Too Many Books

Today, I'm getting the crit kicked out of me! Roni Griffin, a la Fiction Groupie is hosting The Beta Club, in which writers post a 750-ish-word excerpt from their WIP and get amazing critique and feedback. It's my day. Please read my excerpt and leave your feedback  here.  (FYIspice, my excerpt is the first 750-ish words from my very own Chapter One.) I said please! Now, go. What are you waiting for? Also, if you are remotely interested in things writerly, you'd better follow Roni. She. is. incrediblespice. Thank you for your cooperation. Why are you still here? You're supposed to go here.

     So, people have been posting scenes from their writing today in which the characters kiss each other. It's the Official Kissing Day Blogfest , and I am applying Soft Lips, spritzing Binaca, and trying my hand at this virtual tongue tousle. If you participate, you can link to the hub here. This is an excerpt from my current WIP, which might be titled ANOTHER MAN DOWN, or FOR THE LOVE OF LAUREL LANCASTER or THE DEAD END, or perhaps none of those. Warning: it's a sad kiss.      They sat on top of the picnic table outside Latte Da. Adam dangled his legs off the edge and Laurel looked down at her jeans and picked at the frayed edges around her ankles. She could not look at him.      "I don't know that I've ever really been myself with you," said Laurel. "I want everything you don't. I want the white picket fence and a husband and children."      "What are you trying to say, Laurel?...