They certainly don’t know how to play guitar and sing backup for me – but my girl does – with a bit of shameless begging on my behalf.
“Masen, your friend Josh was just telling me what a changed man you are since you and Billie got together, do you care to comment on that?”
I shoot daggers at Josh, who’s lounging over the other side of the pool and Billie giggles.
“Josh is kind of a shit-stirring moron,” Billie explains.
“Hey! I resent that,” Josh yells across at her.
“If the slipper fits,” Billie mutters under her breath.
“So, you don’t think he’s a changed man?” the reporter questions curiously, her attention on my girl.
Billie shrugs as she glances at me. “He’s his own man. I can’t take credit for that level of perfection.”
Josh makes gagging sounds from his spot, and I flip him off.
“You’re too fucking sweet, sugar,” I say, my voice gruff.
The reporter, Jane I think she said her name was, sighs, her eyes soft and dreamy.
That’s my cue that I need to get the hell out of dodge.
“I need a swim,” I announce, stripping my t-shirt off over my head and reaching for my cigarettes.
Billie’s hand lands on top of mine and squeezes tight. She shakes her head.
I hold back a groan. She’s worn me down on a lot of things in the months since she officially moved in, but she’s yet to crack me on the smokes – but it’s not through lack of trying.
“Well thank you for your time, Masen, I really appreciate it.” Jane says.
I nod at her in response.
Fucking Billie.
I don’t do interviews. Definitely don’t let reporters in my house, but sugar insisted that we bend the rules one time, and if I’ve learnt one thing this past year, it’s that I’m shitty at telling that girl no.
I release the pack of cigarettes with a huff and she smiles victoriously.
I stroll towards the pool, feeling two sets of eyes on me.
Billie finally wore me down on this too – apparently my girl likes me shirtless and dripping wet, so this was one thing I was all too happy to fold on.
“So, I’ll see you at the shoot next week?” Jane calls after me, and I pause on the edge of the pool.
“Photoshoot?”
“For the calendar?” she replies, confused.
“He’ll be there,” Josh tells her at the same moment that Billie nods furiously.
Fuck.
I don’t know what they’re up to, but it’s bound to be bad news for me.
“Tell me now and make it quick.” I point a finger at Billie.
She shoots me a sheepish expression. “You know I can’t say no when people ask for things.”
“Then stop answering my phone, sugar, because no is the only answer I give.”
“It’s just one little photo.” She winces. “Shirtless.”
I raise my brows.
“It’s for sick kids…”
She knows that won’t sway me – I already give a shit load of money to charity – they don’t need a half-naked photo of me too.
She scrunches up her nose. Her soft eyes begging and, hell, I’ll do it. This woman owns me.
I might not be the kind of man to tell her I love her every day, but she knows it. She knows she owns every part of me.
“Beckett Thorn is doing it,” she barters, and I chuckle.
“That’s the best bargaining point you’ve got, sugar?”
“That’s the best I’ve got.” She throws her hands up in defeat.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Take it off, Mr. October!” Josh whoops.
“But I’m going to be smoking in the photo.” I smirk.
I catch her scowl and hear Josh’s chuckle before I leap into the pool, probably covering them in water.
I grin as I swim towards the surface. She’s standing on the side, hands on her hips, trying her hardest, and failing not to smile at me.
My sugar, she’s too damn sweet.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for reading Mr. October, I hope you enjoyed it.
If you did enjoy it, please consider leaving a review; they give authors valuable feedback, help other readers find new books, and I’d really, really appreciate it!
If you are interested in getting sneak peeks into my work, freebies and giveaways, you can sign up for my newsletter HERE.
If you’re into Facebook, please join my reader group HERE.
Please remember:
This book has been written using UK English and may contain euphemisms and slang words that form part of the New Zealand spoken word.
Please remember that the words are not misspelled. They are slang terms and form part of everyday, New Zealand vernacular.
I.e: I’m from New Zealand and sometimes we say weird things down here… please try and be cool about it.
Thanks again!
