The Effects of Falling (The Weight of Rain Duet Book 2) (35 page)

“You dropped one!” I stop in front of the fallen roll.

“Leave it!”

“I can’t. We need 
all
 of them!” I slowly bend to retrieve it and drop three more in the process.

Kendall’s giggles fill the air. “Stop, stop.”

I laugh as I work to pick up the four rolls of toilet paper. As I get the last one in my arms, it squeezes too tightly against one another and two more fall out of my arms.
My laugh follows them rolling down the street.

“Oh my god, I think I just peed!” Kendall cries between squeals of laughter as she presses her forehead to my shoulder.

We decide to abandon the two rolls, and Kendall starts humming the 
Batman
 theme as she straightens and bolts down the middle of the road, surprisingly fast for how drunk she is and being in a pair of flip flops I know from experience are stiff and uncomfortable to walk, much less run in.

I chase after her feeling but not really caring about the sharpness of the road against my bare, pool-pruned feet.

We duck behind a large azalea bush that lines Mr. Tucker’s walkway, which is only three houses down from Marshall’s, as a pair of headlights turn toward us.

“Shhh!” I whisper as Kendall leans heavily against me, still giggling. The small voice in the back of my head instructs me to look back and ensure it isn’t our parents. They’re supposed to be gone overnight, but catching us would definitely invoke a “Harper Jo.”

I stand to watch where the vehicle’s going, and Kendall levels me as she attempts to run forward. The rolls of toilet paper fall from our grasps as our arms fly out to catch ourselves. We lie on the cool grass, bursting into shrieks of laughter.

After a few minutes we slowly stand up. A stitch burns in my side from giggling as I dust dried grass off my exposed skin and begin picking up the fallen rolls.

When we get to Marshall’s we dump our collection under the large weeping willow that sits on the corner of his property and each grab a roll. We race around, throwing them to drape trails of toilet paper as quickly as possible.

“What are you doing?” The words are hissed from behind us making me jump and Kendall scream.

Read
BECOMING HIS
for Free

T
HIS BOOK WAS
not initially on my idea board. It was barely even a thought when a few readers reached out to me and asked for a book about Kash and Summer. Those requests became more frequent and occasionally were paired with some hilarious threats. I have to say, I very much appreciate you all for pushing me to write this book, because while their conflict is a bit more subtle than some, I love the message in this book. I hope all women—
all
people
—know their value, and don’t feel embarrassed, ashamed, or anything else by asking to be loved in the way they need. The way they deserve.

In addition, thank you to my family, especially my husband who once again was the target of my grumpiness while I channeled Summer and was mad at all males everywhere! To my two little boys that are my sunshine, my heart, my everything, thank you for always cheering me on and being the two best souls I know.

Lisa Greenwood, Becca Dawn, Katie Mazur, Jenna Chianello, Terri Peterson, Samantha Lloyd, Polly Matthews, Jodi Ridgeway-Nichols, Dawn Nicole-Costiera, and Donna Cooksley-Sanderson. This book took an entire village, and not one of you received the same draft, and not a single one of you has yet to see the final! Ha! Thank you all for pushing me to become a better writer, and helping make Kash’s and Summer’s book so special. You guys are amazing and sweet and talented, and I am so grateful to call each of you my friend.

Dreama with Ink Doodle by Dreama. WOW. WOW! I had the pleasure of meeting Dreama a few weeks after I messaged her on FB and begged her to make a cover for me. I had been stalking her work for a few weeks and knew I wanted a doodle on this cover, and that she would be the perfect artist for this project!

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of your time. You are the sweetest, most caring, and most talented person, and I am so grateful I got to experience this with you! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!

Erin Noelle, I might start calling you ‘The Closer.’ Thank you so much for helping me to get this book shined, pretty, and sparkling. I so very much appreciate you fitting this book in and then going through and editing it twice for me to ensure it was perfect!

Hang Le. I love you. I don’t know that I can say enough good things about you and your work. You amaze me. Dazzle me. And impress the hell out of me. Thank you for not avoiding me for being such a giant pain in your ass. I really do love you lots!

Jill Sava, thank you so much for doing the formatting and interior art of this novel. You are so sweet and patient, and I can’t thank you enough!

Becca Liberty, thank you for always listening to my crazy and entertaining me even when you ought to be sleeping. Your support, love, humor, and honesty are nearly as beautiful as you are. I flove you, and I could not have done this book without you.

Terri!!! I wrote a baby!! In a book!! Okay, well, you didn’t get a lot of baby, but still, it’s there! And it’s all for you, my lover!

To all of the readers, the bloggers, my friends, and my family, thank you! You all make this possible with your inspiration, love, and support. Thank you all!

M
ARIAH DIETZ
lives with her husband and two sons that are the axis of her crazy and wonderful world.

Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent the majority of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.
 

She has a love for all things that include her sons, good coffee, books, travel, and dark chocolate. She also has a deep passion for the stories she writes, and hopes readers enjoy the journeys she takes them on as much as she loves creating them.

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