Between Friends (Between the Raindrops #3)

by Susan Schussler

  “Now, slide forward and let me climb in behind you.”

  I scoot forward and he steps in, positioning himself with his knees on either side of me.

  “We need to get the picture first.” He scoops the bubbles, pulling them in to cover my breasts. “Wouldn’t want any nip-slips.”

  “I never agreed to the selfie.”

  “I’ll let you have final approval.”

  “Fine,” I say. I wish he knew what the word really means in female language. But it doesn’t look as though he does because he has his phone in his hand poised to take a picture.

  He brushes the hair from my neck and tilts my head to the side. His lips whisper kisses up my neck as I glance up at his phone. Click. Then his fingers brush the side of my breast and as the kisses become more urgent my eyes close. Click. He takes two more pictures, but without even looking at them I know he will be posting the second shot. It felt the most genuine, the most uninhibited.

  “I’ve got my pick already, but you get to make the final decision,” he says, swiping through to allow me to view them.

  The second one is perfect. Raw sensuality spills from the photo. With my eyes closed and the camera angled the way it is, I still have plausible deniability. “I still need to get a job after I graduate. So it can’t be the first one. It should be the second one. It’s the best.”

  “Yes. My pick, too.”

  “You know the internet is forever, right?” I say as he types one handed on his phone and posts the picture.

  “I do.” He smiles. “I never post selfies. This is a big deal for me to post.” He shows me the post. The tag reads, #LoveIsReal. Then he drops the phone onto the rug with a soft clunk and wraps both arms around me.

  “Are you declaring your love publicly? Is that why it’s such a big deal?” I ask.

  “Our love. And yes.”

  “Is it for Chase?” I’m not really sure why he had to post a selfie of us in the tub.

  “It’s for me, Meg. I want my friends and fans to know how happy I am. And, if he sees it, all the better.” His hands smooth across my skin to cup my breasts. “Does it bother you that I want to tell people about us? I’ve never wanted to inform the world before you.”

  I think about it for a minute before answering. “You posting makes it feel real.”

  “It is real. Love is real.” He quotes the post. “How do you feel about a Christmas wedding?”

  I almost choke on my tongue. “Uh…what?”

  “Christmas. I was thinking if we tell your family at Thanksgiving we could pull a small wedding together by Christmas. Did you want a big wedding?” He leans to the side to see my face.

  “Uh…”

  “I am serious. If you want to,” he says, his voice sweet and tender.

  “I thought we were just going to date exclusively.”

  “We can live together, but not without something official in the works. I need a bigger commitment than my parents have. I want to get hitched.” His dark eyes consume me.

  “Why? I’m never going to be some carefree plastic blonde who can pin a smile on her face to go to yoga class. I’ll never fit into your world.”

  “You already know I don’t want plastic.” He pauses and I feel his breath catch. “Let me tell you what I see when I look at you. I see a girl who makes decisions for herself.” He brushes a strand of hair away from my cheek. “I see a girl who’s honest, who isn’t afraid to say no. She doesn’t care whether I pay attention to her or not. Sometimes, I think she wishes I wouldn’t, that I would just leave her alone. She doesn’t need me. And in a world where everyone is stroking each other to get ahead, it’s refreshing not to be used. Look at social media. It’s all about connecting with the right person who will connect you to an even bigger, more important person. Hollywood’s the same, only worse. It’s all about who you know, who you’re sleeping with or worse yet, who they think you’re sleeping with. It’s all for show. You don’t do anything for show, not that I can see. You just are. And to me, that’s super special. So don’t run from me. I know I don’t deserve you. But I’m not going anywhere. And all I want is a lifetime of the commitment we deserve. Is that asking too much?”

  His words give me strength. He understands me. “Okay, let’s get hitched,” I say. “But I have to finish school first.”

  “That’s my girl.” His face lights with the most brilliant smile before he glazes my neck with a million kisses.

  The End

  THANK YOU for reading Between Friends. I hope you enjoyed Megan and Liam’s story. If you did, please consider posting a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews are one of the few ways readers can let an author know what they love about the story. And keep up to date on all new releases by joining my newsletter.

  After Megan’s story, the celebrity/college romance continues in Between Scenes. Here’s an e-book teaser.

