Summer, page 40
part #3 of Seasons Series
“I know you are. But it’s still there for me.”
“How many times do I have to tell you, I feel nothing for him. It’s not him that I love. It’s you. I love you.” Her beautiful eyes got round and wide. She didn’t mean to let that slip. She also didn’t mean it. Period.
Instantly, my body felt hot. But not for any type of good reason. It was white hot rage the coursed through me. “No. You don’t. Don’t ever say that to me again. I don’t believe you. You might think you do because you can finally see me now that I’m no longer in Reed’s shadow, but it’s too late for us. You finally see what we could’ve had if you hadn’t been so blind. What we should’ve had. But all I can see is you looking at me now because you can’t have him. I can’t love you like this anymore, Cat. I also can’t be around you. I’m leaving. Whether you like it or not.” Those beautiful eyes that were once wide and hopeful were now wounded then shuttered. She didn’t argue with me. She didn’t plead. She knew I knew the truth. She knew to give up.
“Where are you going? I know that a spot just opened up at Tatted Out. You going there?”
“I’m not going to another studio. I’m going back home to Tennessee.”
“You’re what?” She reared back, shocked.
“I’m going home.”
“I thought this was your home. This is your home, and we are your family.”
“This is not my home. And you aren’t my family.” The choice of words was deliberate. I was being a venomous prick to hide my own soul-shattering heartbreak.
“I’m not.”
“I’m sorry.” And I was. Even if I was doing this for my own good, I hated hurting her.
“Yeah, me too. When are you leaving?”
“Three months from today.” I already gave my notice to Jax. I already notified my landlord. It was final.
“Three months. So I have three months to convince you to stay.”
It was a statement, not a question, but she was getting an answer.
“I’m not staying Cat.”
The look she gave me was pure challenge. I guess she decided to fight after all. But instead of pleading, she decided to parry. But this battle is one she’d lose.
I was not staying here. Not in ninety days. And not now.
I turned around and walked out of Inked without saying another word. But more importantly, I walked away from Cat.
The same way that I would at the end of three months.
FALL. Copyright © 2023 Tara Sosa
*Prologue subject to change*
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I have to acknowledge right from the very beginning that 2021 was a complete loss of a year. I didn’t write. I lost my motivation right along with my Allie-cat. If you read my previous book, you know the heartbreaking loss our family endured. It took me a while to get back to even wanting to go into my writing room—a place she and I shared. A place that was so full of memories—and still is. But I was eventually able to do it. Then came the absolute tragedy of losing Freddie. Then I was just done. 2021 was officially over for me. Then came 2022. And 2022 had me writing, writing, writing. Thank God! Hallelujah! And all that jazz! It also had me plotting and planning other books for when I finish the Seasons Series. A LOT of other books. It was my bounce-back year. It was also the year I found out at almost 40 years old I was finally pregnant!!! Writing the ending of this book and finding out I was pregnant coincided. It was crazy. I felt a bit like Emma during the Epilogue…Are you sure? Are you really, really, really sure? I planned on getting this book out sooner, but I had to put my edits on hold for a while due to a complicated pregnancy—and well, because of life! And when I finally did edit, it was from my bed. And not at all how you’d think it’d be. Let me tell you…what an experience! This whole book has been a series of “experiences.” But it is finally finished and out in the world, and I am so unbelievably thrilled about that! From the very beginning with the first few pages of Winter I knew Reed was someone I wanted to write about. I wanted to know his story. I wanted to tell his story. And then when I thought up the character of Emma…when I had her come back...I couldn’t wait to explore it all. It was a very, very long journey. It’s the longest it’s ever taken me to write and release a book since I’ve started publishing. I need to thank all of you who are reading this for sticking with me. I hope you loved Reed and Emma as much as I did. I hope you think the delay was worth it. I hope you can’t wait to see what happens with Rina and Knox and how it all ends. The plan is for Fall to be out in Fall 2024. But…life. So, I have to acknowledge that it just might not happen. And I need to be okay with that. And hopefully you will too. What I can say is, I have a mountain of notes and scenes already written for Knox and Rina. I have a beginning, a middle, and an epic end for all of them. Because at the end of Fall I won’t just be saying goodbye to Knox and Rina, but it will be a goodbye to the entire Inked Crew: Jax and Sky, Jenks and Liv, Reed and Emma, and also it will be a goodbye to the Beauty Series crew too: Liam and Sam, Connor and Riley, Aiden and Allie, Ryan and Beth. The ones who started it all. Over eight years I’ve spent in their worlds. I’m ready for the conclusion. But I’m also not. The rest of 2023 and 2024 should definitely be interesting around here. I really, really, really hope it’s all in a good—great—freaking fantastic way!
And now, on to the acknowledgments for this specific book.
First, and always, the readers. Without you, I probably would’ve let all the depression and the doubt of 2020 and 2021 swallow me whole. But I’ve been promising you Reed and Emma and the rest of the crew for YEARS—and I didn’t want to let you down or disappoint. You motivated me to get writing and keep on writing with all of your tweets and retweets of my teasers and posts. The interest, turned to intent for me. So for that, I thank you. You all waited so long for this story without harassing or complaining. A billion thank-you’s and so much appreciation and love!
