Table of Contents
The Stranger Next To Me
Acknowledgments
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
Chapter 34
Epilogue
Other Books by LaShawn Vasser
The Stranger Next To Me
By
LaShawn Vasser
The Stranger Next To Me © 2014 LaShawn Vasser
All Rights Reserved
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead are entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
*EXPLICIT ADULT CONTENT*
WARNING
This novel is considered romantic fiction with erotic elements or erotica. This is for mature audiences only. This book contains adult profane language, mild violence and strong sexual content
Acknowledgments
There are so many people that I would like to thank for helping me step outside of my comfort zone and complete The Stranger Next To Me.
First and foremost, my husband, you are my rock and my inspiration. I love you dearly. My children, thank you for your patience and understanding when mommy is lost in her own little world while trying to give my characters life.
Thank you to Tiffany A, Beverly D, and Tina Y for helping me feel confident in releasing a quality book. [email protected], thanks for an INCREDIBLE cover. Lolah Lace you get it and THANK you for always encouraging, inspiring, and pushing me to be my best.
Finally, you the reader, THANK YOU for your kind words and continued support. It motivates me to continually work hard to give you a great reading experience. I’m forever grateful.
Chapter 1
Present Day
Tasha tossed and turned most of the night before finally falling into a fitful sleep. She was so exhausted when the alarm clock went off that it took everything within her not to throw it across the room.
Instead, she reached across the bed and shut it off. It was five-thirty in the morning which meant she’d only gotten a few hours of sleep. Honestly, it was surprising that she got that much sleep.
Although, Tasha should be getting ready for work, she snuggled deeper underneath the warm confines of her comforter. She was buried so far beneath them that her head was barely visible. If it were left up to her she would stay that way and never leave the safety of her bed…ever. However, that wasn’t really a possibility. Life didn’t stop because hers was a disaster.
A deep sigh escaped from between her lips as she flipped over onto her back, “What I wouldn’t give to be able to rewind the last four years of my life.” Especially, the last couple of days.
When Tasha entered her apartment a couple of nights ago, she shut off her cell phone and turned the ringer off on her land line. She still hadn’t turned them back on. At the time, the feeling of being on the verge of a nervous breakdown was so real that the need to shut the world out became the only way she could cope.
As she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, she still felt slightly on edge but at least she could breathe.
How was it possible to experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in almost the same span of time? Tasha had to take responsibility for the mess she’d made of her life. Sure, she may not be able to go back in time but she definitely had control over what happened in her future.
Her dad used to always say one moment at a time. Now she understood exactly what he meant. When you don’t know what the hell to do then be still and slowly take a deep breath and then another and another.
Tasha’s first’s priority had to be to get her life together. She hadn’t been ready to make any changes in her life before but now she felt as if she no longer had a choice. She had to make some drastic changes.
A moment later, she sat up, threw her legs over the side of the bed, rolled her head and shoulders in an attempt to work the kinks out. She’d been in bed for almost two days and her legs felt like lead. Her whole body felt like dead weight. Somehow, she was able to push herself up and out of bed.
It was cold in her apartment so she put on her terry cloth robe and headed for the bathroom.
After turning on the light, she took a good look at herself in the mirror. Tasha almost didn’t recognize the person that stared back. She ran her fingers across her swollen face just to be sure it was her.
Speaking softly to herself, “There’s no amount of MAC that can cover up these dark circles, bags and blood-shot eyes.”
How was she going to make it to work looking the way she looked? The answer was that there was no way she would make it into work today. Tasha finished up in the bathroom and went back to bed.
This time when her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep immediately.
Tasha woke up a few hours later having made a major decision. She’d made up her mind to finally do it.
“Dallas here I come.”
Hoping the feeling of despair that had been in
