by Anna Paige
I looked around the room and had to smile. Emily, Dana, my parents, my brothers. They were all here, even Ryan and Cara, in some small measure.
Over the next few hours we nibbled on the dozens of different dishes, drank—or in my case sipped, since I was still on some meds for pain—and laughed so hard my ribs were throbbing.
It was amazing knowing we’d start the new year this way. Together. All of us.
As the midnight hour drew near, I stood and tapped my glass with—what else—a drumstick to get everyone’s attention. When all eyes were on me, I beckoned Emily over and hugged her to my good side. She slid her arm around and gripped my hip, careful to avoid my ribs. She was very protective of that area, scared she’d hurt me somehow.
But she could never hurt me, not ever.
She was the one who healed me, and watching my brothers look up at that painting, I thought maybe she’d healed something in us all.
I stood there in front of our family and smiled, looking at each of them in turn. My mom had come to sit on the loveseat beside my father, and they held hands as they looked up at me, their eyes full of love and light for the first time since we buried my brother.
“It’s almost midnight, and before we ring in the New Year, there’s something I want you all to know.” I turned so that everyone had a clear view of the painting. “My brother Ryan was an amazing person every day of his existence. He took care of me and taught me everything he knew about art and music and life. He was brilliant, even at seventeen. When I thought he’d totally lost his shit, dumping the most popular girl in school a week before the prom, he just shrugged it off because he knew. He knew his own heart, and he wasn’t afraid to act on it. So, when he fell for Cara Shaw,” I glanced at Jared, who was smiling, “he did what his heart told him was right. And he didn’t apologize for that. He was strong, my brother.”
My mom was nodding, dabbing her eyes with a kitchen towel.
“For a long time, I didn’t feel that strength in myself, didn’t think I had it in me to be the kind of man my brother was. He was the smart one, the steady one, the brave one. I didn’t think I could ever be that guy.” I tugged Emily closer. “It seemed like I was getting further and further from who I wanted to be, from where I wanted to be in life as time went on. I’ve been fighting that darkness for a while but only succeeding in keeping it at bay, never forcing it back entirely. I didn’t know how. Then a few months ago, I fell hard for a girl, just as hard as Ryan had with Cara, maybe even harder. It was then that I got it—his strength, his conviction, and absolute faith in his choices. He had those things because love taught him that, made him strong and gave him courage and purpose. He’d never known love before Cara, and I realize now that I never knew love before Emily. When it’s the real thing, it’s like a part of you that you never knew existed flares to life. It all clicks; it falls into place, and you know.”
Kade nodded and pulled Aubrey into his side. My dad did likewise with my mother, who looked on the verge of tears.
The TV in the corner was turned down low but I could still make out the ‘one minute’ announcement. I waved Jared over to give me a quick assist and motioned for him to give me a sec first. Only he knew what was to come.
“To quote my amazing, brave, smart, brother: ‘She’s the one. That’s the girl I’m going to marry.’ ” I turned to Emily, and Jared reached over to help me down on one knee. I fought for breath, balance, and courage as I produced the small ring box from my pocket. “And I’ll give her the rest of the year to give me an answer.”
In the stunned silence that followed, I watched her sweet face go from shock to the most euphoric, enraptured smile I’d ever seen.
Ten…nine…eight…
Twin tears rolled down her face as she fell to her knees in front of me.
Seven…six…five…
One trembling hand came up to cup my cheek, her thumb gingerly traced over the stitches near my temple.
Four…three…two…
From the corner of my eye I saw the ball dropping to ring in the New Year, just as Emily presented her hand and nodded an emphatic “Yes” with a quivering chin and a laugh I’d never forget as long as I lived.
There, with my best friend at my back, my family looking on, and the love of my life right in front of me, it all clicked into place. Every amazing piece.
“She’s the one. She’s the girl I’m going to marry. You’ll see, little brother. It’ll happen to you too, someday.”
If you’re listening up there, Ryan, you were right. And it’s all you said it would be.
The End
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Anna Paige is the author of the standalone novel Off Script, the Broken series; Broken Ground, Flawlessly Broken, and All the Broken Pieces, as well as the Thrill of the Chase series, and is currently working on the next installment.
She lives in a rural town in North Carolina where the only activity is the rhythmic color change of the solitary stoplight and a very real threat of being carried away by mosquitoes. The only alternative to terminal boredom is writing, making life interesting if only on the page.
Anna is happily married, with one amazing son and a pair of hilarious pets. When she’s not writing, she’s trying to make a dent in her TBR pile. Given that she’s constantly adding new titles to the list, the chances of her ever finishing are slim.
And she’s completely fine with that.
You can follow Anna here:
Books by Anna Paige
Broken Series:
Broken Ground
Flawlessly Broken
All the Broken Pieces
Thrill of the Chase Series:
Chasing Kade
Standalone titles:
Off Script
Acknowledgments
Shaun: as always, your love and encouragement has made all the difference. Thank you for never letting me give up, no matter what. And thanks for not having me committed for talking about my characters like they’re real. You’re my everything. I adore you. It’s you and me babe, always.
Trenda T-Bird Lundin: Working with you is always amazing. Your insights make all the difference, and I can’t thank you enough for challenging me even when you know it’s not what I want to hear. You make my books better by forcing me to be better and I love you for that.
Kiezha Ferrell: I’m so thankful to have found you. You’re an amazing editor and an even better friend. I couldn’t do this without you. You’re the bestest. (And yes, that’s totally a word, so stop frowning at it.)
My betas: Saleena, Shasta, Sandy, Jacinda, Monique, Heidi, Jessica, and Jennie: You ladies are wonderful, every single one of you. Your messages of encouragement and kind words help so much with my pre-release jitters— those moments when I worry the most about how my stories will be received. Your support is invaluable, and I count myself incredibly lucky to have each of you on my team.
Jo-Anna Walker: Thank you so, so much for Ethan’s amazing cover. It’s exactly what I had in mind and you completely knocked it out of the park, as always. I cannot wait to work on the rest of this series with you. I know these covers are going to totally rock, no pun intended.
Lindsay: I can’t thank you enough for your encouragement and expertise on all things bookish. My only complaint is that you live too far away for me to hug you as often as I would like. Some day, my dear friend, I’ll get my chance. And I’m counting the days.
To my friends Martha, and Dannielle, who are incredibly supportive of my work: If the dedication wasn’t enough to convey how I feel, try this: I love you both to freaking pieces. Thank you for supporting me through all of my crazy author shenanigans and fo
r always knowing what to say when things aren’t going my way. You’re incredible. Both of you.
To every single blogger who has signed up, given shout-outs, shared, pimped, and posted on my behalf… I can’t thank you enough for your support and encouragement. You are what make this community great.
To my author friends who read, blurb, share, like, comment, email, text, call, and show your support in a hundred other ways: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The book community is an amazing place, and I’m so glad to be a part of it with you.
Finally, to the readers who have taken the time to read my work, leave reviews, and/or message to tell me how much you enjoyed my stories: It’s mind-blowing to sit and think that people out there have taken time—hours and hours—out of their lives to read something that came from my imagination. That has to be the highest compliment ever, I think, for someone to dedicate that kind of time to your work. I’m truly grateful to every single reader who honored me in that way and always strive to ensure that, at the end of those hours, you find it was time well spent.
