Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Not this time. But I like the way you think.” There’s a growl in his voice that makes me shiver in a nice way. “You’ll see when we get there.”
“Where are we going?”
“Patience,” he urges, laughing when I groan. “You know the more impatient you are, the longer I’m going to make you wait, right?”
“Yes, because you can be a real sadist sometimes.”
“Whatever you say.” It’s clear he’s very pleased with himself, just like it’s soon clear we’re going home. That’s where the surprise is, whatever it happens to be. Now I’m even more intrigued, wondering what we could be doing there that would be such a surprise.
Everything looks normal when we arrive, only deepening my interest once I’m out of the truck. Tucker’s face is unreadable except for the tiny grin he can’t hold back. “What is this?” I ask, but all he does is take me by the hand and lead me to the house.
The second I step inside, I hear them. “Surprise!” they shout, laughing at the way I stumble backward a few steps, completely shocked. Wren comes running, her arms extended, and by the time she throws them around me, my brain has caught up, and I understand—at least a little.
“We missed your birthday,” she explains, squeezing me. “So we’re having your party now!”
“A party for me?” It’s almost too much to believe, but her ecstatic smile and the presence of Briggs and Carter tells me it’s true. Even Tucker’s parents are waiting, both of them holding glasses of what looks like champagne.
“You deserve all of this and more,” Tucker murmurs in my ear while I fight back happy tears. Finally, I feel. Finally, I’m connected. I’m not afraid to show them how happy this makes me.
“Come on, let’s go to the kitchen,” Mrs. Kingsley invites, waiting for us to approach before giving me a hug that almost fills the hole that’s been in my heart ever since I lost Mom. “Happy belated birthday, sweetie.”
“Thank you so much. This is… I’m overwhelmed.”
“Think nothing of it,” Mr. Kingsley insists. I’m not used to seeing him dressed casually, the way he is on his day off, sipping champagne before offering a brief half-hug. “You deserve to be celebrated. Though if Tucker had had his way, he would have rented out an entire theme park for you, or at least a hotel ballroom.”
“What can I say? I enjoy grand gestures.” Tucker pulls me close for a second to whisper in my ear. “I didn’t know that about myself until I met you.”
I know what he means, because there is a lot about myself I wasn’t aware of until I met him. He has opened my eyes to a whole new life. When I’m with him, I can honestly believe there’s a chance to be happy—but more importantly, I’m starting to believe I deserve it. I’m not broken or evil. There’s nothing wrong with me. And with him beside me, I can grow and thrive in ways I never thought possible. I deserve it.
I even deserve the beautiful cake waiting in the kitchen, pink and white and already set with candles. There are balloons and streamers and even silly party hats which Wren makes me wear before putting on her own. “I need to get a picture of this,” Carter mutters, pulling out his phone. Wren rolls her eyes, but I can’t bring myself to do it. There have been much worse pictures of me circulated. Let everybody see how happy I am and how much people love me. I’ve gone so long without it.
Tucker’s mom lights the candles, and I step up in front of the cake wearing my silly hat and an even sillier smile. A real smile, the kind that comes straight from my heart. No more hiding, no faking it. I don’t need to do that anymore.
With Tucker by my side, and Wren standing on the other, everybody launches into Happy Birthday. I finally feel like there is a reason to celebrate. This couldn’t be more different than my actual birthday and all the terrible things that happened afterward, but that’s in the past now. This is my new beginning, my fresh start, and I’m not going to take it for granted. Not for a single second.
“Make a wish!” Wren urges while Tucker plants a gentle kiss on my cheek.
That’s the thing. I already have everything I ever dreamed of and can’t imagine wanting more. So that’s what I wish for, closing my eyes, taking a deep breath. More of this. And when I blow out the candles, hitting every one on the first breath, I already can’t wait to find out what’s coming next.
Because for once, there’s something to look forward to after so many years of running away from the past.
EPILOGUE
MAYA
Three Months Later
“Inever knew I like surprises so much.” Even if this one involves sitting in the passenger seat with a blindfold over my eyes. Considering we’ve only ever used blindfolds while I was tied up, it’s different.