Easton fantasizes about standing in the middle of a burning room in chapter 1, but then she blows out the candle as she leaves the masquerade ball. Is there a significance in this action?
3.
Tyler is stubborn about many things: social media, accepting campaign donations, taking on more responsibilities than he can handle. Why do you think Tyler is initially so inflexible? Is he naturally resistant or did he have good reasons for the fights he picks?
4.
Why did Tyler question Easton’s teaching methods? Do you believe he had a genuine fatherly concern?
5.
Easton avoids intimacy, choosing to keep her distance from forming any real attachment to men. What’s different about Tyler? Did she let him into her life, or did he force his way in?
6.
So much of the city of New Orleans plays a part in this book. Have you ever visited the city, and, if so, what was your most memorable experience?
7.
Had Easton’s parents and her sister not died, would Easton have stayed with tennis, or would she have discovered her gift for teaching?
8.
If Easton’s parents had gone to the police about Chase Stiles, how do you think Easton’s life would have been different?
9.
Easton uses social media tools to teach her students. If you were a parent, would you embrace this practice in your child’s school? What would be some of the advantages and/or disadvantages of using social media for instruction?
10.
Tyler has a difficult relationship with his son, which he tries, throughout the novel, to fix. Given the demands in Tyler’s life, do you believe his actions to improve that relationship were commendable, or would you have tried something different?
11.
Easton has some fun at Tyler’s house during the rainstorm, such as organizing his books in his study. Do you have any urges to organize something in other people’s homes when you visit? If so, what do you find yourself needing to organize?
12.
Tyler is ashamed of his role – or lack thereof – in his son’s life when he was younger. Is what he said true, that it’s never too late? Or do you believe what Brynne said on the phone call, that there comes a time when we’ve been disappointed too much to ever repair the bonds?
13.
How do you think Christian felt when he would hear his mom and stepfather talking badly about Tyler?
14.
Keeping in mind that Tyler promised he wouldn’t hook up with anyone else, why did he entertain the idea when Easton presented him with Kristen?
15.
In the end Easton and Tyler agree that Jack needs help. Knowing the amount of pain and stress Easton has suffered in her life, do you believe she’ll be able to reconcile with her brother?
16.
Based on the relationship that Tyler and Easton share, who is more dominant?
17.
Were Tyler’s reasons for ending the relationship in chapter 21 justified? Why or why not?
18.
What do you think made Tyler finally see the light about what was truly important and helped him get his priorities straight?
19.
As Tyler is running for office, and with politics filtered daily into our lives through the news and social media, do you believe Easton’s statement of “the most popular wins” to be a true statement? Do you research a candidate on your own without the influence of media before you vote?
20.
Christian speaks his mind a lot in Misconduct, even showing up the adults in his life from time to time. Do you feel that he was right to hold Easton more accountable for her affair with his father? Why do you think her actions hurt him more than his own father’s?
21.
Why did Christian keep his knowledge of the affair secret?
22.
Do you feel that we place too much pressure on our children to excel at too many activities such as sports? Do you feel that the pressure Easton felt with her tennis career exacerbated her OCD tendencies, not just the counting but the need for perfection, or did the trauma of her parents’ and sister’s deaths contribute more?
23.
Easton did not know Tyler’s political affiliation in his senate run. Which party do you believe she supports? Which party do you believe he supports?
24.
Easton states to Tyler throughout their relationship not to be careful with her. What do you believe she means?
FALLING AWAY
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FALLING AWAY
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Three whole years.
I’d had a boyfriend for three whole years, and I still had more orgasms when I was by myself.
“Damn, baby, you feel good.” His sleepy whisper felt wet on my neck as he dragged his lazy lips over my skin.
Packing. That was what I’d forgotten to add to my to-do list for tomorrow. It wasn’t likely I’d forget to pack for college, but everything needed to go on the list so it could be checked off.
“You’re so hot.” Liam’s fish lips tickled my neck in short, slow pecks. It once made me giggle, but now it kind of made me want to bite him.
And a pharmacy run, I remembered. I wanted to stock up on my pill so I wouldn’t have to worry about it for a while. Packing and the pharmacy. Packing and the pharmacy. Packing and the pharmacy. Don’t forget, K.C.
Liam thrust his hips between my legs, and I rolled my eyes.
We were still clothed, but I wasn’t sure he realized that.
If I weren’t so tired, I’d laugh. He rarely got drunk after all – tonight only because it was an end-of-summer bash. And although I’d never been overwhelmed with a desire for sex, I did love that he tried to jump my bones at every opportunity. It made me feel wanted.
But it just wasn’t happening tonight.
“Liam,” I grunted, twisting up my lips as I pushed his hand off my breast, “I think we’re done for the night, okay? Let’s lock up the car and walk to your house.”
We’d been in his car for over a half hour – me trying to indulge his fantasy of sex in risky places and him trying to… Hell, I didn’t even know what he was trying to do.
I felt guilty for not being more into it lately. I felt guilty for not helping him get into it tonight. And I felt guilty for making mental additions to my to-do list while he was trying – keyword, trying – to get it on with me.
We hadn’t made love in a long time, and I didn’t know what my problem was anymore.
His head sank into my shoulder, and I felt the weight of his hundred and eighty pounds collapse on my body.
He didn’t move, and I let out a sigh, relaxing into the passenger seat of his Camaro, my muscles burning from trying to support his body weight all this time.
He’d given up. Thank God.
But then I groaned, registering that his body had gone a little too still, except for the slow, soft rhythm of his breathing.
Great. Now he was passed out.
“Liam,” I whispered, not sure why, since we were completely alone in his car on a dark, quiet street outside my friend Tate Brandt’s house.
Arching my head up, I spoke into his ear that was nearly covered by his blond hair. “Liam, wake up!” I wheezed, since his weight was hindering my oxygen intake.
He moaned but didn’t budge.
I slammed my head back onto the headrest and ground my teeth together. What the hell was I going to do now?
We’d gone to the Loop tonight for the last race before college started next week and then Tate and her boyfriend, Jared Trent, had thrown a party at his house, which just happened to be right outside, next door to her place. I’d told my mom that I’d be sleeping over at her house when I was really planning on spending the night with my boyfriend.
Who was now passed out.
Tate’s house was locked, I didn’t know how to drive Liam’s car, and the last thing I was ever going to do was call my mother for a ride.