek, and he recently had some major health scare. She’d transferred her credits to Norhurst University in an effort to be closer to him. That was the gist of what I knew of her—other than the fact that she was nice.
As I shifted into reverse, I sighed and backed out of the parking space I’d been idling in for way too long. Movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention; it was a guy dashing out of the way behind me. I’d nearly plowed him over as he crossed behind my vehicle. I slammed on my breaks, and a flush of heat crept across my checks as my heart palpitated ferociously inside my chest.
“Whoa, whoa!” the guy shouted, throwing his arms up in a what-the-fuck-are-you-thinking gesture.
Rolling down my window, I leaned out. “I’m sorry! My bad!”
It was Soldier Boy. Awesome.
He stood behind my vehicle, dressed in black basketball shorts with the National Guard emblem printed at the edge and a duffle bag slung over his right shoulder. His torso—that would be etched into my memory for weeks to come—was now covered with a plain white long-sleeved T-shirt.
A wide smile stretched across his face. “The girl who can handle some serious eye contact.” He pointed his finger at me. “Hey.”
Rolling my eyes, I did a little wave of my hand. “That would be me. Look, sorry for nearly running you over, but I need to get going. Could you please remove yourself from behind my vehicle? I need a wide berth to get out of this jam thanks to the douches on either side of me.”
“Is that an order?” He grinned.
What? Was he seriously flirting with me, even after I’d almost killed him with my Escape? A smile matching his played across my face as a thought came to me.
“Not really.” I gradually let my foot off the break, and locked eyes with him. “More like stating a choice.”
He chuckled and dashed out of the way. “I see how you are,” he shouted at the back of my vehicle as I continued out of my spot. “Can I take you to dinner sometime?”
I slammed the brake pedal all the way to the floor, and stared at him in my rearview mirror. Obviously taking my vehicle’s sudden jerk to a standstill as a good sign, he was at my driver side window within seconds.
“You were almost run over by me, twice, and yet you want to take me to dinner? You have some sort of death wish or something, don’t you?” The words flew from my lips, twisted with bemusement.
I shouldn’t have asked him that. I shouldn’t have even stopped and allowed him to jog to my window. I was not going to psychoanalyze this guy; I wasn’t. I was going to gas it, and drive away. Nothing more, nothing less.
Soldier Boy licked his lips, and smirked. “Hence the reason I signed up for the National Guard.”
His words kept my brake pedal pinned to the floorboard. My eyes locked on his, and I studied the sincerity swirling within them. That was when I noticed their color—blue. A gray blue, rimmed and speckled with a deeper, darker shade of blue than I’d ever seen on anyone. Cobalt would be the word to describe it.
“So, is that a yes?” he asked, his gaze becoming more intense.
Obviously, he knew the effect his eyes had on a woman. He batted his thick, long lashes that framing them—lashes I would kill for—as he continued to stare at me with an orchestrated smile tugging at the corners of his lips just so.
“No, that’s not a yes.” I gassed it.
The fact that he had the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen on a man, and some twisted death wish I wanted to analyze right down to the nitty-gritty, didn’t revoke the characteristics I’d compiled against him, moving him onto my worthy of dating list. Not even close.
I glanced in my rearview mirror, looking back at him. His simple grin had turned into an intensely sexy smirk, and he was shaking his head. As I paused at the exit of the parking lot, I noticed his fingertips come up to his lips, and he kissed them before making a sweeping motion as though he were blowing me a kiss.
Seriously, dude?
Great, I’d managed to attract someone who was the epitome of what I was striving not to date. He was cocky, self-assured, had some sort of death wish—which meant he was probably reckless—knew how to weaken a girl’s knees and wet the sensitive area between her thighs with one calculated glance, and blew kisses. Fan-fricking-tastic.
Rolling my eyes, I pressed my foot harder than necessary against the gas pedal, and zoomed away, my tires chirping on the pavement.
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