Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Her hand cupped my cheek. “I thought you were too good to be true.”
I melted at her words. Affectionate and real. “I love you.”
Her eyes rounded, and a small gasp escaped her lips.
“You don’t have to say it back, but I’ve known for ages. I love everything about you. I wanted to tell you, but I was worried that it would drive you away. That you’d realize I was all in and it would scare you. But I don’t know how much more all in I can be with you moving in. I love you. I love you so fucking much.”
A tear came to her eye, and she smiled, soft and dreamy. “I love you, too, Whitton Wright.”
Then, our lips touched, and the world was forgotten.
We’d come this far.
We had forever to go.
But at least we were going together.
Wright together.
Epilogue
Eve
Two Months Later
“The tallies are in!” a woman said enthusiastically into the microphone. “Your new mayor of Lubbock is…Jensen Wright!”
Jensen strode onto the stage in a black suit with a blue tie and crisp white button-up. He smiled his perfect politician smile and waved enthusiastically. He was forever a man of the people. Despite being the former CEO of Wright Construction, the new head of Wright Architecture, and a fucking billionaire to boot, he was just a normal guy. And now, the mayor, too.
So many people said that money and his name were buying this position for him. But anyone who had met him knew that he’d do a great job.
“Lubbock! Thank you so much! I stand before you now as your mayor, happy, humbled, and altogether honored to be the next mayor of this great city,” Jensen said, beaming.
His wife, Emery, along with their two kids, Robin and Logan, and of course, Colton stood off to the side, watching with pride on their faces. Even Colton’s, to his credit.
“Think he’s going to do something stupid?” I asked Whitt, who stood with his arm around my waist.
“Jensen? Nah, he’s a professional.”
I shot him a look, and he laughed. Then, he turned his phone toward me. On it was a picture of Colton flipping him off from backstage.
I snorted. “Typical.”
“I told him to behave.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll listen,” I said sarcastically.
“About as well as Bailey.”
My eyes found my sister in the crowd in front of us. She was with a group of her volleyball girlfriends, chatting through the whole thing. Her eyes were bright, and her heart was full.
After we’d enrolled her at Lubbock High, Emery—who was a government teacher at the high school—had spoken with the volleyball coach on her behalf. And then Bailey got a tryout…and made it! After that, she’d found a group of girlfriends that I’d wished so desperately to have all through high school. People to rely on and have slumber parties with and do makeovers. She had that and more. I was so proud.
Bailey waved when she saw me watching. I waved back, but she was already turning around. I loved her, but she was still a teenager.
“No, he is definitely worse than Bailey,” I told him.
“To be fair, he was raised by a breed of humans who eat their own.”
I laughed and covered my mouth when the people in front of us looked back at us. Whitt smothered a smirk and apologized profusely.
Thankfully, Colton was also doing well even if he was a sullen mess about it. He’d remained on the Tacos and taken us to a rec title. Now, he was on the varsity team at the high school. I was terrified that he’d be running the entire place if he stayed more than this year. Only time would tell.
Jensen finished up his speech, and we stepped up to offer our congratulations.
I pushed Whitt toward the line. “I’m going to use the restroom first.”
He frowned. “It won’t take that long.”
I laughed and gestured to the hundred people in front of him. “Yeah, right.”
He rolled his eyes and then tugged me in for a kiss. “Get us drinks while you’re at it.”
“Done.”
This whole song and dance was too much for me. I couldn’t handle the political theatrics, as I still maintained that no politician was out for anyone but himself. Jensen Wright included.
So, I left my boyfriend to find a restroom. Miraculously, the line was short, and I made it in and out in a matter of minutes. I was heading back to the drink line, which I could already spot was not a short line on the other side of the room, when I saw Harley’s latest platinum-blonde dye job. I’d recognize it anywhere with the bob and bangs she’d dramatically cut.
I opened my mouth to say hi, only to see Chase Sinclair grasp her by the back of her head and smash their mouths together. My eyes widened in alarm. Chase was…what? Ten years older than her? At least. And she’d assured me that Chase wasn’t interested. Even though I could see with my own two eyes that he was very much interested.