Winning Me Over (20 page)

EPILOGUE

PAIGE

“O
kay, I’m ready for the next one,” Colt says, propping his elbows on the counter and resting his chin in his hands.

“How can you eat another cupcake?” I lick pink frosting from my index finger. “You’re going to get sick.”

“Nah, Colt just has a big sweet tooth. It’s fine.” Mom sweeps in, handing him a cupcake with lemon frosting, a lemon wedge gummy candy perched on top. “Besides, it helps to have a taste tester for our new creations.”

“True.” I giggle as Colt takes a huge bite out of the cupcake. White cake bits stick to his lip ring.

Mom pulls a napkin out of her pink apron and thrusts it at Colt. I glance at the clock, realizing we only have a few more minutes until opening.  My stomach flutters in anticipation. Mom rubs her palms together nervously.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” I squeal.

“Believe it.” Mom rubs her palm over my back. “So, Colt? How do you like it?”

“It’s amazing. But I think the chocolate one is still my favorite,” he replies, wiping frosting from his nose.

“Great. I’ll send you home with a box. Pick some out that Zander, Bristol and Callie will like,” Mom says, running a wet rag over the counter.

Colt hops off the pink barstool and comes around to the glass case displaying all of the cupcakes. I grab a pink cardboard box and stand behind the cupcakes while Colt picks them out. Once his box is full I close it and slide it across the counter.

“On the house,” I say, just because I think it sounds cool.

“I think I’m
gonna like this.” Colt leans across the counter and steals a kiss.

“It pays to date the owner’s daughter, doesn’t it?” I say.

“In more ways than one.” He raises an eyebrow, and I chuckle.

“Okay, you two,
break it up.” Mom smiles at us, waggling her fingers. “It’s time to open up this shop.”

I smile, the butterflies returning.

“It’s going to be a big hit,” Colt assures me. “Everyone loves cupcakes.”

“I hope so.” I bite my lip. My gaze lands on the sign outside.
McAllistor’s Cupcakes.
When I glance over at Mom she flicks on the open sign and unlocks the door. Then she breaks out into the largest smile I’ve ever seen. It makes my insides soar. She finally got to see her dream realized. And on top of that, we just found out that she’s cancer free again. I’m never going to take her health for granted. Not for one minute. Hell, I’m never going to take anything for granted again. I’m going to savor every day, enjoy every minute, every second with those I love.

Colt steps toward me, swiping a finger over my cheek. “I’ll see you after work.
Can’t wait to hear all about it.”

I nod. “I’ll come over as soon as we close.”

“Text me first. I’m gonna be hanging with Tripp this afternoon.”

“Cool.” I love that he and Tripp have become friends.

After Colt hugs my mom, he leaves. I watch him walk down the street, carrying a box of our cupcakes and my heart skips a beat. He’s been attending Gold Rush High with me, and he’s really starting to think of Folsom as his home. Not only that, but he and Callie are becoming close, and for the first time I think he’s allowing himself to feel secure and stop fearing the worst.

We’ve both come a long way, and I look forward to how much farther we have to go.

Turn the page to read the first Chapter in Tripping Me Up
, Hadley and Tripp's story...

ONE

HADLEY

I
am invisible as I walk to class wedged between the other students all laughing and chatting with their friends. I keep my head down, my eyes trained on my tennis shoes as I take deliberate steps forward. Sometimes I like to think of myself as the ghost that roams the campus of Gold Rush High. Not that I’m complaining, exactly. It sure beats the alternative. There was a time when I sought out popularity, but now I realize that being unnoticed is better than being bullied, so I welcome the anonymity.

As I near my next class, I glance up just in time to spot something white hurtling in my direction. Before I can move out of the way it smacks me right under the eye. It doesn’t really hurt, and when I glance down I see that it is just a wadded up piece of binder paper. But my pride
stings, and I feel my face heat up. Giggles and whispers swirl around me. Millions of eyes sear into me, burning my skin. Lowering my gaze, I draw my hair forward using it to hide my face. This is the last thing I want. Being noticed is precisely the thing I try to avoid at all costs.

“I’m so sorry,” a boy’s voice bellows.

My skin prickles and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.  Without even looking I know that it's Tripp Bauer. I’d recognize his voice anywhere. For years Tripp was the focal point of all my fantasies. However, recently I'd given up on that dream, realizing that a fantasy is all it will ever be. It’s not like I’m the only girl attracted to him. Almost every girl in school crushes on him.

“I didn’t mean to hit you.” His shadow casts over me, but I still can’t bring myself to look up. I hide behind my hair the same way the wizard hid behind his curtain in the
Wizard of Oz
. “It was an accident. I was actually trying to hit Mav, but he moved out of the way.”

I dare a peek up at him. His dark eyes stare into mine, and I find it difficult to draw breath. He looks sincere enough as he runs a hand through his short hair, his toned biceps bulging with the motion.
But then I spot Tripp’s friends, Maverick Jones, Jack Winston, and Toby Kenneth laughing at me from just feet away. They aren’t even trying to mask how funny they think this is. Humiliation descends on me. They aren’t the only ones gawking. It makes me angry, and I narrow my eyes at Tripp.

“Are you okay?” Tripp asks
, his brows furrowed in a look of concern. He sure is laying it on thick. If I didn’t know better, I would say the guy is genuinely sorry.

“I’m fine. It was just a piece of paper. No biggie.” I shrug, skirting around him.

“I really am sorry.” His hand lights on my shoulder, and I freeze.

