For Chance, there’s always only been Dakota.
He’s been in love with the girl since the day they met. He’s tried everything to get her to notice him and nothing has worked. So when things suddenly start moving in the right direction, Chance can’t believe his luck.
Until Kyle comes along.
Kyle is like a new shiny toy and Dakota loves new and shiny. She falls for the tall, blonde and gorgeous fast and without looking back. Dating the summer before college wasn’t in the plans, but come on, Kyle is perfect. So why does Chance and his snarky grin keeps popping up in her mind now that Dakota has found her happiness?
When Chance’s world comes crashing down, Dakota proves the strength of their friendship, surprising herself and everyone around her, by helping him pick up the pieces. In return, Chance is finally able to crack her hard shell, discovering that not everything is sunny in Dakota-land. Her world is not what it seems on the outside, and together, they’re able to pull each other to the brink of safety and sanity.
Dakota likes that things are simple with Kyle, so why does she feel more like herself around Chance?
As graduation grows closer, both Chance and Dakota learn that the plans you make for your life don’t always play out the way you expect them and sometimes, everything starts to make sense when you find yourself on the edge of falling.
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Excerpt
It doesn’t take me long to reach the
cabin. Grayson greets me as I run up to the house. The girls are already
inside, getting settled. So is Kyle. I can see them inside the main room, the
one with all the large windows.
“You guys are here early.”
“Well, you know how Brooklynn loves
her early mornings.” I roll my eyes at my friend, because Brooklynn is not
the morning person of the group. Dakota is. And now, apparently so is Kyle
because he comes bouncing down those stairs with a huge smile on his face.
“This place is sweet!” He grabs
one of the bags, and heads back into the house without another word.
“He’s very cheerful in the
mornings.” Grayson comments.
“Grand.”
The girls walk out then, coming down the
porch stairs. Brook heads toward me, but before she can hug me, she crinkles
her nose and frowns. I know Dakota is standing next to her, but I’m keeping my
eyes strictly on Brook.
“Really, Chance? This is how you
greet your guests?” She waves her hand over my sweaty body.
“Yep. Come here, darling.” I
reach for her, but she drags Dakota to block the path, nearly making us
collide. Dakota is wearing her usual annoyed expression and the simplicity of
practiced interactions make me braver. With a gleam in my eyes, I lunge at the
girls, wrapping Dakota in my arms as I reach for Brook hiding behind her. Both
of them squeal, trying to wiggle out of my embrace.
The movement does weird things to my
insides as Dakota’s frame fits so perfectly against mine. Brook manages to
escape, and now it’s just Dakota and me, locked in an embrace. I look down at
her, my eyes crashing into hers and it’s like everything I’ve ever imagined.
Time stands still for one perfect moment, before I’m bending over and gasping
for breath.
“Did you seriously just punch me in
the stomach?” I rasp, glaring at Dakota’s smug smile.
“You’re lucky that’s all I did.”
Oh is this how we’re going to play it? Good thing I know this game. Right then
and there, I decide that I’m going for it. Just for this weekend, I won’t hide
from Dakota and my feelings for her. I’m going to rebuild the awkward
friendship we’ve established last year and see where it takes us. I know she
sees the change as my eyes light up, mischievously.
“You know, Dakota. You stink a bit of
sweat. Maybe you should take a little bath.” I reach for her, my
intentions clear. She smacks at my arms, turning to run back into the house and
away from the hot tub that’s a lot closer than she’d like. I haven’t been
running all my life for nothing. I catch up to her easily, grabbing her from
behind and lifting her clear off the ground.
“Chance! Don’t you dare put me into
that water. I swear I will get you for it.”
“Awe, honey. Promises,
promises.”
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Author. Photographer. Artist. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Valia Lind always had a love for the written word. She wrote her first full book on the bathroom floor of her dormitory, while procrastinating to study for her college classes. Upon graduation, she has moved her writing to more respectable places, and have found her voice in Young Adult fiction. Falling by Design is her debut young adult novel. You can visit her online at http://www.valialind.blogspot.com or follow her on twitter, where she spends way too much time, @ValiaLind.
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