Presently Perfect (Perfect #3) (51 page)
With no break in his stride, Brad walked up to Mabry, wrapping his arms around her waist, and placed a sweet kiss on her lips.
Pulling away from Mabry’s lips, he said, “Hey Sweetness.”
“Brad this is Noah and Amanda Stewart. This is my husband, Brad.”
Noah and I stood shell-shocked during Mabry’s introductions.
The already big smile widened as Brad’s gaze swung over to Noah and I. “Well, isn’t this a kick in the nuts.”
“Brad!”
“Hi guys. How’s it going?”
Mabry’s head whipped back and forth between her husband and us.
“The three of you already know each other?”
“We all went to high school together,” Brad said.
The sound of Halle crying slapped Noah and me out of our shock. She was standing in the yard of the house we were in front of, gazing down at the lollipop on the ground. Tears dripped from her eyes. Before Noah or I took a step, Brandon reached in his bag, pulled out another lollipop, and held it out to Halle. The second she grabbed it, her face lit up with a smile.
“Don’t cry, Halle. I’ll always share my candy with you.”
Brad poked his head between mine and Noah’s. “That’s my boy. Wouldn’t it be something if those two ended up together in the future?”
Looking straight ahead, Noah said, “Tweet, I need to talk to you for a minute. Alone.”
“Sure.”
“Amanda, since the kids are getting along so well, we should set up a play date. Hand me your phone and I’ll put my number in.” Mabry held her hand out.
“Sure.” I glanced at Noah before handing her my phone.
Noah tugged on my arm, inching me away. “Tweet.”
Mabry finished typing her number into my phone and handed it back to me.
I smiled at her. “Thank you…”
“Tweet.”
“…and goodbye.”
Even though I spend my days and nights using words to create stories that a reader will connect with and feel, there are times when words aren’t enough. I could write a thousand books expressing over and over my appreciation to those in my life—family, friends, colleagues, and readers. It still wouldn’t come close to showing the depth of my gratitude.
Presently Perfect
was a difficult book for me to write for a number of reasons. Alternate point of view books are tricky. You’re dealing with an already set timeframe as well as characters and events people know and love. With each book I’ve written there has to be a point to the story, a reason it needs to be told.
In
Present Perfect
, the goal was to show a heroine with self-inflicted pressure and a disability, who grew into a strong young woman.
Past Imperfect
was a story of redemption and forgiveness
.
It showed the ramifications of depression and suicide on those left behind. It took me a long time to figure out the point of Noah’s story. It’s a story of finding a deeper strength within yourself. Following what you know to be true in your heart. The story shows the effects of having to surrender control, witnessing the love of your life struggle with devastating circumstances.
The other obstacle was having to say goodbye to characters that I love. Sure, they live in my head but also in my heart. I’ve lived with them twenty four hours a day for the past two years. They’ve made me laugh, smile, cry and at times shake my head. They’ve gotten me through rough times and brought so much good into my life that to say goodbye hit me harder than I thought it would. It might sounds silly. I mean, I could do whatever I wanted to do with these characters—write more books and continue their story. But I won’t. For me, the love story of Noah and Tweet, and Brad and Mabry are complete.
My wish is that the readers laugh, smile, cry, and get their proper thank you and goodbye.
Thank you to my family for all their help, support, and understanding when they don’t hear from for days.
Betas: Ladies, you mean so much to me. Your feedback and encouragement push me to be a better writer. I’m blessed to have found y’all. Jennifer Mirabelli, I loved starting my day with your notes. Stacia Newbill, the playlist you made me got me through the final chapters of the book. In fact, I’m listening to it right now. Kiki Amit, what can I say? You make me smile and think. Alexis Durbin, thank you for the time you gave to me. Jennifer Juers, thank you for being fresh eyes to the world of Noah and Tweet. Carrie Horton, the supply of Charlie pictures you sent got me through most days. Kim Bias, thank you for being gentle with me. Melanie Smith, thank you for spreading the Noah and Tweet love. Nicki Destasi, I’m so proud to call you my friend and author sistah. Concepcion Copon, your notes were awesome and added so much to refining the story. Author M. Robinson, I enjoy our friendship and chats more than you know. Tracey Murphy, your understanding and friendship mean the world to me. Christine Estevez, you have a special place in my heart. Beth Hyams, you are my strength.
Tabitha Willbanks, you have been the most incredible assistant/friend anyone could have. Thank you for listening to my ramblings, keeping me on track, and being in my corner.
Linda Roberts, editor: Thank you for your talent, guidance, and patience.
Angela McLaurin, Fictional Formats: Thank you for always taking care of me, and making my books look pretty inside. I’m blessed to call you my friend.
Robin Harper, Wicked By Design: What would I do without you? Thank you for your patience with me and for somehow deciphering my nonsense. Your talent is what causes me to stare at my covers.
Lorie Rebecca, Lorie Rebecca Photography: Thank you for the gorgeous photos for my covers. Both
Presently Perfect
and the redo of
Present Perfect
turfinalened out exactly how I imagined.
Mackenzie Marie, cover model for updated
Present Perfect
cover: Mack, you did a fantastic job being Tweet.
Assad Shalhoub, cover model,
Presently Perfect
—Thank you for your dedication to the project. Working with you was an experience I won’t soon forget. I wish you many blessings in your life and career, buddy.
Mary Rose Bermundo: Thank you for all the gorgeous graphics you made for the book, taking us back to the beginning of Noah and Tweet.
Tee Mo Teo: Thank you for being so generous to me with all the beautiful graphics you’ve created.
Bailey’s Broads: You ladies are incredible. You brighten my days. Thank you for the constant support and love.
Blogging Community: The amount of work bloggers do is amazing. So many wonderful blogs have supported me over the course of this “Perfect” journey. I am humbled and honored that they’ve welcomed me and my characters into their world and continue to support us.
Fellow Authors: I will be forever grateful for the friendships I’ve made with other authors. From the very beginning they have welcomed me into the indie community. Their advice and support has been invaluable.
To my readers: You spend your hard earned money, give up your time to read and review, as well as spread the word about my books. This is the part in which words are not enough to convey my gratitude. I wish I could hug you all. Thank you, plus infinity.
~
Alison
Alison was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She attended Winthrop University and graduated with a major in Theater. While at school Alison began writing one-act plays, which she later produced. Her debut novel,
Present Perfect
, landed on Amazon’s Best Seller List and appeared on many “Best Reads of 2013” Book Blogs. The novel won Best Book at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention Awards. Her second novel,
Past Imperfect
, was published in February of 2014 and appeared on several best books of 2014 lists as well.
Presently Perfect
is the third and final book in The “Perfect” series.
Author Links
Website
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AlisonGBaileyAuthor
Twitter
https://twitter.com/AlisonGBailey1
Instagram
http://instagram.com/alisongbailey
Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7032185.Alison_G_Bailey
Playlist
Fan made Playlist (Stacia Newbill)
Noah’s Music- Presently Perfect by Alison G. Bailey
Other Books by Alison G. Bailey
The “Perfect” Series
Present Perfect
(Book #1)
Past Imperfect
(Book #2)
Buy Links
Present Perfect
Amazon
Past Imperfect
Amazon