“Whatever.” I shake his hand off.  “It doesn’t matter. Just leave me alone.” Without a backward glance, I stalk off as quickly as possible with my heart hammering in my ears. I’m so grateful when I reach the science classroom. I slip inside and hurry to my desk in the back row. After dropping my backpack on the floor, I unzip it and pull out my notebook and pen. I hunch over my desk just as the bell blasts through the room. Mrs. Tennant’s heels click on the linoleum floor as she moves out from behind her desk. While her voice drones on in the background, I take deep breaths and will my heart rate to slow. Just when I think I’ve got it back to its normal cadence, my cell vibrates in my pocket, jumpstarting it again. With quivering fingers, I snatch the phone out and hold it under my desk so Mrs. Tennant won’t see it.

It’s from Paige, my best friend.

Paige: What happened with you and Tripp?
Spill.

My face flames.

Me: How did you hear about that?

Paige: I was across the quad and saw u talking.

I exhale, grateful that she hadn’t heard about it through the rumor mill.

Me: It was nothing. Tell u about it after school.

Paige: Ok.

I shove my phone back into my pocket before getting caught with it. The last thing I need is any more attention brought to me today. However, I’m not surprised that Paige texted me the minute she saw Tripp and I together. I’m sure she was shocked. Paige knows all about what happened to me freshman year. In fact, it was right after I lost all my friends and was shunned from my old group that I met Paige. She was new to the school and found it hard to fit in. She’d always lived in this area, but had gone to private school. What I love most about Paige is that she doesn’t really care what people think of her. She has her own style and way of doing things. I think that’s why the popular girls hate her so much – because she doesn’t even try to fit in. She’s confident in who she is. The truth is that I wish I was more like her. As hard as I try, I do care what people think of me. I guess that’s why I spend so much time hiding.

The minute the final bell rings I bolt out of my seat and head toward the parking lot to meet Paige, since she’s giving me a ride home. I turned sixteen over the summer and immediately got my license in hopes that it would buy me freedom. Only I was wrong. Mom and I share a car, so I only get it on the days she doesn’t need it.

“Hey, Hadley, wait up!”

I stop in my tracks, shocked that a guy is hollering out my name. That never happens. Slowly, I pivot on my heels.

Tripp approaches me wearing the most amazing smile. My stomach flips, despite my best efforts to stay calm. He’s wearing a t-shirt and jeans that hug him in all the right places.

“You look surprised,” he says.

“Yeah, surprised you knew my name.”

“C’mon, we’ve gone to school together for years. Of course I know you.”

“And yet you’ve never spoken to me before,” I point out, a smug smile on my face.

“Ouch. I guess I deserve that.” He runs a hand over his hair, looking agitated. “I just feel bad about earlier and want to make sure you’re okay.”

“It was just a piece of paper. I’m fine.”
Why does he care so much?
“Look, you don’t have to worry. I’m not going to tell on you or try to get you back or whatever it is you’re worried about me doing.”

“No, it’s not that. You just seemed upset earlier and I was concerned, that’s all.”

I almost laugh out loud. This must be some kind of joke. Shifting my gaze, I notice other students staring in our direction. Clearly they are just as stunned by this as I am. “Well, don’t be.”

“You’re still mad at me, aren’t you?”

Exasperated, I whirl away from him. “I’m not mad. I just want you to leave me alone, okay?”

“Okay,” he says softly from over my shoulder.

His voice is so dejected, I almost turn around. Then I remember that this is Tripp, and I keep walking. No way is Tripp concerned about me. He’s playing some sort of game, and I’m not going to be the dumb girl that falls for it.

Acknowledgements:

When I write a book, I become completely immersed in the world of my characters. I truly feel like they are my friends and I am living every moment with them. The story consumes my thoughts and until I get it all out on paper, it’s hard for me to get the characters out of my head. Because of this I’m so grateful to my friends and family who put up with me, encourage me and support me in this crazy process.

First, I have to say thank you to my sweet husband. He puts up with me talking about fictional guys as if I’m in love with them and he doesn’t even bat an eye. I guess it helps to know that they’re only a figment of my imagination, no matter how real they are to me.
He’s always telling me how proud he is of me and he encourages me every day.

Next I have to thank my children. Eli is one of my first readers. He has read every single one of my books and he loves them. He gives me advice and encouragement with every book.
Kayleen may not be old enough to read my books but she’s very proud of me and tells anyone who will listen about her mom the author.

Mom, you were the first one to push me to jump into this crazy world of self publishing and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Dad and Karissa, you have always supported and encouraged me.

My brothers and their wives have always been helpful, from reading my work to modeling for my covers -Matt, Lindsay,
Kagen, Britnie.

Outside of my family I have many online friends who keep me going and on track with my writing. I have to say thank you first to Cambria Hebert and Cameo
Renae because without them I would be so lost. Our check-ins and conversations keep me going throughout the long, lonely days sitting in front of my computer. Even though we’ve never met in real life, I feel like you two are some of my closest friends.

All the Indie Inked girls are awesome and I love being part of the group!

To my author friends who live close by – Megan Squires and Susan Griscom – I love our coffee dates, lunches, movies and chats! No one else gets me and my crazy writer brain the way you girls do.

I have to say thank you to those who make this all possible.

Auntie Boo, editor extraordinaire! You make me sound so much smarter than I really am.

Lisa
Eneqvist and Juli Losee – with Juli’s photos and Lisa’s amazing graphic arts skills my covers are always gorgeous.

And to my models, Erin
McMackin and Brett Patterson, thanks for being such great sports and rolling with the punches. You had no idea you were going to be on two covers when you showed up for the LOVE STRUCK shoot, huh? Still the cover turned out perfect!

To my amazing assistant Cassie Chavez – you rock!

To my betas – Tiffany Tillman, Cambria Hebert, Heather Andrews and Megan Squires – my books would be seriously lacking without your input.

And to all the bloggers, readers and fans – thank you, thank you,
thank you! I can’t say it enough.