by Soto, S. M.
Pushing those thoughts out of my head, I focus on the butterflies in my tummy only one person is capable of eliciting.
“How do you like it here so far?”
Liam shrugs his shoulders and turns his head toward me. “It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. But I do miss hanging out with the guys back home.”
I nod my head. I can understand that. Having to move away from all your friends and family would seriously suck. I can’t even imagine starting over, someplace new without Myrah at my side.
“What about you? How’s the new stepfather, and stepbrother?”
I purse my lips in contemplation. Should I tell him the truth, like I do Myrah? Or should I give him the simple version? Opting for the former, I blow out a sigh and dart my eyes away.
“It’s…different. Richard is nice. I don’t have a problem with him, but his son Connor, he’s just sort of weird.” My body shivers at the use of his name. Turning back to Liam, his brows are furrowed, and he has an unusual look on his face.
“Why do you say that?”
“He does weird stuff. Like at dinner, or anytime he sees me, he just stares. Sometimes I wonder if he even blinks—it’s almost like he’s a robot or something. A few weeks ago, he came right into my room without even knocking. Not even my mom does that! And every time I’m around him I just don’t feel right. He makes me feel…weird.”
Liam scowls and clenches his teeth. The muscles along his sharp, angular jaw tick, almost angrily. “You come to me if he ever does anything out of line, even something small, Bea. Promise?”
I nod my head sealing my promise, not fully understanding why he’s suddenly so worked up about Connor and why he’s playing protector. But whatever the reason, I like it. His protectiveness over me sends warmth swirling through my belly.
Freshly showered, Myrah plops down next to me and Liam, completely dousing the fire roaring in my belly whenever he’s near.
“Whatcha guys talking about?” she asks in a sing-song voice that makes me smile.
“Liam was asking about Richard and Connor.”
Myrah grimaces. “Ah, yes, weirdo boy, and his freakily perfect father. Your mother sure does know how to pick em, B.”
Now it’s my turn to grimace.
“Hey, Liam,” Myrah suddenly says with a sly grin on her face. “You’re a Taurus, right?”
Liam raises a single brow, his eyes darting to mine in question. “Yeah?”
“And Bea, you’re a Virgo. You know what this means, right?” she asks, waggling her brows suggestively. My face heats because I know exactly what she’s getting at. Virgo’s and Taurus’s are compatible when it comes to love and relationships. I know every single astrological sign and who their compatible partners are. I’ve always been fascinated with astrology and how it comes in to play in our everyday lives. And now it seems like Myrah is using this against me.
“Shut up,” I hiss under my breath, nudging Myrah with my knee. Completely ignoring me, Myrah turns toward Liam, going on.
“Li, did you know you and Bea are compatible love partners in the eyes of astrology? Bea swears by it.”
I gasp. “I do not!”
Myrah shoots me a look. “Bea, you made your mom buy you a buttload of astrology textbooks after that old one fell apart, and you’ve been mapping out your future based on the planets and the stars for as long as I’ve known you.” I deflate against Myrah’s couch. “I’m just pointing out that the two of you are compatible partners, that’s all. I’m not telling you what to do with the information, just throwing it out there,” she says, raising her hands above her head in a surrendering motion. I internally groan in embarrassment, almost too afraid to look at Liam for his reaction.
Almost.
Liam stares at his cousin, fighting a grin, and turns his magnetic eyes toward me. His gaze pins me in place, seizing my lungs. Slowly, the corners of his mouth turn up into a smirk.
“Interesting.” His tongue juts out, wetting his plump lower lip and I swear, I almost black out. My brain wars with the violent things happening in my body. I can’t get a handle on myself, or my hormones for that matter.
Great, I’ve turned into the cliché hormonal teenager.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow, I should probably head home before my mom calls. Again,” I say as an excuse, hopping to my feet, and flying out the front door. Anything to avoid Liam’s probing stare and the urges flowing through my body.
For the life of me, I couldn’t wrap my brain around why I was so attracted to Liam. He made me feel giddy and whenever I was near him, my insides turn to liquid. Hot pliable liquid. There was no denying how handsome he was. That was obvious just by looking at him, but there was something else too. Whenever Liam looked at me, his gaze did something to me. He made me feel things that I’ve never felt before. His eyes had the potential to reach inside and caress my soul, and that’s exactly what it felt like he was doing each time he looked at me.
