Synopsis:
JADEN BAKER is stoked about college, new friends, and a second chance to erase the memory of being bullied through high school. But moving on comes with a price. Her dad has made arrangements for her to move into her brother’s apartment so her brother can watch over her like she was a baby. But there's a glitch in her dad's plans. There are also two roommates living in the apartment too. Suddenly, living in an off campus apartment with three college-aged boys seems like a bad idea -- but not to Jaden. After all, Cade is pretty damn hot, making the whole forced living arrangement and new baby-sitter a little more tolerable.
CADE JENKINS grew up on the opposite side of the tracks from his best-friend and his privileged little sister. His dad bailed when he was a kid, and he can't help but still care for his drug-addicted mother. But things are looking up. He's met someone. Too bad she's his best-friend's fresh out of high-school, inexperienced little sister. Awkward!
Just when it looks like things might be changing for the better, Jaden finds herself battling severe depression and a broken heart when her high school bully targets her once again. Cade, who'd love to pick up the pieces and make her whole, must fight his own demons and family trouble.
If only they didn't find themselves falling irrevocably in love.
HERE WITH ME
by Alla Kar
“Are you listening to
me, Jaden?”
No,
not really.
My father’s BMW grinds
to a halt in front of my brother’s apartment building. Or should I say my
apartment building.
God,
this is going to suck.
My freshman year of
college, and I’m being forced to live with my older brother. Dad wants me to be
safe. He says Adam can show me the
ropes and make sure I’m hanging out with the right group of friends. If only
that were the case.
The truth is, I have no
friends, and Dad wants to make sure I’ll be around other human beings instead
of staring at my walls all day long.
He won’t have anyone to
watch over me if I stay in a dorm room. What’s
he going to do, pay my roommate to hang out with me? With my brother being
a social butterfly, I’ll be exposed to people my age. What Dad forgets—or
decides to ignore—is that I’m going to be surrounded by half-naked girls all
the time. Adam is definitely one of those
guys. I love him, he’s my brother, but he’s an ass.
Dad snaps his fingers in
front of my face, and I jump. “Huh?”
He ruffles his graying
hair and goes to say something when his phone beeps.
“Dr. Baker, here. What
can I do for you?” he says into the Bluetooth speaker. “Yes, our appointment is
tomorrow. Yes, eleven.”
Dad clicks his pen, and
I watch as he pulls out his checkbook. “Jaden.”
I roll my eyes.
Money
fixes everything, according to Dad, who’s a psychologist, so he should know
you can’t buy happiness. “I’m giving you three blank checks. You get anything
you need for school. New clothes. Things for school. All of your books are on
your bed upstairs. Nancy’s already got everything you’ll need for your room and
classes.”
Nancy is my dad’s
secretary and the closest thing I’ve ever had to a mother. I wish she were
here. But she has her own kids to worry about.
I fold the checks and
slip them into my jeans.
“Are you ready to go
inside? See your new room?” He has this fake enthusiastic tone to his voice. He
uses it on me like I’m three, not eighteen. It’s the same one he uses on his
clients—the ones who need mental help.
“No,” I say, grabbing my
purse, which Dad spent a fortune on. “But, like I have a choice.”
Dad frowns, pulls the
keys from the ignition, and faces me. The icy look—his real look—is there, but
I don’t care. “This should be exciting for you, Jaden.” He reaches for me but
withdraws his hand like I might bite him for touching me. His brown eyes narrow
and he furrows his thick brows. “This is your chance to make a fresh start.
Make friends. Make new memories. Good ones this time.”
Dad pulls on his tie. “Okay, Dad. Can we go
inside now?”
He stares blankly at me
for a long while before getting out of the driver’s seat.
I go by Alla Kar. I live in the Deep South with my husband, Chihuahua and pit-bull puppy. I love to bring southern gentlemen, alpha males and all things new adult to life. I am an Amazon Best-Selling Author!
Book Blitz Organized by:
No comments:
Post a Comment