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Let me be part of the inn crowd.
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So Inn Love:
(copyright moi, of course) |
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 I thought of the way Hayden had looked at me as we both sprinted into the ocean, racing each other to be first to dive in. Afterward, we’d all sat around the bonfire to warm up and dry off, and I’d caught him looking at me a few times across the fire.
So what? So you’re kind of –or more than kind of—attracted to him, I thought as I tried to fall asleep. You’re not here to fall in love over the summer. That would only make everything really complicated.
You’re here to save money for college, and just have fun, I reminded myself.
But…wouldn’t being in love be fun?
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The bike tilted to the right, jolting me off the handlebars. I landed on my feet, just as Hayden hopped off the bike, grabbing me by the waist to steady me. I looked over my shoulder at him. “I’m okay,” I said.
“Sorry. I thought you were—uh—falling.” He looked very embarrassed, which was kind of an odd look for him.
“No. I’m fine,” I said.
Hayden leaned down to pick up the bike, while I refastened my barrette which had somehow come loose in all the excitement of the near-crash. “Maybe I should just walk,” I said. “If I run, I could—”
“It was one pothole. Come on, get back on,” Hayden said. “You know that old saying about having to get back on the bike.”
“No,” I said.
“Well, there is one.” He grinned and patted the handlebars. “Come on, take two. And this time, when you see giant dips in the road? Tell me.”
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What’s in a Name?
I used some names with personal attachment this time. “Hayden” and “Crossley” are both names of dorms at the school where I grew up: Northfield Mount Hermon. It’s a prep school, so when I was trying to think of preppy names, they just naturally came to mind.
Maybe I should have used “Gould” and “Marquand” too?
Back in the Day
My grandparents used to own a house in an exclusive community in Rhode Island. We went there to visit every summer, and I’d stay as long as I possibly could. I just loved it. I was close with my grandmother, I got to spend time with my aunts, uncles and cousins who came in from Chicago and Las Vegas. I ate penny candy, went swimming in the ocean every day, got sunburned to a light crispy texture (“original recipe,” I think it’s called).
Probably my favorite place ever. If I could live there, I would, but there’s no way I could ever afford it, unless of course you all buy a million copies of my book(s). Or maybe 100 million copies.
So get started.
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Trivia Trivia Trivia
I finished the final draft of the book while staying at an inn.
No way get out!
Yes, it’s true.
It was “inland,” though – no tide involved.
When it comes down to the final work on a book, I tend to need to sequester myself, like a jury. Nobody misses me, because I’m no fun to be around during those days.
While I was at the hotel, it was incredibly hot outside, in the 100s, and I was so glad I was staying somewhere with decent air conditioning. That made up for the lack of ocean breeze.
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