Total pages in book: 12
Estimated words: 11097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 55(@200wpm)___ 44(@250wpm)___ 37(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 11097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 55(@200wpm)___ 44(@250wpm)___ 37(@300wpm)
I've loved Annika Andrews forever. Now that I can claim her, nothing will stop me.
Annika
Loving Kellen was as natural to me as breathing. I want him more than I've ever wanted anything in my entire life.
Lay All Your Love On Me is a safe, over-the-top romance set in 1989. Blast back to the 80s with this hot and steamy novella.
We're going back again! Back to the 80s, baby! Journey with us back to a time when MTV ruled, hair was teased to the max, and we lived life to the beat of our favorite mixtape! Hit Skate Land, the soda shop, the arcade, and of course, Pine Grove Galleria in this set of standalone stories from some of your favorite authors set in the decade of decadence. It’s the 80s, baby!
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Prologue
Kellen Fisher
October 1971
“Mom, he’s so cool,” I say as she sets down a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk down in front of me. She makes the best cookies of any mom, ever.
“Who is, Kellen?” she asks absentmindedly. Her mind has been all over the place lately. She’s about to have another baby any day now, or so my dad says. He says I should be mindful that she’s crazy right now. Of course, he didn’t say that to her and advised me not to either. Even at seven years old, I know not to tell a lady she’s crazy.
“Clyde. Remember he just moved in across the street?” Street is being generous. We live out in the outskirts of Pine Grove, Louisiana. Besides out house, there is only three other houses. Two are at the opposite end of the street, but the Andrews moved into the empty one right across the street.
“Oh, right. His mama is pregnant too, right?”
“Yeah.” I take a bite of a cookie and realize my mom is the best cook in the world, and it’s not just cookies. That’s what I want to do that someday. I want to make food that people love.
Suddenly, the front door bursts open and I hear shoes running on the floor. Mom won’t like that. “Mrs. Fisher!” my new best friend shouts running into the kitchen.
“Clyde? What’s wrong?” Mom asks, rushing over to him.
“It’s Mama. She’s on the floor and there is so much blood. Dad is still at work, and I can’t reach the phone to call someone. Please help her. Is she dying?” he asks, bursting into tears. I jump up and drag my chair over to the counter and hop on it. I can’t explain why, but I know I have to call 911, which we just learned in school is for emergency’s only. I have to save Mrs. Andrews. 911 is new to Pine Grove but so much easier to remember than the sheriff’s number. I talk to the person on the phone and give them Clyde’s address, since it’s so similar to mine, I easily remember it, as my mom rushes across the street.
I don’t know exactly what happened, but Clyde’s mom was taken away in ambulance. Clyde stayed at our house for a few days and them Mr. and Mrs. Andrew came home with a baby wrapped in a pink blanket.
“Come on home, Clyde and meet your baby sister,” Clyde’s dad, I think his name is Jacob, says extending his hand.
“Come meet the baby,” Clyde says holding out his hand to me. I already know him well enough to know that he’s scared. I take his hand in mine and the three of us walk across the street. The Andrews’ driveway is full of cars and the living room is even fuller. Clyde’s dad leads us through the people and right to a white and pink basket sitting next to his mom.
“Hi Momma,” Clyde says, walking into her open arms. “Are you okay? You scared me. I didn’t think I was ever gonna see you again.”
“I’m fine, baby. Meet your sister, Annika Khloe.”
Clyde and I step up to the basket. I look down and suck in a breath, rubbing my chest. I don’t know this baby yet, but I know that I am going to do whatever it takes to protect her for the rest of her life. For the rest of mine too. October 26th is a day I’ll never forget.
Christmas Eve 1987
At my age I should have much better things to do besides take my little sister and her best friend shopping at the Pine Grove Galleria for last minute Christmas presents, but I don’t. I’m two years into a four-year culinary program at Le Cordon Bleu and I don’t have a social life. I should be balls deep in co-eds, but I won’t be doing that. I’m insane, I know that I am, but when you meet the love of your life and she’s not grown yet, you wait. I make myself sick, so there’s no fucking way I’d ever tell another soul.
Since the girls promised me they’d stay together and didn’t need me shadowing them, they are sixteen, after all, I’m sitting in the food court, lamenting my life choices, when I hear a blood-curdling scream. Annika. I am up out of my seat in a split second and running. I’m following the sound of her distraught voice before I can think better of it. Not that I’d allow her to scream and not help her. I can hear boys taunting her, but I can’t get to her. There is a crowd of adults standing around and watching whatever the hell is happening. The more I shove people out of my way, the more pissed off I get. Why isn’t anyone helping her? She’s crying now and the sound breaks my fucking heart.