Mishie, my girl, your drive and passion for the story fuels me, and I couldn’t have asked anyone better to be on this team.
Lisa … (I’m laughing as I’m writing this) … thank you for your honest review of the first book. Bet you didn’t think I was going to reach out and ask you to be on my team after that, did you? Thank you for catching all the missing words that ran through my head and never made it to into the story. Because of you, no word has been lost.
Faith, thank you for being there since the beginning. You are so talented and I look up to you so much. Thank you for everything you’ve given me, time, encouragement, advice, etc. Don’t ever leave me.
An endless thank you to my husband, Michael, my daughter, Grace, and my son, Christian. I hear you. I see you. I feel you. I may not be there one hundred of the time, but just know you three will always be my number one. Your continuous support and patience allows me to follow my dream. I love you!
Thank you to my sisters, Amanda, Danielle, and Kaylee. Damn, I love you guys.
Thank you, Amanda, my other half for being there for my every step of the way. For celebrating every single victory, though I know at times can be annoying. Despite how hard life hit this year, you still took the time to beta read. PS: When you read this, you’ll be mad I left a paragraph that you begged me to take out, but seriously … what did you expect? I’m not even sorry about it.
A huge thanks to Kaylee, the free-spirited one. While writing book two, you texted me one night and said how much I’ve inspired you to follow your dreams. The truth is, you’re my inspiration. Thank you for reminding me how beautiful this world is. I thank God every day for you.
Danielle, you will probably never read this, but I love you anyway. You support me in your own way and it will always be enough.
Thank you, Stephanie Anderson, for putting this book perfectly together as always. Every little detail is noticed and appreciated!
To all the amazing Authors, bloggers, bookstagrammers, readers, and anyone else who I’ve missed because I’m still on a high from no sleep and deadly amounts of caffeine, Thank you!
Oh-my-God, Mom!
Thank you, Mom, I love you!
I promise we will have breakfast … after one more story.
about the author Nicole Fiorina is an independent author, making her claim in the indie world with the Stay With Me series. She lives in Florida with her loving husband, Michael, two children, Christian and Grace, and Great Dane, Winston. Her writing style is unapologetic and emotional, striving to push buttons, hearts, and limits. Nicole despises classifying genres, but if she was forced to choose, her books would fall under New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Psychological, Thriller, and urban fantasy (see what I mean?). A lover of music, especially classic rock, she can rap most Eminem songs, dance, dabbles on the piano, and likes to use power tools and a paint brush. She’s addicted to coconut berry Red bull, coffee, and root beer, but makes sure to force down water to appease her mother. When she’s not writing, she’s probably chauffeuring her kids around, at family gatherings, or sleeping.
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CONTENTS
Note From Nicole
DEDICATION
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Note from Oliver Masters
Epilogue
Untitled
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright © 2019 by Nicole Fiorina
Publication Date: February 9th, 2020
1st Edition
All right reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Formatting by BohoBooks Publishing
Proof Reading by Annie Bugeja
Cover by Nicole Fiorina Books
First off, this story is fiction,
but if you think this isn’t real to me,
then you must be mistaken.
Look, I can take criticism,
but you attacked my honest intentions.
People live with this every damn day.
Don’t tell me how we’re FEELING.
“You lack sincerity … do your research
this story is unrealistic …”
I not only DID it, I LIVED it,
now I WRITE it, so now I’m HEALING.
YES, I know what it’s like,
all I know are these words that I write
You still picked up my third book,
so I must be doing something right.
And if you think this rhyme is for you,
here’s my email, I’ll answer a question or two.
Stay with Me
Even When I’m Gone
Now Open Your Eyes is the last book in the Stay with Me series. This series must be read in order for it to be understood.
You may not agree with the character’s viewpoints, actions, discussions, or the events in this story, and that is okay. Mature content, adult language and profanity, graphic sexual content, violence, and disturbing matters may trigger an emotional response. Read at your own risk.
Happy Birthday Mackenzie.
Now Open Your Eyes Playlist Available on Spotify
For my son who feels too much,
Never be ashamed of showing
your emotions or tears.
One day, there will be someone
who needs every single one.