Annihilate Me: Holiday Edition
Page 12
She turned to Daniella and lifted her glass to her. “To my eldest daughter and my constant little troublemaker, I love you. You came here angry as hell and with a broken heart. And all because of a boy who will never see in you what I see in you. A smart, savvy young woman who has what so many people lack—a personality. Never lose that. Never let any man crush you or change you. The right man is out there for you, Daniella. Either you will find him, or he will find you. Here’s to that day. And here’s to you, my love.”
Daniella blew her mother a kiss, and sipped her wine.
“Alexa,” Blackwell said. “My little tree hugger. I’m proud of you for many reasons, but especially for one specific reason—at a very young age, you have concrete, established beliefs, and you believe in them. They define who you are. Not many possess that when they’re so young, and I don’t think the fact that your socially and environmentally conscious now is just a phase. I think this is who you are, and I have a feeling that you will do something important with your life because of those beliefs. I can’t wait to see what that is. So, here’s to you.”
“Thank you, Mom. Not many people get me.”
“Well, I do. And so does your sister.”
“Don’t throw me under the bus,” Daniella said. But before Blackwell could react, Daniella turned to her sister and said, “Just kidding. You know I’m proud of you, even if you are a flake.”
“To Alex and Jennifer,” Blackwell said. “What a year you’ve had, and look how you’ve come through it—two survivors deeply in love. And engaged to be married. I fully expect to be involved in all of the wedding proceedings because I refuse to have an unmitigated disaster on our hands when you do get married. So be prepared for that. And also be prepared for a wonderful life together. As with any marriage, it will have its challenges. But what I know about both of you is this—you can meet any challenge and weather it. I’ve seen it. We all have. What you have is what I want for my own girls—true love. A lasting love. So, please, lift your glasses along with mine and allow me to say how grateful I am to be part of your lives.”
“You’re going to make me cry,” I said.
She arched her eyebrow at me. “Maybe I mean to.”
Daniella laughed at that, but of course she would. To her core, she was her mother’s daughter. And as silly as that girl could be, and as crass, I kind of loved her for it.
Finally, Blackwell turned to Lisa and Tank. “And now I get to address each of you. What a pleasure it’s going to be to see you grow together. Love began here for you—in Lisa’s home state, no less—and I hope that it carries you forward into a long, lasting relationship filled with the love you feel for each other right now. Of course, that remains to be seen,” Blackwell said. “I should know. Relationship can be tough. But I also know that all of us here hope nothing but the best for you, and that in the coming months, the story you build together won’t just be written between you. The next many chapters of your life are something all of us want to bear witness to and watch unfold.”
# # #
The next series from international best-selling
author Christina Ross begins with….
With this book, the Annihilate Me series ends, but only in a sense. It’s now time for new stories and characters to emerge from the series. There is, in fact, a whole world of stories to tell because of this series. When I asked you on my Facebook page to enter the world of Christina Ross, I meant it. In that world, we’ll meet new friends, and also keep in close contact with old friends, such as Jennifer and Alex.
Coming early in 2014 is the Unleash Me series. That series will follow Jennifer’s best friend, Lisa Ward, as she explores her writing career, enters into a tumultuous relationship with Tank, and possibility with another man if she and Tank can’t resolve their issues. If you’d like more of Jennifer and Alex—and if you want to see them get married!—look for them (along with Blackwell) to be a major part of the Unleash Me series.
Also in 2014, expect several stand-alone novels steaming with new characters and fresh romance.
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XO!
—Christina
Table of 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