“Ace …” I refuse to turn my glare from Steven as I hear my mother’s voice and her steps quickly approaching. “Honey, why don’t we talk?” she says softly as she places a hand on my shoulder.

I shrug it off and turn my glare on her. Her blue eyes plead with me. I shake my head and rush out the patio door, wishing it was a door that could be slammed.

I feel heat and anger radiate through me, blinding me from my own actions.

“Harper, we need to talk.” I look up, realizing I’m back in Clementine again. I’ve been spending an exorbitant about of time in here, trying to avoid … everything. I watch as she takes a few steps closer to me, flipping on the lights to display a look of determination written across her face.

“Steven is becoming a very dear friend to me, and he’s helping me through this. You of all people should understand. As soon as Max moves on to someone else you’re going to feel the same need.”

That’s when I know. That’s when I know I need to go.

I shove another box further into my backseat, using more force than necessary as I hear Steven approaching whistling some happy show tune. His dress shoes slap against the pavement of my parents’ driveway as he ascends toward the house. I don’t need to look up to confirm that it’s him. The whistling is a dead giveaway.

I’ve never put much thought into whether or not I care for the sound of whistling. However, I now know I loathe it. At least these days I do. Which causes me to briefly ponder if it has always grated on my nerves or if it’s just one more thing life is ruining for me.

Glancing over the hood of my car I catch sight of him, and my eyes turn icy, glaring at his short, stocky stature. He doesn’t ever seem to mind my moody attitude, or death glares, and today is no different. He smiles and gives me a slight head nod, causing a slight break in his stupid song that he continues to whistle as he makes his way past me, infuriating me all the more. I’m sure he’s relieved to see me going, and the revelation almost makes me want to defiantly rip the same box I’ve just loaded back out and stick around—almost.

My jaw clenches as the sudden impulse to hit Steven courses through every cell of my body. I want him to feel just a small taste of the pain that I’m feeling, like life has shredded every single one of his nerve endings, exposing them to every callous element that life can offer, reminding him that the pain can indeed always get worse.

The need overwhelms me and I have to consciously fight to keep myself from going after him. Every muscle in my body strains with the desire for my fist to connect with the cocky smirk he wears like an old suit that doesn’t fit quite right. I want him to go away and leave my family alone. He doesn’t belong here. He isn’t one of us. Yet he struts around like he’s been here every day of the last twenty years of my life.

Surely Kendall and Abby understand this hatred I feel, maybe even Kyle does. They know me better than most. Or at least they used to.

No one seems to understand me these days though. They don’t understand I just need some space. I need to get out of here. I don’t belong here. Not anymore.

To be Continued in

His Series, Book Two

March 1, 2015

Becoming His, was first completed in August, 2013. It feels like years and yet only seconds since that time. I’ve met so many amazing people on this journey that have contributed to making this one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I feel like this story is my third child!

To Lisa Greenwood and Sarah Pinkerton, my shining stars that have encouraged and supported me through my grumpy moods, dramatic failing fears, and questioning of everything under the sun. You guys not only helped me maintain a level of sanity, you helped me laugh at myself and reminded me what’s important in life. You are the best friends I could ever ask for. Thank you for reading Becoming His countless times, (far too many) providing me with essential feedback that made this not only possible, but far better. I can not thank you guys enough. You have been my calm, my reason, my sisters, and I love you.

To Amanda Dillard, Katie Ross, and Lucy Mae Enderby, with Book Loving Buckeye blog, three AMAZING and talented women that have challenged and pushed me to make Becoming His such an awesome story. I am so grateful this story introduced me to you.

To Heather Spencer, the first person to read Becoming His, and helped to restore my confidence as well as the story after I butchered the hell out of it when someone told me no one would ever read a novel this long. You’ve been my inspiration, my strength, and my teacher, but most importantly such a dear and true friend. I love you H.

Alison Wallace, Megan Crisp, Susan Reeves Kleist, Samantha Lloyd, Lauren Ladlee. Marlene Hoffman, Chelsea Barraza, and Vickie Elliott for your patience, support, and feedback that was essential to this process.

To the wonderful Stephanie Powell, with Night and Day Book Blog, and Lisa, with Schmexy Girl Book Blog and Truly Schmexy Promotions, for her endless patience and support in translating this new world to me.

Maxann Dobson, with The Polished Pen, my editor, who receives a thousand times the emails everyone else does (which is still a lot!) Thank you for answering my millions of questions and helping me to improve my writing while listening to all of my long-winded concerns and thoughts. I am so glad I found you!

Emily Tippetts, and her awesome team, for making the inside of this book so beautiful, and for helping me learn so much about this process.

Sarah Hansen, with Okay Creations, that somehow took my muddled thoughts and words and made this amazingly beautiful cover that is so much more than I could have wanted!

And to my beautiful and wonderful family that have endured the majority of my craziness while this book has come to fruition. Dealing with my distracted self while Max and Ace played through my head. And handling the emotional roller coaster I experienced while telling their story. You guys have been my heart through this and I appreciate you keeping it safe.

Lastly to the readers. I want to thank each and every one of you for reading Becoming His. I hope you fell just as hard and as far in love with the entire Bosse Family, Jameson, Wes, Landon and Max as I did. I can’t wait to share, Losing Her, with you all!

Mariah Dietz lives in Eastern Washington with her husband and two sons that are the axis of her crazy and wonderful world.

Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent the majority of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.

She has a love for all things that include her sons, good coffee, books, travel, and dark chocolate. She also has a deep passion for the stories she writes, and hopes readers enjoy the journeys she takes them on, as much as she loves creating them.

Please visit Mariah Dietz at Mariahdietz.com

Copyright ©Mariah Dietz, 2014

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