Whatever It Takes (Second Chances #2)
Page 19
“I can’t believe you’re really here.” I kissed her forehead and pulled her into my arms. “I’m never letting go, you know.”
“I missed you too,” she said, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“So . . . you’re back? For good, right?” I sat down in one of the lawn chairs and pulled her onto my lap. Tess wrapped her arms around my neck and laid her head on my shoulder. She better be back for good because I wasn’t letting her go ever again.
“I had to come back. I can’t run. It’s not fair to Noah. I panicked and didn’t think, but being alone for the past week made me realize that I was trying so hard to keep Noah safe, I was the one putting him in danger.”
I sat up and held her at arm’s length. Of course—her phone was toast.
She didn’t know.
“Stay here.” I jumped up and ran into the trailer. Three curious glances followed me to the side table in the living room, where I grabbed the manila envelope the courier tried to deliver to her.
When I got back outside, Tess was pacing. Until she saw the envelope. Then she stopped and her hand flew to her chest. “They gave it to you? Why?”
“It’s not what you think. Open it.” I handed it to her, and she eyed it like it was a copperhead. “Trust me, Tess.”
She looked so scared and so lost, but she had to see what was inside. I took her hand and put the envelope in it. She was shaking and her eyes glittered in the dim light. I could tell her, but she needed to see it for herself.
“I came back to take you up on your offer of help,” she said softly. “I know that things between us were just casual, but you said . . .”
I closed the distance and pulled her into my arms. “Things haven’t been casual since day one, and you know it. We were both dancing around the truth and I’m done pretending. When I thought you were gone, I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again. I was terrified that you’d never know how I felt.”
“Ryan, you don’t have to . . .”
“Be quiet and listen. I love you, Tess. I did when I was fifteen and I do now, more than I thought I could ever love someone. You make me believe that happily ever after is possible, that sometimes people love you back and they stay. I want to take a chance and I want it to be with you. So no matter what’s in that envelope, I need you to know that I fucking love you, okay?”
Now the tears were falling down her face and for a split second, I had no idea what was going on in her head. Then she threw her arms around me and her lips were on mine and I could feel the hunger burning with every swipe of her tongue.
“I love you too. That’s part of the reason I had to come back. I couldn’t imagine being without you. I’m scared of what’s going to happen at the hearing, but I want you there by my side when I fight for Noah. I just can’t lose both of you.”
“You’re not losing anyone, Tess. Open the damned envelope.”
“I don’t understand,” she started to say.
I threw up my hands. Christ, she was the most exasperating woman on the planet. The answers were right there in her hand if she’d only look. I was going to have to tell her. There wasn’t any other way.
“Tess . . .”
“I know. Open the damned envelope.” She slid her finger under the flap and pulled the top open. Her hesitant gaze met mine and I nodded. With a deep breath she pulled out the packet of papers.
I watched her read and her eyebrows dipped down. “My father gave me full custody?” She kept reading. “What does that mean? Third party? An offer of thirty thousand dollars was made and accepted? Someone bought Noah and gave him back to me?”
I should have asked Avery exactly what the papers said beforehand, but I didn’t intend to hide anything now anyway. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other and waited. She either understood or she hated me.
“I don’t understand, who would have paid my father for . . .” The papers slipped from her fingers and her gaze shot to me. Her mouth fell open and she stood there, pale faced, staring at me. “The money your mother left. You said it was around thirty thousand dollars.”
“I told you in one of the messages I left. That you didn’t have to run anymore. That Noah was yours forever.”
“You did this?” Her voice was nothing but a whisper and dread crawled up my spine.
“I had to. I couldn’t stand by and let you lose Noah.” My voice cracked and I swallowed hard. “I would never have used that money for myself, but for you, I’d do anything.”
“I don’t understand . . .” A desperate edge crept into her tone now, sending that heavy dread straight to my gut. This was it. Time to lay it all on the line. My heart pounded against my chest and my palms were sweaty.
“You’re a package deal, Tess. You and Noah. And I couldn’t even imagine living life with only one of you. I love you and I love him and I would have done everything to make sure that you two got to stay together. Because of you, I could see myself with that house, with that fucking picket fence, and the person next to me was you. I need you and Noah in my life, Tess. That’s”—I held out my hands—“that’s all I have. I love you, and I want to be with both of you for the rest of my life.”
“What?”
My insides were threatening to relocate to the outside, but I told myself that if I got the chance, I’d take it. I reached into my pocket and took out the box I’d bought two weeks ago when I realized she was the one.
Her eyes went round when I dropped to one knee. Somewhere behind me I heard Seth mutter “Holy fuck.” I didn’t even know he was there, but it didn’t matter. I had one goal. One thing to say before Tess made any kind of decision.
“You were the first girl I ever loved, and truth be told, you’re the last girl I ever want to love. I’ve been waiting for you since I was fifteen years old, and I think I always knew that it was you, Tess. That I was just waiting for you to come back. And you did. So will you marry me?” The lump in my throat grew bigger the longer I waited.
“You want to marry . . . me?” She pressed her hand to her mouth and her shoulders shook.
“Yeah, I really do. I want you at my side for whatever life throws at us. Together. All of us.”
“Ryan?” she asked. Tears poured down her cheeks. “Really?”
I got to my feet and took her by the shoulders. “How much clearer can I be? I fucking love you more than anything in this world and I want to spend every single day waking up next to you. I want to hold your hand when we take Noah to his first day of kindergarten and again when he walks at graduation. I want us to fight and make up and then make up again.” I tilted her chin up. “I want you and only you. Forever.”
She sucked in a breath, then her body relaxed and she cried even harder. “Yes,” she whispered. “I want all that too. I love you.” Her arms were around me and I lifted her off her feet.
In the distance I heard clapping and laughter, but all I could see was the beautiful smile on Tess’s face.
“I never stopped loving you, Ry. I think I was waiting for you too.”
“No more running,” I said.
“I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Wherever I go, we all go.”
I kissed her softly and she snuggled into my arms. “Deal.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, I need to thank my fabulous editor, Elana Cohen. Somehow she knows just what I need to do to take a jumble of words and make it into a really great story. And the rest of the team, from copyeditors to cover artists, are all so amazing! I am very lucky to get to work with Pocket Star on these books.
My agent, Mandy Hubbard, who has been there throughout most of this crazy ride called writing. She is the voice in the dark whispering, “You got this,” in a totally noncreepy way.
The best CP ever, Joy Hensley, who is there for every meltdown and every victory. Thank you!
My family, who inspire me to keep going
even when I am bleary-eyed and on deadline. Love you guys!
And finally to the readers. Without you this would not be possible and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
L. E. BROSS is living her own happily-ever-after in Maine with her husband, two boys, and a houseful of four-legged fur babies. You can find her at LeeBross.com and on Twitter @Lee_Bross. Right Where You Are is the first new adult novel in her Second Chances series.
FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR: Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/L-E-Bross
MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT
SimonandSchuster.com
ALSO IN THE SECOND CHANCES SERIES
Right Where You Are
We hope you enjoyed reading this Pocket Star Books eBook.
* * *
Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers, access to bonus content, and info on the latest new releases and other great eBooks from Pocket Star Books and Simon & Schuster.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
or visit us online to sign up at
eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com
Pocket Star Books
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 by Lee Bross
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Pocket Star Books ebook December 2015
POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Interior design by Carly Loman
Cover photo by Joshua Hodge Photography/Getty
ISBN 978-1-5011-3055-7
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Acknowledgments
About the Author