I’m still too scared to look away from Tate and down at our daughter.
I’m not afraid of what I’ll feel when I look at her.
I’m afraid of what I won’t feel.
I’m terrified my past experiences have ruined any ability I have to feel what every father should feel in this moment.
“Come here,” Tate says, wanting me closer.
I sit down next to them on the bed.
She hands Sam to me, and my hands are shaking, but I take her anyway.
I close my eyes and release a slow breath before finding the courage to open them again.
I feel Tate’s hand fall gently to my arm.
“She’s beautiful, Miles,” she whispers. “Look at her.”
I open my eyes and inhale sharply when I see her.
She looks just like he did, except that she has Tate’s brown hair.
Her eyes are blue.
She has my eyes.
I
feel
it.
It’s all there.
Everything I felt the first time I held him in my arms is every single thing I’m feeling now as I look down at her.
Believing that I lacked the ability to love someone in this capacity again was the only fear I had left to conquer.
One look at Sam, and she just helped me conquer that fear.
She’s already my hero, and she’s only two minutes old.
“She’s so beautiful, Tate,” I whisper. “So beautiful.”
My voice cracks.
My face is covered in tears.
Falling Falling Falling.
For the first time since the moment I held Clayton in my arms, I’m crying tears of joy.
Rachel was right. The pain will always be there.
So will the fear.
But the pain and fear are no longer my life. They’re only moments.
Moments that are constantly overshadowed with every minute I spend with Tate.
And now with every minute I spend with Sam.
Me and Tate and Sam.
My family.
I kiss her on the forehead, and then I lean over and kiss Tate for giving me something this beautiful again.
Tate lays her head on my arm, and we both watch her.
Our daughter.
I love you so much, Sam.
I’m looking down at the perfection we created when it hits me.
It’s all worth it.
It’s the beautiful moments like these that make up for the ugly love.
SPECIAL CONTENT
Dear Readers, As you know, I had the pleasure of collaborating with musician Griffin Peterson to create an original soundtrack to accompany Maybe Someday. I know you all loved the music, so here we go again! Griffin wrote a song for Ugly Love as well. Click here to listen now: www.maybesomedaysoundtrack.com/ugly-love.php or visit MaybeSomedaySoundtrack.com.
Enjoy!
Colleen Hoover
#1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with a new novel about risking everything for love.
An unexpected romance with an enigmatic artist forces Auburn Reed to reevaluate her life—and discover her heart somewhere between the truth and lies.
Confess
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* * *
Layken’s family is torn apart after her father’s unexpected death, but an unlikely emotional connection with her attractive neighbor, Will, leaves Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Slammed
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* * *
Layken and Will’s emotion-packed story continues, but a stunning and unforeseen revelation about Will’s past leaves them questioning everything they thought they knew about each other.
Point of Retreat
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* * *
Layken and Will’s relationship is flourishing, but can Will’s honesty about his painful past ease Layken’s curiosity or will it bring conflict into their marriage?
This Girl
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* * *
When Sky first meets Dean Holder, he both terrifies and intrigues her—and his well-kept secrets may turn out to dismantle her entire life and open the wounds of her own dark past.
Hopeless
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* * *
Haunted by the little girl he couldn’t save from immediate danger, Holder’s life has been overshadowed by guilt, and it is only in loving Sky that he can finally begin to heal himself.
Losing Hope
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* * *
Sydney’s perfect life is suddenly shattered when she realizes that her boyfriend, Hunter, is cheating on her with her best friend, but she soon finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge.
Maybe Someday
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* * *
Daniel’s disbelief in love-at-first sight is stripped away the day he meets Six, a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. But unfortunately for Daniel, finding true love doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after . . . it only further threatens it.
Finding Cinderella
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* * *
ORDER YOUR COPIES TODAY!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have no idea how I came into the position of writing acknowledgments for my eighth book. It’s definitely a surreal moment, and one I would never have been able to experience if it weren’t for the following people.
The entire Dystel & Goderich team, for your continued support and encouragement.
Johanna Castillo, Judith Curr, and the entire Atria Books family. You guys keep it fun, and I’m forever grateful to be part of one of the coolest publishing teams in the industry.
To all my friends and beta-readers, you guys know who you are. Your feedback and support continue to baffle me. Know that I love you and thank you and couldn’t do this without any of you.
My amazing family. I don’t know how I lucked out and got the best one, but I’ll never take any of you for granted. Especially my four boys.
FP gals, y’all always know exactly when to fire the glitter cannons and release the unicorns. We make a great team.
To my Weblichs. We may not know how to properly pronounce Weblich, but we wear the name with pride. I don’t even know what to say, other than thank you for giving me a place to go when I need encouragement, a good laugh, and a nice reality check.
To the CoHorts for your unrivaled support. You make this job not a job at all.
And last but definitely not least, to my NPTBF. I will forever be grateful for being disorganized and not knowing how to pack jewelry. Otherwise, I would have missed out on one of the greatest, oddest, most unethical and random relationships of my life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COLLEEN HOOVER is the #1 bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, and Maybe Someday. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.