A Safe Place To Fall (The Fall Book 1)
Page 17
Just breathe, Drew told himself as he prepared to move away from his drum set.
The band had been playing for the last two hours. For the last two hours he had watched his girl dance with different guys. A year ago she would have just stayed in a chair watching him play. Most guys would get irritated over the change in her behavior. Drew, however, felt confident enough in their relationship. Instead, he viewed this change as being a sign that she was no longer scared. She felt safe for the first time in a long time, and he liked to think that he had something to do with that.
This is it, he told himself, as he approached the microphone.
Ryan patted his shoulder. “You got this.”
Drew playfully shoved the lead singer away towards the exit steps of the stage. “Go find someone else to bug.”
“You know what? I think I will,” he said, scanning options in the crowd.
Drew shook his head as he watched his friend run down the steps. Some people will never change, he thought.
He took a deep breath and let it out before speaking into the microphone. “Lana, can you come to the stage, please?”
All eyes were on Lana as she made her way slowly up to the stage from the table she'd been sitting at with her two friends. This was it. In just a few moments, she would know he planned to make her his forever.
When she stepped up beside him he took her hand in his. From out of nowhere a lump formed in his throat. This was his girl. How had he gotten lucky enough to find her?
He brought her hand up and brushed his lips across her knuckles. Looking into those beautiful eyes, his carefully planned speech escaped his head. Knowing he had to say something he decided to wing it.
“Honey, you know I have loved you from practically day one,” he began. He hoped no one could hear the shake in his voice.
“That love has only continued to grow over the past year,” he continued.
Just get on with it already, said the little voice in his head.
He swallowed nervously and pulled out the ring burning a hole in his pocket all evening, out.
Lana's eyes widened as she stared up at him.
Drew was not the get-down-on-one-knee type of guy; instead, he replaced her right hand with her left and spoke the words he'd been rehearsing for the past two days. “Lana Richards, will you marry me?”
Lana stared at him for a moment then a smile broke out onto her beautiful face. “Yes! A thousand times, yes!”
He stumbled backwards as she launched herself into his arms.
***********************
Later that night Lana could not help but stare at the diamond sparkling against the black dress shirt her man was wearing. She had wondered all evening why Drew had dressed up this much. Normally he only wore jeans and a t-shirt.
“Are you having fun?” Drew asked pulling her closer as their hips moved in rhythm to the music.
“It's been the best night of my life,” she replied honestly.
She couldn't wait to start the rest of her life with him by her side; she just wished her parents would be around to watch her say 'I do'. Somethings couldn't be helped; her parents were still mad she refused to go back home with them the previous year.
The future was uncertain. Who knew what would happen from day to day? The only thing Lana was certain of was that Drew would always be her safe place to fall.
********************************
Play List
These songs and/or bands were mentioned in A Safe Place to Fall.
Far Away
performed by: Nickleback
Enter Sandman
performed by: Metallica
Mama I'm Coming Home
performed by: Ozzy Osbourne
Lips Of An Angel
performed by: Hinder
Nightmares
performed by: Avenged Sevenfold
Dude Look Like a Lady
performed by: Aerosmith
Acknowledgments
The idea of A Safe Place To Fall came to me while I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep. Sleep didn't end up happening that night; instead, I mapped out this new idea I had just come up with. The next day I finished my outline and began writing Lana and Drew's story. Due to unforeseen circumstances their story had to be set aside for four to five months. In January I picked right back off where I had left off, determined to move on with my life. Half-way through this book I had a whole series mapped out in my head.
It has been an amazing journey so far but I couldn't have made it this far without the help of Elizabeth Seckman. That woman is amazing! She not only took me under her wing, helped navigate me through the ropes of being an author, but she also proofread A Safe Place To Fall for me. Without her motivation, I'm not sure I would have gone through with this whole process.
To Kim Ginsberg for pointing out I have a love for commas and 'toward'. I'm sorry if you wanted to have a brain hemorrhage while reading the very rough looking ARC of this book.
To my amazing cover designer at DarkLight Designs, I can't even express how blessed I have been to discover you!
To my fellow authors that I've been able to connect with thanks to the wonderful world of Facebook, each one of you gave me a chance when I was just another blogger and allowed me to help you with cover reveals, book releases, and of course getting to review your amazing books. You in turn have talk me down from panic attacks the closer I got to the end of the editing process. Then you were more than willing to help me reveal my cover (something that I normally do for you!). I can't thank you lovely ladies enough: Harper L. Jameson, M. Dauphin (you're still in trouble for making me ugly cry btw..) Callie Harper(you made me fall in love with a mountain man), Azeely Cramton (I'm impatiently waiting for book 2). You ladies rock!
To my husband who had to listen to me ramble on and on about Drew and Lana. He often had to remind me that I needed to get laundry done. The poor man has had to deal with a lot through this process. It takes a lot of love and patience to be married to a writer (especially me) and I couldn't love him anymore than what I do now.
To my daughter, you are my own little miracle. I still can't believe you are about to start preschool. It seems like just yesterday you were laying in the NICU in Charleston. I love you to the moon and back.
To my parents, who had to deal with a million notebooks (half of which are still in their storage room) of short stories or unfinished books from middle school on. They were the first to deal with the craziness that is me...and somehow they managed to get through it without strangling me. Believe me..that's strength right there. Ha ha!
To my second cousin, who is more like my sister, another person that has had to deal with my craziness (that I like to refer to as creativeness). We know how to push the right buttons to drive the other one crazy. You have always been my partner in crime. I always know you have my back.
To my personal friends, thanks for understanding when I go days or even weeks without getting in touch while I'm in writer mode. Lorissa Eddy, you have been the one to make me put my laptop down and get out and smell the roses. Without you, I probably would have stayed locked up in my house. Now that book 1 is done, we really need to have a girls day with our little ones! Jennifer Negie, you were one of the first ones to read the rough draft and the first one to let me know how much you enjoyed Lana and Drew. (and immediately told me you were waiting on book 2). You will never know how much your encouragement means to me.
To God, without him we wouldn't be here. I definitely would not have this possibility of this dream of writing.
Finally, to you the readers. Thank you, for taking a chance on a nobody. I hope you have enjoyed Lana and Drew's story as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
The Fall series:
A Safe Place To Fall (Lana and Drew)- June 2016
Fight The Fall (Chris and Tammy)- release date undecided
Addicted to the Fall (Tracie and Ryan)- release date undecided
Still Falling (catch up with THE FALL cou
ples)- release date undecided
Sometimes They Come Back (Adam's spin off novella)- release date undecided
About the Author
Jessica was born and raised in West Virginia. She has always dreamed of being an author. She still lives in Wonderful and Wild West Virginia with her husband, daughter, and crazy dog. Aside from writing, she has a love for reading (it's an addiction). More times than not you can catch her with music blasting anything from Johnny Cash to Metallica. She also has an obsession with a happy ending...even if she does put her characters through hell to get there.
Follow her on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/jessicakileauthor1
contact her @ jessicakileauthor@gmail.com
Follow her blog: http://JessTalksBooks.blogspot.com/