I Love this! Omgosh. This is gonna be great! Better than great! Asher Must talk to his father. He will Not reject his son's feelings, neither one of them or Lilah's. He will Not throw away his marriage. Somehow they will make it work out. Have some faith in your dad & family.
Waiting on pins and needles for chapter 29 i am having surgery in a few weeks and scared out of my mind about it! I need the showcase before i go under the knife!!
I'm editing the episode right now. I hope to publish it within the next 8 hours.
I'd be terrified if I was going under the knife, too. I hope the surgery goes better than well and you have a super speedy recovery. Will be thinking of you.
He says he is, but I always worry over not being good enough. I think that's jus the plight of the writer. Thanks for being so supportive of this newsletter. It means so much. XO
Hi Heather. I'm working on it. I'll post as soon as I'm happy with it. My goal is to finish RSBA by the end of November, so I'm going to be writing my butt off.
Here's a rough excerpt for you to tide you over...
______________________________________________
Asher POV.
The ride to Maddie’s is silent, probably because I turn my music up to a level that makes it impossible to talk over. I know we need to have a conversation, but I don’t want to draw it out. Better to wait until we get to her place so I can exit as soon as I can.
After pulling into the driveway of her parent’s mansion, I turn off my car and my music, then I turn to look at the girl I’ve been dating since early Jan. Maddie is beautiful, with long dark hair hanging almost to her waist. She’s a great singer songwriter. She will be a star; she already is one of Australia’s most celebrated young pop stars. But she’s not the girl I really want. On the surface, we have plenty of common, but she lack’s Lilah’s intensity. I don’t feel the connection with her that I have always felt with Lilah. Even when Lilah and I seemingly couldn’t stand each other, the air always crackled around us when we sparred.
Maddie turns her body toward mine. “I don’t want you to sing the duet tomorrow. It will be humiliating.”
“For you or for me?”
She frowns. “Both. It’s wrong, Ash.”
“What’s wrong, exactly?”
“She’s your sister.”
“Would you quit saying that. I was nearly eighteen when our parents married.”
And I liked her well before then – before our parents even met. Not that I let myself think about her like that when Ethan was with her.
“People won’t understand.”
“You mean, you don’t understand.”
She leans back in her seat. “Yes. I don’t understand, Ash. The other duet-”
“Wasn’t good enough to be top ten. I’ve told you that.”
“But-”
“I’m not pulling the plug now. It’s happening.”
Deal with it.
“If you go through with it…”
I wait for her to finish her sentence. I knew this was coming and am prepared for it. I’m ready.
“Then it’s over between us.”
The relief that floods me is instantaneous. I hadn’t realised until now just much this relationship weighed me down until now. As soon as I realised what my feelings for Lilah were, I knew it was over between us, but I kept Maddie around as a shield. Not fair on her and a dick move on my behalf. So when she mentioned she was coming to the US with us, I’d felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my own stupidity. Now, Maddie is giving me an out.
“Then I guess this is goodbye,” I say softly.
She sucks in a harsh breath, her eyes filling with tears. Other than liking Ainsley, Maddie is a good person, and I don’t actually like that I’m hurting her. But I can’t stay in this for her and for Ethan, not anymore.
“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t how you wanted this to go.”
With a grace I’ve come to expect from Maddie, she purses her lips together and opens her door.
Before she closes it, she lowers her head so she can look at me.
“It won’t work out for you, Asher. You must know that. Ethan will never forgive you-”
“For singing a song? C’mon-”
“You know it’s more than that.” She dares me to disagree. I don’t.
“Ethan won’t forgive you,” she repeats. “MOD will fall apart, and Jesse will-”
“What? Regret bringing be home.”
It’s a trigger for me and the words explode out of me before I can stop them. I try to keep on top of it, but sweat breaks across my brow as I war with the images of Jesse regretting bringing me home.
Maddie’s eyes soften. “I was going to say, he would regret marrying Cait and bringing Lilah into your lives if she destroys the relationship between you and Ethan. As much as you might wish things were different, being with Lilah will tear your family apart.”