MR. NOVEMBER
Mr. November – Calendar Boys Series, Book Eleven, will be releasing November 10th 2019.
Visit www.nicolegoodinauthor.com for the cover reveal and to read the first chapter.
Amazon links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
OTHER TITLES
Love like Yours Series
Rushed – Book 1
Pierced – Book 2
Hunted – Book 3
Chased – Book 4
Love like Yours Box Set – Books 1-4
Rock Games Novels
Paper, Scissors, Rock: Vol. 1
Hide and Seek: Vol. 2
My Heart Duet
My Heart Needs
My Heart Wants
Every Last Beat – The Heart Duet Box Set – Books 1 & 2
Calendar Boys
Mr. January
Mr. February
Mr. April
Mr. May
Mr. June
Mr. July
Mr. August
Mr. September
Mr. October
Calendar Boys Box Set – Books 1-4
Calendar Boys Box Set – Books 5-8
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The songs that inspired this book: Wild Love (Acoustic) – James Bay, Just For Tonight – James Bay, and Tearin’ Up My Heart – Kina Grannis.
I really loved writing about Masen and Billie – I know I shouldn’t have favourites between my book babies, but I think this one might be my favourite of the series (so far at least).
I hope you all enjoyed Masen and Billie as much as I do.
I can’t believe I’m getting down to the end of the series already, this year has just flown by so fast. Thank you all for the support of these books, it means the worlds to me!
Stacey and Bianca, thank you for being as excited about by asshole rocker as I am!
PLAYLIST
Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
Hold On – SHEL & Gareth Dunlop
Lose My Mind – Dean Lewis
Half A Man – Dean Lewis
Just For Tonight – James Bay
Tearin’ Up My Heart – Kina Grannis
Every Other Man – He Is We
If I Can’t Have You – Shawn Mendes
Us – James Bay
The Few Things – JP Saxe
The Best – James Bay
Come Down – Noah Kahan
She’s Casual – The Hunna
Lay It On Me – Vance Joy
Peer Pressure – James Bay & Julia Michaels
This Morning – Picture This
Wild Love (Acoustic) – James Bay
Girl Crush – Harry Styles
Who Do You Love – The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds of Summer
What A Time – Julia Michaels & Niall Horan
Colors – Halsey
Sugarcoat – George Ezra
More Than Friends �
�� Jason Mraz & Meghan Trainor
Medicine – Robinson
Hallelujah – Noah Kahan
In My Head – James Bay
Addicted To You – Picture This
If You Ever Wanna Be In Love – James Bay
Superhero – Lauv
Always Be Here – Dane Rumble
Back To You – Selena Gomez
Middle Of The Night – The Vamps & Martin Jensen
Sun Comes Up – Rudimental & James Arthur
Don’t Let Me Be Yours – Zara Larsson
Million Reasons – Lady Gaga
Rush – Lewis Capaldi & Jessie Reyez
Falling like the Stars – James Arthur
Don’t Give Up On Me – Andy Grammer
Can’t Help Falling In Love – Kina Grannis
All The Stars – Sofia Karlberg
If This is Love – Ruth B.
the words – Christina Perri
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
Wild Enough – Elina
Move Together – James Bay
Better Than Today – Rhys Lewis
Need The Sun To Break – James Bay
Incomplete – James Bay
Freedom! ’90 – The Bellas
Beautiful People – Ed Sheeran & Khalid
Worthy Of You – Plested
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
NICOLE S. GOODIN is a romance author and mother of two from Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand.
In mid-2015, she started to write about a group of characters who wouldn’t get out of her head. Her first book, Rushed, was published in mid-2016.
Nicole enjoys long walks on the beach, pillow fights and braiding her friends’ hair. She dislikes clichés, talking about herself in the third person, and people who don’t understand her sense of humour.
Please feel free to contact her either via her website, email, Instagram, Twitter or on her Facebook page, she would love to hear your feedback. If you’re feeling really game, you can even sign up for her newsletter HERE.
UPCOMING TITLES
Calendar Boys Novels
Mr. November
Mr. December