Sample Sunday | Falling into You

Hey, lovers!

Falling into You releases next week. ♡

Prepare for the love with the excerpt below:

After you enjoy the sample, check out the cover reveal & deets here: —> https://www.shaniceswint.com/blog/sxlwebsiteexclusive2 ♡

(Please note: This sample is lightly edited and may be subject to change before publishing.)

Indigo Hayes

On the verge of tipping the Pinot Noir bottle and refilling my flute, I shook my head and put the bottle to my lips instead. Who the hell was I trying to be cute for? No one had accompanied me in my roomy townhouse for the last few weeks besides the cast of Living Single, whom I convinced myself were my real friends. I’d surpassed solely relying on the show for comfort; I’d tapped into my delusional state and mentally moved into the girls’ apartment, freeloading like the great Maxine Shaw.

The doorbell rang as I shoved a handful of popcorn into my mouth, chuckling at one of Synclaire’s goofy lines. My head whipped toward the door, eyes narrowing in suspicion. Snatching my phone from the end table, I quickly pulled up the camera feed and gasped.

“What is he doing here?” I whispered and hopped up from the couch, smoothing my hand over my tousled curls. “Who is it?” I shouted, acting clueless as if I wasn’t staring at his handsome, dark chocolate face on my phone screen.

“Cypher,” his deep voice emitted, making me squeeze my thighs together reflexively. His voice sent a shiver down my spine, and I cursed myself for the reaction. But I’d had no choice but to acknowledge that Cypher had an incomprehensible impact on me, though we’d barely exchanged more than a few words in the year we’d lived across from each other. Something about his presence and how he carried himself with quiet confidence always made my heart race.

I hesitated momentarily, then ran my fingers through my hair, trying to tame my unruly tresses. My reflection in the corridor mirror leading to the front door showed a woman who had been in the same pink velvet pajamas for far too long, with a slightly crazed look in her eyes from one too many late-night TV marathons.

But there was no time to fix that now.

With a deep breath, I opened the door. Cypher stood on the other side, looking effortlessly put together as always–dressed casually in a black hoodie and jeans, but somehow, he still managed to look like he’d just stepped out of a GQ photoshoot. His dark brown eyes, usually guarded, softened slightly when he saw me.

“Hey,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “I, uh, wanted to check on you. I haven’t seen you around for a while and got worried.”

Worried? My heart did a little flip at the thought. 

Throwing caution to the wind as if he weren’t a stranger, I swung the door open wider, nervously motioning for him to step inside. Somehow, I knew I was safe in his presence. Besides, he hadn’t shown up empty-handed, and I was itching to find out what was in the brown paper bag. “I’ve just been… you know, dealing with stuff,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t catch sight of the empty wine bottles scattered on the coffee table or the tangled mess of blankets draped over the couch.

He stepped inside, and his aura made my living room feel cozier. As his eyes swept the room, a flutter of self-consciousness crept in—I couldn’t ignore the mess surrounding us. But if he noticed the chaos, he didn’t let on, his expression remaining calm and unreadable.

“I see,” he murmured, briefly scanning the room again before focusing back on me. “I brought you something.” He lifted the brown bag and held it toward me. “Just a little pick-me-up.”

Curiosity piqued, I took the bag and peered inside. A smile tugged at my lips as I spotted the familiar container from Springside Treats—my favorite bakery’s chocolate chip cookies, the exact ones I’d casually mentioned weeks ago during a rare conversation we’d had while taking out our trash at the same time.

“You remembered,” I soothed, my voice tinged with surprise.

“Of course,” he replied, his gaze locking onto mine. “I figured you could use a little sweetness.”

A warm radiance spread inside me, not just from all the wine I’d consumed but from the genuine kindness in his words. It had been a long time since anyone had made me feel seen. And though I’d been hiding behind my own walls, Cypher—my usually aloof neighbor—now stood in my living room with cookies and concern.

What part of rock bottom was this?

#end of sample#

Keep in mind: Falling into You releases next week.

That’s it for now, lovers. ♡

As always, thank you so much for your continued support.

With love, ShanicexLola