I sighed and followed her. The clinic was dark behind the glass windows. As we reached the front door I heard a familiar voice.
“Emily!”
I looked up and saw Michael and his girlfriend approaching us. “What are you doing here?” I asked, confused. “I thought we were meeting at the restaurant?”
“Meg forgot something,” he said, looking like he wanted to laugh. I looked at his girlfriend, but she was determinedly not meeting my gaze. I looked back at Brooke and saw that she too had apparently become fascinated with the pavement. Something clicked, and I looked back at Michael. He grinned at me, and I knew he got it too.
“Well, by all means,” I said, waving my hand toward the glass door. “Let’s go inside.”
Michael pulled out his keys and opened the front door. I followed him into the dark entryway and waited while he fumbled for the lights.
“Surprise!”
As the room filled with light our friends and family were revealed to us, grouped together on the exercise floor under a large banner. I had a fleeting glance of balloons and streamers before Ashley and Ryan were pulling me into a group hug.
“Congratulations!” Ashley said in my ear, kissing my cheek.
“Congrats, babe,” Ryan said. As I pulled back, I saw Chris behind them, grinning at me.
“You did it!” he said.
Once my friends had released me, I could see more clearly the group of people there to celebrate with us. I caught sight of Michael’s parents, Sarah, a few of our regular patients (including Frank and Mrs. Z, who appeared to be holding hands), Ryan’s new boyfriend, Dean (an aspiring male model who Ryan was crazy about), and my dad.
“Dad!” I cried, throwing my arms around him. “What are you doing here?”
“Like I would miss this,” he said into my ear, squeezing me tight. “I’m so proud of you, Em.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said, feeling choked up all of a sudden.
“Everyone!” Brooke called out, standing up on a chair. The room immediately fell silent. Brooke tended to have that kind of effect on people. “I just want to say a few words.” She looked down at me, smiling broadly. “First of all, we are so proud of Emily and Michael. As you know, they signed all the ownership and lease papers today, and this clinic is now officially theirs!” The room broke into applause and cheers at these words. I grinned at Michael and wondered if I looked as goofy happy as he did. Probably.
Brooke continued. “We want you guys to know that we understand you have a really hard road ahead of you—buying this place was the easy part. But we’re all here to support you and help in any way we can.” She smiled at us both, and I felt the lump return in my throat. “So anyhow, if you’ll all join me.” She held out her hand and Ryan handed her a plastic cup, which she raised in the air. “To Michael and Emily!”
“To Michael and Emily!” our friends and family echoed.
“There’s plenty of food and drinks, so everyone have a great time!” Brooke jumped down off her chair, and I made a beeline for her, grabbing her and hugging her tightly.
“Alright, alright,” she muttered, trying to pull back. “No reason to get all sappy on me.”
“Nope,” I said, holding on tightly. “You’re not getting away that easily. I love you, Brooke. I can’t thank you enough for all your help. This wouldn’t have been possible without you.”
She didn’t reply, so I figured I’d tortured her enough and started to release her, but she surprised me by squeezing me back.
“I am so, so proud of you,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. “For everything. Emily, you have no idea.”
I felt tears prick my eyes, so I squeezed them tightly shut and buried my head in her shoulder. It was so unlike Brooke to get emotional—
“Alright, now let go of me before I puke on you,” she said, her voice returning to normal. I laughed and pulled back, grinning at her. She rolled her eyes at me and pointed over my shoulder. “Someone wants to talk to you.”
I spun around and saw Elliot standing there, holding out a plastic cup of champagne.
“Hey,” I said as Brooke squeezed my arm and moved away. “I didn’t see you.”
“I was at the counter, getting the food ready when you guys showed up.” He made a face at me as he handed me the champagne. “I missed the surprise.”
“That’s okay.” I kissed him briefly, smiling up at him. “I forgive you.”
“You look happy,” he said, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Are you happy?”
I rested my head against his shoulder, looking around at the clinic that was now half mine. I felt tired and exhilarated all at the same time. It had been a whirlwind of a day. Brooke had arrived from Alpena early in the afternoon so she could accompany Michael and me to the bank to sign the papers. In the moments leading up to the closing, I had been practically beside myself with terror. It had seemed like such a huge undertaking, way too grown up and scary for me.
But Brooke had squeezed my knee under the table while I signed the papers, and I had gotten through it. And now Michael and I actually owned this place.
I looked around at my friends and family. Chris was talking to my dad, both of them holding plates filled with food. I was pleased to see my dad had avoided the chips and burgers. He looked much better than he had when I left him a month ago—his color was back, and he had dropped some weight.
