by S. E. Hall
But those are stories, not real life. And if real life is so great, why do people read stories?
They also say you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take. Can the same not be said about never finding your real-life fairytale if you run from the possibility? And wasn’t it I who, only days ago, mentally chastised all the naysayers, jilted by society’s standards?
I decide it comes down to actually being willing to take a risk to prove myself one of the dreamers, and not a hypocrite simply spouting out optimistic philosophy I don’t really mean if—or, in my case, when—it applies to me personally.
But even more than willingness to take a risk, it comes down to faith—in him—that he’s waiting for me to show him. Like he did once before…when I failed.
I stop to inhale a deep, much-needed breath, and make a decision.
Sort of.
I sprint back to the house, yelling his name, needing to talk to him immediately before I lose my nerve.
He comes rushing out to me, concern lining his face. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” I wheeze, holding up a finger while I catch my breath. “I have a proposition for you.”
“Whatever it is, yes.”
“You haven’t heard it yet!” I’m laughing now.
“Nor do I need to. My answer is yes.”
That is faith, I say to myself, my love for him filling my entire body. This wonderful, thoughtful, beautiful man is all mine, and will do anything to keep me—us—happy. I know it, and I trust it to the furthest depths of my soul.
“Well, then…pack your bags, Babe, and book our flights back to Kelly Springs,” I say.
He doesn’t even flinch, his mouth growing into a wide, knowing smile. “Done.”
He pulls out his phone and heads inside, with me not far behind him.
Near the end of my solitary walk, it’d dawned on me that the only real worry I have is my family. Not my father—he’s going to raise holy hell, because that’s what his paternal DNA tells him he’s supposed to do, but he’ll probably settle down once I explain that any engagement will be a long one and I plan to attend school in Scotland. My mother will cry, but ultimately agree to whatever she knows will make me happy.
But Seb’s approval is the one I need most, because it won’t come from the point of view of a worried or skeptical parent. It will only come from a place of sensible, pure love, and an objective desire for what’s best for me. And if he felt for someone the way I do about Kingston, he knows I’d want the same thing for him.
So if Kingston can brave not only asking my father but, most importantly, getting the approval of Sebastian, I can do what my heart’s already decided on for complete happiness.
Here goes nothing.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past year, it’s that sometimes you have to take a big, scary leap to reach the invaluable treasure on the other side.
Fortunately for me, I’ve always been good in the air.
Epilogue
He claps as slowly as he stands, his gray eyes animated with shadows of adoring approval. And now, with the “we” that is “us,” I can unabashedly bask in his admiration, doing one last twirl and a flirty curtsy.
“You like?” I ask.
“I love,” he says, stalking toward me, “you, and my dance. You’re positively breathtaking—exquisite.”
He snares me by the waist, raining kisses on my lips, face, and neck.
“Smashing song choice. Don’t think I don’t remember, Love.”
Of course he remembers. Just as he does everything else.
I’d finally performed the dance—for his eyes only, as promised, on a bet lost all that time ago. And also specifically for him, I’d both danced to “Paradise” by Coldplay and worn an outfit that was hot pink, the color he’s teased and seduced me with since the very beginning.
“I have to say, though….” I pull back just enough to peer into those sexy gray eyes. “I think you and Sammy were the standouts today. Best magic show ever.”
I laugh, as happy as I’ve ever been, thinking back to the proud beam my little brother wore as he and his assistant finally performed their act together.
“We were bloody brilliant,” he replies with a chuckle. “But you—”
I squirm from under his hungry hands and lips. “Stink. Come on, I need to take a shower.”
“Tempting…bloody tempting, Love, but I’ll have to pass.” He runs his large hands over my shoulders and down my back. “Much like sleeping on the couch all week, I’m not doing one damn thing to change your father’s mind.”
I roll my eyes and giggle. “You’re incorrigible. I meant I need to take a shower—alone.”
That’s a half-truth—I was thinking along the same lines, and he knows it. I miss Kingston’s body, loving mine, but he’s right. There’s no way we’re risking my father recanting his shocking agreement to let me live with Kingston. And it’d be a hard slap in my mother’s face to screw that up now, because Lord only knows what she had to do to convince him.
Which is fine. The Lord can have that secret knowledge, because I certainly don’t want to think about it.
We go inside the house. Kingston releases my hand and is quick to take a seat on the couch, acting engrossed in whatever my dad’s watching on TV while my mom prepares dinner.
My father looks up and stops me. “How you feeling? Been a while since you’ve performed. Worried ’bout my lil’ girl.”
“Better than ever,” I reply, smiling. “Just like riding a bike.”
“You miss it?” he asks, and try as he might to avoid it, his eyes soften with a hint of sadness that betrays his ever-gruff voice.
“Yeah, kinda, I guess.” I shrug, not wanting to reveal just how nostalgic I’m feeling. My place has always been in the air, but that doesn’t have to change just because my location does. My home has always been Kelly Springs, with my family—and that, too, will never change.