  Between Scenes

  MY PHONE BUZZES and I hit ignore, again. I am not validating his existence. I freeze as I step around the corner from the elevator and spot them. Oh…hell.

  “There she is,” a voice shrills from down the hallway in front of my hotel room.

  The pack of paparazzi rushes toward me like I’m the last item for sale on the eighty percent off table. My heart races as I jerk back into the elevator. I pull out my keycard and tap it frantically against the access pad, deciding to go up rather than down into the media circus I escaped minutes ago. How did they find me? How did they get on this secure floor?

  I shake my head, trying to push down the tears threatening to betray me. This is so unfair. Why are they chasing me? Jake’s the one who deserves their questions. I don’t even know what to tell them. The door closes and my stomach lurches as the floor below me rises. I take in a quick breath, trying to calm my brain.

  When the elevator door opens on the twenty-third floor I step out and peek my head out of the cove, hoping the hallway is clear. The muscular backside of a guy returning from the pool immediately catches my eye. He carries a towel and an oversized bottle of water. This could be good or it could be a disaster. The shirtless man could hide me and help me sneak out of here. Or, he could be a really hot serial killer. I’m terrible at reading people. I don’t know why I bother trying. I’m out of options, though.

  As I near his room I spot the plastic keycard on the floor just outside the door. He must have dropped it. I pick it up to return it as an offering, hoping to soften him up. I raise my hand to knock, but the ding of the elevator changes my mind. Instead, I press the card against the key pad and the light turns green. I’m going in.

  I collapse against the back of the door and as it clicks closed, I press my ear against it, listening for the vultures to pass. A shiver rakes through my body as they go by, talking about how I would never escape because they were working as a team to find me. I can’t believe Jake did this to me. I hear them pass a second time talking about this floor being clear and I turn to assess my situation. My eyes immediately lock with the brightest sapphire-blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Shirtless pool boy cocks his head at me without blinking. He doesn’t looked irritated I’m in his hotel room. He looks bored, as if girls slip into his room all the time.

  “If you’re looking for Tom, he won’t be back tonight,” he says, glancing around, before picking up the TV remote.

  “I’m not looking for Tom,” I say not sure how to spin this conversation into a plea for help.

  “If my brother sent you for me, tell him I’m not interested in his cast offs. You are clearly not my type.” His face is stone cold sober. He means every word he says.

  What is his problem?

  “Really? I thought I was every guy’s type.” I have never had a guy tell me I wasn’t his type. Who does this guy think he is? I don’t see any supermodels in his room. Sure he’s hot, but he doesn’t have to put me down. What did I do to him? He spreads out on the couch, propping his feet on the table in front of him as I approach him with my jaw dropped in disbelief.

  “O
h, god... Did he pay for you? He doesn’t know when to stop, does he? Just go. Tell him I had a great time. You rocked my world…wahoo. Tell him whatever you like. You’ll still get paid.” He runs his fingers through his wavy, dark hair. “I can get girls on my own, I don’t need him to buy me hookers.”

  “I am not a hooker!” I can’t believe he thinks I’m a hooker. He obviously doesn’t recognize me. With all the press lately I didn’t think there was anyone left in the world who doesn’t know who I am.

  “Call girl. Whatever. I didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just not my thing. I don’t pay for sex.” His nose scrunches before he turns away from me and flicks on the TV.

  “Oh my god. I am not a call girl, either.”

  “Sorry, I just assumed. Like I said, Tom’s not going to be back today. I might not see him until Sunday. I can let him know you stopped by if you give me your name.” He points to the hotel notepad and pen on the desk.

  “What kind of guy buys his brother hookers?”

  “He thinks he’s doing me a favor. You know what he’s like,” he says meeting my eyes again and sitting forward. “But I’m not like him. I’ve never had an STD and I plan to keep it that way.”

  “Tom has an STD?”

  “Forget I said that. I just mean, with all the girls he sleeps with, he could get one. I like to know where a girl’s been before we swap fluids. You know what I’m sayin’?”

  Did he just say that?

  “I know what you mean,” I say. “Honestly, I don’t even know your brother and I’ve definitely never swapped fluids with him.”

  “Wait a minute. You don’t know my brother? Who gave you a key to our suite?” his voice elevates as he stands and steps back away from me.

