#Heart (Hashtag #6) (42 page)

Ivy

He stood in the middle of the hospital room, looking like a giant.

All grass stains, sweat, and messy hair.

His purple uniform bulged over the massive pads and protectice gear he wore.

He looked like a warrior who had just stepped off a battlefield.

Except for his face.

It was softened and downturned, his eyes in complete and utter awe.

He didn’t hold a sword, or a football… but a tiny baby who stared back at him like he made up her entire universe.

I understood that look.

Because it was one I wore every single day.

The first sight of my tough-looking husband with our daughter in his arms was something I would never forget.

It became a permanent mark—a tattoo on my heart.

And it was only the beginning.

A new star was born today, and despite her small size, to us, she would always be the brightest of all.

Romeo

I don’t know the exact moment we all grew up. When we went from friends to family.

All I know is we chose one another. Love chose us.

Even though we weren’t young college students anymore, even though we had jobs, family, and responsibilities, we were still the same. Deep down inside us, we were all the still the same.

We just loved deeper. Bonded tighter. And knew exactly where we belonged.

Our life wasn’t over.

It was just beginning.

And it was going to be one fucking beautiful ride.

A Hashtag Holiday Short Story

Plus five festive recipes to fill your tummy and warm your heart.

Givers Gonna Give…

Twas the night of game day,

And all through the town,

Lacey glittering snowflakes fluttered around.

They clung to the roads, concealing everything with white.

It was a beautiful #holiday sight.

The paparazzi were out without any care,

In hopes to catch Romeo and Rimmel, rumored to be there.

When out on the road there arose such a clatter.

The Hellcat spun out, but it shouldn’t matter.

I pulled out my cell to dial in a flash.

But the battery was dead. What useless trash.

The moonlight glistening on the new fallen snow

Made us forget we needed a tow.

For the season was upon us. Our family was alight.

Our #holiday was destined to be merry and bright.

**PRE-ORDER NOW**

This entire book is a love letter to my readers. A love letter to this series. I don’t think I can quite convey how real these characters are to me and how big a part of me they really are. This book was a real labor to complete.

But it was a labor of love.

Even as I just typed the last words on the page and I sit here typing my final author’s note of the
Hashtag Series,
I’m not saying good-bye. I can’t. Because to me, there isn’t a life without a Romeo, a Rimmel, a Braeden & Ivy. Even though their story is finished, they will still live on in the pages of these six books.

I wanted this book to have it all. A little drama, a little plot, and a lot of romance and epic moments. I wanted us all to experience as much as we could with these guys in some of the happiest moments of their lives.

You guys deserve that. You deserve this book to be everything you want it to be, and I sincerely hope this book is the conclusion you were hoping for.

I was scared to write this book because I didn’t want to screw it up. I didn’t want to let them go. But now that the story is complete, I know there is no other way this could have gone. It’s as it should be. The characters made sure of that.

Even though this series is ended, it won’t be the last of this family. I’m sure you saw the little teaser image on the previous page for my next book…
GEARSHARK
is a spinoff series of the
Hashtag Series
. Maybe you noted in the book that Drew carried around a copy of
GearShark Magazine
?

That’s not a coincidence.

Drew and Trent have some stories of their own to tell. I think they need to find their happily ever afters, too. This winter I will be diving into the world of racing (which I know nothing about… ha-ha) and going for a ride with our boys.

I can’t tell you yet what is going to happen, but I can promise it’s going to be something I’ve never done before, with some of that hashtag flare we’ve all come to love so very much.

So even though the ending of the
Hashtag Series
is bittersweet, I hope you will pick up the first issue of
GEARSHARK
when it hits stands and join me in a whole new adventure.

One last thank you to the readers of this series. Words or hashtags cannot express how much I appreciate you. Thank you to the #nerds in my fan club for the neverending support and excitement and for all the pics of hot shirtless men on days when I’m dragging. Shirtless men fix a lot of stuff…

#BetterThanDuctTape

Thank you to Regina Wamba for posting that first still behind-the-scenes picture, which inspired me to create an entire world. Thank you to Cassie McCown for being an amazing editor but an even better friend. Thank you to Melissa Stickney for keeping my fan club an awesome place to be. And of course, thank you to my family who understands that Romeo and the rest of the family are no less real to me than any of them.

So with tears in my eyes and maybe a little heaviness in my chest, I conclude this series.

In the words of Romeo, it’s been one
fucking beautiful
ride.

XOXO,

Cambria