Title: Painting Sky by Rita Branches
Publication date: April 25th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Nobody ever said life was easy…

People pleaser, Jane Skylar wants nothing more than to earn her art degree, start her life, and bask in the bliss of living with her boyfriend.

But things don’t always go as planned…

Struggling with her creative side, Jane finds herself in turmoil, often confiding in her roommate – another, more talented art student, Keith Hale. Keith just so happens to be her boyfriend’s older, brooding brother. After a devastating breakup, Jane turns to Keith for comfort. But when the lines blur between roommate and lover, Jane’s life becomes more complicated than ever before.

When Keith’s past comes back to haunt him, their lives all get turned upside down, forcing the truth to surface. Now Jane must fight for what she wants–even if it hurts everyone she loves.

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Rita Branches is an independent YA (young adult) author who enjoys spending every free moment (when she’s not reading) writing emotional stories. You can connect with her on her website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Excerpt

“I’m sorry about your hand,” I said. He threw his jacket over one of the couches and sat on the other. His eyes dropped to my arm, which I was subconsciously rubbing.

“Did he hurt you?” He wasn’t mad, this time—he was worried.

I tried to hide my smile and shook my head. “Not really. I bruise easily.”

He jumped to get closer. “Bruise?” He pulled my wrist and turned my arm to check the damage. It was red. Maybe I wouldn’t get a bruise, but his face made me smile.

“I’m not dying, Keith. He was just an ass.”

“I told you to go with your brother.” He sat again. “Did you have fun, at least?”

“Not really. I guess I didn’t drink enough.” I shrugged, not feeling drunk anymore.

“You really shouldn’t have told me that.” He jumped from the couch and disappeared into the kitchen. I heard a couple of cabinet doors opening and closing and then glasses clinking.

Keith came back with a bottle under his arm, two glasses in one hand, and a lime cut in two and salt in the other.

I wasn’t experienced, but I knew what that meant. “Tequila? Do you think it’s wise?”

“This night wasn’t supposed to be about being wise. It’s just the two of us: you won’t get in trouble.” He paused for a second, staring at the walls in deep thought. He then placed the ingredients on the coffee table. “We won’t get too drunk. Do you know how to drink this?”

I nodded. I’d never tasted it, but I saw it in the movies. The first one burned, and the second did, too. I stopped, while Keith kept pouring shots for himself.

After the first shot, Keith had turned the TV to a music channel. He had turned it up a couple of times, since. We were laughing at each other’s faces. Of course, he was used to it, but I saw the glimmer in his eyes. We were both drunk. The first time I had ever gotten drunk was with Keith Hale. Who would have guessed?

“You should go to sleep,” he slurred, pushing me to the stairs. “Your brother would kill me if he showed up right now.”

“Really?” I stumbled on almost every step. Keith grabbed my waist every time and released me after I steadied myself, only to stumble again. I repeated the word because it was funny in my tongue. “Really?” He laughed behind me.

“Yeah…” He was also dragging his words. “Thanks.”

“For what?” I had reached my door and turned to say good night.

He struggled for the words. His smile disappeared and he took so long to say anything that I was considering forgetting the question and going to my room. Then he grabbed my face with his hands.