Page 211 of Finding Hope

Well. Shit.

He totally called my bluff.

With a sigh, I turn and sit on the step, then lean against the beam that holds the roof up.

My ass begins hurting after five minutes.

My feet tingle and turn numb after twenty minutes.

At the twenty-five-minute mark when a car slowly moves down the street, my heart speeds with anticipation, only to slow again with disappointment.

Not her.

Twenty-nine minutes after I sat down, the front door opens again. “She’s at the lookout, dickbreath.”

Jumping up and tweaking my arm when I forget not to use it, the pain goes forgotten when I sprint forward and throw my good arm around Alex and pull him into a hug.

He pushes me away, but not before I land a juicy kiss on his cheek. “Get the fuck off me!”

“Thank you, Alex! I fucking love you.”

“You’re gay.”

“And you just gave me your blessing. I won’t break her heart, I swear.”

He steps back. “Yeah, whatever. Fuck off and don’t come back.” He swings the door shut, but I don’t miss the ghost of a smile he works to hide.

Excitement and nerves race through my body. I sprint down the steps and across the meticulously mowed lawn. Throwing myself into the car, I peel away from the cop’s house faster than the law allows.

I don’t even care. Instead of a wedding gift, he can just waive my fines.

I’m going to see her. I’m going to claim what’s rightfully mine. I won’t walk away from her until she knows everything. Until she knows she’s loved and that love just won’t switch off.

Then the ball’s in her court.

Taking a fast detour, I turn toward the lookout and cruise up the hill five miles over the speed limit.

49

BRITT

FIRST WORDS

Istop at the top of the lookout and pull on the handbrake. Leaving the engine running – because without the air-conditioning, I might die of heat stroke – I smile and watch the sun go down.

The town below is beautiful. The streetlights begin flickering on as another work day ends and grills start firing up; it’s too damn hot to cook inside in this weather.

I can see Jack’s estate from here, though from this distance, their cars are smaller than ants.

This is the first time I’ve come up here since before Jack’s fight. I’d been here before meeting him, but since our hotdog date that first time, I’ve dubbed itourspot.

There was no point coming here without him.

But a month of no Jack has ruined my resolve, especially since my near miss in the cemetery the other day. I crave him so much, my vow to stay away has crumbled.

If I can’t havehim, then maybe I get to keep this place.

I’ll hoard every tiny little piece of him that I can. If I save for long enough, maybe I could piece it all back together and buildusagain.

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