“Tell me what you and my dad were talking about." Jay jerked away from her as if she'd just slapped him. And… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“He ruffled her hair as he came in, all uncle and no cop about him now. She far preferred her uncle to… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Kiss me again,” he challenged, only half joking. It was so weird to hear him say that, to hear those words out… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“When she realized what was really happening, she almost couldn’t believe her own eyes. Jay was there, and he was standing over… — Kimberly Derting Difficult time Copy Share Image
“Chelsea was something else. Like an unstoppable force of nature. Similar to a hurricane or a tornado. Or a pit bull. Violet… — Kimberly Derting Chicken soup Copy Share Image
“Your dad told me what happened today . . . out in the woods. He told me that you tracked down the… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Never mind, Mrs. Hertzog, don’t worry about it. You don’t have the information I need.” Chelsea smirked at the woman and then… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“What was that all about?" Jay asked in loud whisper. She still felt like her head was reeling. She had no idea… — Kimberly Derting Dance Copy Share Image
“She does not even look kind of cute!" Claire stated, her face a mask of mock horror. They all started at her,… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“She felt him relax and his voice softened. “Is that what this is all about? You feel like you can’t talk to… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Violet didn’t realize that she’d pressed herself so tightly against the door until it opened from the inside and she stumbled backward.… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“During those days before the girl from the lake was finally buried in her hometown, Jay had been the one who kept… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Eden will stay with you." I glanced up at the blue-haired woman who watched us. "She promises to take good care of… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“C’mon, I won’t tell anyone your secrets . . . even if they’re really, really bad,” she promised, raising an eyebrow. “Mocking… — Kimberly Derting Dark secrets Copy Share Image
“He gave the briefest of glances at Lissie, barely acknowledging her presence as he gently eased Violet onto the seat. For good… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“What are you two doing?” Her uncle’s teasing voice came into the room before he did. But his voice was the second… — Kimberly Derting Bitter taste Copy Share Image
“Vi, are you all right?” Jay asked, right beside her now, pulling her off the ground. Tears burned her eyes, and it… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Jay's downstairs waiting." With her father on one side, and the handrail on the other, Violet descended the stairs as if she… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Funnier still how much faith her parents put in him, considering the fact that Jay would officially be younger than Violet in… — Kimberly Derting Faith Copy Share Image
“You're such a girl," she chided, but somehow the words came out too soft...too tender, and ended up sounding like a compliment.… — Kimberly Derting Girl Copy Share Image
“Violet handed the phone to Jay, who seemed remarkably composed considering they’d almost lost their closed-door privileges. They’d lost them before, once… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“She narrowed her eyes at him. She wanted to tell him that it was his fault, that she would never have tripped… — Kimberly Derting Accusation Copy Share Image
“She kept herself busy for a moment, pouring hot water into a mug and giving Jay a chance to absorb what she’d… — Kimberly Derting Best friend Copy Share Image
“Jay’s mom was a lot of great things that Violet admired, technologically savvy was definitely not one of them. She was one… — Kimberly Derting Cell phone Copy Share Image
“School went exactly as Violet thought it would: weird. It wasn’t her best, and it wasn’t her worst, day ever. It was… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Chelsea, of course, was the first one to speak up. “Okay, am I the only one who noticed how gi-mungous Mimi Nichols’s… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Has he called you at all?” Violet asked, even though she already knew the answer. Chelsea would have exploded with joy if… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Where’s new-Jay?” Jules asked, and then she and Chelsea exchanged a look and started cracking up at their own joke. Even Claire,… — Kimberly Derting Joke Copy Share Image
“Jay sat down across from Chelsea and took both of her hands in his. The oversized lunchroom was buzzing with activity, and… — Kimberly Derting Drama queen Copy Share Image
“It wasn’t until she was about to press Play, just as she was climbing under her covers, that she noticed it, the… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“She had several books she'd been wanting to read, but instead she sprawled out on the couch surrounded by pillows and blankets,… — Kimberly Derting Books Copy Share Image
“When she finally reached it, she bent forward and looked through the peephole. Jay was grinning back at her from outside. Her… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“Instead of expensive fish eggs and stinky cheeses, Jay had packed Doritos and chicken soft tacos—Violet’s favorites. And instead of grapes, he… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“I like new -Jay,” Chelsea finally announced, as though she was making a simple observation rather than trying to pry information out… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“The idea of going back to basketball drills made her stomach tighten, but she stood up on her tiptoes and leaned into… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“So it wasn’t a total surprise that Jay would turn a few heads while they were out tonight. She just hadn’t anticipated… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
“By the time she’d run full circle, reaching her house, her T-shirt was saturated in sweat, and she felt relaxed from head… — Kimberly Derting Full circle Copy Share Image
“Hey, baby,” Chelsea said in a voice that bordered on baby talk as Mike bent down to give her a quick kiss.… — Kimberly Derting Brick wall Copy Share Image
“That seemed to relax him a little, that simple nothing of a reassurance, as though there was ever a doubt that she… — Kimberly Derting Confidence Copy Share Image
“It was odd for her, pulling into Jay’s driveway that morning, the same way she had countless times before. She saw the… — Kimberly Derting Copy Share Image
