First Chapter of Honestly Always You
As often happens with book ideas that won’t let me go, the first chapter of Honestly Always You started writing itself in my head when I woke up one morning, so I knew I had to open my computer and get it down! I’m so glad I did — I love how it turned out!
Since Honestly Always You is releasing later this month (August 24th! You can pre-order here), I thought I’d give you an extended excerpt from the book: the first chapter — with some bonus inspo pics! I think this chapter sets up the story nicely — and the drama! (Content Warning: Expect a little mild language in this excerpt. The book has stronger language and adult content.)
Enjoy!
CHAPTER ONE
MANDY CARLSON CHECKED HER SHOULDER-LENGTH, strawberry blonde hair in the tiny mirror over her apartment’s bathroom sink and smiled. Despite the Florida May heat—sweltering even at eight PM—her curls were staying, at least for now. She knew it wouldn’t last long, but she’d take what she could get.
She clicked the light off in the bathroom and stepped immediately into the living room. While most twenty-two-year-old almost-graduates were sharing apartments near UCF, she’d opted for her own place near the school. She’d sacrificed square footage to do it, but it was worth it. Her all-night study sessions didn’t disturb anyone else—nor did her late-into-the-night sessions of another kind with her boyfriend, Dan.
And she probably wouldn’t be here much longer anyway.
Her phone vibrated in the pocket of her skintight jeans, and her smile widened when she saw the text that’d come through.
I’m downstairs when you’re ready. Dan had added a smiley face emoji.
Mandy had been dating Dan since sophomore year. She’d been failing English Lit miserably during the fall semester of her second year, and he’d stepped in like her knight in shining armor and tutored her until she passed.
Barely, but she did.
The guy had big plans after graduation, a cushy new job at one of the largest banks here in Orlando. Mandy had already been accepted into the graduate Anthropology program at the University of Central Florida, so she was staying local, too, at least for the foreseeable future. Beyond that, she wasn’t sure what would come next.
She liked to know what came next. Ugh.
She quickly typed in her code to unlock her phone and shot a text back. On my way. She added a heart.
She repocketed her phone, shoved her ID, a couple of credit cards, and some cash in her tight back pocket, used her keys to lock up, then flew down three flights of stairs and into Dan’s car.
“Hey.” She leaned in for a quick kiss before buckling her seatbelt.
He smiled at her. “Hey. You look good.”
Mandy glanced down at her silky, emerald-green tank top that she’d matched with her favorite jeans and uncharacteristic strappy gold heels and blushed. “Thanks.”
Dan grinned from beside her, swiping his fingers across her warm cheek. “No need to be embarrassed, Mandy. Just wanted to compliment my girlfriend.”
She offered a sheepish smile as he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street lined with lights just blinking on.
They pulled up to Dan’s elaborate fraternity house. Mandy hated to drive, even when she wouldn’t be drinking, so he was always sweet enough to pick her up. She usually stayed the night after these things anyway—her walk-of-shame game had been perfected over the years.
Tomorrow was graduation, so tonight would be the biggest blowout of the year. Mandy was used to these frat parties—they were usually tolerable, sometimes even fun—but she was a little glad to be saying goodbye to this part of her life. She was ready to move on to bigger and better things—especially if Dan would be moving on with her.
He hadn’t asked yet, but Mandy was hoping that he’d present a ring soon. She’d hinted at it, they’d skirted around the subject, but nothing had been decided. Mandy liked decided. She just wished he’d ask already.
Dan parked on the street and reached the passenger side just as Mandy was climbing out of the low-profile sports car, feeling like she was stepping out onto a red carpet.
No, literally—the guys had apparently set out a red carpet that extended all the way from the front door to the street. She knew they had a flair for the dramatic, but this was a little over the top, right?
Mandy eyed Dan as they walked to the door, his arm sliding around her thin waist.
“What?”
Mandy swiped her arm through the air to indicate the carpet beneath their feet. “What is this?”
Dan chuckled, pulling her closer and planting a kiss on her forehead. “For us, for all of the graduates. The guys thought it would be a good send-off.”
Mandy grinned up at him. Even with her heels, he towered over her, but she didn’t mind. She stretched up to plant a kiss on his lips as they reached the porch. “It was a good idea.”
The door was already open, and sounds of loud music and a thousand conversations floated on the twilight air. Dan stepped through and immediately pulled the guy in front of him into one of those weird bro-hugs that start out as a handshake.
Dan clapped his friend on the back once then stepped away. “You can thank Justin here. This was his brainchild.” His arm made a wide sweep of the room, and Mandy finally took in the space. And gasped.
The entire first floor of the frat house had been transformed. The red carpet theme continued in here, complete with golden stanchions, a large popcorn machine, and innumerable glittering stars hanging from the ceiling and on the walls.
Mandy blinked over at Justin as he swiped his blond hair out of his bright-blue eyes. The guy was a walking stereotype—she’d even heard he drove to the coast to go surfing on the weekends. “Wow, Justin—this is impressive.” Mandy’s brain searched a few of the interesting conversations the two of them had had over the years at parties just like this—notable for the simple fact that interesting conversations were few and far between at similar soirées—and wondered if he’d divulged his talent for party planning. She couldn’t remember, but she suspected Justin’s real talent was to keep everyone guessing.
