Page 116 of Someone to Hold

My steps slow as I stare at the phone, my protective instincts kicking in. Sadie also mentioned that Piper has been withdrawn lately. I think we both figured it was her adjusting to being back in Skylark after her broken engagement, but maybe there’s something else going on.

“Everything okay?” Chase asks quietly.

“I’m not entirely sure. Piper wants to have an emergency book club meeting at her house. She says she has something important to tell us.”

“Sounds like she needs her friends.”

“Yeah.” I look up at him, this wonderful man who’s just asked me to spend forever with him, and feel that familiar surge of gratitude for the way he understands me. “Are you okay if I go? I know we just got engaged and should be celebrating?—”

“Go,” he says, drawing me forward then brushing a kiss across my lips. “We have the rest of our lives to celebrate.”

“The rest of our lives,” I repeat, marveling at how natural those words sound. How right they feel.

“Sounds good, doesn’t it?” Chase murmurs.

I lean in to kiss him again. “Yeah, it sure does.” I quickly type a response to the group chat.

Me: I’ll be there. What time?

Piper: Seven? And thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you bitches.

As I slip my phone back into my pocket, I find myself wondering about Piper’s secret. Whatever it is, she won’t have to face it alone.

Chase takes my left hand, with its beautiful new ring, and we walk toward the house together. For so long, I’ve been a single mother trying to build a life on her own. Tonight, I’ll go to sleep asan engaged woman, surrounded by love and possibility and the family I created.

And tomorrow? Tomorrow and all the days after, we’ll keep building our forever.

But first, we need to find out what’s going on with Piper. Something tells me that bucket list challenge or no, this meeting is going to change everything. Again.

That’s how life works in Skylark. One unexpected surprise after another.