“Awww, girl. We’re happy to have you back.” Lori wraps her in a hug.
“I’m sorry I ran you over with my cart,” she says through tears.
I start to laugh. “Wait, you what?”
Lori laughs. “Last year when Laney was in beast mode, she ran me over with a cart at the grocery store,” Lori says with laughter, bumping Laney. “Laney and I go way back. I knew something was up, because she wasn’t the fun girl I knew in school. We grew apart, but now I understand why.”
Laney takes a deep, cleansing breath. “It all just sort of happened. You know, you start drinking in college to be cool. Then you have a glass of wine while you work from home, then it becomes a bottle. Next thing I knew I was drinking hard liquor. You become so unaware of how much you really drink and how much it affects you until you have an incident like I did.” We all sit and listen patiently. “I didn’t realize I was being such a bitch or that I was hurting so many people.” She pauses, staring out at her son. “When I got into that accident with Ethan, it got so much worse. I wanted to die.” Her words are pained.
“Your son needs you,” I tell her.
She nods silently, and a tear rolls down her cheek. “I see that now.”
She looks at me with a smile. “Someone told me I needed to fight. He told me I needed to ‘rise up’.” She chuckles. “Apparently I need him as much as he needs me.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” I tell her with a huge smile.
Misty, in true Misty fashion, shouts, “Welcome to the mom squad, Laney.”
Laney laughs through her tears and thanks everyone for letting her be part of the group.
We spend the remainder of practice watching the kids, laughing, and making amazing memories. I’m glad everyone has come together and is getting along because this right here is what life is all about… Love, laughter, and great friendships.
As always I would first like to thank my husband. You have supported me through yet another release, and as with the others, you have been a trooper. Thank you so much for working so hard so I can stay home and do what I love—write.
To my PA, Corry. Girl, you have stepped up big in a short period of time, and for that I thank you. You make me laugh, when I need to laugh, and no project is too big. No matter what I’ve thrown at you so far, you’ve figured it out, and for that I’m grateful.
To my street team. Thank you, thank you thank you a million thank yous for always being there for me, supporting me and having my back no matter what. You’re an amazing group and I love you all so much!
Misty! Girl, I love you so hard and I thank you for all that you do. You’ve been there for me no matter what I’ve needed, and I can’t thank you enough.
Shannan! Thank you for all of your hard work on this book.
Karen! Thank you once again for sticking with me and supporting me. I love you boo!
To Alison’s Army! What can I say! I have the best reader group out there! I love you all so much and appreciate all of your love and support!
Thank you to BT Urruela for an amazing image of Christopher John, to Emma Rider for an amazing cover and to Silla Webb for putting up with my ridiculous edits. You guys are amazing, and I love working with you all.
Lastly, I would like to thank Hershey for creating the Hershey Kiss. Without them I may not have made it through edits! LOL!
Table of Contents
Copyright © 2019 Rise Up by Alison Mello
DEDICATION
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS