Page 98 of The Road Less Traveled By

God, I can’t think about this right now. Ishouldbe having fun with Ellie and dancing until my legs give out, but I can’t. I’m too busy being worried about what could happen if I’m alone for the rest of my life, which is looking more likely every single day.

What the hell am I doing with my life?

The bartender places another water in front of me, effectively stopping my spiral, and when I go to put it down on a napkin, I notice some words scribbled onto it.

You deserve to be chosen, not almost chosen. Choose the path you want for you, not anybody else.

I feel like I’ve seen that quote before, and I rack my brain trying to figure out if it’s from a book I’ve read or something I’ve seen scrolling on Pinterest.

“Excuse me,” I say to the bartender. “I was just wondering if you know who wrote this?” I hold up the napkin.

“Some guy who was here. I think he left about an hour ago, right before the event started.”

We’re at a hotel, so it would be impossible for me to figure out who exactly left it. “Thanks, I guess.”

I’ve never believed in random things being signs for something, but this definitely feels like one. Whoever that guy was, he might be onto something. Maybe I deserve to choose my own path from here on out. Maybe I deserve to feel like I have some control over my own life—rather than my parents controlling every single part of my career.

From now on, I’m making my own choices, and I know exactly where to start as I throw some cash down on the bar and walk out of the hotel.

Now

My head shifts outof the memory, and when I turn to Vince, he’s looking at me like he remembers something, too. “Were you the one who wrote that on the napkin?”

“I was…” He trails off. “Holy shit. I was at that hotel in between clients, and the last one I was protecting was always talking about choices and how they were taken from her. It stuck with me, and I was trying to remember what she said, so I wrote it on the napkin. I meant to pocket it, but I got a phone call that I had a new case starting the next day, so I had to rush to make my next flight.” He turns to look at me, his eyes full of wonder, and I feel a smile break through my face.

“That napkin was the reason I got my bracelet engraved. It feels weird saying this, but I never had something speak so fully to me before. Obviously, there were books that had done that, but that napkin being on the bar felt like some sort of sign. It was the exact thing I needed to hear in that moment, especially since I was at that event because my parents told me to go.”

He grabs my hands, looking at me like I hung the moon and stars. “It has always been you and me, Bree. We just didn't know it.”

“I guess it has been.” I smile as I squeeze his hands.

“I don't think I ever believed in anything until I met you. I always felt like I was chasing something, but I never really felt like I had caught anything. But then you came into view, and that first time I saw you, Iwanted to protect you. I don't know what it was I just felt like I needed to. Even back then, I knew you were special. I think my subconscious knew you would turn into more for me.”

“You were the first guy I ever felt safe with after what happened. I think I somehow knew you’d be important to me, but I only thought of you as a guard and a friend, not what you are now.” I blush at the end of my sentence, and Vince notices as he reaches for my hair and tucks part of it behind my ear.

“And what am I now, angel?”

“You’re mine—at least I think you are.”

He reaches for my chin and pulls me closer, softly pressing his lips to mine. “I choose you, Bree. For however long you’ll have me, I will always choose you.” He whispers the words against my lips like a plea.

“I choose you too, Vince Evans, for however long you’ll have me,” I say as I get up from the chair and crawl into bed with him, resting my head against his body.

“Can you believe it, Bree? Can you believe something had tethered us together before I even knew you existed? God, that’s fucking crazy.”

“Are you complaining?” I ask, a laugh bubbling up my body. “It got us here, didn't it?”

“It did, and God, I’ll forever be thankful for that fucking napkin.” He laughs, his voice a little groggy.

“Well, now that we have that out of the way, you need to get some rest, Vincey,” I say as I look up and brush his face with my hand. “You almost got yourself killed for me. When you doze off, I’ll be the one protecting you, and I take my jobveryseriously.”

“Is that right?” he asks, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

“That’s right. Now rest so you can get better, and we can go home.”

“Home? I don't think I’ve ever had one of those before,” Vince tells me, and that makes sense, since he never bothered to settle anywhere. My heart breaks for the version of himself that never let him have a home,but that just means I’ll try my hardest to make sure he has one from now on. “I’m happy I have one with you, Bree. I’m happy you’re letting me choose to be by your side, even if you think I’m going to run in the future. But like I said, I’m not going anywhere, and the only peace I want in life is the peace that comes from being in your orbit.”

My heart is melting out of my chest at his words, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to embrace the chaos of my life with. “You bring me that peace, too. That will always be enough, Vince.”

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