She slams the door closed, and I wait for her to unlock her front door and walk inside before I start the car and head home.
Maddie is right. I’ve always known that letting myself feel the things I feel for Lilah will cause chaos and rip at the fabric of our newly blended family. The problem is that I’m not sure how much longer that can deter me from acting on what I feel. Because as much as I wish I didn’t feel the way I do, I can’t change it. The temptation that is my stepsister is proving too much to keep resisting, and I don’t know how long until I break.
________________________________________
“Are you ready?”
Lilah nods, but she looks like she’s about to puke.
Reaching out, I take her hand in mine, clasping our hands together and resting them on my knee.
“It’s perfect, Lilah.”
More and more, I don’t seem to be able to stop myself from touching her.
She slips me a sideways glance, looking so pretty it’s an effort not to stare at her. “I know,” she whispers.
Her gaze darts down to our linked hands, where are fingers are currently intertwined. In the darkened auditorium, it won’t be obvious to anyone unless they look, and we probably only have to worry about the people sitting on either side of us. Still, this feels scandalous. My heart hammers in my chest, a combination of nerves over the performance we’re about to put on and the feel of her hand in mine. Something so simple and innocent shouldn’t have an effect on me, yet it does. And I always have nerves before a show, but this is different.
Omgosh! I can't wait! This is going to be epic. If there was an issue, after the birthday party the mom would have reached out & dad to Asher. It's all good! Can't wait. Never Doubt yourself Elle! I unfortunately know of a writer now that is Not worth their salt. SMH
You’ve got spark and a real talent never doubt yourself!!
It’s awesome! One quick editing you put “be”instead of “me”when asher said regret bringing me home
Thanks! I'll have it sorted before I post. I hope. *Fingers crossed*
I Love this! Omgosh. This is gonna be great! Better than great! Asher Must talk to his father. He will Not reject his son's feelings, neither one of them or Lilah's. He will Not throw away his marriage. Somehow they will make it work out. Have some faith in your dad & family.
I'm so glad you liked it. It's still in draft stage, so there will be changes, but I'm working extra hard to have the story finished soon.
Or back to the hole they crawled out of!
Ainsley must go & Maddie must go with her somewhere, to the USA or Australia, France. Somewhere way far away.
Oh lord! I am dying for the showcase!!
Thank you so much! Ovarian cancer while doing ivf wasn’t the plan but we are taking it one day at a time!
Wow, Heather! That's a lot to deal with. If there's anything I can do, let me know.
Just keep on writing and maybe a prayer or two!
Waiting on pins and needles for chapter 29 i am having surgery in a few weeks and scared out of my mind about it! I need the showcase before i go under the knife!!
I'm editing the episode right now. I hope to publish it within the next 8 hours.
I'd be terrified if I was going under the knife, too. I hope the surgery goes better than well and you have a super speedy recovery. Will be thinking of you.
Love,
Elle
I agree! You’re an amazing writer I hope you know that. You’re hubby must be so proud!!!
He says he is, but I always worry over not being good enough. I think that's jus the plight of the writer. Thanks for being so supportive of this newsletter. It means so much. XO
When will you release the showcase? I am dying here!
Hi Heather. I'm working on it. I'll post as soon as I'm happy with it. My goal is to finish RSBA by the end of November, so I'm going to be writing my butt off.
Here's a rough excerpt for you to tide you over...
______________________________________________
Asher POV.
The ride to Maddie’s is silent, probably because I turn my music up to a level that makes it impossible to talk over. I know we need to have a conversation, but I don’t want to draw it out. Better to wait until we get to her place so I can exit as soon as I can.
After pulling into the driveway of her parent’s mansion, I turn off my car and my music, then I turn to look at the girl I’ve been dating since early Jan. Maddie is beautiful, with long dark hair hanging almost to her waist. She’s a great singer songwriter. She will be a star; she already is one of Australia’s most celebrated young pop stars. But she’s not the girl I really want. On the surface, we have plenty of common, but she lack’s Lilah’s intensity. I don’t feel the connection with her that I have always felt with Lilah. Even when Lilah and I seemingly couldn’t stand each other, the air always crackled around us when we sparred.
