Page 72 of Always a Chance
“Aidan’s sisters are better at the breakup talk than me. Want me to call them?”
She pinched my side, and I laughed. “You’re insufferable. I’m trying to say I didn’t need you to make some grand gesture with that article to know. I already loved you. All you had to do was show up.”
“Well, I wish I’d known that before going to the effort.”
She elbowed me. “But it was probably the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“I live to serve.” I broke away from her just in time to avoid another elbow to the gut.
“Are you sure you want me, Johnny? Because knowing you, I’m going to end up on an episode ofSnappedone day.”
I tugged her to me, rocking her back on her heels. “Just give me a good death. It’ll be worth it to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“There you go, being sweet again. I knew you had it in you, Mr. Romance Writer.” She curled her fingers in my shirt and pulled me down toward her, fitting her lips to mine. I lifted her off her feet, and she yelped as she wrapped her legs around me, burying her face in my shoulder.
Pedestrians nearby grumbled and skirted around the two people who were obviously hopelessly in love.
“Might want to put me down.” Talia laughed into my shirt.
“Not a chance.” It didn’t matter how ridiculous we looked or what anyone else thought. Not when I finally had my person. Fifteen-year-old me would be proud. Eighteen-year-old me would be impressed I got her back.
Now, this version knew I’d never let her go.
35
TALIA
THREE MONTHS LATER
“Your drink, my lady.” Tanner handed me a champagne flute with a flourish and a bow.
“Get out of here with your flirting.” Johnny wrapped a possessive arm around my waist.
I reached up to pat his cheek. “Don’t worry, babe. I’d never go there and risk infuriating Mariana.” I was joking about my reason. I couldn’t imagine ever having this feeling with another man. The feeling like I could do anything I wanted. Climb a mountain. Jump out of a plane. Feed an alligator. If only Johnny was by my side.
He made me brave, brought out my strength. That was how I’d decided to take on this project. I looked around the derelict house I now called my own. It needed a lot of work, but it was what I could afford in our beach town.
Johnny steered me from the kitchen that would need all new countertops and appliances to the living room that wasn’t in much better shape. Peeling yellow paint coated the walls, a sickly mustard color. The carpet needed replacing, but there were the house’s beautiful original floors underneath it.
Johnny wrapped a second arm around me, and I leaned into him. “You sure about this?”
“It’s a little late now.”
He pressed a kiss to the side of my head as the others crowded into the wide-open space. Glass sliders spanned one wall, letting in copious amounts of sunlight. It was my favorite part of the house.
Dad was there with Gianna. The entire Kelly family had come, complete with spouses and young Cole. Aidan was there with his sisters, one of whom worked for the Mendel Corporation that owned the paper I was newly employed at, as well as many other businesses and properties.
The reader outrage didn’t reach the levels we expected after Johnny revealed the extent of the lies, but the publisher dropped him and his agent cut him loose. That didn’t stop him from writing the most beautiful book of all.Breaking Himwas releasing as an indie book in a few short months.
I edged away from Johnny and walked to the sliding doors to look out on the beautiful Florida day. My new house was far from the beach but much farther from the city. Just what I wanted.
Someone clinked a fork against their glass, and I turned to find Dad waiting for everyone to quiet. “Our family has been through a lot, but here we are on the other side, a family once more. This is supposed to be a housewarming party, so to my daughter, my Talia, I’ll just say we promise to make this house warm with company, with laughter and love.”
I walked toward him and wrapped my arms around him. “Thanks, Dad.”
“We’re glad you’re back.” It took me a couple months to settle things in New York, to apply to jobs and do interviews. And now, I was here. I was home.
I took a sip of my drink and cleared my throat. “I haven’t always done right by all of you.” Johnny took my hand. “But you’ve had my back. I’m glad you’re here.”
