Page 106 of Moonstruck Kiss

I look up sharply. Brax is in front of me, offering his hand.

I take it, and he pulls me to him, hugging me hard.

“I’m so sorry,” I blubber against his neck.

“Shh. It’s okay. We’ll talk about it later.”

“Congrats…on your…new role,” I say between sobs.

“I didn’t take it.”

My sobbing miraculously stops. “What?”

“Come with me to the stage?”

Without hesitation, I nod.

I glance at my family as I walk up with Brax. Mum and Josie are clasping each other’s hands as they grin at me, and Dad gives me a wink before hugging Uncle Ford, who sits next to him.

When we reach the middle of the stage, Brax holds me close with an arm around my waist. “Thank you for all the congratulations, everyone,” he says through the microphone. “But I didn’t accept the promotion. In fact, I quit.”

“What?” I breathe.

He stares into my eyes. “I’d love for me and Ollie to be permanent Mooners.”

I hear Elsa shriek with joy. Someone else, too—maybe Liss or even Evan, while everyone else claps loudly.

But all I can do is gape at him through watery eyes.

“Is that okay?” he asks me.

I nod, smiling through my tears. “More than okay. It’s wonderful news.”

He beams at me with a happy smile. “I love you, Joey.”

“I love you, too, Brax,” I blubber.

Everyone goes wild, cheering.

Embarrassed by my uncontrollable crying, I dip my head on his shoulder.

Brax tightens his arms around me, kissing my temple. “I love you so much that I’m willing to give up everything for you. Thankfully, moving here to Moonstruck Cove doesn’t feel like giving up anything. It feels like gaining all I’ve ever wanted.”

The cheer that goes up is ear-splitting.

So much tears are pouring out of me that I’m soaking his shirt. And all I can manage to say is, “I would have gone to New York to give it a try, but I’m glad I don’t have to.”

“We’ll go for a visit there, but this is definitely home,” he says with a chuckle as he tries to lift my face with a finger under my chin.

I shake my head. “I need a tissue first.” I can’t possibly face anyone with snot coming out of my nose.

“Who has tissues? Plenty because Joey needs to blow her nose,” says Brax—yes, through the microphone.

I laugh. “You’re fitting right in as a Mooner.”

Someone presses tissues in my hand, and I make myself presentable. Then I gladly show my face to the audience again.

Everybody claps, and I bow gracefully.

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