by Gia Riley
“Thank you. I’m so happy to be back.”
“I made dinner for you and Kipton. Jim and I are going to the club.”
“It smells so good, but you didn’t have to cook. I could have found something for us.”
“Nonsense. I’m happy to do it.” She picks up a few of my bags and carries them up to my room. I follow closely behind her with the rest. After we put them on the floor by the bed, she turns to face me with a devilish smirk on her face.
“Get yourself settled.” She pauses before continuing. “And you don’t have to wait for us to fall asleep anymore,” she says with a knowing wink. My cheeks flame crimson. Kipton swore to me his parents had no idea we were sleeping in the same bed all summer long.
“Lynn, I’m sorry. I never meant to disrespect you or Jim.”
“Oh stop. You’re both grown adults, and engaged.”
“Are we still on for dinner tomorrow night like we planned? I know I came early, but Kipton was looking forward to celebrating.”
“We’ll have a big dinner tomorrow night. Tonight you need some time for just the two of you.” She reaches for my hand, admiring the diamond on my finger. “It’s beautiful on you, Sophie. Just as I knew it would be.”
I nod my head. “Thank you for this ring. I love it.”
She runs her fingers over the silver, admiring the vintage setting again. “I have rings from the two most important women in my life—the ones who helped raise me. Since I only have Cara, it was fitting this ring went to you. She will have my grandmother’s if she ever stops sassing long enough to accept a proposal.” Lynn laughs at the reality of her own words as pats my hand with hers. “I have to get going, but I’ll see you in the morning.”
Before she leaves the room, there’s one more thing I need to ask of her. “Lynn.”
“Yes, dear?”
“Will you help me with the wedding plans?”
“I would love nothing more. We can talk more about what you’d like tomorrow. Have you thought about including your parents?”
“Yes, Dad will walk me down the aisle. I’m not sure how involved my mom will be yet.” With Dean’s passing, I’ve seen a glimpse of the mom I once had before he destroyed her. But the tension is still thick between us, and it’s going to take more than my engagement to fix our relationship. Hopefully she’ll find success with her own therapy the way I have. “I’ll work on it.”
“You’ll get there, Sophie. I’ll help you.”
“Thank you.”
Lynn leaves a few minutes later, and I’m left alone with my thoughts. As I sit by the bay window in the living room, watching for Kipton to pull in, the anticipation is overwhelming.
I’m really doing this.
Just when I think I can’t possibly wait another minute, I spot the outline of his car between the trees. I run to the kitchen, quickly pouring two glasses of my favorite wine so we can toast to the first day of our forever.
As I sit on the counter waiting for him to come inside, it’s so eerily quiet, I can hear Kipton unlocking the front door. It creaks opens as he enters the four digit code to deactivate the alarm. I will him to come into the kitchen, but he runs up the stairs to the second floor instead. I wait for him to drop his bags in his room and come hunting for food in the kitchen. He always comes home from practice starving.
Five painfully long minutes later, Kipton comes downstairs saving me from having to go after him. He rounds the corner and stops dead in his tracks. “Sophie? What are you doing here?” He asks with his mouth hanging open. This is the reaction I was hoping for—complete and total shock. Little does he know I’m not leaving.
“I live here,” I tell him as straight faced as possible. Inside I want to jump off the counter and tackle him to the floor. Kipton opens his mouth to respond, and then closes it again before any words make their way out. I’ve stunned him stupid. “Wine?” I ask him as I offer him a glass full of the Moscato I poured.
“Sure.” He takes the glass, sipping it slowly.
It’s time to fess up. “I left school today,” I whisper. My courage dwindles as I wait for him to say something. What if he doesn’t want me here?
“What?” He runs his hands though his hair and shakes his head in disbelief. “I told you to finish. Baby, why would you do that?”
“So I could be with you.”
“You made me promise not to quit my job. Was this why?”
“Yes.”
Kipton stands directly in front of me, his hands resting on my thighs. He blinks a couple times before continuing. “I’ll wait for you, Sophie. I can’t let you do this. Not for me.”
“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for us.” I take the next few minutes to explain my intentions, the same way I did with Cara. His entire demeanor changes once he realizes I didn’t quit school entirely. The only thing that has changed is my address.
Little by little, he becomes more and more animated as he realizes I’m here to stay—that we can move forward with our plans instead of waiting. We can finally enjoy being engaged now that there’s not a single thing standing between us.
“Beautiful, I can’t even put into words how happy I am. Let’s go look at the house. I’ve even talked to the realtor, and from what’s he’s telling me, there isn’t as much work on the inside as we thought. What needs done is mostly cosmetic.”