He was caressing me. Breaking me down piece by piece.
The following morning, I’m forced to have breakfast with my new “family”. Mom caught me just before I was out the door heading to Myrah’s and scolded me for not spending more time here. With our family. I just gave her an eye roll. Because moms.
For the most part it isn’t too bad, just a little quiet and a lot awkward.
“Bea, maybe you can introduce Connor to the neighbors. I’m sure he’ll appreciate meeting some new people.” Mom smiles encouragingly at me from across the kitchen table, piercing her perfectly cut pancakes, and I do my best to smile back.
“Of course.”
I shift my eyes to Connor who’s just staring at me, once again, not making any move to finish his food. Another shiver runs through my body, but I suppress it.
After breakfast, I hurry into my room to dress, and try to reach the phone so I can warn Myrah about the new visitor, but much to my displeasure, Connor is already waiting outside my door, ready to go.
We silently walk side by side to Myrah’s house. There’s an awkwardness in the air that I’m not used to, and I can only think to blame it on him and his foreboding presence. Heaving a massive sigh, I knock on the door, with my signature knock and hear Myrah’s pounding feet from inside. She throws open the door with a smile, but when she gets a good look at my guest, her smile falters for a fraction of a second. She eyes me in question, and I shrug my shoulders in answer.
“Myrah, this is my new stepbrother, Connor. Connor, this is my best friend Myrah. Mom thought it would be a good idea to bring him over to meet everyone,” I say by way of explanation. She nods her head and ushers us inside, eyeing Connor out of the corner of her eye.
“My parents are out grocery shopping, but Liam’s in his room, I’ll be right back.”
We sit on the couch in her living room and for the first time ever, I feel awkward here in her house that’s always felt like a second home to me. I blame that on Connor.
Not long after, Myrah comes barreling down the stairs with Liam trailing behind her. I perk up when he comes into view. Butterflies immediately take flight the closer he gets, allowing me to get a good look at him. He’s dressed in one of those workout t-shirts that reveal his strong arms—my eyes riveted to the veins protruding in his hands and forearms—and a pair of black basketball shorts. His hair is in disarray, the tips slightly hanging into his iridescent eyes, but somehow it still looks good on him. It’s like the guy can make anything look good.
“Hey, sweet Bea,” he says when he sees me, and my heart flutters.
“Hi,” I whisper, grinning shyly.
Our relationship has become more comfortable, and friendly over the time he’s been here, and I couldn’t be happier. With all the changes and new things in my life, Liam is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. Having him here, someone else to talk to besides Myrah, has helped me cope with the fact that I have a new stepfather and now, a strange, new stepbrother. Sometimes, I wish I could just hang out with Liam, by myse
lf, but I know that would hurt Myrah’s feelings one way or another. So, we usually try to take advantage of alone time whenever Myrah is busy doing something.
Liam’s smile falters when he sees Connor standing beside me. The two of them don’t say a word, just stare at each other—almost like they’re in a silent stand-off. The tension in the air is so thick you can cut it with a knife. I have no idea what has caused the sudden shift in both their demeanors.
What the heck is going on?
I look to Myrah for answers, but she just shrugs her shoulders in clear confusion. Liam’s gaze falls back on me. Unnamed and unfamiliar emotions float in his eyes, but for the life of me, I don’t understand what he could be thinking.
“Liam, this is my stepbrother, Connor.” I turn from Liam to Connor. “Liam is Myrah’s cousin who will be staying here for a while.”
Both guys don’t bother shaking hands or acknowledging each other, other than a barely noticeable nod of their heads.
After the awkward introductions, we head out to the backyard, next to the pool, but things don’t get better. If anything, everything just gets worse. It’s still extremely awkward, and every conversation is forced, not like it usually is between the three of us. Myrah and I strip down to our bathing suits and jump in the cool, chlorinated water, ignoring the awkwardness of the boys.
