When 17-year-old Rune returns to Blossom Grove, he’s desperate to know why Poppy—the girl he loved and who promised to wait—suddenly stopped talking to him. Her silence broke his heart. But when he finally learns the truth, Rune realizes the pain he’s felt is nothing compared to what’s coming next. What secret could hurt more than goodbye?
A smile tugged on my lips. He wore a tight white t-shirt under a brown blazer. His black skinny jeans were on his legs, familiar black suede boots on his feet. I tugged on the lapels of his blazer. “You’re looking real smart, baby.” Rune’s lips molded into a half-smile. He leaned forward and took…
I looked up at Rune, and I saw him studying the picture. His expression hadn’t changed, but I saw his jaw slacken as his head tilted slightly to one side. His fingers twitched in mine. I smiled again. He wasn’t immune. And no matter how much he resisted, he loved this. I could feel it…
My touch seemed to have rendered him speechless. I glanced at my mama. “Mama?” Mama stepped forward. “It’s been planned since your aunt came a few weeks ago.” I looked to Aunt DeeDee, who smiled mischievously. “Rune here planned to take you away. He asked your aunt to help plan it.” Mama sighed. “We never…
On an adventure. An adventure with my Rune. * * * “New York,” I said breathlessly, reading the screen at our gate. Rune smirked. “We always planned to go. It’ll just be briefer than we’d always thought.” Completely speechless, I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his chest. Aunt DeeDee…
There was so much to see that my heart raced in anticipation. This was where I was meant to have lived my life. I would have been at home here. Blossom Grove would have been my roots; New York would have been my wings. And Rune Kristiansen would forever have been my love. By my…
Joined us in body, mind and soul. Truly made us infinity. Forever always. “Where are we going, Poppymin?” Rune asked, pulling me from my reverie. He held the back of his hand against my burning cheek. “You’re hot,” he said, his accent strong, the perfect sound running through me like a cool breeze. “I’m fine,”…
“Shh,” I soothed, moving my head to rest against hers. “Breathe, baby,” I said softly. I placed Poppy’s hand over my heart, as she locked her gaze on mine. “Breathe,” I repeated and smiled as she followed the rhythm of my heart to calm herself. I wiped her damp cheeks with my hands, melting when…
Without giving myself the chance to walk away, I grabbed the camera and sneaked down to the darkroom in the basement. As I reached the door and turned the knob, I flicked on the light. I sighed, a strange feeling settling within me. Because Poppy had been right. My pappa had prepared this room for…
I wiped sleep from my eyes, sitting up on my bed, excitement zipping through me at the sound of a voice I loved. “Aunt DeeDee?” I whispered to myself. I tried to listen harder, making sure I really had heard her voice. Muffled voices came from the hallway, then suddenly the door flew open. I…
It was the exact one. Poppy had found my camera. Flipping the back, I saw a full roll of film inside. In the bag lay the lenses. The ones I knew so well. Despite the years, I still instinctively knew which one would work best for any given shot—landscape, portrait, nighttime, daylight, natural setting, studio……