Bailey He tastes like cotton candy and freedom. Like the best and worse ideas I’ve ever had. College started off with a bang. Did I embarrass myself a few times? Absolutely. But, everything was going as planned. My grades were good, my parents were happy, and I managed to get a dorm room all to myself senior year. With my two best friends at my side, I was well on my way to pharmacy school, a wife, a house with a picket fence, and credit card debt. The American dream. That is, of course, until I met the man that turned my world upside down. Now, working at the local pharmacy, I find my thoughts still drifting to brown eyes and a brilliant smile. To dorm room kisses and stolen glances. I spent the last two years slowly putting the broken pieces of my heart back together. Hoping that, against all odds, I could become a version of myself I can be proud of. Sometimes I wonder what he’d think of the man I am now. Lolly Kissing him is like touching something forbidden. It’s intoxicating. I can’t decide if this is the best or worst decision of my life… I solemnly swore to never entertain another straight guy. Raised my right hand, had a witness and everything. The problem is that I can’t seem to stay away from him. That beautiful boy with green eyes and a soft smile. Even after years apart, he’s still on my mind, and on my heart. It’s like he carved something of himself so deep inside me I can’t buff it out. It’s exhausting missing someone you can’t have. These days, balancing my freelance work while being a full-time caregiver has put a significant damper on my social life. I miss my friends, but the group chat has yet to stop pinging with inappropriate GIFs and ridiculous banter. I took their advice and tried the dating scene. Of course I did, I’m literally in my prime. But I’m one, “what do you do for fun,” away from deleting my account. The thing is, none of these guys scratch the itch. None of them are… him. Lolly is a second chance romance that explores finding strength in darkness, beauty in the broken, and forgiveness through pain. A story of love and loss, of demolition and rebuilding. Even lost in darkness, through love, anyone can be found. This book includes heavy themes related to mental health, grief, identity, and coping with trauma. This book is only intended for readers 18 and up.