Torn
Author: Annie Brewer
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Release: November 2013
Skylar McKenzie is a serious artist with a plan.
She'll graduate high school, travel around Europe, then leave her life in Texas
and move to New York. She'll also leave her feelings for the boy she's known
her whole life, behind and move on. Or so she hopes.
Jackson Cruz is ready for a future as a star
quarterback once he graduates high school. It's the path he's been leading for
years now. But when his cheerleader girlfriend cheats on him, and a teammate
causes a lot of drama, he wonders if this is really the life he's wanted, or if
there's something more.
They thought they had it all figured out-their
futures. But life doesn't always go as planned. With feelings revealed, their
dreams on the line, this is a year for changes, choices, and a love that might
or might not overcome all obstacles.
Told in Jackson and Skylar’s POV, this is a
story about acceptance, first love, embracing your passions and finding your
way, even if it’s not the way you had planned.
“Jackson?” Skylar’s voice is a breath of air.
“Hmm?”
“Do you think your dad will ever date again?” Her question
surprises me, but I’ve wondered that myself. He just makes an excuse that he’s
too busy.
I move my head so I can look at her, “I’d like to think he’ll
meet someone. But he doesn’t seem interested.”
“My mom’s the same way. She works too much so she claims she’s
too tired.” Absentmindedly, I run my fingers up and down her arm. “I think
she’s still scared of the idea.” I can relate. “Sometimes I can still hear my
dad’s voice, telling me what to do.” Her voice takes on a haunted tone. My hand
reaches her fingertips, slowly tracing the length of her newly manicured
fingers. “Does the pain ever go away?”
I stop moving; wracking my brain for an answer but come up
short. “I don’t know, honestly. We've both lost a parent in a different way. I
imagine it’ll get easier. You know why?”
She pivots her body so she’s on her side, facing me. “Why?”
I lean close to her, reach out to touch her face and say,
“Because I’m gonna remind you of all the memories I have of him, to make you
smile, laugh and feel grateful for the time you got to spend with him. Because
that’s what he’d want.” A tear falls from her eye. My head dips slightly,
kissing it away.
She wraps her arm around my waist. “That would really help,
Jackson. And I’m sure he’s watching us from wherever he is, smiling and happy
that his daughter is happy with such an incredible guy.”
It brings a smile to my face and I hope her dad knows how
grateful I am to him for bringing such an amazing girl into the world. I’ll do
my best to show her how special she is. I can be that guy for her. I will be. I
hold her tight against me, massaging her back. Our legs are tangled together.
There’s no such thing as perfect; in a perfect world, maybe. But this is
anything but a perfect world. However; this night, this moment, is as close to
perfect as you can get. I close my eyes, soaking up the warmth emanating from
her body, listening to her steady heartbeat.
Annie Brewer leads several lives. At home she's
a caring mother of two with a heart of gold. Online, she's a best friend to
several and puts a smile on her many fans every time she utters a word. In her own
world, she's a dreamer. But the biggest part of her is made of books, books,
and more books. It's not a surprise she's turned out to be such a talented
young author. Some of her many hobbies include reading, drooling over Ian
Somerhalder, Channing Tatum,and Christian Grey (etc.), reading, reviewing,
reading, watching Vampire Diaries, reading, and last but not least WRITING like
a maniac. She currently resides in Texas, where she dies of heat-strokes every
few seconds, with her books and book-boyfriends, and her two adorable
little girls.
~*~
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