My Next Book

I’m currently working on an anthology type book with four short stories. It’s tentatively titled Let Me Love You and highlights four couples at various stages in their relationship. I’m shooting for a late August release but there is still much to be done!  Here is a little unedited snippet:

---

Sometimes the simplest things have the most profound impact on our lives.  Sometimes the most innocent comments open up wounds that we thought had healed long ago.  And sometimes the most random numbers appear and your past suddenly collides with your future.

Fifteen.

I glanced at the clock in the upper right corner of my computer, it was fifteen minutes past five on the fifteenth day of August. At that precise moment my assistant, Christina walked in holding an envelope in her hand.  She was smiling brightly as she waved the generic packet around. 

“Guess what I have,” she beamed pushing her thick black-framed glasses up on her nose.

“A winning lotto ticket?” I laughed.

She rolled her eyes.  “No, you have to play to win.  Besides this is bigger- better than that!”

“Okay, now I’m intrigued.” I said sitting back and giving her my full attention.

She walked closer to my desk and placed the opened envelope in front of me. But before I picked it up, she squealed.

“It’s an invitation to your fifteen year high school reunion!” she clapped with more enthusiasm than I thought was warranted.  “Open it!  Oh my god, my favorite group is playing at your class reunion!”

High school reunion.  My heart fluttered as I pulled the cream colored card from the envelope and saw the James K. Polk High coat of arms and colors emblazoned on the front. The reunion was in one month, on September 15th in my hometown of Buffalo.

“So did you know Xavier Ross?” Christina asked with an awestruck expression.

My eyes widened.  “Wha- how- you know Xavier Ross?” I asked confused.

“Turn it over- Soul Skylight- they’re playing at the reunion.  He’s the lead singer.  Please tell me you’ve heard of Soul Skylight,”

I tried to steady my shaking hands as I slowly turned the card over.  There was a picture of a group of guys and sitting on a stool in the center, clutching a guitar, was Xavier Ross.

Suddenly I found it very hard to breathe.  I opened my mouth and stared up at Christina.  Her face registered alarm.

“Oh my god, Angela- breathe, breathe-,” she patted my back furiously.

I gulped and forced air down my windpipe.  “Okay!  I couldn’t breathe, I’m not choking!” I exclaimed moving away from her heavy hand against my back.

“Goodness, you scared me.  Do you have asthma or something?” she asked concerned.

“Um no- I just- I-,” my eyes darted down to the invitation.

Christina’s eyes followed mine and her mouth fell open.  “You and Xavier Ross?” she whispered.  “No way!”

I didn’t know if I should be embarrassed or insulted by her reaction.

“It was just a silly high school thing, really,” I said dismissively.
​
“Sure,” she said unconvinced. "Spill!"