Anna Vasquez has had enough. Torn after finding out her best friend committed suicide, she's determined to find out why this horrible thing has happened. But when she falls for her best friend's brother, Caleb, she learns a terrible secret. Suddenly she's left with questions and wondering if love really can conquer all.
Rave
Reviews for The Secret
“This
was the perfect book!! I love the heartache, passion, love, and hot sizzle that
this book has! Absolutely incredible story that left me wanting more, and by
far one of my favorite Lacey Weatherford books yet!!”
-Christina Racich, Pretty Lil’ Page
Turners
Tell Me Why will make you think and
feel things you never could have imagined! It will pull at your heart and,
hopefully, make you realize that you should never give up on life and love.
-Raquel Auriemma, Roc n’ Read
Tell Me Why will leave you speechless
and in awe of such writing. You’ll question what you would do if you
knew….would you be like Caleb or Anna? Or would you do something completely
different? Lacey Weatherford has delivered an epic tale that will truly touch
your heart and question your soul.
-Toni Blair, The Mad
Hatters Street Team
“Lacey
Weatherford has done it again! She has created another story that engages the
reader so much they are unable to stop turning the pages. My heart was broken
for the decision Jessi made. But it was really devastating the heartache she
left behind for Caleb and Anna along with her mom. Suicide is never the answer
and teens need to realize this. Bravo excellent job on getting a message to our
girls of today."
-Lisa Markson, The
Paranormal Bookworm
The Secret
Prologue
Anna-
“No!”
The scream tore from my lips as I raced into the bathroom, slipping and falling
into the puddle of bloody water slowly spreading across the tiled floor.
Crawling to my hands and knees, I scrambled to the edge of the tub, not caring
my clothes were soaking up the offensive fluid. “Help! Somebody help me!” The
panicked cry left my throat feeling shredded, as I plunged my hands into the
red water seeping over the porcelain edge, dragging Jessi’s face back to the
surface.
Her
long blonde hair clumped limply around my hands and I shook her violently.
“Jessi!” A long painful howl escaped me. “Oh, God! Please don’t let her be
dead!” My whole body trembled as I tried to pull her from the tub; but she was
too heavy. “Somebody help me!” I screamed again, my shriek echoing off the
walls. I stood there, alone and in
shock, holding her slack body above the waterline.
“What’s
going on?” Danica's panicked voice drifted from the hallway along with the
sound of running feet.
“Call
an ambulance!” I yelled.
“Oh
my gosh! Oh my gosh!” Danica's terrified voice reverberated shrilly through my
head as she entered the room behind me. “Caleb! We need you!”
Danica's
hands dipped into the water, grabbing Jessi by her jeans, and the two of us
struggled to drag her out.
“No,
Jessi! No!” Danica wailed.
Strong
arms scooped Jessi up, relieving us of the burden and I glanced over to see
Caleb’s stricken face as he lifted her, moving her onto the floor.
“Do
something!” Danica hollered, her hands sliding to her cheeks in horror.
“Mom,
go call 911!” Caleb commanded the hysterical Danica, and she rushed from the
room.
My
fingers drifted to Jessi’s neck, automatically seeking a pulse. “I can’t find
anything!” I said, my voice shaking.
Caleb
shook his head. “We’re too late.” Tears slipped over the rims of his eyes. In
all the years I’d known him, I’d never seen him cry. Ever. This was bad.
“No!
We can’t give up!” I argued, placing my hands on Jessi’s chest. Pressing down,
I began counting as I started CPR. She was my best friend in the whole world! I
couldn’t lose her!
“Anna
. . . ,” Caleb’s voice barely registered, as I focused in on Jessi’s mascara
streaked face, watching for any sign of life. “Annalisa!” He shouted my full
name, breaking through my cloudy mind. I glanced at him briefly, not stopping.
“Look at her! She’s lost too much blood. Who knows how long she’s been in
here.”
“She
called me an hour ago!” I replied in a sob, continuing to work. Water bubbled
through her blue lips as I pushed. Caleb helped me roll her to the side,
letting it drain, and I checked again for a pulse. Nothing.
Gently
laying her back down, I leaned over her once more.
“Anna,”
Caleb said flatly.
“What?”
I snapped, knowing he was trying to tell me something I didn’t want to hear. I
was determined to do whatever I could.
“The
wounds in her wrists are deep. There’s no blood coming from them. I think she’s
bled out.”
Glancing
at the damaged flesh, I saw he was right, but I couldn’t make myself stop.
“I
can’t lose her, Caleb,” I replied, hearing the defeat in my own voice, but
still continuing the compressions.
He
didn’t fight me, instead joining me, breathing into her mouth at the
appropriate intervals. Danica reappeared, the phone pressed to her ear.
Shakily, she shouted instructions from the dispatcher. Ages passed before I
heard the wail of sirens, followed by a bustle of people entering the small
bathroom, carrying a bunch of gear.
Strong
arms wrapped around me, dragging me away from my friend and into the hallway.
“Let them do their job,” Caleb’s voice whispered in my ear. Even though he was
trembling, he didn’t let go of me and, for that, I was grateful. I wasn’t sure
if I could stand on my own.
Unable
to see much through the crowd of bodies, I waited for someone to tell us
something. It wasn’t long before a man slipped from the room, casting a
sympathetic glance in our direction. Walking several steps down the hall, he
disappeared around the corner. Clearly trying to keep us from overhearing, his
words stabbed me as he spoke softly into his radio. “Dispatch? We need the
coroner.”
Danica
wailed and sank to the floor.
“Go
to her,” I said, pushing Caleb in her direction. He released me and I dropped
to my knees, unable to swallow past the huge knot in my throat. A choking sob
escaped me as I watched Caleb gather his stepmom into his embrace, the two of
them clutching each other desperately.
Reality
punched me straight in the stomach. My best friend was dead. Jessi had
committed suicide and I had no idea why. What had happened? What had I missed?
I thought I knew everything about her! This couldn’t be happening—it had to be
a horrible nightmare or something, right? I couldn’t have missed something so
important, could I?
Glancing
down at my wet, bloody clothes, I felt the bile rise into my throat. Covering
my mouth with my hand, I stumbled to my feet and ran toward the downstairs
bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before I vomited.
© Lacey Weatherford Books/Moonstruck Media
The Secret
