Read an excerpt from Jennifer Armentrout'sIf There's No Tomorrow

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‘If There’s No Tomorrow’ hits shelves Sept. 5.

My brain felt like it was full of cobwebs and fog.

Credit: Franggy Yanez

I tried to lift my arms, but they were weighed down, full of lead.

There… there was something in my throat, in thebackof my throat.

My arm twitched without warning, and there was a tug at the top of my hand.

Why wouldnt my eyes open?

Panic started to dig in.

Why couldnt I move?

Something was really wrong.

I just wanted to open my eyes.

I wanted

I love you, Lena.

I love you, too.

The voices echoed in my head, one of them mine.

Footsteps neared and a male spoke, Getting the propofol in now.

This is the second time shes woken up, the woman replied.

Hell of a fighter.

Her mother is going to be happy to hear that.

Yesterday

Chapter 1

ThursdayAugust 10th

All I have to say is that you almost had sex withthat.

Joannas had been a staple in downtown Clearbrook since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

Plus it had the best sweet tea in the entire state of Virginia.

Oh man, I murmured.

What in the world is he doing?

What does it look like?

Darys eyes widened behind her white plastic framed glasses.

Hes basicallyhumpinga blow up dolphin.

I pressed my lips together, because yep, thats what it looked like.

Whipping her phone out of my face, she cocked her head to the side.

What were you thinking?

Hes cutewascute, I explained lamely as I glanced over my shoulder.

Luckily no one else was within hearing range.

And Ididnthave sex with him.

She rolled dark brown eyes.

Your mouth was on his mouth and his hands

All right.

I threw up my hands, warding off whatever else was about to say.

Hooking up with Cody was a mistake.

Im trying to erase all of that from my memory and youre not helping.

Leaning over the counter I was standing behind, she whispered, Ill never let you live that down.

She grinned when my eyes narrowed.

He has muscles on top of muscles.

Right now her hair was black.

Last month it was lavender.

In two months, it would probably be pink.

I felt my stomach twist into knots.

That has nothing to do with Sebastian.

Youre so lucky I actually like you, I shot back.

She smacked her hands down on the counter.

Youre working this weekend, right?

Thought you were going to DC with your family this weekend?

Were going to DC for thewholeweek.

We leave tomorrow morning.

Her mom was ridiculously organized, down to labeled baskets for gloves and scarfs.

The museums will be fun.

Of course you think that.

No point in denying that.

And I had no problem admitting it.

I wanted to go to college and study anthropology.

Dary hopped off the red-vinyl barstool.

I got to go before Mom freaks.

If Im five minutes passed my curfew, shell call the cops, convinced Ive been abducted.

Text me later, okay?

Waving goodbye, I grabbed the damp rag and ran it along the narrow countertop.

Sign me up for that.

I dropped the lemony-scented rag with surprise.

A breeze couldve knocked me flat on my face.

It was easy and I needed the extra money.

She never came in here alone.Never.

Bright headlights pierced the darkness outside.

But nowhere near as nice.

Id spent the lastmillionyears harboring a rabid case of bitter jealousy when it came to Skylar.

Even in the horrible fluorescent lights, her summer tan was deep and flawless.

I straightened, hoping she wasnt going to place an order.

She bit down on her glossy, bubble-gum pink lip.

Stopping next to the red-vinyl barstools, she took a deep breath.

Youre about to close, arent you?

In about ten minutes.

I wont take long.

I actually wasnt planning to stop here.

I silently added a sarcastic Really?

The girls and I were heading out to the lake.

Some of the guys are having a party, and we drove past here, she explained.

I thought Id stop by and see if… if you knew when Sebastian was coming home.

I clenched my jaw shut.

Yeah, she was sugary sweet, but we didnt operate in the same circles at school.

Half of the time I was invisible to her and her friends.

Which was okay with me.

That was a lie.

Sebastian was supposed to come home from North Carolina on Saturday morning.

He and his parents were visiting his cousins for the summer.

Surprise colored her tone.

I fixed a blank expression on my face.

Im guessing hell be back this weekend sometime.

Her gaze dropped to the counter as she fidgeted with the hem of her slinky black tank top.

He hasnt…I havent heard from him.

Ive texted and called, but….

I wiped my hands along my shorts.

I had no idea what to say.

This was so incredibly awkward.

I was the kind of person who thought things but never said them.

I think hes been really busy, I said finally.

Someone out in the BMW slammed on the horn and Skylar looked over her shoulder.

My brows rose while I silently prayed that whoever was in the car stayed in that car.

A moment passed, and Skylar tucked bone-straight hair behind her ear as she turned back to face me.

Can I ask you one more thing?

A faint smile appeared.

Is he with someone else?

I stared at her, wondering if I lived through a different history of Sebastian and Skylar.

From the moment she moved to Clearbrook, populationmeh, shed attached herself to Sebastian.

Not that anyone would blame her.

Sebastian came out of his moms womb stunning and charming everyone around him.

But then spring happened….

Youbroke up withhim, I reminded her as gently as I could.

Im not trying to sound like a bitch, but what does it matter if hes with someone else?

Skylar curled a slender arm across her waist.

I know, I know.

I just…. Have you never made a huge mistake?

Tons, I replied dryly.

The list was longer than my leg and arm combined.

Well, breaking up with him was one of my mistakes.

I think, at least.

She stepped back from the counter.

Anyway, if you see him, can you tell him that I stopped by?

That was the last thing I wanted to do, but I nodded because I would tell him.

It was real, and made me feel like I should be a better person or something.

Thanks, she said.

I guess Ill see you at school in a week or so?

Or at one of the parties?

I fixed a smile on my face that felt brittle and probably looked half-crazed.

Wiggling her fingers goodbye, Skylar turned and walked toward the door.

She reached for the handle, but stopped and looked over her shoulder at me.

A strange look crossed her face.

Does he know about you?

The corners of my lips started to turn down.

What was there to know about me that Sebastian didnt already know?

I was legit boring.

Not that I didnt have fun, but yeah, I was as stimulating as white bread.

There were literally no hidden secrets to uncover.

Well, I was scared to death of squirrels.

But I doubtedthatwas what Skylar was talking about.

Jarred out of my thoughts, I blinked.

She was quiet for a moment.

Does he know youre in love with him?