Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
* * *
We left the hospital hand in hand.
“You didn’t even second-guess the offer,” I told Camden.
He arched an eyebrow. “Why would I? I had the thought at the same time you did.”
“We could probably help a lot more people.”
He nodded. “We could.”
“Probably the whole hospital wing.”
He smiled and kissed me as the limo pulled up. “Perhaps the company could sponsor the entire ward.”
My eyes lit up. “We should maybe ask the CEO.”
“He says yes.”
I laughed. “Deborah is going to freak out when I tell her about this new donation.”
“Good. Shall we celebrate?”
“I believe we shall,” I told him and hopped into the limo.
We picked up the rest of our friends—Lark and Sam, Court and English, Gavin, and Whitley. I noticed the two of them sat as far apart as possible. Whitley had reportedly had a huge breakup with Robert after the gala. I obviously hadn’t been there to witness it. But it seemed Robert had initiated it this time. Whitley had just finished it. In her own… explosive way.
Despite Gavin and Whitley acting strange, the drive was fun. It took longer than expected to get to Hank’s, but we had enough booze for a small country in the back of the limo.
When we finally arrived, we stumbled out in front of the establishment. All of us wore jeans and T-shirts. Sam was the only one who made it look normal. Southern boy that he was.
Court nudged Camden. “I’m still pissed that you hid this place from me for so long.”
“Okay, little league coach,” Camden shot back.
“Hey, that was different!”
“How?”
Court shrugged. “It was about me.”
Camden arched an eyebrow. “Come meet my mom, jackass.”
Court laughed, and the pair trudged through the swinging double doors. The interior was smoky and packed full of people. Wall-to-wall pool tables and clientele drinking cheap beer. It was the last kind of place that I would have wandered into, but I’d already been here once, and I understood why Camden liked it. There was no judgment here. It was a new world.
I led the charge down the main aisle, winking at Ricky, who whistled at me as I passed. And there was Mama Monica at the bar.
“Katherine!” she said, slipping out from under the bar to pull me in for a hug. “How is my gorgeous daughter-in-law?”
“Good. Thinking tequila shots tonight?”
Monica chuckled. “Aren’t we always?”
She rounded on Camden and pressed an embarrassing kiss to his cheek. He just smiled at her. That was his mom. It was crazy and amazing.
Monica was likely the coolest person I’d ever met. She was so down-to-earth. Her advice so real. I was kind of sad that I hadn’t known her all my life.
Monica hopped back under the bar and started lining up tequila shots for the entire party. Lark leaned in close to Sam and giggled. Once the shots were done, Lark held up her hands.
“Wait!” she cried.
We all looked at her expectantly. Waiting for a toast.
“Sam and I have something to tell you.” Then she shoved her left hand into our faces. Where a giant diamond ring sat on it.
I squealed at the top of my lungs. “Oh my god!”
“Congratulations!” English cried.
“Ahhh!” was all Whitley could get out.
The guys patted Sam on the back. Acting like they’d known the whole time. Jerks! They probably had.
Monica started pouring new shots for Lark and Sam. “Double up for the engagement! Congrats, you two!”
We all held up our tequila shots and cheered for Lark and Sam. It couldn’t have happened to better people.
“You know,” Lark said after slamming back her second shot, “I’m going to need bridesmaids.”
“Well, you were such a good one to me,” I said with a laugh. “I could oblige.”
“Me!” Whitley cried. “Please pick me! Oh my god, I’ve always wanted to be a bridesmaid. I’ll plan the bachelorette party!”
Lark shook her head in bewilderment. “You’re ridiculous. Yes, I want all three of you, of course!”
English grinned. “I’m so happy for you.”
Then we all scooted forward and crashed into a four-person hug. It was bliss.
This was how it was all supposed to go. My friends all together, happy and healthy and drinking. My husband at my side, the new CEO of his company, with a relationship with his mother.
And as Monica filled up new drinks for us all, I held it out to Camden. A toast to us. For the beauty of finally getting to this moment.
“I love you,” I told him, brushing a cherry-red kiss to his lips.
“And I love you,” he whispered, bringing me closer. “Always.”
Epilogue
“There is a literal parade of people in the waiting area to see you,” Camden said with a shake of his head.
I laughed tenderly. “Not me. Her.”
His eyes softened at the edges as he stared down at our daughter. All six pounds and four ounces of her. The tiny thing. And she was beautiful after eighteen painful hours of labor and an emergency C-section.