Wincing, I speed-walk to the small hallway where shoes are tucked into cubbies and a sign-in sheet sits riddled with signatures of varying flow and weight. I was expecting him to be gone already, so I nearly run into Josh, his back to me in stylish grey joggers and form-fitting matching workout shirt, dark brown hair soft and touchable, body rigid and not, tan fingers gripped around the doorknob, but frozen.
Did he stop himself from leaving?
“Come back inside, Josh.”
He whispers, “If I had known this was your class I wouldn’t have come.”
“I have no doubt! But you’re here now, so that must be for a reason. So come inside.”
From over his shoulder he locks eyes with me — my gaze patient, his glinting with fury. “And what reason would that be, Tempest?!”
“You must have needed a class if you showed up to one, right?”
He blinks, and turns to face me. “Oh.”
Rolling my eyes wasn’t part of teacher-training, but I can’t help it. This guy is unbelievable! I don’t care how handsome he is, I’ve never met anyone more rude in my entire life.
Pointing back to my class I whisper, “Now get in there,” spinning around, then trying hard not to storm back to my stage. “Concentrate on your breath until what you breath out is as bright as what you breath in.” Josh finds a spot and rolls out his mat. “You may feel tingly. That’s your energy shifting, and that’s good.” What did he think I meant by reason? “You are opening yourself up to the truth of who you really are.” I mean what, that I thought he and I, specifically, were supposed to be brought together today? “You are releasing what is false.” He really believes I have a crush on him. An unrequited one! “So that all of the good that is meant for you, has room to come into your life.” Like he’s some prize! “Hey Josh!”
Startled by my harsh tone, every student opens their eyes to look from me to him as he growls, “What?!”
“Grab two blocks and a blanket from the stack sometime today. We’re waiting for you!”
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Tuck Yes
Story behind the story…
This is me, Faleena Hopkins, with the fabulous T-Rex at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, taken on March 1st, 2020, just days before I moved back to California and the pandemic broke out. I was there researching Zia’s job, and had no idea what was about to happen in our world! What a fantastic place, though. If you’re ever in New York, check it out.
Tuck Yes was born out of Lily and Peter Tuck’s love in my novel May Cocker — a 1944 historical romance - the story of the Cocker grandparents meeting for the first time, Book 24, Cocker Brothers. Where true love began.
Lily and Peter Tuck were friends of May, and their story was so touching that I followed them to New York City and created a family for them, too.
I highly encourage you to read May Cocker even if it’s Book 25, because it’s a prequel and gives nothing away. In fact, it only adds depth to all of the Cocker Brothers stories.
Thank you for enjoying my love stories, and I look forward to entertaining you in all of the many ways!
x, Faleena Hopkins
Have you read Bennett, Christina and Elliot’s story? Find it here.
COCKER BROTHERS SERIES
In Kindle Unlimited
Read them all in the 30-Day Free Trial
Learn about Free Bonus Scenes for the entire series on my website.
THE SIX BROTHERS
1. Jake Cocker
2. Jett Cocker
3. Jaxson Cocker
4. Jason Cocker
5. Justin Cocker
6. Jeremy Cocker
7. A Honey Badger X-Mas
— a side character novella
THE NEXT GENERATION
8. Hannah Cocker
9. Ethan Cocker
10. Gabriel Cocker
11. Emma Cocker
12. Eric Cocker
13. Sofia Sol Cocker
14. Sean & Celia
15. Max Cocker
16. Nicholas Cocker
17. Cocker Bonus Scenes
18. Caden Cocker
19. Tonk Jr.
— a side character novella
20. Billy Cooper
— a side character novella
21. Samantha Cocker
22. Jack, Marion, & Troy
— side character novella
23. Wyatt Cocker
24 May Cocker
(Cocker Family historical romance, the grandparents meeting in 1944)
25. Lexi Cocker
Werewolves of New York
Nathaniel. Eli. Darik. Dontae.
Their pack started an architectural firm as a cover. But what drives their inner wolves is their real problem.
Werewolves of Chicago
They’re fighting one evil, the Chicago mafia — a pack of three that will turn to four. One will be unwanted. Love will pull at three. Above all, good must prevail.
About the Author
Faleena Hopkins is an author, actress & filmmaker who lives in Los Angeles with her rescue dog Sophia, where she writes every day, drinks too much coffee and not enough wine.
Her feature film “Just One More Kiss” was released in theaters in Feb. 2020 before the pandemic hit. You can find that online now distributed through Lionsgate.
AuthorFaleenaHopkins.com
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2021 by Faleena Hopkins
Cover Licensed through Deposit Photos.
Cover Designed by Faleena Hopkins
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental. This story uses real places with fictionalized situations for audience fun.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