I don’t want to cry, but I’m so relieved that I’ve made him so happy. It feels incredible to give him some of the excitement that he has given me so many times.
“I’m doing it again, aren’t I?” He asks with a furrowed brow.
“What?” I’m not following. “What are you doing?”
“Deciding for you instead of asking.”
“No, Kipton. Not at all. I was just processing all of this.”
“But you’re okay?”
“I’m more than okay. I want to see it. If you think it’s perfect, then it is. Show me!”
He sets our wine glasses on the counter. Grabbing me around the waist, he spins us in a circle before setting me on my feet. “Come on, Sophie.”
My first impression of the property is nothing like I imagined. I pictured a small house on a hill, or maybe in a development. But even with the work that needs to be done, this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It sits next to a huge field filled with wheat and wild flowers. Its pale yellow color with white trim and shutters is the perfect complement to the two wrap around porches that line the entire front and side of the house. It’s reminiscent of a southern plantation. I couldn’t have dreamed of a home this amazing as I stand in awe, wondering how we could ever afford a property this size.
“Do you like it,” Kipton asks, as he stands behind me with his arms wrapped around my stomach.
“I’m in love with it, and I haven’t even been inside yet.”
“It needs a little work, but has a lot of potential.”
It’s just like him to always see the potential no matter how damaged something may appear from the outside. “Can we see the inside?”
Kipton pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps a few buttons. I can’t take my eyes off the house. I’m already picturing the two of us cooking dinner, and watching movies in the living room in front of a fireplace on a cold winter night.
“The realtor is on his way.”
“He wasn’t busy?”
“No. He’s at his office still. I planned on surprising you with a showing tomorrow, but this is even better.” He takes my hand and leads me over to the front porch of the house where we sit on the front step. Kipton holds my hand in his, tracing the lifelines on the palm of my hand. “Thank you, Sophie.”
“For what?”
“For giving me a chance when you wanted to run. For coming back to me when you thought you couldn’t.”
“Kipton, you taught me how to stay. You’ve been so patient with me, and I know I haven’t been easy to love. Even when I pushed you away, you never gave up.”
“I’ll never stop l
oving you, baby.”
“All those nights I spent wishing for someone to love me—you found me.”
I cuddle into Kipton’s arms. He’s become my very own safety net. Only he would never let me fall in the first place. Weightless in a world I’m finally learning to understand, he grounds me. But in the end, I’m the only one who had the power to save myself.
“The realtor’s here.” I let Kipton help me up, and wait as the realtor joins us on the porch. Kipton turns to me with a smile on his face. It’s one I’ll never forget. “Lets go buy a house, beautiful.”
“Okay,” I tell him.
But I know in my heart I’m already home.
Sophie’s Graduation
A YEAR AGO, I WAS sitting in the bleachers watching Kipton receive his diploma. To say life has changed since then would be the understatement of the century. I’m proud of how far I’ve come despite having to lose to get ahead.
I can only describe today as a dream—one I never imagined would come true for me. All the nights I spent wishing, I prayed for true happiness, true love, and for the truth to always win over the lies. I’ve had enough of those to last me a lifetime.
Nothing about today is a lie. It’s more truthful than I could have imaged—and it’s only going to get better.
“Sophie Keller,” the Dean announces, from the podium.
That sounds crazy! Get used to it, Sophie.
Kipton and I had plans to move into the old Dunlap property a month after the showing. With months of work ahead of us, we had a stack of papers to sign, and a home to remodel. But when it was almost time to pick up the pen to sign on the dotted line, we couldn’t do it. Not until we had the one thing we wanted the most—the same name.
Thanks to Kipton’s persistence, he was able to convince me our families would get over it. He even swore we could keep it a secret until we had the big celebration they were planning for us. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of sharing something with him that only we knew about. We could have two anniversaries for the rest of our lives. The first when we became one, and the second when we officially joined our families together.
We ended up in the courthouse later that afternoon. I didn’t wear a fancy dress, and my hair was in a simple ponytail. We may have looked like absolute shit, but we didn’t care. It was our moment—the day I became Mrs. Kipton Keller may not have been flashy, but it will always be ours. That is until today as the Dean shares my new last name with the rest of the world. Instead of being nervous about their reaction, I’m excited.
As I reach forward and accept my diploma from the hand of Dr. Beck, I know three of my dreams have come true this year. “Thank you.”
“Congratulations, Sophie.”
The cheers coming from the stands would have embarrassed me in the past, but not today. Today, as the love of my life stands proud along with my dad, mom, best friend, and in-laws, I know I have the best support system in the world. Kipton saved me all those months ago, but together they healed me.
