Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
My eyes light up, and I know my smile touches the corners of them. “Teach you to paint? Really?”
“Really.”
“Yes. I’d love that,” I say, beaming. “You taught me fantasy football, after all.”
“Your team sucks, by the way.”
“What?” I shriek as he nips my bottom lip, carrying me down the hall. “How do I suck? All my players are cute.”
He smacks my ass, making me giggle. He smacks it again before tossing me on the bed. I barely stop moving before he’s on top of me.
I stare into his eyes.
For the first time in my life, I’m happy. Accepted. Seen. Protected.
Chosen.
Loved.
I guess there might be something to that magic fairy love dust, after all.
EPILOGUE
Gianna
One week later …
“Are we celebrating something tonight?” Kim asks, surveying the number of people at the table that typically holds me, Audrey, and Astrid.
“So there’s this guy,” I say, grinning at my friends across the table.
Astrid laughs as Audrey states a random six-digit number.
“Oh, come on,” I say. “That’s not true.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Astrid says, grinning. “That game is over.”
It really is. I lean my head on Drake’s shoulder and sigh happily.
My friends used to count how many times I started a story with that phrase, because each time meant I’d met another guy. Now, that phrase is officially retired. There’s only one guy, and he’s here forever.
“What’s that mean?” Gray says, his arm stretched around Astrid’s chair.
“Fuck if I know,” Drake says. “I’ve already learned to just roll with the punches. I don’t ask questions.”
“We’re celebrating our unemployment,” I tell Kim. “Drake and I quit our jobs last week.”
She smiles. “This might be the first time I’ve ever heard that one, but I’m here for it. What can I get you all to drink?”
We rattle off our favorites even though the girls and I don’t need to tell her.
“I’ll be right back.” Kim heads to the kitchen.
Stupey’s is dead for a Saturday night. The rain didn’t help. We would’ve stayed in, too, if Astrid, Gray, and his brother Hartley hadn’t come to town.
“So what are you going to do now that you’re unemployed?” Hartley asks.
Drake squeezes my thigh under the table. “We’ve been throwing ideas around. We might start a podcast of our own.”
“We might get chickens,” I say.
Astrid snorts. “I’d love to see that.”
“Or we might just hibernate for the winter and figure it out in the spring.” Drake shrugs.
I jam a thumb his way. “Apparently, my boyfriend is loaded, so we don’t worry about it.”
The table laughs because I’m the only one who didn’t realize this.
The guys get into a conversation about baseball and the Bobcats not making the playoffs. I start to chime in when my phone buzzes. I flip it over and see Juni’s name on top.
Juni: Hey, Gianna!
I pick up the device and type a response.
Me: Hey, Juni! How are you?
Juni: Great. I won the office pool. I’m two hundred bucks richer because of you. So thanks. Haha
Me: What was your guess?
Juni: I guessed you’d be together until forever. Everyone else had an end date within the last week, so I won. Yay!
Her messages make me smile. I love Juni so much.
Me: Meet me for lunch sometime?
Juni: Say when.
Me: I’ll text you next week.
Juni: Perfect. Tell Drake I said hi.
Me: Will do.
“We need to set Juni up with someone,” I say, setting my phone down. “She’s so cute and sweet. That was her. She won the office pool.”
Drake grins.
“Set her up with Jory,” Gray says. “Juni and Jory. Could get confusing, but he’s single.”
“Hey,” Drake says, nodding. “I like that. Maybe we can set them up—”
“And send them to Hess,” I say. “Yes. Let’s do it.”
Our friends banter again, the sound loud and chaotic … and perfect. I sit back with my fingers locked with Drake’s and feel so unbelievably grateful. I have the best boyfriend, the best friends, and a wider group of friends and acquaintances that are nothing short of amazing.
And a sister.
I grab my phone again, feeling sentimental.
Me: I love you.
Lucia: Are you okay?
Me: Yeah. Why?
Lucia: The last time you texted me out of the blue, I had to come to the hospital and pick you up. Stitches from falling off a bar table, if I remember correctly.
Oh, I forgot about that.
Me: You’ll be happy to know that I’m at Stupey’s with my friends. Safe and sound.
Me: Thanks, Lucia, for being a good sister.
Lucia: Have you been poisoned?
Me: You’re a jerk.
Lucia: Ah, there she is. Love you. I’m at a concert. Can’t type.
Me: Have fun.
“Did Auddie tell you that she’s going to stay at our cabin for a while this winter?” Astrid asks.
“No, she did not.” I make a face at Audrey. “I talk to you every day, and this hasn’t come up?”
“It just happened. I was talking to Hartley on the way over, because we all rode together, about the ranch, and I think it might be good for me to get away from here for a while.”