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” I say as my eyes glide over his toned form. “I found the card on the floor in the hall. I planned to knock on the door and return it, but then the paparazzi found me and I made the snap decision to escape them by coming in. I was going to ask if I could hide out for a couple of hours until they give up looking for me. That’s all.

  “Who are you?” he asks knitting his eyebrows as if he doesn’t believe me.

  I hold out my hand. “I’m Kat. Katya Avery.”

  His large hand wraps around mine. “Micah Fallston,” he says.

  “No. No. No!” I shake my head as I pull my hand back. I can’t believe it. “Why? What are the odds I would end up in Tom Fallston’s hotel room? Damn it. My life sucks.” He’s Jake’s best friend. I cover my face with my hands as I plop onto the couch, trying to gain control of my emotions. I can feel Micah’s eyes on me. I’m going to have to figure out a way to get through this. I look up and meet his gaze, and he’s smiling down at me. He’s got a really sexy smile and that just makes it worse.

  “It’s not that I hate your brother… ok, yeah, it is. I can’t stand your brother. Can I still stay here? I’ll get slaughtered by the paparazzi if they find me coming out of Tom Fallston’s suite.”

  He laughs and sits back down on the couch. “I don’t like my brother, either. You can stay if you tell me why the paparazzi are after you. I mean, I’ve never heard of you before, so you’re not that famous. You must have done something crazy. What did you do?”

  Order Your Copy of Between Scenes.

  Other Books

  by Susan Schussler

  Between the Raindrops

  Hollywood heartthrob, Jonathan Williams can have any woman he wants as long as he is willing to be used for his celebrity status. But when he falls for a girl he anonymously connected with online, he finally sees hope for a normal relationship. That is until he reveals his true identity to her on stage at a rock concert and the press begins to pursue her relentlessly. Now he has to decide whether to protect her from his tabloid-ridden life by ending their relationship, or to selfishly drag her into his world.

  Between the Lies

  Now that Jonathan and Sarah are engaged, the media is even more determined to pull them apart. It doesn’t help that a stalker is sending threatening notes, that someone close to them is selling their intimate secrets to the tabloids, or that Jonathan’s gorgeous ex-girlfriend would do anything to get him back. When Jonathan starts keeping secrets from Sarah, she has to decide whether to live with the lies or walk away from him forever.

  Acknowledgements

  TO MY READERS—thank you for devouring every book I put out. Your comments and messages keep me motivated and, of course, your reviews are always appreciated. I love to hear your ideas, thoughts and passions. You make this all worthwhile. Please sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive content and updates about new releases.

  Thank you to the writers of Women on Writing. You are an author’s dream support team. You re-energize me, always holding me accountable and pushing me to be a better writer and person.

  Thank you to the amazing women of Midwest Fiction Writers and RWA. You inspire me with your talent and willingness to share your knowledge.

  To my brilliant editor, Michelle Garner—thank you for making my vision complete. Your understanding of the English language and your patience with my comma dyslexia are true gifts. You are amazing at what you do.

  Thank you to my fabulous beta readers, Gloria and Ann. Your insights made Megan’s story purr. Thank you for your honesty and for reminding me “revenge is sweet.”

  To my critique partners, Crystal and Mary Jane, you saved Megan from enduring another life altering tragedy and this story may never have gotten out if it wasn’t for your encouragement to make bold moves. I appreciate your intuition and so does Megan.

  Lastly, to my family—thank you for your un-ending support and encouragement. Even though romance is “not your thing,” you let me bounce ideas off you with minimal complaining. I, also, appreciate your patience and understanding when it comes to meals and a clean house, and how a writer always has deadlines. Thank you to my husband for being my HEA inspiration and for always believing in me. I love you.

  About the Author

  SUSAN SCHUSSLER loves the happy endings found in fiction because they inspire real-life dreams. Growing up the youngest of eight children, she quickly developed a strong understanding of and respect for others’ points of view. There are many facets that make up an individual, and she learned this early in life. Since then she’s gathered degrees and worn more than her share of career hats, but her passion has always been writing fiction. She draws upon her hectic childhood and the diverse individuals that she’s encountered throughout her life to formulate her characters and story lines. Find her online at http://www.susanschussler.com and discover insights into her characters in her blog. Sign up for her newsletter to get exclusive content and updates on new releases.