Page 171 of Too Far

He holds me as thunder rumbles in the distance, until my T-shirt is soaked through and I’m shivering from the cold.

“Can I cut in?”

It was only a matter of time.

Kylian guides me into Decker’s arms. Decker, naturally, holds out one hand while resting the other on the small of my back, assuming a formal stance like we’re in the middle of a ballroom, not out on the deck in the pouring rain. I roll my eyes and throw my arms around his waist instead, breaking his perfect posture.

“You’re the most precious thing in my life, Josephine.” He rests his cheek on the crown of my head. “The most crucial piece of the puzzle. The most important part of this family. It’s an honor and a privilege to get to spend a lifetime loving you.”

I tip my head back and press my chin to his chest.

“Promise me we’ll dance in the rain?”

“Always, Siren. Through every storm.”

Josephine

4 Years Later

Nickyhumstohimselfas he works, transferring notes from his volunteers into the program report he’s compiling on the screen.

He smiles so much these days. His pain is under control, and he’s so damn happy all the time.

As if he can sense me, he glances up.

“What?” He flashes me his signature grin.

It’s like watching Kendrick run the ball down the field or observing Kylian while he calculates a complex stats problem. My Emo Boy has found his passion and sense of purpose. He’s thriving, and it makes me so damn proud.

I shake my head. “Nothing. I just love seeing you in your element.”

“In my element, huh?” He sets his pen down and snaps his laptop closed, eyeing me hungrily.

“‘In my element’ isn’t one of my top five favorite places to be, Hot Girl. You know where is?” His hazel eyes darken as he lifts one brow.

“Oh no,” I hedge. “Don’t even look at me like that right now, Nicholas Lockewood. I have so much more work to do.” Tearing my focus from him, I frown at the hospital form I’ve been working on all afternoon.

“Study break?” he tries.

I shake my head, adamant about staying on task.

“How about a snack break?” he teases, running his tongue over his teeth and tilting his head back toward the kitchen. To the pantry.

I know that look in his eye. I know exactly what he wants for a snack.

But I really do have so much work to get done.

“I can’t,” I bemoan. “I have to get this paperwork submitted by tonight.” Blowing out a frustrated breath, I bite the inside of my cheek to stave off tears.

I’ve always been an angry crier. Though I can’t blame anger this time. I’m just so damn frustrated.

I worked my ass off to graduate with honors in three years. After undergrad, I decided to pursue a master’s degree, and Nicky joined me.

We’re both enrolled in Lake Chapel University’s nonprofit incubator program. We’ll graduate with master’s degrees in nonprofit administration next year, and when we do, we’ll each have developed startup nonprofit organizations we have to create through the program.

Nicky’s organization is thriving. The Pick-Up Pals program provides safe transportation, tutoring, after-school activities, snacks and dinner, and more to the kids it serves. The organization is expanding by leaps and bounds, and already, other communities across the state are interested in adopting the concept.

It’s a delicate balance, though. Nicky is so thoughtful about how he wants to operate the after-school programs and what sort of training volunteers must receive to be a Pick-Up Pal. He insists that either he or Ash has to interview and train every candidate. He rejects more applicants than he takes on, and only half of those make it through the thirty hours of required training and safety certifications.