“You did it, baby!” Kipton says as he twirls me around in a circle. I brace myself against him, holding on for dear life. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Be careful with her asshole. You can’t do that shit,” Cara yells from behind. Kipton releases me, making sure I’m okay.
“I’m sorry, Sophie. I was excited,” he apologizes.
I glare at Cara, silently begging her to shut her mouth for once in her life. “I’m fine. Really.”
She throws her hands in the air, “I’m just trying to help.”
“Help with what?” Kipton questions. “What’s going on?”
“I was going to tell you tonight—after everyone went home.” I look away as I debate keeping my secret a little while longer, but this can only go one of two ways. I pray he’s okay with what I’m about to say.
He reaches up and cups my face in his hands. “Whatever it is, I can handle it. Talk to me, beautiful.”
“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out. Tears form in my eyes as the reality of what I just admitted hits me all over again. I was a mess yesterday morning when Cara was helping me find a dress to wear to graduation today. Inside the dressing room, I was pissed everything seemed tighter than normal. After Cara pointed out my boobs looked a little bigger than usual, my simple shopping trip ended up in the drugstore. One pregnancy test later, and I had all the confirmation I needed. I was going to be a mom.
Jesus, I’m going to be a mom.
Kipton stands in front of me in shock as he absorbs the two little words that will change our world forever. “Say something, Kipton. Please,” I beg him. I can’t take not knowing how he feels.
“When were you two going to tell us you got married?” Coach asks with a smirk on his face as he stands behind us with the rest of the family. With the knowledge of my pregnancy, it’s no longer my biggest concern.
“Pfft. That’s old news,” Kipton says as a smile blazes across his face. He glances at me before whispering, “Can I?”
I nod my head.
“We’re having a baby!” He picks me up and spins me around so fast I get dizzy. “Oh shit, I did it again.” He sets me down on my feet with a horrified expression. He inches his hand toward my stomach like he’s afraid to touch me. “Can I?”
“You’re my husband, you don’t have to ask permission.”
“Yeah, I am aren’t I,” he says, as he leans forward to place a soft kiss on my lips.
I pull away with a hesitant smile. We have an audience. I turn toward our parents. “You ready to be grandparents?” They answer without a single word as tears of joy pour from their eyes.
This is what forever feels like.
MY JOURNEY STARTED WITH A single word on a piece of paper. Thank you for taking a chance on a girl from the country with a dream to write. Without you, none of this is possible.
To the creative forces behind Weightless—Sommer Stein of Perfect Pear Creative Covers, thank you for being so patient when I changed my photo ten times. Your work continues to amaze me, and I’m so thankful to have you on my creative team. Christine Borgford of Perfectly Publishable, thank you for making my words shine. Your attention to detail makes my life so much easier.
To my readers—Lighter was originally a standalone. Thanks to your amazing appreciation for the story, Weightless was born. Your continued support means more to me than you could ever imagine. So, thank you for pushing for more. I hope I’ve done you proud.
To every blogger who has supported me—thank you for taking the time to promote my work. A simple post or shout out makes my entire day. No matter how big or small you are, your voice matters! Thank you for all you do.
To my Indie Chicks—as we continue to grow, I’m so thankful to have such a strong group of women in my corner. The laughs we share, the advice we give, and the knowledge we bounce around makes this journey incredibly rewarding. #indiechicksrock
To Breathin’ Easy—thank you for keeping me sane! I’m beyond lucky to have you. I don’t know how I would make it through a day without your laughter. Whether on a professional or personal level, you always lead me down the right path. Thank you for getting me.
My Weightless betas—Stephanie, Tina, Kelly, and Megan. I had a blast reading your angry PM’s when the angst was strangling you. Thank you for making my work stronger.
To my parents—thank you for continuously reminding me how proud you are. Whether you’re telling everyone you know about my books, or giving me a hug, your lifetime of words helped me find mine.
GIA RILEY LIVES IN DELAWARE with her husband and son. When she isn’t busy writing her next novel, you can find her roaming the isles of Kirkland’s or up to her elbows in Play-doh.
A firm believer that everyone deserves their happily ever after, she loves creating emotional stories about life and love. Although her nose if often stuck in a book, she loves hearing from readers and connecting with others.
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THE REFLECTION SERIES
Between the Pain (The Reflection Series Book 1)
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After the Pain (The Reflection Series Book 2)
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THE BEGIN AGAIN SERIES
Lighter (The Begin Again Series Book 1)
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Weightless (The Begin Again Series Book 2)
Thank you for reading Weightless.
Please consider leaving an honest review.
