We finally arrived in Long Island. Ryder pulled into the parking lot of the comedy club and shut off the car.
As we entered the building, Ryder spilled the beans at the ticket counter.
“Three tickets for Gilbert Gottfried, please.”
Ollie jumped. “No way! What?”
The woman at the counter quickly put a damper on our excitement. “We can’t let him in. This is an eighteen-and-over club.”
Ryder took her aside. “Listen, my son is blind, and he loves listening to Gilbert more than anything. This was supposed to be a surprise for him. We know some of the stuff isn’t appropriate for his age, but we teach him right from wrong, and listening to Gilbert just gives him so much joy. I—”
“I’m so sorry, sir. But I can’t break that rule. I’ll lose my job. And I like having a roof over my head.”
Ryder nodded. I knew he was devastated for giving Ollie false hope.
Even though Ryder was silent, Ollie could sense he was upset.
“It’s okay, Ryder. I know you meant well.”
We were back in the middle of the parking lot, but Ryder refused to get in the car. My gut told me he had no intention of backing down.
“Stay here,” he said.
I knew he didn’t want to give up on this, but I had a feeling he was going to be sorely disappointed if he tried to go back in there and convince them again.
He was gone for several minutes before he came back and took Ollie by the hand. “Come on.”
The look of excitement on Ollie’s face was priceless. Ryder snuck us through a side door before handing a wad of cash to a mysterious man. We were somewhere behind the stage in a hallway.
The three of us sat down on the ground and huddled together as the show began. I was prepared to flee if necessary, but no one ever came around to kick us out.
The sound from where we sat was crystal clear, and Ryder and I watched Ollie’s face as he laughed at all of the jokes. The trespassing was well worth it. We couldn’t see Gilbert, but that was just fine. We experienced the show just as Ollie did.
***
As we headed back to the city that night, Ollie was on cloud nine. I let him sit in the front next to Ryder while I sat in the back.
“This was the best week of my life,” he said.
I had no doubt he meant that. This was his first big trip away from home. Not only did he get to hear his idol perform live, but he got to be part of Ryder and me solidifying our union, which in turn made us officially a family.
Ryder turned to him. “I’m glad, buddy. Pretty sure this is the latest you’ve ever stayed up, too.”
Ollie’s next statement came seemingly out of nowhere.
“I don’t want the surgery.”
Ryder slowed the car and looked over at him. “What made you think of that right now?”
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately—not just right now. I figured I’d tell you.”
Ryder looked back at me through the rearview mirror. “Okay…”
“I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful.”
“Of course not, Ollie,” I said.
“It’s not that I don’t want to see you guys. But the doctors don’t even know if the surgery will work. I’m scared to make something worse when I’m happy the way I am.”
After a few seconds of quiet, Ryder reached over and placed his hand on Ollie’s leg. “That’s all the explanation you’ll ever need to give.”
***
Back at the hotel, Ollie was asleep in the suite off of our room when Ryder joined me in bed.
“Today was pretty freaking amazing,” he said.
“For so many reasons.”
“Yeah. I’m really proud of Ollie for his honesty. I’ve learned so much about life from him—and from you.”
Life was so strange. One little moment could change everything.
“Imagine if you hadn’t clicked on my violin photo. I wonder how different our lives would be.”
Ryder pulled me close. “I could never have imagined how much my life would change with one click of a button, that I could find this kind of love online.”
“Blue skies.” I grinned. “Like the song I was singing when you found me—it’s been nothing except blue skies since that day. I think I’m finally living those lyrics.”
He smiled wide. “That’s right, baby. That makes two of us.”
EPILOGUE
* * *
RYDER
“She’s so beautiful.”
I never thought I’d look at a girl on a screen with such admiration again. But it had happened twice in one lifetime.
I mean after all, in a weird way, wasn’t this how it had all started? Mesmerized, I watched as she moved around gracefully. Her big, beautiful eyes were clear as day, her lips like a perfect bow.
Holy shit. Is this really happening?
“Tell me what she looks like,” Ollie said. He almost never asked that, never really cared to know such things. But apparently this was the exception.
“Well, I think she has your nose. Eden’s nose, too.”
His mouth curved into a satisfied grin. “Really?”
“Yeah.” I smiled.
“What else?” he asked.
“It’s hard to tell right now,” Eden said, her giant belly slathered in goop. “But in two months, you’ll get to hold her and trace that little nose with your fingers.”
Suddenly, she started moving her arms and legs faster. It appeared my daughter was trying to dance. It was amazing what you could see in 4D.
