Dear Ethan: A Second Chance Romance

Sneak Peek: When Everything Ends

Readers, here's a sneak peek of my new book When Everything Ends starring Joan. 

This will center around Joan's relationship with her husband Dax and the downfall of their rocky marriage. It'll be written entirely Joan's POV so expect some unhinged commentary.

I'll be updating this story regularly once I make some final adjustments so stay tuned :) 

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*Joan*

He looked untouchable. Half myth and half man. Majestic. And he was alone. His bandmates and security team were nowhere to be found.

His eyes drifted downwards. This was the year wearing a slip dress in public was in.

"I like your dress." He wasn't the first boy to tell me that but I felt his laconic voice seep all the way into my bones. Usually, I'm one for banter but he was the first boy that made me feel a bit shy.

"Thanks," I said demurely. All nonchalant. As if I got hit on in Manhattan hotel bars by celebrities all the time.

"What are you ladies drinking?" His laconic voice was gravelly, as if he had lost it recently and was just regaining use of his vocal cords but it also made him come off as soft and sweet.

And all that hair...It was long like a lion's mane and in the dim lighting, it had the same texture as thick golden fleece.

I resisted the urge to tell him I was too young to drink. Why the hell not? I had a fake ID anyway. And it would be a lie if I said I was too young. It was all circumstantial. I could drink in some countries just not this one.

We clinked glasses and exchanged names, points of origin. London. Paris (a half lie but Monique's name was decidedly French so she got away with it), and sunny L.A.

L.A., Monique and I both exclaimed. A real L.A. boy with L.A. hair and skin sun kissed by the Californian sun.

We all quickly bonded over our thirst for adventure. The kind that extended beyond our stodgy hometowns and into the great unknown.

By the second round, Monique surreptitiously slipped away but not before she gave me a look that said, tell me everything tomorrow.

Dax and I bonded over our middle class upbringing. The need to get away once we both turned seventeen. Embarking on a new journey. Searching for adventure.

In my vodka haze, my eyes fell over his hair, the texture of it softened by the dim lighting. His hair was long enough that it fell into his light blue eyes. He was badly in need of a haircut. So I told him, my tongue loosened now.

He laughed, "I've been told." And grinning wicked fast: "You can touch it if you want." 

"If there wasn't anyone here right now I would ask you to dance." He said softly, his finger gathering a lock of my hair and brushing it behind my ear. I felt my face flush scarlett.

"How are you even here right now?" I blurted out. "Or is that bald man sat across from us part of your security team?"

He laughed softly, leaning in. "I have a knack for staying out of sight if I want too."