Six years ago, Tessa Gardner’s sister, Mellie, disappeared. Despite lingering guilt and the never ending desire to find her, seventeen-year-old Tessa works hard to keep it together. Her grades are decent, and thanks to her part-time job, she can help pay her family’s bills. But when her childhood crush, seventeen-year-old Luke Simon, rolls back into her small Texan town, he threatens to topple the delicate balance she created. She’s drawn to him—and the way he makes her smile. He’s the only one who seems to understand her, but he’s got a dark past of his own. Even the fake psychic who swears Mellie is still alive tells Tessa that Luke will cause her pain.
Luke Simon knows a thing or two about guilt. He moved in with his uncle to escape his past, but memories threaten to eat him alive. He does what he can to keep his anger in check—quieting his thoughts by making out with one meaningless girl after the next. Tessa, and her long legs and her hard-earned smiles and her kindness is the only girl who’s ever mattered. She’s the one untainted memory he has from his childhood and he could talk to her for hours. He could do anything with her for hours. But the truth about his past might send her running. Or worse.
While Tessa and Luke try their hardest to live in the present, their pasts lurk in the shadows, more intertwined than they could imagine. And it may be too late to save Tessa's sister—and themselves.
My sister Melanie disappeared six years, two weeks and three days ago.
Last week was her nineteenth birthday and our mobile home is still decorated with purple and pink balloons. Mom had gotten carrot cake at the store and we sang “Happy Birthday” to an empty chair. Mom hasn’t given up hope that we’re going to find her alive. Her hope propels her forward. Every breath she takes is for Melanie.
That’s what she told Dad, right before he left three years ago. “You need to get help,” he replied then hugged me tightly, whispering in my ear, “You can come with me.”
“I can’t,” I whispered back, tears tracking down my face. He cleared his throat several times, as if he was fighting to keep control of his own emotions. I’ll always remember the look on his face. Stricken and resigned.
Mom pops her head into my tiny bedroom. “Tessa, I’m going to work.” Her voice has the raspy tone of too many cigarettes. She’s quit ten times in the past six years.
I’ve never smoked—it would be bad for my vocal chords and I need them to perform as well as possible.
“How late are you working today?” I ask. Her shifts change often. Sometimes because she decides at the last minute she needs to go home. Sometimes, she realizes we really need more money.
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French
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Already translated.
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Sandra Savioli
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Author review: Wonderful translator: great translation and very responsive. I highly recommend her and would definitely work with her again :-) |
