Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“I’m happy you came by,” I say. “I’ve been wondering how to break the ice and hoping it wouldn’t be awkward between us.”
“Why should it be awkward? My soon-to-be ex-husband is to blame for this—not us. We must stick together. Family always comes first.”
Does that mean she sees me as family? She accepts our marriage?
“Reid and I had problems long before you came along,” she says. “Nothing like what he did to you, or I would’ve left him years ago. But he crossed a line with you. It’s unacceptable. So please know you are welcome at my home any time you’d like to swing by. You are as welcome as my other children. Brock, too. He’s also a part of our family now.”
I smile. “Thank you, Rory. You will never know how much that means to me.”
She pulls me in for a quick hug. “And you will never know how much it means to me to see a smile on my son’s face. I can never thank you enough for that.”
She takes a step back. “Let your husband know I was here, please. I’d like to have a family dinner again soon. Maybe we can sync schedules?”
“I’d love that.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Rory.”
She lets herself out quietly.
I make my way slowly back to the others.
“My soon-to-be-ex-husband is to blame for this—not us. We must stick together.”
I can’t imagine the pain Rory must be experiencing. Yes, she said her marriage hadn’t been great for a while, but her life has still been upside down. And she must love him on some level. That must hurt. Still, she radiates peace and … strength. Maybe even joy.
Mom would have loved her.
Her strength, kindness—her resilience. She puts family above all else. Differently than my mother, but the same, too.
For many years, I was afraid I’d never find the person I was supposed to be with. Or if I was going to marry at all. I felt like time was passing me by—that there was a window of opportunity and, if I missed it, I’d be out of luck. And alone.
I didn’t realize that my timetable isn’t necessarily the same as the universe’s.
Renn—the bad boy troublemaker extraordinaire, my brother’s best friend. The man who said he’d wanted me from the first day he laid eyes on me. Someone my mom knew and loved. And now the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.
Seems we just needed to wait until the time was right. Maybe, if we’d gotten together earlier, it might have failed. Between Australia and the United States?
No. Our time is now.
I grin, making my way back into the living room. I stop in the doorway and take them all in.
Renn’s by the fireplace, laughing at something Brock said. My brother’s on the sofa next to Ella, rubbing her shoulders. Ella glows as she basks in Brock’s attention.
How did I get here? How did this happen?
How did I get so lucky?
I walk in and sit on Renn’s lap. As usual, he puts his arms around me and holds me close.
My protector. My passionate, kind, sexy man—the one who loves me.
The only man I’ll ever love.
I might have missed the proposal—and I might not remember the ceremony, just the llama—but I know I’ll have many amazing years with this man, making incredible memories filled with love.
Epilogue
Blakely
5 months later …
“Can you imagine living here?” Ella sighs, pulling her sunglasses down and squinting into the Australian sunlight. “And, since we’re dreaming, we might as well have our houses next door.”
I lie on the chaise next to her and smirk. If she only knew that Brock and Renn have talked about building beach houses next to each other … just not in Australia.
I won’t be shocked if they go through with it. I won’t be mad about it, either.
Nothing surprises me anymore.
Renn is happily unemployed. He and Brock have taken up woodworking … and neither of them are good at it. So far, they’ve made a chair that broke during its first use, a dresser with drawers that won’t close, and a huge mess. But they’re happy. And that makes me happy.
Thankfully, knowing woodworking won’t be enough to keep their bodies and minds satisfied, the two of them are in the process of creating a training program designed for teens. It focuses on holistic health, is affordable for low-income families—therefore not lining some rich asshole’s pockets, which was imperative for Renn—and builds mental strength as well as physical.
I love and respect the hell out of them.
And love they gave up the idea of podcasting, too.
Ella suggested she and Brock forgo wedding planning and get married in Vegas. We hopped on a plane, perks of marrying into a family with their own private airline, and flew across the country. Renn and I watched our best friends get married at the King and Bling Chapel. We reenacted ours to see if it rang any bells. It didn’t.