I remember the first time Matt brought Erin home. They were sixteen and had a project to work on together for English class. Erin stayed for dinner and like mysterious liquid in beakers heated by Bunsen burners chemistry sizzled between them. They teased each other, one-upped each other and laughed non-stop. They were so cute together.
Erin wouldn’t date Matt for fear of losing his friendship. But they attended prom and weathered a lot of stuff together before graduation. When Erin was in college they (finally) started dating. When they broke up you’ve never seen anything sadder than my son with a broken heart. They got back together briefly (after all the warm fuzzies I’d had for Erin were gone) and broke up again.
They went their separate ways and had relationships with others. For long periods of time there was no contact between them. We never said anything to Matt but in the minds of the rest of our family, we all agreed he was trying to replace Erin.
Fast forward fifteen years. They were both in a time and a place and a maturity level where reconnection was made possible. The chemistry was still there. I’d never see Matt happier. The two of them literally glowed when they were together. Those warm fuzzies? They came back.
That was two years ago. Erin had just finished law school and job hunting was tough. Matt suffered through a debilitating, undiagnosed illness and major surgery. Erin was with him every step of the way and twenty-four seven during a long hospitalization and months of recovery.
Valentine’s Day 2014 they got engaged.
I asked Matt if he regretted all the years they were apart. He says he can’t. Everything they experienced apart made them who they are now and led them back to each other. Erin says in the back of her mind she always felt they’d find each other again.
I started writing NOBODY’S FOOL the year after Matt and Erin graduated from high school inspired by that chemistry between two BFFs. Although it is not based on their relationship at all, I wanted to capture that soulmate feeling of “no one knows you like I do.” And loves you anyway. NOBODY’S FOOL is my story, not theirs, but I couldn’t seem to finish the book until I knew how their story would end.
Nobody’s Fool
She’s home to make amends. He’s out to get a little revenge.
But the heart he breaks could be his own.
The Jolie Kramer who left Oak Ridge at eighteen isn’t the same one who’s home for her ten-year high school reunion. The old Jolie hid her secrets and insecurities behind her popular-girl image.
The new Jolie has returned triumphant from NYC older, wiser, and ready to make amends for the bridges she burned. Especially the one between her and Court Harrison, her biggest supporter since childhood.
Court hates to admit he’s still hung up on Jolie, and he’s vowed to finally put the past way, way behind him. She wants to kiss and make up? He’ll give her a taste of her own medicine. Make her fall for him—only this time, he’ll be the one walking away.
But his plan works a little too well, and by the time he realizes their feelings are real, it’s too late. She’s onto him, and he’s lost the only woman he’ll ever want. Unless she falls for plan B, which contains two things she can’t resist: a career challenge, and a chance to get a little revenge of her own.
My web site: www.barbarameyers.com
Buy Link for Nobody’s Fool: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5303/nobodys-fool
My WordPress blog: https://barbmeyers.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraMeyersAuthorPage
Twitter: @barbmeyers
I am running a Catch My Release contest during the month of January. There will be five winners and multiple ways to enter. Details on my web site and FB Author Page. Posting a comment on this blog post during the month of January 2015 equals one entry. Winner will receive their choice of one of my books.