He grinned widely, his perfectly white teeth on display. “Thanks, Mandy. Good to see you again. Enjoy the party.” He took a swig of the beer in his hand then headed further inside after a single nod to the couple.
Mandy took a deep breath, wiping her suddenly sweaty palms on her jeans. She could party with the best of them, but tonight she just wanted to be alone. Tomorrow was a big day, one she was ready for, but she still got butterflies in her stomach when she thought about what would come next.
For the next few hours, she made her way around the party, greeting her friends, Dan’s fraternity brothers, and her fellow classmates at UCF. She found Dan periodically, giving his hand a squeeze or sharing a silent kiss before getting lost in the revelry again. He smiled amiably every time, but his smile was increasingly off. And as the night progressed, Mandy felt a pit forming in her stomach.
***
JUSTIN STANFORD WAS ENJOYING the party, but he’d felt unsettled since it’d started. Since Dan had shown up with his girlfriend, the beautiful and untouchable Mandy Carlson.
His eyes drifted to her, finding her in the crowd as he had all night. She was talking to some sorority girls from the house next door but didn’t seem to be enjoying the conversation. She was smarter than all of them put together—why did she bother?
After some small talk with one of his frat brothers, he found an empty seat and settled in with his beer. He’d been carrying around the same one all night—it was extremely warm and utterly undrinkable now, but holding it kept the guys off his back. He wasn’t much of a drinker, but his brothers didn’t know that. And he was happy to keep it that way.
Only a few more days, and he’d be out of here anyway.
His eyes followed Mandy as she crossed the room in strappy golden sandals that lifted her three inches off the ground. Justin thought they were sexy as hell, but they didn’t seem like her. He liked a woman who knew who she was and wasn’t afraid to say what she liked.
He was a big fan of hearing what they liked out loud, too. Especially in the bedroom.
Justin shifted in his seat, adjusting himself discreetly. He shouldn’t be thinking these things about another guy’s girlfriend. He wouldn’t put himself—or her—in that situation, no matter what.
Which was why he’d been girlfriend-less for the past three years. Three years was an infinitely long time to wait—not that he was exactly “waiting,” but he certainly wasn’t looking for any kind of commitment—yet he couldn’t seem to get his mind off those gorgeous hazel eyes and light-brown hair a guy could tangle his fingers in and never let go.
He shook his head to clear it then stood up. Time for a distraction.
He headed to the kitchen in search of a new drink. All he could find was some whiskey, so he begrudgingly poured a little into a glass. At least the top-shelf liquor the guys kept in the house was decent, if a little strong.
Justin took the long way out of the kitchen, heading back to the party by way of the first-floor residence hallway, looking for a brief moment of peace. But the sounds coming from behind one of the closed doors were starting to get a little obscene, so he picked up the pace.
Sex and alcohol always seemed to mix in a group like this, and it was never a good idea.
When he finally made his way back to the living room, Justin spied Mandy sitting alone on a nearby velvet couch. He quickly surveyed the room, noting all the guys who were obviously drunk. Pretty much all of them.
Mandy shouldn’t be by herself. Where the hell was Dan?
I hope you loved this little sneak peek into the beginning of Honestly Always You! I loved writing it, even though I knew something seriously crazy would be going down in Chapter 2. You’ll have to read the book to find out what!
(Pre-order now here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098Q6LD9H)
Check out the synopsis below:
College student Mandy Carlson has everything she’s ever wanted: a handsome, successful boyfriend, solid future plans, and a possible marriage proposal in the near future. But when her plans are abruptly derailed, the wise-cracking Justin Stanford is there to make her smile. He even suggests they pretend to date so she can sort out her feelings in peace, and she agrees on one condition: They promise to always be honest with each other.
Justin has had his eye on Mandy since freshman year. When she needs a friend, he steps in and does the honorable thing, but he can’t help but think their easy conversation and flirty banter is hinting at something deeper between them. He just worries he can’t keep his promise while keeping his true feelings for her a secret.
As Mandy recovers from her life-changing graduation weekend, she realizes the feelings she’s been faking for Justin might be real. But can she figure out how to let him in without getting burned again?
This fake relationship, friends to lovers, unrequited love steamy romance with rom-com vibes and a touch of forced proximity is intended for mature readers 18+. This story takes place three years before the events in the Codex series.
Honestly Always You is my first steamy romance, and I can’t wait for you to read more about Mandy and Justin and how they fell in love. I straight-up swooned when I wrote these two! 🥰
The book releases on August 24th, 2021, and you can pre-order the ebook now! Just click the link (or the picture) below!
A heartbroken college student. The guy who makes her smile. A love she never saw coming.
Could the feelings she’s faking for him be real?
To stay up-to-date on the release, sign up below!
I’ll be dropping more Honestly Always You content over the next few weeks leading up to the release. Stay tuned for more release-month goodies!
<3 Melissa