Synopsis:
Today is the first day of Quinton Carter's new life. The toxic guilt of his past left him in pieces-but one girl unexpectedly put him back together. Thanks to
Nova Reed, Quinton can finally see the world with clear eyes. She's the reason his heart is still kicking behind the jagged scar on his chest. And he would
love to have her in his arms every minute of the
day . . . but he's not ready yet.
Playing drums in a band and living with her best friends are just some of the highlights of Nova's life. But the best new development? Talking to Quinton on the phone each night. She wishes she could touch him, kiss him, though she knows he needs time to heal. Yet shocking news is on the way-a reminder of life's dark side-and Nova will need Quinton like he once needed her. Is he strong enough to take the final leap out of his broken past . . . and into Nova's heart?
Today is the first day of Quinton Carter's new life. The toxic guilt of his past left him in pieces-but one girl unexpectedly put him back together. Thanks to
Nova Reed, Quinton can finally see the world with clear eyes. She's the reason his heart is still kicking behind the jagged scar on his chest. And he would
love to have her in his arms every minute of the
day . . . but he's not ready yet.
Playing drums in a band and living with her best friends are just some of the highlights of Nova's life. But the best new development? Talking to Quinton on the phone each night. She wishes she could touch him, kiss him, though she knows he needs time to heal. Yet shocking news is on the way-a reminder of life's dark side-and Nova will need Quinton like he once needed her. Is he strong enough to take the final leap out of his broken past . . . and into Nova's heart?
EXCERPT:
“I have to tell you something else, but it’s not good—it’s bad.” Before I can chicken out,
I hurry and sputter, “Someone gave me a bag of meth today and I have it underneath
my mattress.” As soon as I say it, I wonder why the hell I thought this was a good idea,
throwing this on her. I need to stop relying on her so much—need to stand on my own
two feet.
I’m about to hang up, because really it’s the only choice, but then she says,
“Did you do any of it?”
“No.” My voice shakes as I grip the side of the mattress and battle to breathe evenly.
“Do you want to?” she asks calmly.
“Yes.” My voice is full of desperation.
“Are you… are you going to?” There’s a hint of worry in her tone.
“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I want to, but I also want to throw it away.”
“Then throw it away,” she says, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to do.
“I don’t think I can.” My hands quiver just at the thought of it and I rest my forehead
on the mattress, still on my knees “It feels fucking impossible.”
“Yes, you can.” She sounds so certain and I have no idea how she’s doing it—managing
to sound so calm when I know she can’t be. “Just take it and dump it down the toilet. You
can do this. I know you can.”
“You have too much faith in me,” I say, slipping my fingers between the bed and the
mattress, fighting the urge to hang up on her and turn to what’s only inches away from
my fingertips.
“No, I have the right amount,” she replies. “Now let me know when you have it and
you’re headed to the bathroom. And don’t hang up on me.” It’s like she can read my mind.
I sit there forever, going back and forth with what I want and need to do. At one point I
grab the bag of crystal and put it back. Then pull it out again and open it, staring at the
white crystals so close I can almost taste them. But I can also hear Nova breathing on
the other end. Soft and full of concern. Acting calm, when I’m sure she’s freaking out. I
want to throw them away just for her, but I have to wonder if it’s possible to care for
someone so much that I’d give this up. Do I care for her that much?
After a lot of deliberating, I come to one simple answer.
Yes. I care about her that much.
I get to my feet and make my way to the bathroom, not speaking. Then I lift up the toilet
seat and, shutting my eyes, I tip the bag over, pour the contents into the water, and flush
them down.
“Did you do it?” Nova asks at the sound of the flushing.
I press my lips together, resting back against the bathroom wall, realizing how sweaty I
am and how much I’m gasping for air. “I did.”
“See, I knew you could do it,” she says with relief in her voice. “I knew you’d do the
right thing.”
The right thing? Is that what I just did? Sometimes it feels like it is, but there are other
times when it feels like what I’m doing is so wrong and disrespectful to Lexi. But through
the right and wrong, there’s always one thing that gives me hope and that’s Nova. She’s
what keeps me going.
“I have to tell you something else, but it’s not good—it’s bad.” Before I can chicken out,
I hurry and sputter, “Someone gave me a bag of meth today and I have it underneath
my mattress.” As soon as I say it, I wonder why the hell I thought this was a good idea,
throwing this on her. I need to stop relying on her so much—need to stand on my own
two feet.
