Playing With Fire

Author's note & Sneak Peek at book 2

Don't for one second think you've seen the last of Farris, her story is far from over. The #HACKER series is a planned 6 books long, 3 are available now. There's not a TON of hacking in book one, partially because I felt I needed to establish her story and her relationships before turning up the heat in book 2, and let me tell you, it's boiling. Right now book 2, IN TOO DEEP, is available on Amazon for only .99. Book 4 in the series will be releasing late this year, so be on the lookout for that as well. If you enjoyed the story, please help a girl out by leaving a review on Amazon, they are really invaluable to authors. And if you want to check out more of my books, my website is www.sherryficklin.com 

And Now I leave you with a sneak peek of IN TOO DEEP, #HACKER book 2! Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"You don't have to do this, you know," I offer halfheartedly, knowing deep down that if he were to walk away right now, I'd go with him.

The wind blows a chunk of chestnut hair into my eyes and I brush it away, tucking it behind my ear. Below us, the waves crash into the legs of the pier like a beating pulse, slow and steady. I take a deep breath, centering myself. Beside me, Cole chuckles as he slips off his leather jacket, draping it across the railing.

"What, you think I'd rather be at the Spring Formal?"

The side of my mouth turns up in a grin before I can stop it. The idea of spending the night surrounded by taffeta-covered pom-squaders makes me want to stab myself in the leg with a spork—a feeling I know Cole shares. Of course, he'd at least been asked to the dance. I, however, remain painfully solo. Not that I'd have gone either way, but being asked would have been nice.

"Besides," he continues, reaching out to take my hand. "I promised Ollie I'd look out for you, Farris."

My grin falters as the last bits of red-purple daylight fade to gray, as if the color is being drained from the world. My boyfriend Oliver and his family were re-stationed to NAS Whidbey Island three months ago. At first, we video chatted every day. Then it became weekly emails. Now all I get is the occasional text message. I'm not bitter about it. It's not like I hadn't expected it, after all. It's just what happens when people move away—something I know all too well as a military brat. Still, some small, lonely place in my heart aches. Now, we are stuck in that odd, uncomfortable place between being together and being apart, not entirely sure where we stand.

Cole, one of Oliver's best friends, promised to look after me in Ollie's absence, and he's been as good as his word. He showed up at my door while I was cramming for the SATs with a bag of Moo Shu Pork in one hand and a six-pack of Mountain Dew in the other. When I was sick, he brought me soup and boxes of tissues. I can't even count the number of nights we spent talking or shooting pool, all the times he helped me keep putting one foot in front of the other when all I wanted to do was let myself sit stagnant.

Basically, there are friends who help you move, and there are friends who help you move bodies. Cole is the latter.

But tonight, well, tonight is something else entirely. I shiver, the waves crashing below me churning like a blender. My hands clench, my jaw aching from holding my chattering teeth together. Inside my chest, my heart stutters painfully.

Tonight is the anniversary of my mother's death. I'd been prepared to come here alone, to face my fears alone.

I should have known that wasn't going to happen. My eyes slide to the right, to the boy standing at my side.

Beside me, Cole is quiet, his free hand casually stuffed in his jean pocket, like he isn't standing fifty feet over the crashing ocean, perched on the edge of a railing along the pier. He isn't looking at me, but his square chin is turned up, his gaze on the stars just becoming visible in the sky. He's waiting for me to say something, or that's what it feels like, but there are no words for what's churning inside me now. Just a wash of grief and fear, mixed with a deep gratitude, all jumbled up inside.