Maddie turns her body toward mine. “I don’t want you to sing the duet tomorrow. It will be humiliating.”
“For you or for me?”
She frowns. “Both. It’s wrong, Ash.”
“What’s wrong, exactly?”
“She’s your sister.”
“Would you quit saying that. I was nearly eighteen when our parents married.”
And I liked her well before then – before our parents even met. Not that I let myself think about her like that when Ethan was with her.
“People won’t understand.”
“You mean, you don’t understand.”
She leans back in her seat. “Yes. I don’t understand, Ash. The other duet-”
“Wasn’t good enough to be top ten. I’ve told you that.”
“But-”
“I’m not pulling the plug now. It’s happening.”
Deal with it.
“If you go through with it…”
I wait for her to finish her sentence. I knew this was coming and am prepared for it. I’m ready.
“Then it’s over between us.”
The relief that floods me is instantaneous. I hadn’t realised until now just much this relationship weighed me down until now. As soon as I realised what my feelings for Lilah were, I knew it was over between us, but I kept Maddie around as a shield. Not fair on her and a dick move on my behalf. So when she mentioned she was coming to the US with us, I’d felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my own stupidity. Now, Maddie is giving me an out.
“Then I guess this is goodbye,” I say softly.
She sucks in a harsh breath, her eyes filling with tears. Other than liking Ainsley, Maddie is a good person, and I don’t actually like that I’m hurting her. But I can’t stay in this for her and for Ethan, not anymore.
“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t how you wanted this to go.”
With a grace I’ve come to expect from Maddie, she purses her lips together and opens her door.
Before she closes it, she lowers her head so she can look at me.
“It won’t work out for you, Asher. You must know that. Ethan will never forgive you-”
“For singing a song? C’mon-”
“You know it’s more than that.” She dares me to disagree. I don’t.
“Ethan won’t forgive you,” she repeats. “MOD will fall apart, and Jesse will-”
“What? Regret bringing be home.”
It’s a trigger for me and the words explode out of me before I can stop them. I try to keep on top of it, but sweat breaks across my brow as I war with the images of Jesse regretting bringing me home.
Maddie’s eyes soften. “I was going to say, he would regret marrying Cait and bringing Lilah into your lives if she destroys the relationship between you and Ethan. As much as you might wish things were different, being with Lilah will tear your family apart.”
She slams the door closed, and I wait for her to unlock her front door and walk inside before I start the car and head home.
Maddie is right. I’ve always known that letting myself feel the things I feel for Lilah will cause chaos and rip at the fabric of our newly blended family. The problem is that I’m not sure how much longer that can deter me from acting on what I feel. Because as much as I wish I didn’t feel the way I do, I can’t change it. The temptation that is my stepsister is proving too much to keep resisting, and I don’t know how long until I break.
________________________________________
“Are you ready?”
Lilah nods, but she looks like she’s about to puke.
Reaching out, I take her hand in mine, clasping our hands together and resting them on my knee.
“It’s perfect, Lilah.”
More and more, I don’t seem to be able to stop myself from touching her.
She slips me a sideways glance, looking so pretty it’s an effort not to stare at her. “I know,” she whispers.
Her gaze darts down to our linked hands, where are fingers are currently intertwined. In the darkened auditorium, it won’t be obvious to anyone unless they look, and we probably only have to worry about the people sitting on either side of us. Still, this feels scandalous. My heart hammers in my chest, a combination of nerves over the performance we’re about to put on and the feel of her hand in mine. Something so simple and innocent shouldn’t have an effect on me, yet it does. And I always have nerves before a show, but this is different.
“It’s just a song,” I hear her whisper.
Omgosh! I can't wait! This is going to be epic. If there was an issue, after the birthday party the mom would have reached out & dad to Asher. It's all good! Can't wait. Never Doubt yourself Elle! I unfortunately know of a writer now that is Not worth their salt. SMH
I have reread this over & over! It gets me everytime. It's so great! I love it! Can't wait for the next! Ty Elle! ❤️
Aw, you're too sweet. Going to publish the entire chapter within the next 8 hours. I hope. :D