As the summer afternoon drags on, I notice Liam becoming angrier, if the scowl on his face is any indication. I run after him when he suddenly shoots out of the lounge chair and storms into the house, slamming the patio door closed. When I follow after him, I find him pacing the living room with his hands curled into fists.
“Liam, what’s wrong?”
He whips around to face me, and his scowl deepens.
“I don’t fucking like him. The way he looks at you, Bea, it’s not right. I don’t like it. At all.”
I’m slightly taken aback by his tone and what he’s just said.
He notices it too?
I swallow thickly trying to figure out what to say. Placing my hands on his biceps, I gently squeeze, ignoring the paradox in my chest at the feel of his warm skin and the corded muscle beneath. For his sake, I force a reassuring smile on my face. I try to stay serious, ignoring the tingling sensation that sizzles through my body just from his proximity.
“Don’t worry, Liam. Everything will be fine.”
Always the famous last words.
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I’m sure most of you know this, but writing can be an incredibly intimidating job. It doesn’t get easier with each book. If anything, it only gets harder. And that was the case with Chasing the Moon for me. It was tough—I cried a lot, felt way too much, and second guessed myself. It was simply a passion project, a compilation of everything that is near and dear to my heart, all rolled into one, and I wasn’t sure how you, the readers, would take to that. I try to separate myself from most books I write, and this is the first time I’ve deviated from that unspoken rule. So, if you hate it, you hate me. (Totally kidding.)
I think this is the first book that I’ve truly written for myself out of pure enjoyment. If it isn’t obvious, I’ve always been obsessed with Greek Mythology and the moon. I have about four tattoos (and counting) simply dedicated to my love for the moon, and with this story, these characters, I really wanted to bring that to life. My love for the spiritual things. My love for the universe and the blanket of stars. And most of all, my love for the moon, and it’s many incredible phases.
There are so many people I want to thank for helping shape this story into what it is, without them, my tribe, I would be lost.
To my editing team, who is always there for me every step of the way. Paige Smith, your attention to detail is unmatched, and your encouragement means the world to me. Jenny Sims, my stories would be trash without you. Thank you for making time for me when I pop an email in your inbox at least once a month. My hope is that you’ll never tire of me. Rebecca Barney, you’re fantastically intelligent and the sweetest human I’ve ever met. Thank you for taking care of my stories and putting up with my stupidity.
Special thanks to my beta readers, Chelé Walker, Ratula Roy, Sonal Dutt, Aundi Marie, Sarah Plocher, Serena McDonald, Melissa Sagastume. You are the realest of the real. Thank you for telling me when my stories suck dick.
To my cover designer, Naj. You put up with my countless emails, so many of my rambles that make absolutely no sense at all, and you do it all with so much professionalism and grace. Thank you for making this cover so goddamn beautiful. It is the embodiment of Selene and Endymion. Regina Wamba, as always, your photography skills are INSANE! To my amazing formatter Stacey, you make the inside of all my books flawless. Never leave me, okay? Ever.
To my Selenites, my ARC Squad, and my Baddies, you’re all so amazing. Thank you for every shared post, and for your constant excitement. You put a smile on my face every single day. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without you, so thank you!
To the countless bloggers who push my books so freaking hard! You make this writing gig worthwhile. I want you all to know that I appreciate every single one of you. I see you. You’re loved. So incredibly respected. Always.
To my family and friends, thank you for your constant stream of support. It feels good to have you all rooting for me.
Finally, to my readers, thank you for taking the time and reading this book. I know these are hard times, and I appreciate the fact that you spend your hard-earned coins on my simple words. You make this small girl’s dream come true every time you decide to pick up one of my books. Thank you for taking a chance on me. I’m forever grateful.
Please consider leaving a brief, honest review.
With so much love,
Selena (S.M.) Soto xoxo
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S.M. Soto was born and raised in Northern California where she currently resides with her son. Her love for reading began when she was a young girl and has only continued to grow into adulthood. S.M. lives for reading books in the romance genre and writing novels with relatable characters. She refers to herself as a bit of a romance junkie. S.M. loves to connect with readers and eat copious of donuts that will surely lead to her demise.
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Stay tuned for brand new releases from S.M. Soto!
The Seasons of Callan Reed
An Enemies-to-Lovers Office Romance
Coming December 2020
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