With Every Breath (Sea Swept #2) (24 page)

“Sure.” West drops a sweet, soft kiss on my lips, then heads over to the other side of the church, where a grassy area holds picnic tables. Georgia and Jace have claimed us one, along with Owen and a couple of my high school friends I still keep in touch with.

I watch West go, appreciating the view probably a little too much to be appropriate on church grounds, then turn back to the gray rectangle on the ground.

“So that’s West,” I say to the headstone. “What do you think?”

There’s no reply, of course, but I’m pretty sure Sofia would approve. I don’t feel her presence here in the cemetery any more than elsewhere, but it’s as good a place as any to talk to her. However, I do feel weird standing and staring down at the ground, so I lower myself to the grass and tuck my legs under me.

“He’s already got a photo shoot lined up,” I say. “An engagement shoot for one of Georgia’s and my sorority sisters. He’s still not sure it’s a stable enough profession long-term, but it’ll give him some breathing room while he figures out what he wants to do. Though I bet with his talent he’ll find more work than he knows what to do with.” I babble on to Sofia, telling her how our parents aren’t sure how they feel about me moving in with West in a couple months. “But Georgia pointed out that this is the first time ever that I’ve brought a guy home, so they’re bound to be a little stunned for a while.”

Reaching out, I trace Sofia’s name in the stone. The edges are still sharp, not yet worn by the weather. “Everyone loved your work, Sofia. I offered some of your best photos at the auction last night, along with West’s and my collage, and they all sold, and most even had multiple bids. The hospital was pretty happy with all the money the auction raised.” It didn’t bring my sister back, but I know she would have been glad to help.

“A couple days ago,” I continue, “West was telling mom and dad how we took photos that fulfilled your list of pictures you’d wanted to take, to flesh out the collage, and mom started tearing up almost immediately. Before I knew it, we were all crying. But you know what? This time, instead of running away the way I used to last year, I hugged them both, and we spent all afternoon telling West stories about you.” I sigh. “I wish you could have known him. I wish he could have known you. I know you would have loved each other, the way I love each of you. And I want to thank you, Sofia. You’re the best sister I could have ever had.”
 

I’m crying now, but I wipe by eyes and wait for the pain in my heart to ease a little. Then I spread my hand over the cool gray stone.

“So here’s a story West and I definitely didn’t tell mom and dad. But you’ll love it: see, I won this photo shoot from West, and got all dolled up and posed on the beach. It was glamorous, but the best part was after Elise left …”

By the time I finish, I’m smiling, imagining Sofia’s reaction.
How scandalous
, she’d laugh as she leaned nearer.
Tell me more
. So I tell her all sorts of things, until finally my stomach grumbles and I pat the headstone.
 

“Love, you, sis. I’ll come back soon,” I say, and uncurl from the ground.
 

I walk across the grass and over to the picnic table, where West folds me into his arms. I don’t have to say a word; he just holds me. Happy, sad, and everything in between, I know he’ll be there, in every day of my future. Our future.

I can’t wait to see where it leads.

~ ~ ~

Dear Reader

Reviews for indie authors can be hard to come by, and readers like you have the power to make or break a book. If you loved
With Every Breath
, please consider leaving a review, and thanks so much for reading!
 

~XOXO, Valerie

~ ~ ~

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Book 3 of the
Sea Swept
series,
STARS BURN BRIGHT
, is Elise’s story, and will be out late summer 2014. Find out more on
Val’s website
. Haven’t read Book 1 of the
Sea Swept
series yet? Check out
Full Steam Ahead
.

~ ~ ~

Author’s Note

I’ve never worked on a cruise ship before, so for
With Every Breath
I relied on memoirs written by those who have. The peek I got at cruise ship life was fascinating, and informed the background upon which Yasmin and West had their adventures. All characters remain the product of my own imagination.

Books I’d recommend to readers interested in learning more about the life of a cruise ship crew member:
Cruise Ship Confidential
by Brian David Bruns;
The Truth About Cruise Ships
by Jay Herring; and
Chronicles of a Cruise Ship Member
by Joshua Kinser.

About Valerie

Valerie Chase
writes New Adult romance in the suburbs of our nation’s capital. When she isn’t typing away on her laptop or dreaming up swoon-worthy kiss scenes, she loves sipping hot tea, taking long walks by her house, and getting lost in bookstores. (You’ll probably find her in one right now.) She hopes you enjoy reading about cruise ship romances as much as she enjoys writing about them!
 

~ ~ ~

Copyright and Licensing

Copyright © 2014 by Valerie Chase. All Rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations used in articles, blog posts or reviews.
 

This is a work of fiction. Names, locations, characters, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, actual events, locations, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Piracy hurts authors like me, so thank you for respecting my hard work.