by Liz Peters
A graduation ceremony was scheduled for Friday afternoon, and everyone was supposed to have invited their family, though Ali’s was too far away to make it down for the celebration. She knew they were happy for her, and having Sabrina sitting out in the audience with Ben up on the platform while she got her certificate was good enough for her. She walked off that stage, with a certificate and an envelope in hand. This was the moment she’d been both waiting for and dreading since this journey had begun.
That envelope held her job assignment. She’d requested being placed in Daytona, but that didn’t guarantee anything. She was going to have to move wherever they told her they needed her as long as she had this job.
Ali kept telling herself that no matter what the envelope held, she could travel back and forth to visit Sabrina and Ben. Her flights with the airline would be free, and she could spend her days off here whenever possible. However, she knew that a long-distance relationship wasn’t going to be anything they really wanted after having to pretend to have nothing to do with each other for the last six weeks. It would have been more than she was ready to handle, and her hands were shaking once the ceremony was over.
Ali stood there, looking at the envelope in her hand, not finding the courage to open it, just in case it wasn’t the news that she wanted to hear. She knew not opening it wasn’t going to change what the paper inside said, but while she stood there with the closed envelope it was sort of a Shrodinger’s cat — both alive and dead in the same instant. She was still staring at it when she heard a familiar voice come up behind her.
“Come on. We’re going to my office, and we’re going to open this one up together.” He looked around the area. All of the rest of the group were embracing their friends and family, looking over their job placements and planning the parties or dinners that would be happening after this. Ali hadn’t been invited to a single one of them, but she and Sabrina had a little something planned at their apartment for later tonight. Ben was invited, but she wasn’t sure how much she was going to feel like celebrating if that piece of paper said anything but Daytona.
The walk into the building was short, but every step made Ali feel more and more like she was trying to walk through water that got deeper as she moved closer to the building. There would be no one inside so when they got through the front door, she was free to celebrate or fall apart depending on what the news in that envelope held. Finally, they were in his office, Ben closed and locked the door behind them, making sure that the blinds in front of the small glass window inset in the door were down. They were alone, and no one was going to interrupt them. The only thing left to do was find out where she was going to be placed.
“I didn’t call anyone. I didn’t want to draw any undue attention to you in the assignment process. I have no idea what that paper says, Ali, but I want to say one thing. I don’t care what it says. I love you. I’ve never said those words to anyone in my life who wasn’t in my family. No matter what, you and I are going to make this work. That I can promise you.”
Ben was trying to reassure her, and it worked for the moment. Ali believed him when he said he’d never said those words to anyone but family. She knew how serious he was about that, and how he’d risked the career he loved to be with her. That didn’t stop her from being scared.
“I love you, too. I just don’t want to open it.” She thrust the envelope out towards the man standing opposite her. “You do it.”
“Are you sure?” Ben raised an eyebrow, reaching out to take the envelope from her when she held it out.
“Yeah, you have to do it. I can’t.” She shook her head, putting one hand over her eyes. “Just do it.”
She had the resounding feeling that this was a moment she would remember for the rest of her life. Ali could hear the sounds of paper ripping and rustling in the small space of his office. The sounds were enhanced due to her nerves. She already felt childish enough for not having the courage to look at the answer herself, so she just had to be patient while Ben opened the envelope.
Ben paused, breathing in a hiss between his teeth as he unfolded the paper, and Ali’s eyes shot open.
“What? What is it? Oh my god, they’ve placed me somewhere stupid like Los Angeles or New York or Toronto. I know it. Just go ahead and spit it out.”
“Daytona... It says Daytona, Ali. You’re staying here.”
Ali squealed and threw herself into Ben’s arms the moment he got the answer out. It was everything they had been hoping for. Somehow they’d managed to make it out of this process not only with their sanity intact but together. Now everything seemed to be working out for her. She sighed in relief, wrapping herself around him for as long as she dared before letting him go and straightening out both her uniform and his tie.
“Come on. We’ve got some celebrating to do.” Ali grinned, grabbing his hand as they walked out of his office together. It was the first time they could do that in public, and it felt right. Instead of looking over their shoulder or worrying about what anyone thought, they were completely free to be together.
They stepped outside still holding hands and couldn’t help but notice the sighs and the stares they received, but they didn’t care. Sabrina finally found them and her pride and happiness at seeing her best friend was clear in her big smile.
For the first time in her life, Ali had everything going her way; her freedom, her future and the love of a good man.
More books by Liz Peters
Available on Amazon:
Fanning the Flames Series
Book One
Country Mile; A When Opposites Attract Romance
Book Two
City Minute; A When Opposites Attract Romance
Book Three
Under the Law; A When Opposites Attract Romance
Forgotten Stranger
A Billionaire Boss, Single Dad Mystery Romance
Try Me Again
A First Love, Second Chance Single Dad Romance
Accidentally Into You
A Pretend Boyfriend Romance
To Guard and Protect
A Bodyguard to Lovers Romance
On Deck
A Sexy Neighbor, Single Dad, Friends to Lovers Romance
His Ride
A Protector Next Door Romance
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I enjoy writing hot, naughty, steamy books about love!
I have an endless amount of characters and stories in my head.
I can always promise you no cliff hangers, no cheating, and a happily-ever-after!
I hope you will continue reading my books and join me in this wild romantic adventure.
If you do, and if you enjoy them, please take the time to leave me a review.
Your feedback helps me to understand what you’d like to see more of,
and it means the world to me.
I absolutely LOVE hearing from you!
Yours Truly,
Liz
