Mal and I flew their dad in for the occasion, so he could meet his granddaughter and witness the events with us. Mal is actively trying to get him to move to the States to be closer to us. Part of our plan while is here is to show him a few potential rentals if he finally agrees. Cam has been calling him weekly to keep him company from halfway across the world and we all figure it’s time for him to start a new chapter.
I walk out to the back patio. Our townhome doesn't offer much, but the patio is definitely a great entertaining area. Friends and family fill the space and I couldn't be happier. Cam walks out with a tray in her hand, brushes past me, and places the tray on the table in front of a few of our dancers. She looks around, sees her Pop, and gravitates towards him.
I feel the weight of the square box in my pocket and figure there is no better time than now. I step forward and clear my throat.
"Everyone!" I throw my voice across the area.
Voices die down, and all the attention is directed to me. I motion for Cam to come to stand with me. When she stands beside me, I smile and wrap my arm around her waist.
"I want to just thank everyone for coming today. It's a special day and I know that over time, we've all become a family, one that I enjoy working with and sharing moments with. Mal and I would not have been able to make the transition from dancers to club owners, The Essentials would not be the top-rated entertainment venue that it is, and our lives would not be so full and satisfying. So, thank you.”
“We know we’re all here to share in the excitement for Mal and Beck. They're doing something amazing by adopting a child and I can't wait until they bring this kid into the fold. Let's just make sure she doesn't go to the club, eh?" I clear my throat as everyone laughs. "We're happy to have Mal and Cam's dad here, because not only is this about Mal and Beck, it's about him. We’re also celebrating that this bloke will be moving to the States soon and we all couldn't be happier." I look down at Cam, who has tears in her eyes. I kiss her cheek.
Cam holds her glass up and adds, "I just want to chime in here and say congrats to the soon-to-be new parents and we can’t wait to welcome her into our lives." She lifts her glass over her head and smiles.
Everyone erupts into cheers.
"Before we all go about our business and start celebrating and getting rotten, I have just one more thing I want to say." I grab Cam's hand, turn to her and get down on bended knee. I hear a gasp somewhere off to my side and Cam's hand covers her mouth as her eyes widen.
"Cameron. While we've known each other for a long time, being that your brother is my best mate. Hell, on the mantel inside, I have a picture of me and Mal from many years ago. I framed it because it reminded me of good times surfing with my best mate. But now I know that photo is special for another reason. It's because you are special to me and you were a part of that moment. You’ve become my other half, my partner, my equal. You're with me everywhere I go, and I know we are more than just boyfriend and girlfriend, even though you never liked to refer to us as such. We're soulmates. I know that with every bit of my being. And here in front of our family and friends, I want to ask if you'll be mine. Forever. Will you do me the honor of marrying me, Cameron?"
You can hear water drop from the faucet inside the house. All sounds on the patio have disappeared. That is, except for the "Yes" that falls from Cam's lips as she sinks down on her knees to be eye level with me. Tears stream down her face as she repeats herself. I grab her face and kiss her mercilessly until we're both breathless.
I pull her up to a standing position and yell to the crowd, "She said yes!" Everyone cheers.
I look at my fiancée and the sounds disappear again. It's only our breaths that I can make out.
"I love you," I whisper to her.
Her arms wrap around my neck. We pull our bodies up against one another.
"I love you too, Jacks."
I never thought that when I moved from Sydney to Las Vegas and became an erotic dancer then start my own business with my best mate that I would find love. It's hard being in a relationship with that kind of job. Becoming a club owner and working crazy hours as the night manager made it seem even more unlikely. Then my best mate's sister and I spent a drunken night together that would change our lives forever. And I couldn't be happier. While I'm her first in so many ways, she's my absolute first in everything I didn't know I needed.
THE END
Afterword
Readers,
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I hope that in some shape or form you felt connected to my characters. I strive to have my stories be as relatable as possible, and not too outrageous. The sole purpose for me to bring my friends these stories is to feel like that too can be you.
That being said, I write to make you happy. I wouldn’t be able to do so without your feedback. Whether you leave a review on Goodreads & Amazon (Please do, that would be spectacular!) or if you feel like shooting me a message at: [email protected], I would love to hear from you.
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TARRAH
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, thank YOU to the readers, the bloggers, THE people. I write to entertain you for however long you deem to let my words into your mind. Thank you for picking up this little ditty and giving me a chance.
To Voltron and my two guys! You guys cheer me on like no other and for that I couldn’t be more appreciative.
To Tarrah’s Teases, my street team: Thank you for pimping me out on social media, for reading and reviewing and your overall support.
To the ladies of the D-Print Police, my reader group. Thank you for your continued support and devotion.
To my beta Tamera. Thank you for the gushing, the critique and the overall awesomeness that you are!
To Laura, of Red Pen Princess & Indies Ink. Your amazing editing skills are top notch. Thank you for editing, reading and loving me despite my punctuation.
And to the Grubbs Girls, for your excitement over the news that I’m an author, for your kind words and for your overall excitement.
And last, but never least - My husband. You put up with me ignoring you so I can write, edit, design and do research. I love you with everything that I am. Now go make me a sammich.
Also by TARRAH ANDERS
THE ZONE SERIES
The Friends Zone
The Crash Zone
The Office Zone
THE MELTED SERIES
Frozen Over
FROZE
Freezing
Novellas
New Year, New You
STRIPPED
Clutch, Rounding Third: A Baseball Anthology (Contributing Author)
Coming Soon:
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About the Author
I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, but living in beautiful San Diego with my own little family while working during the day as a social worker working with the homeless. I am hardcore San Francisco Giants fan and anything dealing with cupcakes and Zombies.
I’ve been writing since I was in middle school and throughout college. While it was a passion, I kept it under wraps and never vocalized or followed through with my desire to be a writer, until I read a horrible book and thought: ‘I could do better than that!’ So I started writing. I love to escape into the unknown world of my characters and let them speak for me.
My writing style is that I try to keep on earth. I try my best to not be too unrealistic with my characters, what they do and how they live. I want my
books to be relatable and not to create too many eye rolls, when a character starts calling his love interest baby after knowing her for 5 minutes.
I am currently working on a few pieces for some anthologies and maybe some other stories - sign up for my newsletter and follow me to stay tuned!!!
The Night Manager Page 14