I’m about to hang up, because really it’s the only choice, but then she says,
“Did you do any of it?”
“No.” My voice shakes as I grip the side of the mattress and battle to breathe evenly.
“Do you want to?” she asks calmly.
“Yes.” My voice is full of desperation.
“Are you… are you going to?” There’s a hint of worry in her tone.
“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I want to, but I also want to throw it away.”
“Then throw it away,” she says, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to do.
“I don’t think I can.” My hands quiver just at the thought of it and I rest my forehead
on the mattress, still on my knees “It feels fucking impossible.”
“Yes, you can.” She sounds so certain and I have no idea how she’s doing it—managing
to sound so calm when I know she can’t be. “Just take it and dump it down the toilet. You
can do this. I know you can.”
“You have too much faith in me,” I say, slipping my fingers between the bed and the
mattress, fighting the urge to hang up on her and turn to what’s only inches away from
my fingertips.
“No, I have the right amount,” she replies. “Now let me know when you have it and
you’re headed to the bathroom. And don’t hang up on me.” It’s like she can read my mind.
I sit there forever, going back and forth with what I want and need to do. At one point I
grab the bag of crystal and put it back. Then pull it out again and open it, staring at the
white crystals so close I can almost taste them. But I can also hear Nova breathing on
the other end. Soft and full of concern. Acting calm, when I’m sure she’s freaking out. I
want to throw them away just for her, but I have to wonder if it’s possible to care for
someone so much that I’d give this up. Do I care for her that much?
After a lot of deliberating, I come to one simple answer.
Yes. I care about her that much.
I get to my feet and make my way to the bathroom, not speaking. Then I lift up the toilet
seat and, shutting my eyes, I tip the bag over, pour the contents into the water, and flush
them down.
“Did you do it?” Nova asks at the sound of the flushing.
I press my lips together, resting back against the bathroom wall, realizing how sweaty I
am and how much I’m gasping for air. “I did.”
“See, I knew you could do it,” she says with relief in her voice. “I knew you’d do the
right thing.”
The right thing? Is that what I just did? Sometimes it feels like it is, but there are other
times when it feels like what I’m doing is so wrong and disrespectful to Lexi. But through
the right and wrong, there’s always one thing that gives me hope and that’s Nova. She’s
what keeps me going.
About the Author:
Jessica Sorensen is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives with her husband and three kids in Idaho. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
Kylee's 5 Star Review:
This series has been "heart string tugging". Nova and Quinton have been through
so much together, and during these trying times they are learning not only about
the other but about themselves and what they can and can't handle in life. Drugs
and suicide played such a heavy role in the first two books, now it's about
redemption. Redeeming themselves on who they really are and want to be.
Nova has never given up on Quinton and wants nothing more than to be with him again,
but knows he needs time to find himself and decide if he can be a strong person
for her. Quinton definitely has some life changing to do in this book. He lived
the past few years caught up in the haze of drugs and not feeling. Now he must
clean up and find a way to be strong to handle life, and hopefully be able to be
with Nova again.
Such a beautiful story of finding love, having love tried again and again, and love conquering all. Nova and Quinton's story definitely has been rocky, but they have learned from each other and learned life's lessons the hard way. They are faced with realizations in this book that finally give them that feeling of being able to let go of their demons.
Loved this series. Dark and different, but definitely a love conquers all story that will leave you wanting more!
This series has been "heart string tugging". Nova and Quinton have been through
so much together, and during these trying times they are learning not only about
the other but about themselves and what they can and can't handle in life. Drugs
and suicide played such a heavy role in the first two books, now it's about
redemption. Redeeming themselves on who they really are and want to be.
Nova has never given up on Quinton and wants nothing more than to be with him again,
but knows he needs time to find himself and decide if he can be a strong person
for her. Quinton definitely has some life changing to do in this book. He lived
the past few years caught up in the haze of drugs and not feeling. Now he must
clean up and find a way to be strong to handle life, and hopefully be able to be
with Nova again.
Such a beautiful story of finding love, having love tried again and again, and love conquering all. Nova and Quinton's story definitely has been rocky, but they have learned from each other and learned life's lessons the hard way. They are faced with realizations in this book that finally give them that feeling of being able to let go of their demons.
Loved this series. Dark and different, but definitely a love conquers all story that will leave you wanting more!