Hi, Harts!

Since you’ve all been SO awesome and patient while I’ve been recovering from surgery and dealing with the news of my little brother’s cancer diagnosis, I wanted to give you a little treat this Sunday. So, here’s an UNEDITED bit of HEATED! Remember, it’s just a draft and things could change. But I thought you’d like to see! 🙂 What do you think?

I lifted my forehead up from the tinted SUV window. White rails flashed by and horses dotted lush green pastures. Some were clustered together under palm trees that provided little sun protection. The SUV slowed and made a gentle right onto a pebble-lined driveway. Our driver, Ken, put down his window and reached to a code box. Balmy Florida air flooded inside the cool SUV. I grinned—it smelled like horses and the beach!

            “Omigod, we’re here!” I said.

            Next to me, Heather Fox lifted a corner of her purple sleeping mask. “Silver, you screamed that loud enough for the entire city of Ocala to hear.”

            Jasmine King, Canterwood Crest Academy’s new-ish transfer from Wellington Prep, had white Beats over her ears and she didn’t even look at Heather or me from her seat in the row behind us.