Genre: New Adult (Contemporary Romance)
Date Published: August 13, 2014
Publisher: Self
For Chance, there's always only been Dakota.
He's been in love with the girl since the day they met. He's tried everything to get her to notice him and nothing has worked. So when things suddenly start moving in the right direction, Chance can't believe his luck.
Until Kyle comes along.
Kyle is like a new shiny toy and Dakota loves new and shiny. She falls for the tall, blonde and gorgeous fast and without looking back. Dating the summer before college wasn't in the plans, but come on, Kyle is perfect. So why does Chance and his snarky grin keeps popping up in her mind now that Dakota has found her happiness?
When Chance's world comes crashing down, Dakota proves the strength of their friendship, surprising herself and everyone around her, by helping him pick up the pieces. In return, Chance is finally able to crack her hard shell, discovering that not everything is sunny in Dakota-land. Her world is not what it seems on the outside, and together, they're able to pull each other to the brink of safety and sanity.
Dakota likes that things are simple with Kyle, so why does she feel more like herself around Chance?
As graduation grows closer, both Chance and Dakota learn that the plans you make for your life don't always play out the way you expect them and sometimes, everything starts to make sense when you find yourself on the edge of falling.
Dakota
"I'm not wearing a bikini."
I think I've said that about ten times now, but Brooklynn won't let it rest. She keeps throwing it into my bag when I'm not looking.
"Oh come on. I really really want to see...umm...their faces when you walk out in that." The hesitation before 'their' makes me want to shake her. I know what 'their' really means.
Chance.
The one person who's been occupying way too much of my thinking and sleeping time. I think Brooklynn can tell because she's been much more vocal about him lately. It's not working for me.
"B, I love you, but if you put that thing into my bag one more time, there will be blood." I turn back to my closet, wondering why it's so hard for me to pack for a four day trip. It's not like I'm trying to impress anyone right? Oh wait, Kyle. I'm supposed to be working on impressing him.
"So, did you know Kyle's Dad works for this huge sport advertisement company? He's friends with like every baseball player. He met A.J. Pollock just last week for some sports drink sponsorship."
"Yes, you might've mentioned it a time or two." My back is turned, but I'm pretty sure she just rolled her eyes at me.
"And—" I continue, ignoring her tone, "he was telling me that when he was younger they'd take these trips on the company yacht and he fell into a school of jellyfish. And for some reason, not one of those little guys stung him. How crazy is that? He's just really lucky like that. He's an only child and—"
"Dakota, you're rambling."
"I don't know what you mean." But I do. I am rambling. Thinking about Chance is making me edgy.
"I don't see why it's such a big deal. You wear that thing all the time!" She's not letting this go and she's making me want to scream.
Honestly, I don't know why it's such a big deal either. I worked hard to keep my curves where they need to be in order to wear something as adorable as the bright red polka dot bikini. However, I don't think my messed up emotions can take walking out in that in front of Chance. I don't reply, just continue to stare into the abyss that I call my closet.
I can tell Brooklynn wants to talk about it. She's been giving me these looks for two weeks now, but I just don't think I'm up to it. The ever present battle with my feelings for Chance is my battle. Even Brooklynn doesn't know how deep that war goes. Even after all this time, I'm not sure I'm ready for her to know.
"Honey, I'm home!" Saved by the little brother once again. Jackson shouts from the front of the house, slamming the door behind him.
"We're in the here!" I shout back. A moment later, he's in the doorway, sweaty from soccer practice.
"I've missed you so much," he states, rushing into the room to sweep me off my feet and into a huge hug. I scream, just like any good sister would do, and whack him on the arm.
"Put me down, you imbecile. You're getting me dirty."
"Just sharing the love, sister dearest." But he sets me down, turning on Brooklynn with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"You touch me, you die," she threatens, grabbing for the nearest weapon, which ends up being a decorative pillow she made me last year. Not exactly threatening, but Jackson won't push. They do their little fist bump handshake and he settles at her feet on the floor.
"So, what are we talking about?" he asks, reaching for my TV remote. This is how Jackson and I have always been, completely in each other's lives. Recently, however, it's been more. We're clinging to each other with unbreakable grip.
"Bikini's. On Dakota." Brooklynn answers, handing over the remote, before giving me a sweet smile. Jackson scrunches him face up in disgust, abandoning his search for a show.
"And that's my que to leave."
He jumps to his feet, placing a quick kiss to the top of my head, and walks out the room with a wave. Just like Brooklynn knew he would.
"Was that really necessary?" I level her with a stare.
"Yes, because we need to talk."
I groan aloud, turning my back to her as I search for my Mickey socks. I have a slight obsession with crazy socks, collecting every color and character I can find, but sometimes I forget to put them together. It's a good thing they're all different so it's easier to find a match. I concentrate on that, ignoring Brooklynn's steady gaze.
