Blog Tour: Love You Still by AJ Alexander
𝐀 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞….
𝐀 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦.
Love You Still, an all-new first love, second chance, small town romance from USA Today bestselling author AJ Alexander is now available!
I knew the moment I laid eyes on Selina Grymes she was the girl I was going to marry. We made plans to grow old together, have children, and live the rest of our lives here in Tyson’s Creek. But once we graduated high school, she left town and never returned, taking my heart with her.
Selina disappeared for fifteen long years without a word, before suddenly reappearing in town and turning my entire world upside down. I know I should keep my distance, protect my heart from being broken a second time, but all I can think about is making her mine again.
But Selina doesn’t plan on staying here longer than it takes for her injury to heal and then she’ll disappear again. I’ll stop at nothing to prove to her that we belong together, even if it means giving up everything I’ve built to be with her.
NOTE: This story was previously published as Haven in 2022. It has since been recovered and titled, reedited, and significant additions have been made to the story. Recommended for mature audiences only due to sensitive subject matter. This book contains the death of a loved one and grief.
Start reading today!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited
Amazon Worldwide: https://geni.us/loveyoustill
Add Love You Still to Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/yac4knzz
Keep reading for a look inside Love You Still!
Selina
“Are you sure you want to do this?” my mom asks for what feels like the millionth time in the last week.
“We’ve been over this, Mom. I don’t have a choice.” I sigh as I stuff my favorite sweatshirt into my backpack.
“There’s always a choice.” My mom rolls her eyes, pulling my sweatshirt out and folding it nicely before placing it on top of my bag.
My mom and I have been having this same conversation for weeks, ever since I was awarded a scholarship to the Juilliard Summer Dance Intensive. I’ve been trying to land a spot in this program since I was a freshman in high school, and I’d almost given up hope when the letter finally arrived.
All I’ve ever wanted to do was dance, ever since my mom signed me up for dance classes to help me get ready to go to school and make some friends. What she didn’t know was that those classes would ignite a fire in my heart for dance that still burns to this day. Everyone assumed I’d grow out of it, my focus shifting from dancing to boys, but for me, that never happened. Sure, there have been boys, well one boy in particular, but he has always come second to my dancing. All my hopes and dreams are finally coming true, but it feels as if I’m being ripped into a million tiny pieces.
“You’re already starting classes at Juilliard in the fall. Can’t you just wait a few more months? I don’t want you to regret the time you missed with your friends.”
“My friends will be here when I get back.” I flop onto the bed beside her, turning my attention out the window.
“Maybe. But you need to at least tell Vance you’re leaving, hun.” My mom wraps her arm around my shoulder, pulling me to her side. “He’s your biggest cheerleader after your dad and me. He’ll understand.”
My heart aches at the mention of Vance’s name. He’s been the only boy in my life since, well, forever. Vance and I have been connected ever since our first day in kindergarten. He walked right up to me with a bright smile on his face and pulled me in for a tight hug before announcing to the entire class that I was the girl he was going to marry. I obviously had no idea what any of that meant, but he slowly wormed his way into my heart. First as one of my best friends, then becoming something else entirely.
“I remember the day he came over and declared to your father he was going to marry you.”
I giggle softly. “We were, what? Eleven or twelve years old?” My mom nods as I lay my head on her shoulder, unshed tears collecting in my eyes. “He tried to kiss me under the old black willow tree in front of the church. I told him the only boy I planned on kissing was the one I’m going to marry.”
“He marched right up the front steps, knocked on the door, and asked to speak with your father.” My mom shakes her head slightly, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “Your father had no idea what to say, but he took his tiny hand in his and shook it. He told him that if he was man enough to speak to your father about his feelings for you, then he was all right in our book.”
“And I’ve been stuck with him ever since. Too bad things aren’t really that simple.” A lone tear streams down my cheek as I reach up and angrily swipe at it. “Will he still want to marry me when I live over thirteen hours away?”
This is the million-dollar question. Vance and I have lived in the same town, only a few miles away from each other, our entire lives. Now I’m moving almost a thousand miles away. How can we expect our relationship to last? I’ve tried to talk to Vance about my concerns numerous times, but he always smiles brightly and promises it will all work out. He’s the hopeless romantic in our relationship, believing that since we were meant to be together, everything will work itself out. Love conquers all, and all that other nonsense. But unlike him, my feet are planted firmly on the ground.
Attending Juilliard is going to be harder than anything I’ve ever done. I can put in the work; I know I can, but it won’t leave much time for anything else, let alone traveling back and forth between New York and Tyson’s Creek. How can two people have a relationship like that? A clean break is what’s best for both of us—at least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
“By plane, it’s only two hours and some change,”
“Be serious for a second, Ma.” I sigh, pushing off the bed and strolling toward the window. “We barely spend any time together now. There’s no way we can make it work with me being so far away.”
“I am, sweetheart.” I don’t even bother to turn around and look at my mom as I shake my head, which causes her to sigh loudly. “Look, I know having a long-distance relationship isn’t ideal, but if you love him as much as I believe you do, then it’s worth it.
“Then at least break up with him. Vance will never let you go unless you make him.”
“I can’t do that either.” I wrap my arms around my waist, holding myself together. “This isn’t something I can do over the phone, but if I see him…”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Do you think any of this is easy for me?” I screech, tears flowing freely down my cheeks. “This is all I’ve wanted ever since I took my first dance class. I want my chance to be a prima ballerina. To dance Swan Lake in front of millions of people. But my heart feels like it’s being ripped out of my chest at the thought of leaving him. Why can’t you understand that I have to do this and just be happy for me?”
There’s no way I can make anyone understand the indescribable pain running through my body as the time gets closer to leaving Tyson’s Creek and Vance behind. It’s selfish and childish to want to have it all while giving up nothing, but there’s a part of me that’s afraid of losing everything if I choose between the two things I love the most in this world.
For more information about AJ Alexander and her books, visit her website:
Comments
Post a Comment