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“Is it going to make me cry again?”

“Um, this is going to sound wrong, but I hope so.”

I take a deep breath as I unfold it.

You’re going to hate yourself when you wake up tomorrow. Don’t. None of this was your fault. There are plenty of people to blame, but you’re not one of them. Hell, I’m as much to blame as anyone. I told you I’ve seen this before and the ending isn’t pretty. Well, here we are. Isaac’s run from his problems again, except this time, he messed with the wrong girl. He messed with my girl. Now, you can choose to take that as a protective friend thing, and that’s fine. But you’ve got to know I’m in love with you.

Remember that first day I came to your studio and did the relaxation thing? When you finished playing, I said, “Marry me.” I wasn’t kidding. I already knew.

I wanted to keep you from going down this path, but I didn’t want to treat you like a child. You were capable of making your own choices. And at the same time, you are, technically, a child for another two months, four days and…six or seven hours, depending on time zone.

If you haven’t already thrown this note in the trash, please know you can count on me. Whenever. Wherever.

Love,

Dave

Dave got his wish. I’m definitely crying again.

“Careful, kitten. You cry any more, you’ll dehydrate and I’ll have to get Betty to bring you another IV bag.”

“Betty?”

“The nurse that’s been hitting on me. You want
Jell-o
? I can totally hook you up.”

I never thought I’d smile again.

“Is it true?” I ask.

“What?”

“Your note.”

“Yes.”

“All of it?”

“All of it.”

“Even the part about…?”

“Especially that part.”

“What about Betty, and all your girlfriends between here and Boston?”

“After the wailing and gnashing of teeth, I think they’ll survive.”

I take his hand and press it to my cheek. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Juli—”

“No, really. Right now, I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve anyone. I think—”

I swallow, not sure how my next words will be received. But no matter his reaction, they’re true. I feel it in my gut that this is the right thing to do.

“I think I need some time. Not that I don’t love you, too. I do. But I need some time to myself to put
me
back together again. You don’t deserve a shell, and that’s all I am right now. You deserve the real me, not who I’ve been the past few months.”

He leans forward and presses his forehead against mine. “Gorgeous
and
smart.”

“You said you believe good things come to those who wait. Think you can wait a little longer for me?”

“You got it, kitten.”

THE END

Acknowledgments

I’m so very blessed to have supportive friends and family who have been telling me for years that I should write a book. First, my parents, who indulged my voracious reading habits; my best friend and beta reader Taylor Barth; my other patient beta readers Christie
Speich
, Ashley Brown and Dee Jordan; my Write Club critique group, including Carrie Cox, Lee Ann Ward, Israel Parker, and Joyce
Scarbrough
, who was this story’s first editor.
Juli
and Dave, thank you for giving them the ending they deserve.

Speaking of editors, many thanks to the incredible Melissa
Keir
; my insanely talented cover designer
Najla
Qamber
; my amazing publicist
Majanka
Verstraete
; and to Shilpa
Mudiganti
for giving me this opportunity to share my fictional babies with the world.

There aren’t enough hours in the day to properly express my thanks to Sara
Gundell
and the Novel Novice team for introducing me to Young Adult literature and its generous, supportive, and talented community.

To my kiddos, who probably think my laptop is another sibling; and my husband, for always taking the kids outside because “Mommy needs to write.” You’re so good to me.

And finally, my sincere thanks to the City of Mobile, Alabama, with all its quirks and rich history.
Moving here was the best decision we ever made.

  
About The Author

After collecting two English degrees in the Midwest, Stephanie Lawton awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting.

She can often be spotted photographing cemeteries, historic buildings and the Gulf Coast’s beaches. She also tends to psychoanalyze
people, which comes
in handy when creating characters.

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