Ashley and Ryan were standing together next to Dean, who looked thoroughly bored and unimpressed by the scene. I smiled to myself, wondering when Ryan would get a clue about the boys he dated. Behind them, Brooke was perched up on one of the therapy tables, her legs crossed as she talked to one of Michael’s friends. I noticed a lot of hair flicking and eyelash batting from that corner of the room. Next to them stood Frank and Mrs. Z, and the similarities between my friend and ZiZi were comically obvious. I laughed and turned back to Elliot.
“You still with me?” he asked, squeezing my waist.
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “I’m with you.”
“You didn’t answer me.” Elliot kissed the top of my head. “I asked if you were happy?”
In response, I leaned up and kissed him, loving the feel of his arm around me, of his warm lips on mine.
“No, I’m not happy,” I whispered against his mouth. He frowned slightly, and I went on, “Happy doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
THE END
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Interested in reading more from Rachel Schurig?
Her best-selling romantic comedy series are available for ebook and in paperback.
Three Girls Series
Come along for the crazy ride as Ginny McKensie and her best friends deal with an unexpected pregnancy in Three Girls and a Baby.
Follow Jen Campbell as she struggles to plan the perfect wedding-and find her very own happily ever after in Three Girls and a Wedding.
Join Annie Duncan as she continues her search for the perfect leading role-and the perfect man to go along with it in the third and final book of the series, Three Girls and a Leading Man.
Reunite with Ginny, Jen, and Annie and catch up with Kiki Barker-Thompson as she attempts to create the perfect fairy tale life in The Truth About Ever After (a Three Girls book).
Ginny, Jen, and Annie are back for the next chapter in Three Girls and a New Beginning.
Love Story Series
In Search of a Love Story is the first in the three-book series, in which you meet Emily Donovan, a self-described romance novice, as she searches for her very own love story.
An Unexpected Love Story is the second in the Love Story series, where we follow along with Brooke Murray as she attempts to save her parents’ inn, find true love, and run a business—all while wearing the perfect pair of heels!
In the final book in the Love Story Series, An (Almost) Perfect Love Story, we learn more about Ashley Phillips. She has always believed in love, but does she have what it takes
to fight for love when her perfect love story turns out to be not so perfect after all?
Lovestruck Series
Lovestruck in London
When Lizzie Medina settles in London for a year of post-graduate studies, she’s sure she’ll be able to start a whole new life. But falling unexpectedly in love with up-and-coming actor Thomas Harper causes Lizzie to re-think… everything. When Thomas’s career suddenly explodes to superstar levels, Lizzie finds herself forced to navigate the fame game of red carpets, catty co-stars, gossip magazines, and paparazzi in Lovestruck in London. When she wished for a new life, she had no idea it would be anything like this!
Lovestruck in Los Angeles
Lizzie Medina is living a fairy tale life. Ever since she left home for an adventure in London—and fell in love with movie star Thomas Harper in the process—her world has become brighter. More exciting. The kind of life she’s always dreamed of. When Thomas is required to temporarily move to Los Angeles for his new movie, Lizzie joins him without hesitation. But it doesn’t take her long to realize that, in Hollywood, not everything is quite what it seems. Will she and Thomas succumb to the pressures inherent in their new life? Or will they find a way to create a perfect Hollywood ending of their own?
Love New Adult Contemporary Romance?
Don’t miss the Escape series, available now!
Escape In You Jet Taylor is the quintessential bad boy. The type of guy most girls do their best to avoid. But Zoe Janes is no saint herself, and the more time they spend together, the harder it is for Zoe to stick to her “fun only” mantra. Jet is getting under her skin, making her believe things could actually be different, that freedom might be possible. And that makes him the most dangerous boy of all.
Escape With You Ellie is not a serious relationship kind of girl, and Fred has made a career out of worrying. When the two start hooking up, they’re both ready for nothing more than some no-pressure, worry-free fun. So long as they stick to the plan, both can get out unscathed. So long as they stick to the plan, both can get what they want. But life has a way of messing with the best of plans…
Check out the first rocker romance book in the brand new Ransom series, available now!
Ransom It’s been a year since Daisy has seen Daltrey. A year since he and his brothers left town to pursue their dreams of rock and roll superstardom. A year since he left Daisy behind—left her to watch as everything she knew crumbled around her. She’s been running from Daltrey ever since, desperate to keep her secret. But she can’t run anymore. And now that Daltrey has found her—the girl he’s loved his entire life, the girl he’d give up everything for—he’s determined never to let her go again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Schurig is the best-selling author of the Three Girls series, available now in paperback and ebook. Rachel lives in the metro Detroit area with her dog, Lucy. She loves to watch reality TV, and she reads as many books as she can get her hands on. In her spare time, Rachel decorates cakes.
To find out more about her books, visit Rachel at rachelschurig.com
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In Search of a Love Story (Love Story Book One ) Page 23
