Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 111610 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111610 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Before I can ask what the hell he’s talking about, Chance gets down on a knee and my jaw drops open.
“Samantha Redding, you are the lady of my life. You are the woman I love. You are, and forever will be, all I want . . . and more.” He lifts a brow teasingly. “Would you do me the honor of letting me be your husband? Will you marry me?”
“Hell no!” Lucas teases. “He ain’t good enough for you!”
There’s laughter, but my eyes never leave Chance. I love him, of that I have no doubt. And I believe that he loves me, but is that enough? It wasn’t for my parents, who once loved each other deeply but eventually grew apart to the point where Dad broke Mom’s heart.
Chance wouldn’t do that.
So many times before, the voice in my head has whispered ‘don’t trust him’ and ‘it’s only for now, so don’t get attached’, but now, that inner monologue has changed. I’ve done my own growing, healing the old scars and learning to trust again. Chance shows up for me, time after time, letting me see and feel his love and presence in my life every day, even when he’s not by my side.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mom and Olivia holding hands right below their chins as they stand together, shoulder to shoulder like they’re two peas in a pod with eyes glittery from unshed tears. We’ve done a lot of talking since the incident too, mostly about what’s important and how we can depend on each other as a family, even if Dad isn’t dependable.
Beside Mom is Marvin. He’s got his arm around her and he’s smiling happily. Mom’s learned to trust again too, and Marvin is proving himself worthy of her heart. He’s cooked dinner for all of us for more nights than not, even serving up grilled vegetables for Chance as he made sure ‘his girls’, as he’s taken to calling us, have what they need to talk, cry, or rage about the hand we’ve been dealt. Noah has learned from his father’s example and has been a good friend for Olivia too, especially as Mom and Marvin get more comfortable around us. They usually groan in harmony when Marvin pats Mom on the butt or she kisses him because ‘the gravy’s too good not to’.
The truth is, there are good men out there. Sometimes, they’re not the ones you expect. They don’t check any of the boxes, come at the right time, or say what you want to hear. They’re the ones you dismiss as too this or not enough that, and sometimes, the truth is, you’re the one who needs to adjust. Fix your own damage, heal your own heart, be happy in yourself and take the time—however long it may be—to do it right so that you can be receptive when it goes awry and a hook-up becomes the man in front of you, waiting with bated breath for you to speak.
I know my answer and proudly say, “Yes. Of course! Yes!”
Cheers break out, and from his pocket Chance produces a ring that almost defies description. It’s beautiful, gold inlaid with thin tendrils of silver or maybe platinum surrounding a stunningly cut diamond. It’s fantasy and reality come to life, and of course, it fits perfectly.
The applause rises, the crowd cheering as Chance stands and we embrace. The kiss is another first, deep and passionate as usual, but our first as an engaged couple.
But eventually, we step apart and I move forward, clearing my throat. “Well . . . how do you follow up on that?” I ask, earning laughs. “Uhm . . . gimmie a second because I’ve totally forgotten what I was going to say.”
Wiping away tears, I decide to wing it and smile out at the crowd. “I love you guys, all of you. And I’m looking forward to creating something special together. I don’t know what the future is going to look like. I don’t know all of the details. But I’m looking forward to finding out. Together, all of us, men and women working to be our best selves.”
“As part of this bright new world, can you do a toy demo class? I got my eye on one of those diamond-studded numbers,” Anthony calls out, his voice unmistakable. “Oof!”
I follow the sound and see Jaxx at his side, an evil grin on her face, and Anthony rubbing his chest, where it seems she backhanded him. “Looks like that might already be covered, but we’ll see,” I answer.
“Are they . . .?” I wonder quietly.
Evan leans over. “Yeah. Apparently, after the podcast, Anthony apologized and apologized and apologized, and eventually, Jaxx told him if he was going to keep getting on his knees, he could make himself useful.” I look at him in shock, and he shrugs. “Like your meet-cute was any better,” he jokes.