Page 90 of No Ordinary Hate

“I am. Gamble feels right to me. To the kids too. It’s the perfect place to raise them. Somewhere that they can just be kids, you know?”

“It’s the perfect place to raise a family,” I tell her. “And if it gets too cold in the winter, I’ll be there to keep you warm.”

“Or we can hop on a plane and go south for some sun,” she offers.

“Or we can do that,” I tell her, chuckling.

She reaches up with both hands and pulls my face back down to hers. “I’m so glad you came.”

“It’s the first smart thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Well, I’m glad I could be your first,” she teases.

“You’re my first, last, and only,” I tell her, giving her a lingering kiss. “How long do you think the kids will be gone?” I ask.

She raises an eyebrow. “What did you have in mind?”

“Oh no, not that, not now,” I tell her. “When we do that, it’s going to be the right place, the right time, and it’s going to require all night.”

Her cheeks turn pink, and she fights a grin. “Then why did you ask how long the kids will be gone then?

“I just can’t wait to tell them the good news.”

Tears spill down her cheeks as she smiles up at me. “What do you say? Should we go meet them for milkshakes?”

“Let’s go.”

And that’s just what we do. We set off on our very first adventure as a couple, knowing it’s the start of a lifetime of love, happiness, and being a family.

* * *

Dear Readers,

I’m trudging through life, clinging to every sex scandal/drug problem/botched Botox debacle, in hopes the sparkle will come back to my life. But the plain truth is, just knowing there’s no chance of running into Harper Kennedy at Whole Foods is really messing with my equilibrium.

After all, what is Hollywood, if not the dream of something bigger and better happening? For me, that was the hope Harper and I would finally become besties who spend our afternoons shopping for lawn furniture while sipping pink drinks from Starbucks. Lemon drops after hours.

Alas, my girl has left me for greener pastures—mountains, igloos, and bears! Oh, my!

I take refuge in the fact that Brett Kennedy’s career path has taken a nosedive. The bad guy in anAustin Powersreboot in Latvia? What’s next, aSaved by the Bellreboot in Rikers?

BIG sigh. I can only hope the void in my heart will one day be filled by another up and coming starlet of quality and grace. In the meantime, pray for me.

Tired of dirty dishes,

Ferris Biltmore