Leaving Tracks
By-Victoria Escobar
Genre - New Adult Contemporary
Publication: September 16th, 2014
North was on track to go nowhere. According to his brothers, ice skating was a hobby not a career. That didn’t stop him from dreaming of an Olympic Medal. Even if it was an impossible dream without a coach.
Hadley had been on track to the Olympics when a skating accident left her crippled and unable to skate. With no future plan other than skating Hadley returns home tired and broken. She would never be again, an Olympic ranked skater.
When their tracks collide North finds hope and a future in Hadley. She could be everything he needs her to be. She could help him reach that elusive dream.
Hadley’s trying to find her future. That path doesn’t necessarily include North. North is a skater with his eyes set on a medal, and Hadley can never be again. She just wanted peace.
Leaving tracks is for North to do. Hadley has already cut hers into the ice.
And here is an excerpt from Leaving Tracks-
Hadley
After a few minutes of watching the disaster on ice, I couldn’t take it anymore. I, respectfully, waited for him to hit the ice again before calling out. No point in distracting him from…whatever he was trying to do. “Hey.”
He turned his head from where he laid and studied me. “Hey.” He shouted back.
I waited for him to pull himself up and skate over. I had no intention of shouting across the ice.
“How long have you been sitting there?” His tone was slightly accusing and partly embarrassed. Which after witnessing what I had, I understood, completely.
“Enough to know if you don’t stop now, tomorrow the bruises will be so painful you won’t be able to move.” I replied easily and noted his eyes were the color of melted chocolate and shaped like Avala’s. So there was some Native American blood in him. That was apparent by the cut of his cheekbones as well. I also noted that he could almost pass for a Backstreet Boy look alike. The blond one…what was his name?
The flutter in my stomach was a surprise and I squashed it down immediately. Cute was cute, but attraction was something I wanted no part of. At least not yet, not when I wasn’t sure I had a future. It wouldn’t be fair to drag anyone down into my turmoil.
He rolled his shoulders in a completely male and dismissive gesture that made me smile. “I know what I’m doing.”
I couldn’t prevent the snort that escaped but covered the rest of my laughter with coughs. I wheezed a few breathes then just stared up at him. “I’m sure. I’m Hadley. I live here. You?”
“North. I live over there.” He jerked his head to the other side of the lake where I knew, theoretically, the other farm was, but I hadn’t ever been over there.
“Graton right? And North as in Nicolas Saint North and the Battle with the Nightmare King?”
He flushed. It was a totally endearing look and he looked away unable to meet my eyes. “I never asked. I’m assuming since my brothers are Thierry, Wesley, and Rhett my mother was a lover of literature and chose our names accordingly.” He rolled his shoulders in a move I thought betrayed discomfort. He was probably feeling the bruises now. “I’ve got to get back. Nice meeting you.” He pivoted and skated–on flat edges I saw–towards the other side of the lake.
What a weird, cute boy, I thought as I stood and turned for home. But entertaining. Yes, very entertaining. And I smiled as I walked away.
About the Author-
Born in Fort Lauderdale,Florida, but with the ability to claim eight states as home; Victoria Escobar writes fiction from her current home in New York. She writes whatever comes to mind and because of such has a variety of genres written including Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, and Contemporary Fiction.
In spare time if not with family, and friends Victoria enjoys curling up with a book from a favorite author with music playing. If not reading or writing she spends time drawing, sketching, crocheting, or some other random art project. She enjoys staying busy, but most of all enjoys staying creative.
Love romances and ice skating. Sounds like a win for me
ReplyDelete