When I told her about that, she cried and I saw her heart break. Not for her, but for me, which is part of why I love her so much. Her empathy for people, her giving heart.
She continues, "If you decided not to take me to my house and do me against the door that night." I laugh.
"If you hadn't finally decided to get some help. If you didn't come back to me." Her voice gets thick.
"If I decided to use a condom that night," I interject, wrapping my arms around her growing belly.
She laughs. "That, too." She squeezes my hands and I flip mine, interlocking our fingers.
"If those decisions were never made, we wouldn't be here. Together. With a little boy on the way. In our new home, surrounded by so much love." She sniffs. “Damn hormones.”
I chuckle. "Seriously, Skylar, that's true. Even the decisions of others got us here, too." My voice cracks and neither one of us says anything else.
I look around the open floor plan and watch my family, thinking about the decisions they have made. I watch Madison playing with Amber, wondering when she'll decide she deserves to have a life aside from her daughter. I see Camden and Lauren standing close together and wonder what will happen when he finally decides to get his head out of his ass. I watch Hudson teach Carson some MMA moves, both laughing, wondering what will happen if Hudson decides to give fighting a real go and I wonder what will happen when Carson finally decides to stop man whoring around, laughing to myself at the thought of some girl knocking him on his ass.
My eyes fall on Landon. No one really knows what he went through overseas, but we can all see him spiraling out of control and withdrawing, even from us. I hope to god he decides to get some help and come back to us, but if anyone knows that you can't get help until you are willing to help yourself, it’s me.
I feel Skylar press her back into my front and I squeeze her tighter.
"I love you," she says, turning her head and kissing me on my shoulder.
"I love you, baby. The best decision I ever made was letting you love me and allowing myself to love you back." I bend down and take her mouth in a searing kiss.
The man who felt he had no heart to give, though still fractured, is whole now. Filled with love and hope for a happy life he is finally allowing himself to live.
I smile against her lips as I think to myself, ain't that some shit.
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to right a book. Finally, at forty years old, I have accomplished that goal. This journey has not been an easy one and I could not have done it alone. There are so many people who have helped me along the way, I am truly blessed.
Rose and Atalia at FMR Book Grind – Thank you so much for all of your help. For dealing with many release date changes, your suggestions and feedback are priceless. Love you girls tons!
Laramie Briscoe – My mentor and dear friend who through her experience and love has shaped me into becoming the author I want to be. You make me laugh, cry and your support means the world to me. You just get me and I am so lucky to have you in my life.
Kellie Moore – My rock. Thank you for pushing me and believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.
Jay McLean – You changed my life with your words and your heart. I am forever grateful for you lighting a fire under my ass.
JC Santo – We started this journey basically together and look how far we have come! You have dealt with my craziness and my bad road trip playlists and I love you for it!
Alycia Sanchioni – You my sweet friend will forever have dibs on Grayson.
M. Dauphin and HQ Frost – My bangin’ bitches! You ladies are such a blessing to my life! Thank you for helping me not to take myself too seriously.
Aleesha Davis - What started out as teaser talk turned into an amazing friendship. You have been such an important part of this book from helping with promotions to your amazing edits, this wouldn’t be what it is without you.
Amy Callahan – Cali!!! You are amazing! Over the past two years you have put countless smiles on my face and your friendship means everything to me. I promise to make it to the west coast…………eventually!
Trinity Stanley- Thank you for your help with first draft. You saved me so much stress!
Kari Ayasha – Thank you for the beautiful cover! I can’t wait to see what you come up with for the other Davis siblings!
Brenda – Thank you so much for your patience with me!
To FMR Girls, The Nerdy Dirty and Flirty Girls, The Garden Girls and Rebels & Readers and all the other blogs that took a chance on this book – Thank you so much for all you do for us authors! Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed!
I am blessed to be a part of this indie book world. There are so many authors who have been supportive and have taken the time to answer my questions and welcomed me to this community with open arms. KC Lynn, Carian Cole, Kathy Coopmans, Hadley Quinn, LP Dover, Rachel VanDyken, Shae Scott, Tessa Teavan, Lucia Grace, Rhiannon Jane, AL Wood, Danielle Jamie, JC Santo, Allyson Reynolds, Chloe Walsh and many more.
To my family – Mom, Dad, Mel, Andrew, Olivia and Chase – Thank you for loving me through it all.
Last and definitely not least, thank you to you, the reader for taking a chance on me and on Grayson Davis. This story is so personal to me and to know it has touched at least one person, makes it all worth it!
Author Bio
Heather Anne’s passion has always been reading and writing. After many years she finally crosses “writing a novel” off of her bucket list. When she isn’t fangirling over fictional characters, Heather can be found, usually with a cup of coffee or energy drink in hand, playing with her son and their overly affectionate bunny, Charlotte. When this New York native has time to herself, she enjoys karaoke, live music, 80’s movies and rewatching her favorite TV shows over and over again.
Connect with Heather
Facebook: www.facebook.com/heatheranneauther
Instagram: www.instagram.com/heatherannewrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherawrites
E-Mail: heatherannewrites@gmail.com
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Epilogue
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Author Bio
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