My First, My Last Chapter 29: “I Slept With Marcus”

My First, My Last is one of my favorite stories. For one, it’s friends-to-lovers, and to know me is to know that friends-to-lovers is my favorite trope to read and write. And two, it’s about childhood friends, which brings a sense of comfort on the page whenever childhood friends interact. My First, My Last differs from my other friends-to-lovers stories in that both characters, Ayla and Hassani, were drawn to each other romantically at first sight. It’s not like they kept things platonic because they never saw each other that way. They did initially, but the people around them, their opinions, paired with unforeseen events, kept Ayla and Hassani apart for longer than they should have been.

In this chapter, Ayla and Hassani have reunited at, of all places, his pre-wedding dinner. There are still some unresolved feelings that stem from the weeks leading up to their college graduation. There was actually a specific moment after their graduation that pivots the story to here (which I would love to discuss if you want to in another chapter-by-chapter commentary). So this scene serves as another pivot. One you may have seen coming, but when it actually hits, boy does it hit on time!

Setting

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Exploring The Character Connections in the Love is Cure, Vol. 1 – Vices & Virtues Series

My book world is growing, and with that growth, the connections are becoming more and more apparent. I believe in the idea of six degrees of separation – “the idea that all people are six connections or fewer away from each other.” Nothing makes this clearer than the Love is Cure, Vol. 1 – Vices & Virtues series.

With the seventh book soon to be released, it’s time to draw the connections you’ve seen if you’ve been reading the stories in the order they have been released.

Some of the connections will seem unfamiliar, especially if they involve Eryn or Simeon, characters from Sloth. Those connections will be made clear once Sloth is released on September 19th. To reveal them now would be giving spoilers, and I simply won’t!

Character Connection Map



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Inside the Character: Getting to Know Jayce Martin from Pride

Jayce Martin is by far one of my favorite book baes ever. He just takes the cake when it comes to his compassionate heart and his gentle approach as an alpha. His heart is so big and filled with so much love, he can find the good in just about anyone, including his love interest Summer McKoy.

While others may write off certain people, deciding they are incorrigible or incapable of changing, Jayce challenges that thinking with his selfless approach. He’s simply the best. Let’s get to know the MMC of Pride.

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 7 – Trying and Failing

RYDER

Humming a melody I couldn’t get out of my head since that morning, I tightened my grip around the stems of the flowers I carried in my hand as I followed the scent of clay down my condo’s corridor. When I walked into the condo, I inhaled the air, smiling to myself at the vision of Kelli working at her pottery station in her bedroom. I don’t know how Kelli was taking the whole “let’s chill on this” life we’d found ourselves in, but I wasn’t taking it well. For the third night in a row, I didn’t fall asleep until I got tired of tossing and turning in bed. And when that didn’t work, I sat at my desk with my notebook, jotting down random lyrics and ideas for songs until my eyes got heavy.

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 6 – Trying to Keep a Friend

KELLI

I opened my eyes to the tiny disco ball hovering overhead and hanging from the ceiling. Closing my eyes, I exhaled and held my lids tightly closed while shaking my head. For another night, the third night in a row, I’d fallen asleep beside Ryder. Without even turning to check beside me, I knew I’d slept in the same bed as him because this was his bed. His disco ball. His room. And we’d had sex together again.

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Character Q&A: Romello “Mello” St. Claire

On a sunny afternoon in Miami, Florida, I watched as Mello settled comfortably in a plush outdoor armchair, positioned under the shade of a large umbrella near the poolside. At his insistence, we sat in the backyard of his sprawling oasis in the heart of Miami.

“I would’ve gone bigger, but my wife is modest. ” Mello chuckled over the rim of his iced tea. “Anything she wants though, she’s got it.”

Dressed in casual yet impeccably tailored attire—a linen shirt paired with tailored shorts and crisp Jordans on his feet—his demeanor was confident yet approachable, reflecting the blend of New York grit and Miami cool that now defined his character.

What he called modest was sincerely beautiful from every angle. Their Mediterranean-style home featured stucco walls, arched windows, and terracotta roof tiles, making the backyard feel like its own private retreat. The entire ambiance was relaxed yet sophisticated, a testament to Rayelle’s impeccable taste.

With the low hum of R&B playing from hidden speakers, the mood was set, and Mello was more than forthcoming with his answers to my questions.

Q: Mello, it’s great to catch up with you. How’s life treating you as a family man in Miami?

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Wrath Chapter 11: “Let her go”

Let me start by saying that I love that we all agree on one thing – Asher is that guy. It usually is a toss-up when it comes to my book baes. I personally love them all, from the picture of perfection heroes to the flaws-and-all guys, but sometimes what I find to be redeeming qualities aren’t what some readers agree with, and I can respect that.

When I first developed Asher Truesdale’s character on the page, I fell in love with him. As his story in Wrath unfolded and he showed, more than told, just how incredible he was, he skyrocketed to the top of my book bae list, a spot that was kept warm for many, many years by my absolute fave, Amir Jones.

This scene in Wrath that appears in Chapter 11 is a testament to why I love this guy so much, and for two reasons. He’s not who you think he is at first sight and, as they say, he stands on business.

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Inside the Character: Getting to Know Simeon King from Sloth

Simeon King made his first appearance in my book world in the friends-to-lovers story So This is Love. At the end of that story, and in the author’s note, I mentioned to readers they would see him again in a story of his own. Sloth is that story.

When I first wrote my character summary of Simeon as a side character in So This is Love, I knew I wanted to develop him further. He was a dreamer, relying heavily on his dreams and confidently attesting to doing so. That alone made me want to know more about the smooth-talking sports agent who got Dallas to let down his guard, set aside his jaded view about sports agents, and actually hear what Simeon had to say.

Let’s get to know the MMC that stole my heart from his first appearance in my book world.

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 5 – Trying to Make Sense of it All

RYDER

I lowered my black shades over my eyes the moment I stepped out of my building’s front door. Showered, fresh, and in need of both answers and food, I stepped to the curb to cross the street.

“Hey Ryder,” I heard as I crossed. The voice was from one of our town’s newspaper vendors who waved as well.

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 4 – Trying to Avoid

KELLI

I blinked my eyes awake and groaned the second my tired eyes caught a glimpse of the sunlight pouring in through my windows. 

I inhaled the air and detected traces of the earthy clay I worked with and the natural oak wood of my shelves where I stored my pottery projects, both completed and in progress. My lavender and eucalyptus essential oils lingered in the air as well, but there was something new I smelled.

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