Make It Last (21 page)

             
Nicole sighed, a l
ittle frustrated that he wasn’t
hearing what she was saying.

             
“No, Jake, you aren’t getting it. I don’t want to live here at all. I
don’t want to be a Minister’s w
ife. I don’t want to be
your
wife.” She stressed, not wanting to hurt him, but wanting him to understand.

             
Jake’s face fell, hurt and confusion taking over.

             
“What?” Jake asked, as if unable to believe what she’d just said. “You don’t want to marry me? We have been engaged for three years,
and you’ve never had second thoughts about us, at least none you’ve ever shared with me.
I don’t understand.”

             
Jake stood up and walked to the edge of the water. He shoved his hands through his hair, then in his pockets, as if unsure what he should do with them.

             
The pain on h
is face tore Nicole apart. S
he knew that she shoul
d have talked to him when she’
d first begun to question their betrothal.

             
“Jake,” She whispered softly as she walked up next to him. “I’
m so sorry. I love you and you’
re the last person I ever wanted to hurt.”

             
He turned to her at that, anger flashing in his eyes.

             
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t be hurting me.”

             
Nicole felt hot ball of tears begin to form at the back of her throat, and turned to leave before she made matters worse.

             
“I’m sorry, Jake,” She said again, a little more loudly. “I promise that I’ll stay away and let you live your life. I wish you every happiness.”

             
When she got to her car, Nicole turned back for one last look at Jake.

             
He stood in the same spot looking out over the water
as his shoulders softly shook with sadness.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

             
I have made so many friends since I have been writing that it would be hard to try list them all and not leave someone out. I want to say that I am grateful for all of their support, which drives me every day.

             
When I was writing,
Make it last
, there are a few people that were instrumental in helping me make it the book that it is today: Raine Thomas, Autumn Sexton Hull, Taneesha Freidus, Marilyn Almodovar, and Tameri Etherton. These women took the time to read and critique,
Make it Last
, and I am forever grateful to them.

             
I decided to use a professional cover designer for the first time. I did a lot of research, because I wanted to find a designer that would be the perfect match for me and my work. When I found Stephanie Mooney, I knew she was the one. I hope you love the cover as much as I do. You can see more of Stephanie’s work at her website:
http://mooneydesigns.net/

             
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has read,
Make it Last
. I appreciate your support, and I really hope you enjoyed the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where s
he has set her Young Adult series
. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air F
orce as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California
. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently
publishing
her first novel
s
through Amazon
.

Visit Bethany Lopez at:

www.bethanylopez.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/#
.
/pages/Bethany-Lopez/214630865247702

@BethanyLopez2

http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/bethany-lopez.html

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