Another week is gone. My son has finished the schooling part of driver’s ed though not the driving part yet, I’ve finished summer cross country training though I’m still trying to get a lot of walking in, and I’ve been trying to write in between prepping for classes.
I don’t normally share the first two chapters of a new book, but I’m thinking of doing this one solely in the female POV and I’d like to know what you think about that. If you missed Chapter 1, you can go to the previous post, but here’s Chapter 2.
Chapter 2
“So, have you decided what you’re going to do your thesis on?” Charlie asks, biting into an apple with a crunch so loud it makes Piper flinch. She flops into the last open seat at the kitchen table.
For the first time in what feels like forever, all five of us are home at the same time—a scheduling miracle rivaled only by solar eclipses and Trader Joe’s having my favorite pretzel snacks in stock. Between Piper’s late-night coding sprints, Charlie’s gym obsession, Belle’s rotating roster of dates and social media videos, and Katie’s unpredictable hours with her promotion, our apartment usually feels like a rotating Airbnb. But tonight, everyone’s here, and I’m not about to waste the brainpower of four highly opinionated twenty-somethings.
“Not yet.” I sigh and wrap my hands around my lukewarm mug of green tea. It’s been a week since Dr. Ryan gave the assignment and I still don’t know exactly what to do.
“You could always do something on the power of advertising,” Katie offers, lightly tapping her polish-free nails against her lips. “Track what kind of ads people respond to most—emotional versus logical, celebrity endorsements versus peer reviews…”
She trails off, clearly seeing the genius in her own idea. Probably because she works in advertising and this would double as job research.
“Yeah, maybe.” I try to sound noncommittal but appreciative. It’s not a bad idea—just not my idea.
“Or you could come to the gym with me,” Charlie says, wiggling her eyebrows at me. “Study how physical activity improves confidence, posture, success with the opposite sex... You know, science.”
I grimace. “Are you trying to help me with my thesis or get me to join your 6 a.m. boot camp again?”
Charlie grins mischievously and shrugs. “Why not both? It helped last time.”
“What it helped with was making sure I couldn’t walk down the stairs for three days.” I love Charlie, but her version of motivation involves strong words of encouragement that border on yelling, kettlebells, and an alarming amount of jump squats. I could probably use more exercise. I’m not UNfit, but I’m definitely not as fit as Charlie but doing my thesis on anything in a gym sounds as appealing as a deepcleaning at the dentist.
“Or…” Belle interjects with a dangerous gleam in her eyes—the kind she gets right before delivering a completely chaotic or wacky suggestion. “You could go on dates with guys from Adore and document the psychology of online dating.”
I groan and roll my eyes. “Please, not this again.”
“Wait, the app you’ve been trying to get her to us is called Adore?” Charlie asks, wrinkling her nose. “That sounds like a place where creepy men come out of the woodwork. Or worse a place serial killers use to hunt their victims.”
“That’s what I said,” I say, gesturing toward her. “Thank you.”
Belle folds her arms across her chest and shakes her head. “You did not say that. You said one guy looked like he owned a white van, but the other guy was cute.”
“I said he was okay,” I correct. “Like the way you describe a sandwich that fills you up but does nothing for your tastebuds. Regardless, I am not signing up for some creepy matchmaking experiment just for a thesis.”
“Actually…” Piper finally looks up from her laptop, pushing her glasses up her nose. “If you want to go deeper, you could study real-life couples. Track serotonin levels, attachment styles, and see what factors lead to long-term compatibility after the infatuation stage wears off.”
Katie makes a face. “Way to suck all the romance out of relationships. Please tell me you didn’t do that with you and Patrick.”
“No, I didn’t, and I’m not trying to kill romance,” Piper replies. “Just explain it. Though it is a fascinating topic.”
I stare into my tea and tap my finger on the table. None of these ideas feel quite right, though Piper’s is the closest. I want something that blends science with story—something human, relatable, unpredictable.
“I don’t know,” I mumble. “It all just feels… too structured. I want something more organic.”
“Then go observe people,” Charlie suggests. “Isn’t that what psychology’s about? Studying human behavior? Go people-watch somewhere and see what grabs your attention.”
The room goes quiet for a moment. And for the first time all evening, a lightbulb flickers in my brain.
Maybe that’s what I need—just to get out of this apartment and watch. No theories. No structure. Just real people, being real. I’m bound to find some inspiration.
“That’s actually a great idea,” I say slowly.
Belle perks up. “Wait… where are you going to people-watch? You could come to my work. We get so many interesting people.”
“Um maybe,” I say though I’m definitely not thinking about going to Belle’s work. No, I’m thinking that if I do my people watching at The Java Bean, I can also find out more about coffee guy. Kill two birds with one stone.
Okay, let me know your thoughts. Will it work if I just stay in Hannah’s point of view?
Have a blessed week,
Lorana
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Sometimes the hardest thing to rebuild isn’t a ranch—it’s a heart.
Jax Rivers doesn’t do roots. Raised in foster care and now a successful businessman, he’s used to flipping failing ventures and moving on. Inheriting a run-down Colorado ranch from the grandfather who once abandoned him? Definitely not part of the plan. Neither is the beautiful, headstrong neighbor who seems determined to challenge him at every turn.
Lacey Black knows how to save a ranch, but not a man with a chip on his shoulder and one foot out the door. Volunteered by her father to help restore the place, she vows to stay professional and ignore the sparks that Jax ignites. But her own life has taken a turn she didn’t ask for, and she’s leaning hard on God to help her find a way forward.
As long-buried truths come to light and the ranch begins to feel like home, Jax and Lacey must decide if they’re willing to trust God—and each other—with the future they never expected to find.
Bella
Is beauty a blessing or a curse? Like many things in life, the answer is, it depends.
Once upon a time, I ran because I was ashamed of myself, of the pain I caused, of all he lost because he saved me.
This time, I run to protect him.
Antonio may be a beast, but he is not the Devil.
The real Devil has found me.
Antonio
Everything I have, I earned through hard work, through fighting for it.
I found Bella again. We worked through our past, our trauma. I will not let a despicable criminal take her from me.
How ironic that my Bella has carried this burden alone for years, while giving love and support to everyone around her.
I will free her from this monster now. Freeing her from her guilt? Only she can do that. But I'll be there for her.
Bella thinks she's protecting me.
But she forgot something important.
Her Beast comes with an army.
Can these two star-crossed lovers defeat the evil that haunts them, overcome the trauma that shaped them, and claim the happily-ever-after they never thought possible?
A rescue mission takes a dangerous turn
Firefighter Leslie Granger and her company face an unforeseen threat at a warehouse fire when a rescue attempt brings them face-to-face with a shooter disguised as one of their own.
A surprising target
Though Officer Clint Baker initially suspected the fire department was under attack, he now believes Leslie is the real target. He's determined to protect her, even as he struggles to figure out where the threats originate.
Uncovering a shocking motive
As they delve deeper into the mystery, they discover a hidden motive that will challenge their courage and force them to confront not only the danger, but also the unexpected attraction growing between them.
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