After a few moments, she scoots off the bed and comes to sit by me in front of my dresser.
"Dakota."
"Brooklynn."
"Come on, we have to talk about the elephant in the room."
"Leave Dougy out of it." I state, pointing to one of the few stuffed animals still residing in my room. I'm usually pretty good at steering Brooklynn's attention to other things, but I guess I'm losing my mojo.
"Kyle."
"What about him?"
"Chance."
"Oh my goodness are you just going to throw names my way? Fine. Grayson."
"You know exactly where I'm going with this."
"I know no such thing."
"I'm not wearing a bikini."
I think I've said that about ten times now, but Brooklynn won't let it rest. She keeps throwing it into my bag when I'm not looking.
"Oh come on. I really really want to see...umm...their faces when you walk out in that." The hesitation before 'their' makes me want to shake her. I know what 'their' really means.
Chance.
The one person who's been occupying way too much of my thinking and sleeping time. I think Brooklynn can tell because she's been much more vocal about him lately. It's not working for me.
"B, I love you, but if you put that thing into my bag one more time, there will be blood." I turn back to my closet, wondering why it's so hard for me to pack for a four day trip. It's not like I'm trying to impress anyone right? Oh wait, Kyle. I'm supposed to be working on impressing him.
"So, did you know Kyle's Dad works for this huge sport advertisement company? He's friends with like every baseball player. He met A.J. Pollock just last week for some sports drink sponsorship."
"Yes, you might've mentioned it a time or two." My back is turned, but I'm pretty sure she just rolled her eyes at me.
"And—" I continue, ignoring her tone, "he was telling me that when he was younger they'd take these trips on the company yacht and he fell into a school of jellyfish. And for some reason, not one of those little guys stung him. How crazy is that? He's just really lucky like that. He's an only child and—"
"Dakota, you're rambling."
"I don't know what you mean." But I do. I am rambling. Thinking about Chance is making me edgy.
"I don't see why it's such a big deal. You wear that thing all the time!" She's not letting this go and she's making me want to scream.
Honestly, I don't know why it's such a big deal either. I worked hard to keep my curves where they need to be in order to wear something as adorable as the bright red polka dot bikini. However, I don't think my messed up emotions can take walking out in that in front of Chance. I don't reply, just continue to stare into the abyss that I call my closet.
I can tell Brooklynn wants to talk about it. She's been giving me these looks for two weeks now, but I just don't think I'm up to it. The ever present battle with my feelings for Chance is my battle. Even Brooklynn doesn't know how deep that war goes. Even after all this time, I'm not sure I'm ready for her to know.
"Honey, I'm home!" Saved by the little brother once again. Jackson shouts from the front of the house, slamming the door behind him.
"We're in the here!" I shout back. A moment later, he's in the doorway, sweaty from soccer practice.
"I've missed you so much," he states, rushing into the room to sweep me off my feet and into a huge hug. I scream, just like any good sister would do, and whack him on the arm.
"Put me down, you imbecile. You're getting me dirty."
"Just sharing the love, sister dearest." But he sets me down, turning on Brooklynn with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"You touch me, you die," she threatens, grabbing for the nearest weapon, which ends up being a decorative pillow she made me last year. Not exactly threatening, but Jackson won't push. They do their little fist bump handshake and he settles at her feet on the floor.
"So, what are we talking about?" he asks, reaching for my TV remote. This is how Jackson and I have always been, completely in each other's lives. Recently, however, it's been more. We're clinging to each other with unbreakable grip.
"Bikini's. On Dakota." Brooklynn answers, handing over the remote, before giving me a sweet smile. Jackson scrunches him face up in disgust, abandoning his search for a show.
"And that's my que to leave."
He jumps to his feet, placing a quick kiss to the top of my head, and walks out the room with a wave. Just like Brooklynn knew he would.
"Was that really necessary?" I level her with a stare.
"Yes, because we need to talk."
I groan aloud, turning my back to her as I search for my Mickey socks. I have a slight obsession with crazy socks, collecting every color and character I can find, but sometimes I forget to put them together. It's a good thing they're all different so it's easier to find a match. I concentrate on that, ignoring Brooklynn's steady gaze.
After a few moments, she scoots off the bed and comes to sit by me in front of my dresser.
"Dakota."
"Brooklynn."
"Come on, we have to talk about the elephant in the room."
"Leave Dougy out of it." I state, pointing to one of the few stuffed animals still residing in my room. I'm usually pretty good at steering Brooklynn's attention to other things, but I guess I'm losing my mojo.
"Kyle."
"What about him?"
"Chance."
"Oh my goodness are you just going to throw names my way? Fine. Grayson."
"You know exactly where I'm going with this."
"I know no such thing."
To learn more about Valia Lind and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads and Twitter.
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