Beg, Borrow, or Steal (When in Rome, #3)(105)
He has her off the floor in less than a second, sweeping her into his arms, tears racing down his cheeks and kissing the daylights out of her. We wait until he pulls away just enough to mutter, “Yes, Annie. A million times, yes. I would love to marry you.”
We all shout and whoop and rush out of the storeroom. Amelia and Emily are nearly tackling Annie and Will to the ground with hugs. He doesn’t give a shit about them, though. He continues kissing Annie like this is his sole purpose in life.
And later, once we’ve celebrated at the flower shop for a while, we move to Hank’s to keep it going. The bar is much less crowded than it was the last time I was here, so we commandeer a few tables and push them together. Everyone is gathered around, loose-limbed, laughing, and looking so content together. And I get to be part of it.
While Noah and James tell me they heard about Ranger and congratulate me on my success (something I’m going to have to get a lot better about receiving), Emily goes up to the bar. I’m trying to focus on the conversation with the guys, but how can I when a woman like Emily exists and is leaning over the bar top? Impossible. I want to take her home right now.
She walks back a few minutes later with her red-tipped nails wrapped around two ginger beers, bangs curling up from the humidity, and long legs extending out from her short dress, making me absolutely eat my heart out. She kisses me, and I tell her again that I love her—because I’m not sure I can say it enough—and then she takes the seat beside me. I grab the chair leg and tug her even closer.
With my arm around her shoulder and her hand on my leg, we sit back and savor the night. After a while when her elbows have moved to the table and our stomachs hurt from laughter, Emily glances over her shoulder at me, a smile lingering on her lips from something Noah said. When she catches me watching her, she leans back in her chair, winding her arm around my shoulder and threading her fingers through the back of my hair.
“What’s that look for?” she asks.
“Nothing.” I kiss her cheek.
Just deciding I’ll do whatever is necessary to make sure I get to spend the rest of my life with this woman.
Epilogue
ELEVEN MONTHS LATER
May 23
Emily (10:10 AM): IT’S OUT, IT’S OUT, IT’S OUT!!! MY DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT IS PUBLISHED!
Jack (10:10 AM): I finally get to know the pen name you picked?! TELL ME.
Emily (10:11 AM):
Jack (10:12 AM): I love it, Goldie.
Jack (10:12 AM): Also, I’m off my zoom call with Johnny, so I’ll meet you at the corner table in thirty minutes.
Emily (10:13 AM): I’ve got your seat saved.
Acknowledgments
Here we are again, at the end of another book that I can’t even believe exists. I can’t tell you how many times a day I stop and think to myself, “Is this really my job?!” I love being a writer, and I love giving in to the constant imagination taking over my brain. And none of this would even be possible without you, my incredible readers! So first, I want to thank you. I hope that Emily and Jack’s story brought you joy. And I hope that if you found yourself relating to Emily and the sadness she tried to keep hidden, you’re encouraged to let someone come sit with you in the darkness. No one should face scary feelings alone. You are loved, you are brave, and you are strong—keep going, dear reader.
And now to my team who works so hard to bring my books into existence: To everyone at BookEnds Literary, especially my agent, Kim, I am so grateful for your constant support. I’m so lucky to have you in my corner. You are so fierce yet so kind, and that’s an incredible balance to strike—you make it look effortless. And Maggie! The number of things you keep track of for me is honestly incredible. I don’t know what I’d do without you! (I’m pretty sure no one would ever get an email response from me without your gentle reminders.)
And to my team at Dell: I am convinced you are the best publishing family on the face of the earth. First, I want to thank my editor, Shauna. I have grown so much as a writer and a person since working with you—and it’s mainly due to how much you’ve helped me learn to trust my own inner voice. That doesn’t come easily for me, but I truly feel like I’ve gained new wings since working with you. You are gracious, kind, inspiring, honest, and such a safe harbor in this tumultuous world of publishing. Thank you. You mean the world to me. And also to Mae, who does so much behind the scenes work! Thank you for your kindness and support!
And to the gals in marketing, Taylor and Corina, who are responsible for the way my books shine out there in the world, thank you! Not only are you incredible at your jobs, but you’re fun and encouraging! I’m grateful for you and humbled that you continue to respond to my emails and texts when ninety percent of them are anxiety-induced monologues.
And to my amazing publicist, Brianna, I am indebted to you. I am quite certain that without you my head would actually fall off. Thank you for everything you do for me! And we share a love of everything bagels—basically the strongest bond in existence.
Now for my family and friends! You guys all keep me going. There one hundred percent would not be any more Sarah Adams books without you. Especially my husband, Chris, who has met me in my darkness more times than I can count. This entire book is a love letter to you and how you are always my safest person in this world. I love you.