The Conley Corner: New Release, and what made it happen in the first place #MeetCute

Have you ever had a moment that couldn't be explained? Something someone predicted that eventually came true? I'm not talking about stock predictions, or who's going to win the Superbowl. I'm talking something specific, like the exact date your life would change forever?

I have.

Of course, I didn't know when I was twelve, that I hadn't totally wasted my precious $10 on the fortune teller that told me June 23rd would be an important date for me. I was at Astroworld (A Six Flags theme park in Houston a looooooong time ago) for their Halloween festivities. The entire park was decked out in spooky skeletons, witches hung around every corner, and zombies mingled with the crowd. The entire mood was spooky, with cobwebs hanging everywhere and people jumping out to scare ridiculous pre-teens like myself.

So when my friend dared me to follow the ancient fortune teller into her tent to have my palm read, I was so into everything I did it, just to show her I wasn't scared of anything. Caught up in the mood, I willingly forked over ten bucks.

A bunch of mumbo-jumbo later, the only thing I got out of it was that June 23rd would change my life. I was twelve and innocent. I could only imagine the woman had predicted my first kiss in a little more than six months. Or better yet, a boyfriend.

I went home and wrote about the experience in my diary, making a note of the date on my brand-new calendar for the next year with a giant pink heart. My insides fluttered when I imagined the possibilities. Finally, June 23rd came and went.

And nothing happened.

My Mama always told me not to waste my money on junk like that, and I chalked it up to a lesson learned.

Until 11 years later.

I was living with my mom, a college drop out, floating until I figured out my life. Mom had gone out of town, and my brother needed a designated driver for one of his buddy's birthday parties at this bar in Houston. So I hopped in his car and we went to Houston. My brother, always the protector, warned me against picking up guys in this particular bar, and for good reason. It was a dump, the clientele eclectic, and rampant drug use. I sipped my coke and people-watched, one of my favorite things to do.

And then my life changed.

While my brother was getting spanked at the pool table, this guy sauntered over to the bar to order a drink, and noticed me. I was probably staring, but whatever. That's sort of my thing--awkward staring and stuff.

He struck up a conversation, and put the effort in to making it two sided. I have always been shy in situations I'm not comfortable in, so picking up guys has never been a strong suit of mine. The longer we talked, the more comfortable I got.

My brother ended up taking the birthday boy (who was running around this nasty-ass bar barefoot to show off his painted toenails) home because he'd puked all over the patio. This left me to take the one remaining guy in our party home at the end of the night.

Which was challenging. Have you ever been tasked with taking home a grown ass man who's had too much to drink?

He had too much to drink and decided he was going to this chick's house, inviting me to come along. Well, I didn't even know how to get home from the bar, so I agreed. Future hub-meister took one look at the situation and offered to come too.

Yes. Please.

We all went to this chick's house and she broke out the cocaine, a very awkward moment for me, since that was a complete and total no-go for me. So me and this guy I just met sat in the corner and watched everyone else do lines and then get really loud and talk super fast. We watched a movie (Bruce Almighty, in case you're curious) and we talked.

It was one of those things where I wanted to do something, but didn't know what. Sex wasn't in the equation, because I was not in a comfortable situation, at someone else's house, all the things were bizarre, so that never occurred to me. And he never once touched me. He was just this guy that made me comfortable and I didn't want to ever stop talking to him.

At the end of the night, Future Hub-meister convinced my brother's friend to let me drive him home, before getting my number (yay!) and kissing me on the cheek (boo!). It was a good thing I drove, because I'm pretty sure brother's drunk friend crawled out of his car when he got home and passed out in the yard.

It was a great night, but judging by the good night kiss, I honestly thought (based on previous experience) that I had made yet another nice, hot, gay friend.

But he called me 3 days later, drove up to visit me, and by the time my mom came into town, he still hadn't left.

And he never did. A year and a half later, we were married. The summer after our wedding, I was cleaning out my old closet at my mom's house and ran across my diary. Yup. That night I met Hub-meister was June 23rd. Now, eighteen years of marriage and two kids later, I can honestly say nothing changed my life as much as that night.

Which leads me to this book. Sorry for the ramble, I just love telling that story.

But when I got the opportunity to write in this #MeetCute collaboration, I jumped on it. MeetCutes are my favorite part of almost any story. And I've been wanting to write about my Fortune Teller forever.

So I did. Fortune's Kiss is a bit more magical than my real life, and occupations and events were changed to add interest, but I love this story, because it tells about hub-meister and me. *Swoon*

When London was fifteen, a fortune teller told her she would meet her soul mate on June 23rd. The only problem is, which June 23rd? The woman wasn’t specific and only called him her dreamer. Desperate to find her mystery man eleven years later, London sets out to search for him but is waylaid by a mugger instead.

Elliot has had his eye on the woman who jogs past the park where he coaches his nephew’s baseball team for the past month. When he’s the first responder for a mugging victim on June 23rd, she’s barely conscious. She’s the woman tattooed on his chest. He’s seen her in his dreams and has been drawing her for years.

They’ll both sound crazy if they reveal their secrets, but they can’t stay away from each other. Elliot has priorities, promises made to his late sister. London’s trying to live a more intentional existence instead of waiting for everything to fall in her lap.

Can they fulfill the destiny predicted by the fortune teller? Or will fate be undone?

You can find ALL the #MeetCute books in the collaboration here: http://meetcutebooks.com/

Boy meets girl. It's the way romances usually begin . . . and while we all love a happy ending, it's the #MeetCute that wins our hearts.

How did you two meet?

The #MeetCute Books each have a unique answer to that query. Some might make you swoon, others might make you giggle . . . and some may make you blush.

Twelve authors. Twelve stand-alone contemporary romance novels. Twelve stories that will make your heart beat a little faster.

Because it's all about the #MeetCute.

Grab your copy of Fortune's Kiss!