But they also say “Home is where the heart is,” and my heart belongs to Kingston, our future, and the life we’ll create together. So I guess that means it’s time for me to embrace and explore the fact that I’m lucky enough to have two beautiful homes in this lifetime.
“Enough to stay?” my father asks, pulling me back to the present.
“Daddy…” I croak quietly, feeling my lower lip trembling. I hold his gaze, hoping he sees in my glistening eyes just how much I love him.
“I know. Worth a try.” He smiles at me, telling me the same, that his love for me is often masked in discipline—complete with a loud, discerning voice and grumpy, furrowed brow—but that it’s unconditional, and trusting enough to let me fly.
“Go on.” He waves me off and turns back to the TV. “Get your shower. And check on your big brother. Hell if I know what he’s doing up there.”
I give Kingston a private smile, and his expression is one of kind understanding. He knows what really just transpired between my dad and me, and how much it meant to me.
I climb the stairs and head to the shower, looking around the small bathroom while I let the water warm up. I run my hand over the glass door, reminiscing about the very first message Kingston left there the morning after I literally fell into his lap.
I laugh at the bittersweet memory, and realize now that was just the beginning of many more special moments we’ll create together. I’ve never considered myself lucky, per se, but how could I not now?
And I have only one person to thank—the one who started this entire thing.
I knock on my brother’s bedroom door, which is slightly ajar.
Disappointed when he doesn’t answer, I open it anyway and welcome myself inside. No telling where he’s off hiding, but it’s not in here…and because I can—a perk of the sister clause—I snoop. After all, I’ve now had some practice at it.
But Seb makes it easy. I don’t even have to open a drawer, because everything I’d want to see is all right on top of his desk.
Postcards—ove
r a dozen of them, from various European cities.
“Looking for something in particular?”
His voice is tinged with laughter, and I jump at the sound.
“Nah, just, um…coming to say hey.”
I suck at lying, but he lets me slide on it.
“Hey yourself. Kingston like the dance?”
“Yeah, he loved it.”
“Who’d have thought?” My brother chuckles and shakes his head. “My sister, in love. I’m happy for you, Echo—very. You deserve each other. Excellent choice on both your parts.”
He leans back against his bedroom wall, crossing his ankles and arms.
“So, you’re really going back to Scotland with him, huh?”
I nod, tears brimming just behind my eyelids.
“And you’re staying there?”
“I’m staying where Kingston stays. Always.”
He looks thoughtful for a moment before pushing off the wall. “Come ’ere.”
He holds his arms open and I fly into them, closing my eyes and struggling not to cry. There’s nothing like a hug from your big brother.
“Hey, now, no crying. There’s plenty of room in that mansion for your bro to come stay, right?”
I sniffle, but manage to answer, “Absolutely. Anytime you want.”
“Echo.” He pulls back and looks down at me. “No sense in being sad. I’ll come see you. Bet on it.”
“I know.” I step away, wiping my eyes. “But I want you to be happy too, Seb. No one deserves it more than you.”
“I’m working on it.” He waggles his eyebrows, and subtly—but not enough for me to miss it—his eyes flash to the pile of postcards, then back to mine.
“Uh-huh,” is my reply. I grin and walk over to them, picking one up to fan myself with it.
“I knew there was something going on there. You and Natalie, huh?” I laugh, loud and full-bodied, already picturing it.
He cocks his head to the side, raising his eyebrows. “What’s so funny?”
I click my tongue. “Oh, brother dear, you have no idea what you’re in for with this one. How do I say this? Nat is…”
I dig for exactly the right words.
“Fascinating. A breath of fresh air. Whip-smart. Blunt.” I laugh. “She’ll definitely keep you on your toes.”
His eyes light up, and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his lips emerges.
“Yeah, I pretty much figured that out on my own…and am loving every minute of it.”
Connect with S.E. Hall
S.E. Hall is the author of the Amazon bestselling Evolve series: Emerge, Embrace, Entangled (novella), and Entice, as well as the bestselling stand-alone NA romance, Pretty Instinct. She also co-wrote Stirred Up and Packaged, stand-alone erotic quickies with her CP and friend, author Angela Graham and is honored to be a part of the USA Today and New York Times bestselling Devour box set. Stephanie resides in Arkansas with her husband of 18 years and three beautiful daughters of the home.
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About Angela Graham
Angela Graham is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of the Harmony series. She spent a lot of her childhood hidden away in the aisles at her local public library where she fell in love with reading. It was a home away from home through her youth to adulthood. In 2012 she knew she found her calling in the world of fiction the moment she began pounding away at the keys for her first short story. With a baby on her shoulder, she wrote for about a year before deciding to try her hand at a novel. It was the best decision she ever made and one that changed her life in ways she never imagined. Together with SE Hall, she has released five novels and one short story together. Angela resides in Northwest Arkansas with her three beautiful children and a rowdy dog. Discover more of her work, including the New York Times bestselling Harmony Series with book 1, Inevitable, free.
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