Pieces of You (Shattered Hearts) (32 page)
Read Pieces of You (Shattered Hearts) Online
Authors: Cassia Leo
I feel around a little and realize there are two rings in my pocket. I pull them out and shake my head. Chris must have slipped the ring into my pocket when we were hugging. That’s why he was smiling when he pulled away. That sneaky little….
I sigh as I swipe my cardkey and make my way up to the third floor. When I enter the dorm, Senia is sitting on her bed with her headphones on and her laptop open in front of her. She sees me and looks a bit confused, then frightened.
She tears the headphones out of her ears and sits up straight. “Why are you back?”
“I can’t believe you were in on it, tricking me into going to see Adam,” I say with a smile so she knows I’m not truly angry with her.
She grins sheepishly. “I’m sorry, but I thought I was doing the right thing. You’re not staying with Chris, are you?”
“Really? You used to
love
Chris. Now you’re trying to sabotage our relationship?”
“I loved Chris until he left you.” She closes her laptop and pouts for a moment. “Don’t get me wrong, Chris is hot and he’s got money coming out of his ears and he wants to take care of you and be there for you…
now
. Where was he when you needed him most?”
I take a seat at the desk and shrug. “Yeah, well, the same could be said about Adam. He broke up with me the same day I had a meltdown in the hospital. I wouldn’t exactly call that
being there for me
.”
“Yeah, but I’ll bet Adam wasn’t in Hawaii fucking a bunch of groupies. And he came back for you just a few weeks later. He didn’t wait a whole fucking year.”
I pull the two rings out of my pocket and hold my hand out in front of me for Senia to see. Her eyes widen and she jumps off the bed.
“What the fuck is that?
Two
rings?”
She snatches the rings out of my hand and holds them both up between her thumb and index finger. She shakes the ring with the bigger diamond. “Chris?” I nod and her jaw drops. “You got two proposals in one night?”
“No. Adam didn’t propose to me. He gave me a promise ring.”
Senia looks relieved. “See? Adam is thinking of what’s best for you. You can’t get married.”
I glare at her. “Chris doesn’t expect me to get married anytime soon.”
She sighs as she hands the rings back. “Whatever. I take it you have both rings because you still haven’t chosen. And I know it’s none of my business, but you know I’ll support you whatever decision you make. I like Chris. I’m just a little pissed at him.”
I place the rings on top of the desk and notice an envelope addressed to me sitting on top of a pile of mail. My name and address are spelled out in precise handwriting with a return address sticker from Phillip E. Lungren in Petaluma, California.
“What’s this?” I ask, holding up the envelope.
Senia shrugs as she goes back to bed. “It came in the mail today.”
I slide my finger under the flap and slide out a folded piece of lined paper. Inside, I find the same neat handwriting and a short letter.
Claire,
You may not recognize my name. Your mother did a good job of protecting you from her past. Henry Wilkins at Northstar Bank contacted me recently. He informed me that you refused the trust fund your mother set up for you before her death. I hope you will reconsider your position on this, as that money is
rightfully yours.
I also hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for my transgressions and that you won’t hold my past against your half-sister. Nichelle just turned seventeen last week and she’s very eager to
meet you.
I hope this letter finds
you well.
Your father,
Phil
Pieces of You Playlist
Clarity by Zedd
I’m in Here (Piano Version) by Sia
Stay (ft. Mikky Ekko) by Rihanna
Featherstone by The Paper Kites
Dazed and Confused by Iko
Hiding My Heart by Adele
When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars
Breathe Me by Sia
Ghost by Pink is Punk & Benny Benassi (ft. Bright Light)
Warning Sign by Coldplay
Arms by Christina Perri
Bloom by The Paper Kites
Listen to the playlist on YouTube.
Acknowledgements
I have so much thanks to give to my old and new beta readers: Kristin Shaw, Jordana Rodriguez, Michael Finn, Sarah Rabe, Penelope Corrales, Sam Stettner, Trisha Rai, and Christine Estevez. You all have been so generous with your time and feedback. This book would be junk without you all. Thank you so much for taking time away from your families and from your to-read lists for me.
Thanks again to the awesome
Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations
. Thanks for finding the perfect image to depict the tone of this book and for your patience with the changes I requested. You are a master and I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else.
Huge thank you goes to all the book bloggers who have shared
Relentless
and all the
Pieces of You
teasers and cover reveal. Of course, the most thanks go to Christine at Shh Mom’s Reading. You are so friggin’ amazing. There are no words to express my gratitude for all the ways you’ve helped with this book. I can’t wait to work with you on
Shattered Hearts #3
.
My family should get an award for what they’ve had to put up with for the last two months. Thank you guys for picking up my slack—again.
And, last but not least, the biggest thank you of all goes to all the readers who have cheered me on the past two months. My street team, Relentless Readers, your support blows me away! I love you all so much. I am eternally grateful for everything you guys do for me. I hope we continue to have lots of fun together in the years to come.
Other books by Cassia Leo
Relentless
(New Adult Romance)
Shattered Hearts #1
LUKE Series
(Erotic Romance)
CHASE Series
(Erotic Romance)
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About The Author
USA Today
bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time watching old reruns of
Friends
and
Sex and the City
. When she’s not watching reruns, she’s usually enjoying the California sunshine or reading—sometimes both.
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