Ashley, I don’t think I’ll ever have the right words to describe what you mean to me and what you do for me during my creating and writing process which is why I am going to use a few words that I’ve used in every single book’s acknowledgement I have written so far. From the awful beginning of Awesome Beauty—I still cannot believe I wanted that title for Liam and Sam—until now, you’ve been with me every step of the way. Saying yes, saying no, giving me praise or giving me shit (but of course, politely—haha), you’ve been the most valuable to me. You said from the very beginning while reading Jax and Sky’s story that you couldn’t wait for Reed and Emma’s. You wanted it even if their story gutted you. And parts of it…totally gutted, bordered on ugly-cried, full out wanted to rage at a certain someone. BUT they did get their swoon-worthy, melt-your-heart, to-die-for, happily-ever-fucking-after. I mean did you expect anything different? It’s Reed-fucking-Brooks. Though I will say watch out! Because I have Knox Zeller coming and talk about swoon, and all things deliciously melty, and angsty, and fun. I’ll be sending you all the things soon enough—good and bad. I really, truly couldn’t do all of this without your help! All your words and encouragement got me to where I am now. And I really needed it these last few years. You’ve been a rock and a rockstar. I love you!
My husband, parents, and family. You guys are impossible to thank because you either see me at my worst or you hear me at my worst. For hours, days, weeks, months, and YEARS at a time I become this different person. This crazy, overly emotional, highly stressed, scary-human-being. And that was BEFORE the pregnancy and all the raging hormones, the complications, the bed rest and having to do these edits on top of it all. My writing process—flipped upside down. Turned sideways. Talk about a “walking” disaster, dumpster fire, holy hell what am I going to do last few months. There are not enough thank-you’s or I’m sorry’s for the last few stressful years. The conversations that I make you a part of, the tear-fests I take you on, the rage and hopelessness you don’t understand because you have no idea what’s going on in my head …Yeah. You guys put up with way more than you should. Especially this time around. But I mean … family. I definitely know without a doubt, one hundred percent hands down, I got the better end of the deal! I love you all. Because of each of you I am able to do what I love to do. In different ways you’ve all contributed to my writing process. In different ways you have given me the ability to follow, grab, hold onto, and live out my dreams. You’ve each pushed me to want more. And because of each of you I know whatever comes next, I am ready for. A bazillion times…thank you. (And because the whole family thing and loving me…I know you won’t kill me when you figure out I recycled some of this specific acknowledgement from the last book and the book before that…and maybe even the one before that!!! BUT I DID tweak the majority of it. I mean, I wrote about the pregnancy! And the chaos of THIS specific year.)
The bloggers, the promoters, every book lover out there who has tweeted, re-tweeted, who has liked and favorited my books, teasers, links…I see you. And you are appreciated! Every time I see something pop up about my book—you have no idea what it does to my heart. And you have no idea how much it drives my passion. You guys rock!
And last, but in NO way least. EVER. *S.B.*A.S.B.H.O.G.P.M.MJ.M.M.S.S.U.*S.B.B.S.SB.BW.WB.W.S.B.C.LB.LG.T.PD.R.C.L.Q.TD.G.F.TK.TC.FC.*F.S.NO.PB.B.T.O.K. Each one of you has affected my writing. Not just for this book. For all of them. Your influence is riddled throughout each of these stories. And my life. Good. Bad. Happy. Sad. Ugly. Dirty. And more. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Even when you drive me insane.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tara Sosa grew up in New Jersey, graduated from one of its colleges—with honors (and yes, adding that was important!)—but in a field she’s not currently working in. So, there’s that. Where she is working is in her writing room coming up with stories that break her heart and fill it with such love all at the same time. It’s madness, it makes no sense, but it’s her passion. She spends most of her days dreaming up and writing stories (she’s currently writing all about Knox and Rina and the epic conclusion to all of the Inked Crew’s stories, as well as a spin-off novella featuring a character introduced in the final book of the Seasons Series, Fall, so she’s definitely busy, busy, busy in the land of chaos and creativity, magic and mayhem, and she wouldn’t have it any other way). When she’s not doing that, she’s either immersed in other author’s dreams that they made into a reality, spending time with her gazillion cats, or her family. Especially the newest, most adorable, and most loved addition—her most favorite of all the things ever—Emma Rose!
Sometimes if you’re lucky you can find her on Twitter (@TaraSosaAuthor), Facebook (Tara Sosa), or Instagram (tarasosaauthor). But if she’s not there, teasers, exclusive excerpts, and some sprinkles of that madness and chaos might be. All the excerpts, teasers, sneak peeks, and even more awesomeness is also on her webpage at www.tarasosa.com. Check it out!
CREDITS
Front Cover Photograph© Just Dance/Shutterstock.com
Cover Design by Giovanni Sosa
Tara Sosa, Summer
