I sit up straighter, wanting to get this right. “It’s been quite a year. After a very public incident, which has been rehashed to death at this point,” I add with a chuckle, “I thought I’d never be able to admit that I’m a romance author. I was afraid readers would blackball my books. But I couldn’t live in that fear anymore. I started dating an incredible man, and together we realized that we don’t want to do life halfway. We owe it to ourselves to hold nothing back. So this is another step in coming out of the shadows and living my life to the fullest. I’m proud of my stories, and I feel safe enough in who I am to let others know I’m behindthem. They’re not going to be for everyone, just like I’m not for everyone, but I hope they continue to find the right readers. It’s always an honor when someone gives my book some of their precious time. Now that my identity isn’t hidden, I’ll be able to interact with readers and thank them in person. That’s my main impetus for stepping forward now.”
The rest of the conversation passes in a blur, and it’s two hours later by the time Philly and I finish chatting with those who came out.
TJ has been by my side through it all, and I lean back into him as Rose closes the door to Mood Reader behind the last fan.
“Well,” Cassie says, her heels click-clacking on the wooden floor as she joins us from the back storeroom. “I’d say that was a huge success.”
“I still don’t even believe this. You little stinker!” Rose points at me before she wraps me in a hug. “I’m so proud to know you.”
I laugh as I ease out of her hug. “I’m still me.”
“And you’re exceptional.” TJ kisses me on the cheek before turning to scan the room. “Would you ladies mind if I stole Lu? There’s something I’ve been wanting to do for literal hours.”
My friends nod, and TJ wastes no time spinning me around, scooping me into his arms, and cradling me like he’s about to carry me over the threshold.
“TJ!” I wrap my arms around his neck. “What are you doing? Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He walks me out the back door and sets me in the passenger seat of his truck.
I ask a million questions, but he’s tight-lipped as he drives us away from downtown Cashmere Cove. We’re headed in the direction of Green Bay—I can tell that much. When I realize TJisn’t going to talk to me about what he has planned, I sit back in my seat and relish the feel of his hand holding mine.
He pulls up to the River Foxes stadium thirty minutes later and helps me out of the truck. The stadium is dark and quiet. He leads me through the player entrance, his hand in mine as he weaves us through a few hallways.
“TJ.” My heart flutters, guessing what he’s doing. “Where are you taking me?”
He looks over his shoulder as he stops in front of a nondescript door. “You’re not afraid of heights these days, are you?” he asks with a small smile.
My breath catches. “Not with you, I’m not.”
“Good.” He opens the door and squeezes my fingers.
TJ
“TJ,” Lucy says carefully, her usually airy voice sounding deeper and raspier. “What are we doing here?”
I settle down next to her on the scaffolding overlooking our stadium’s atrium. I look over at her—this woman, this most beautiful woman. I smile. “Don’t you know? You have to know, Lu. You’ve written this scene countless times before. Back where it all began. The story coming full circle.”
Lucy shakes her head and opens her mouth, but then closes it again as her eyes fill with tears.
I squeeze her hands and lean forward to kiss the apples of both of her cheeks. “Don’t cry, Cinderella.”
She sniffs out a laugh. “They’re happy tears.”
I hum. “Why’s that?”
She smiles up at me. “Because this is so much better than any ofthe stories I’ve ever written.”
“I haven’t even done what I brought you up here to do yet.”
“Well.” She smiles slyly at me. “Get on with it, then. I’m waiting.”
I grin. “I’ve been waiting to ask you this for weeks, Lu. Months, even. When we were here in December, I had no idea the gorgeous woman in the vintage wedding gown would be the woman who cracked open my outer shell and showed me that I was living a half-life. I thought I was okay, but a life devoid of love isn’t really a life at all.” I keep my eyes fixed on hers, watching as they glisten with growing pools of tears. “Lucy, you have shown me so much about inner strength and facing the hard stuff with courage and integrity. I adore your shy side and your spitfire side. I love when you’re bold and brave, and I want to be by your side when you need to tuck yourself away and restore your sense of peace.”
Lucy lets out a small sniffle, but she’s smiling, so I take that as a good sign.
I wedge the ring box out from under the lip of scaffolding near where I’m sitting and flip it open. Lucy gasps as her eyes fly down to the round center stone flanked by a smaller stone on each side. “It’s an honor to stand by your side and watch you shine. Your mind amazes me. Your heart humbles me. You’re my best friend, Lu, and it would be an honor to be your husband. Will you marry me?”
She throws her arms around my shoulders, and I gather her close, clinging to the ring so I don’t drop it.
