Fourth and Inches

by Kata Čuić

  “Apparently, she’s the team psychologist for the Orlando Sharks.”

  Evie smirks. “So, he has to come face to face every day with the only woman to ever tell him no? That must be a huge blow to his ego on a regular basis.”

  “Not as much as you might think.” I rub Robbie’s back absentmindedly, remembering everything I felt during our pregnancy. “She’s pregnant with his baby.”

  “What?” Evie yells.

  And then all hell breaks loose.

  Robbie lets out a wail; Evie lets out an apologetic shriek.

  I know at least one set of parents who won’t be having any sex tonight.

  Game over.

  This part never gets easier. No book is created in isolation. It takes a team of dedicated individuals to put a novel in the hands of readers. CPs, beta readers, editors of varying levels, proofreaders, formatters, cover artists—the list is actually quite long. Then, there are those people who help, staying on the fringe of actual production, but without whom the writer would be lost—bloggers who review and get the word out; fellow authors who offer advice about marketing, promotion, and brand; PAs who handle scheduling, social media accounts, and fan groups; and dedicated readers who flood the internet with anything and everything by their favorite authors.

  I’ve had all of the above and more throughout this journey. Inevitably, I forget to thank someone by name, and that always sucks. For both parties. I’ve also learned in the past three years that sometimes people don’t want acknowledgement. Either they prefer to stay behind the scenes, or they simply don’t want their name printed in someone else’s book.

  So, rather than give you a long list of names, I’ll leave it at this:

  Thank you. To anyone who helped, to anyone who read, you’ve made this series what it is today.

  My gratitude goes beyond mere words.

  Note from the Author

  The Moving the Chains series, and Evie & Rob’s story, in particular, was never meant to be merely a work of fiction. While the characters and events aren’t based on actual living, breathing people, they could be anyone.

  A neighbor. A friend. A sister. A cousin. The band queen. The cheerleader. The quarterback. The captain of the hockey team.

  Sexual violence and rape culture affects us all, whether we’ve been in the position of survivor or not.

  While the events of this series are, indeed, fiction, the situations these characters face are based on real-life scenarios.

  Stalking. Shaming. Gossip. Hazing.

  The statistics mentioned in these novels are accurate. One in four women will be sexually assaulted during their lifetime, but, men can also be survivors of sexual violence.

  And, as anyone who loves someone who’s been changed by sexual assault can attest to, it changes everything. It changes life into a before, and an after.

  If this book has touched you, or made you think, then I urge you to not simply push aside those feelings now that Evie & Rob’s story has reached a conclusion.

  For the characters, and for those affected by sexual assault, the reality is, there is no conclusion. That event will remain for life.

  If you would like more information, or to help in any capacity, here are several websites to get you started:

  www.rainn.org

  endrapeoncampus.org

  www.joinonelove.org

  The Sing Out foundation isn’t real, but there are so many organizations working to affect real change in our society. Check out your local college campuses, your state directories, and even some local high schools where women and men are striving so hard to end sexual violence.

  Get involved. Give hope. Sing Out.

  All my love,

  Kata

  Ah, come on. We’ve spent four books together. If you don’t know me by now, you will never, never, never know me. No, you won’t.

  If you want to drop me a complaint about my super-cheesy use of song lyrics, you can do that in the following places:

  Facebook

  Twitter

  Instagram

  Pinterest

  Website: www.katacuicbooks.com

  Email: author@katacuicbooks.com

  Fourth and Inches Playlist

  One Love-Marianas Trench

  Bad Blood-Bastille

  Story of My Life-One Direction

  While We’re Young-Marianas Trench

  The Mess I Made-Parachute

  No Shelter-Seether

  Turn Off the Lights-Panic at the Disco

  Move Along-All American Rejects

  Everything in Its Right Place-Radiohead

  Water Under the Bridge-Adele

  Let It Go-James Bay

  Decode-Paramore

  I Won’t Lie-Go Radio

  Stay-Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko

  All the Same-Sick Puppies

  Comfortably Numb-Pink Floyd

  Sing for Me-Yellowcard

  Nothing Else Matters-Metallica

  Alibis-Marianas Trench

  That’s What You Get-Paramore

  Shot at the Night-The Killers

  Dog Days Are Over-Florence + the Machine

  Cross My Heart-Marianas Trench

  Time After Time-Cyndi Lauper

  Happy the Hard Way-Every Avenue

  Distance-Christina Perri ft. Jason Mraz

  Telling Lies-Sick Puppies

  Some Nights-F.U.N.

  The Kill-30 Seconds to Mars

  I Lie Awake-Quietdrive

  Scars-James Bay

  Stubborn Love-The Lumineers

  Say You Won’t Let Go-James Arthur

  High Hopes-Kodaline

  Who Do You Love?-Marianas Trench

  Haven’t Had Enough-Marianas Trench

  Hold on Forever-Rob Thomas

  Kiss Me Slowly-Parachute

  Then-Brad Paisley

  Never Stop-Safety Suit

  All of Me-John Legend