“Looks like she’s performing for an audience,” the ultrasound tech said.
Eden looked over at me and squeezed my hand.
I winked. “She gets that from her mother.”
Dear Readers,
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Love Online! Want to read a free sexy novelette I wrote? JADED and TYED is not available for sale anywhere as an ebook. It’s exclusively for subscribers to my mailing list. Click to sign up and you’ll receive this EXCLUSIVE free book.
OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD
* * *
GENTLEMAN NINE
New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
DRUNK DIAL
New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
MACK DADDY
USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
ROOMHATE
New York Times, USA TODAY and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
STEPBROTHER DEAREST
New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
NEIGHBOR DEAREST
New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
SINS OF SEVIN
USA TODAY Bestseller
JAKE UNDONE (JAKE #1)
JAKE UNDERSTOOD (JAKE #2)
MY SKYLAR
USA TODAY Bestseller
GEMINI
REBEL HEIR (CO-WRITTEN WITH VI KEELAND)
New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
REBEL HEART (CO-WRITTEN WITH VI KEELAND)
New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
DEAR BRIDGET, I WANT YOU (CO-WRITTEN WITH VI KEELAND)
USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
MISTER MONEYBAGS (CO-WRITTEN WITH VI KEELAND)
New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
PLAYBOY PILOT (CO-WRITTEN WITH VI KEELAND)
New York Times and USA TODAY Bestseller
STUCK-UP SUIT (CO-WRITTEN WITH VI KEELAND)
New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
COCKY BASTARD (CO-WRITTEN WITH VI KEELAND)
New York Times and USA TODAY Bestseller
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
* * *
I always say that the acknowledgements are the hardest part of the book to write and that still stands! It’s hard to put into words how thankful I am for every single reader who cont
inues to support and promote my books. Your enthusiasm and hunger for my stories is what motivates me every day. And to all of the book bloggers who support me, I simply wouldn’t be here without you.
To Vi – I say this every time, and I am saying it again because it holds even truer as time goes on. You’re the best friend and partner in crime that I could ask for. I couldn’t do any of this without you. Our co-written books are a gift, but the biggest blessing has always been our friendship, which came before the stories and will continue after them. Last year challenged us, but I’m proud to say we are still rearing to go onto the “next!”
To Julie – Thank you for your friendship and for always inspiring me with your amazing writing, attitude, and strength. This year is going to kick ass!
To Luna –Thank you for your love and support, day in and day out and for always being just a message away. Here’s to many more Florida visits with sangria and tostones!
To Erika – It will always be an E thing. I am so thankful for your love and friendship and support and to our special hang time in July. Thank you for always brightening my days with your positive outlook.
To my Facebook fan group, Penelope’s Peeps – I love you all. Your excitement motivates me every day. And to Queen Peep Amy – Thank you for starting the group way back when.
To Mia – Thank you, my friend, for always making me laugh. I know you’re going to bring us some phenomenal words this year.
To my assistant Mindy Guerreiros – Thank you for being so awesome and handling so much of Vi’s and my day-to day stuff. We appreciate you so much!
To my editor Jessica Royer Ocken – It was such a pleasure working with you for the first time on this book. I look forward to many more experiences to come.
To Elaine of Allusion Book Formatting and Publishing – Thank you for being the best proofreader, formatter, and friend a girl could ask for.
To Letitia of RBA Designs – The best cover designer ever! Thank you for always working with me until the cover is exactly how I want it.
To my agent extraordinaire, Kimberly Brower –Thank you for all of your hard work in getting my books into the international market and for believing in me long before you were my agent, back when you were a blogger and I was a first-time author.
To my husband – Thank you for always taking on so much more than you should have to so that I am able to write. I love you so much.
To the best parents in the world – I’m so lucky to have you! Thank you for everything you have ever done for me and for always being there.
To my besties: Allison, Angela, Tarah and Sonia – Thank you for putting up with that friend who suddenly became a nutty writer.
Last but not least, to my daughter and son – Mommy loves you. You are my motivation and inspiration!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
* * *
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son and beautiful daughter with autism.
With over 1.5 million books sold, she is a twenty-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over twenty novels, including RoomHate which hit #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #1 on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list. Other New York Times bestsellers include Gentleman Nine, Drunk Dial, Stepbrother Dearest, Neighbor Dearest, Cocky Bastard, Stuck-Up Suit, Playboy Pilot, Mister Moneybags, Rebel Heir and Rebel Heart (the latter six co-written with Vi Keeland).
Penelope’s books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
Subscribe to Penelope’s newsletter here.
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