Page 65 of Just Another Chance

“Get your ass over here,” Tanner orders him.

Sawyer takes an awkward step closer, and Nash hauls me and Owen toward Sawyer and claps him in an embrace with us. For a moment, we all hug, holding onto each other, and thanking our lucky stars that everything turned out alright.

After a few low whispers of “thank you” and “love you,” we let go and I wipe away the tears streaming down my face.

“It’s nice to be loved,” I say softly.

“Yeah, it is,” Tanner agrees and drags me back into his arms. He presses a kiss to my head and then Owen’s. I notice Sawyer watching us and I could be wrong, but for a fleeting moment, he almost looks envious. Like he wants what the three of us now…finally…have.

And who could blame him? I am the luckiest woman in the world.

While I take Owen downstairs and sit with him, attempting to get him to fall back asleep on the couch, Nash calls the police to report the break-in and then his accountant to cancel the wire transfer. It doesn’t take the cops long to arrive and Detective Freeman shows up soon after. Sawyer didn’t want to stay, but he does since he’s the one who pulled the trigger and it’s his gun.

The moment Freeman walks in and sees Sawyer, he abruptly stops short. “Well, if it isn’t Sawyer fucking Beckett.”

I look from the detective to Sawyer, trying to read their interaction and what’s hanging unsaid in the air between them. I had no idea they even knew each other, but Sawyer did seem very reluctant to get involved with the cops from the beginning.

“Freeman,” Sawyer murmurs in greeting, shifting from one foot to the other.

If I didn’t know any better, Tanner’s stoic, unflinching brother almost looks…nervous. I’ll have to remember to ask Tanner later if he knows anything about it. Meanwhile, we explain exactly what happened and Freeman listens closely as he takes the report, pausing to ask a question every once in a while.

Since we acted out of self-defense, and they already know about the entire situation with Lorenzo Dragari, it doesn’t take long to clear the air. It’s a relief when Dragari’s body is finally removed, and the floor cleaned. Even so, I don’t want to stay here a moment longer.

Once the police and Freeman leave, Sawyer also says goodnight. We thank him again and another round of hugs are exchanged.

“You owe me a beer!” he calls back to Tanner as he heads out.

“I owe you a helluva lot more than that,” Tanner replies.

“We owe him everything,” I say softly.

“Are you ready to go back to your place?” he asks gently.

“Yes. Take us home, Tanner,” I whisper.

My little family is going to be alright. As we walk out of his loft, I feel lighter than I have in a very long time, and I let out a soft sigh of relief.

We’re safe.

24

TANNER

After all the chaos settles with Randy and Dragari, life is sweet. Addie, Owen and I spend every day together. As much as she loved working with Heather at the flower shop, I convince her to quit. We decide to focus on the three of us and make up for lost time. Of course, they’ve become quite close and when we aren’t together, Addie spends a lot of time with Heather, Kayla and Sierra. They all seem to have bonded and are the greatest group of babysitters anyone could ever ask for.

We also make it official. I take Addie and Owen to the zoo, get down on one knee and ask her to marry me again. Owen laughs and claps his little hands and Addie promises me forever. It’s the best day of my life.

Until the day arrives when we actually get married. That is truly the greatest day so far and I will never forget one moment of it. I think I've ingrained every single detail in my head. And my heart.

We gave ourselves plenty of time to prepare and I wanted to make sure Addie had the special day she deserves. So, we took our time and did it the traditional way. She picked out a dress with her friends and sister and asked me questions about my preferences for the food, flowers and alcohol. I told her my thoughts, but ultimately whatever she chose, I would love.

I only had one request– and that was to get married in December. In my head, I pictured white lights and snow flurries all around us just like in the picture on our date at the zoo’s light exhibit.

When I found out Addie had kept the same framed picture as I did, my heart nearly exploded with joy. Even though she had told me she never forgot me or got over us, this was irrefutable proof. It let me know how similar we are and that she longed for me as much as I longed for her.

God, what an angsty pair we are,I think now, and adjust my shirt cuff beneath my jacket. The day is finally here– December 15– and I am ready to meet my girl and exchange our vows in front of our friends and family.

All three of my brothers are here with me, dressed to the nines, and I’ve asked them all to stand beside me up front as my best men. A wave of nerves passes through me and I’m so grateful to have Nash, Sawyer and Crew at my side while I take the most important step of my life.

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