About Almost in Love with You: Before That Cruel Summer Took Everything Novel
"My name was Arianna Carter, and I died at seventeen because the boy I loved told me to.
When I was fifteen, Jayden's father—Officer Hiddleston—died saving my life from a group of thugs. He rushed in when he heard me screaming for help, but in the fight that followed, he was killed protecting me. I walked away alive while the best man I'd ever known paid with his life.
Jayden never forgave me for it.
High school became a nightmare. The bullying, the isolation, watching the boy I'd loved since we were twelve treat me like I was invisible. My heart condition was getting worse—the stress, the loneliness, the constant fear were all taking their toll. But the worst part wasn't the physical pain. It was watching the person I loved most treat me like I was already dead.
Tonight, I finally worked up the courage to find him after school. I followed him to that narrow alley behind the convenience store, my heart hammering against my ribs as I called out his name.
""Jayden, I need to talk to you.""
He turned around, and for a split second, I saw something flicker in his eyes. But then his expression hardened into that familiar mask of indifference.
I tried to tell him everything—about my condition, about how I was dying, about how I'd loved him through all of this hatred. But before I could get the words out, he cut me off.
""Go ahead then,"" he said, his voice cold and final.
""Why don't you just go die.""
I stood there frozen as he walked away, his footsteps echoing off the brick walls.
Too late to apologize, my boy—I just stopped loving you on that cruel summer.
The tears came then, hot and bitter in the evening air.
""Okay,"" I whispered to his retreating figure. ""I will.""
Two months later, my heart gave out for good."