In Your Heart, стр. 64

I giggled at the first drawing.

Paint twister. That had been fun.

Next was a drawing of the two of us getting milkshakes at this cute little diner in town. I remember the day well. It was before we really knew each other that well, and my crush had been raging in full force that day. I’d spent a good two hours picking out my outfit, only to spill milkshake on myself. I’d been upset at first, but then Ezra took his glass, spilled his own milkshake on his jeans, and shrugged, saying, “Now we match.” Laughing, I’d scolded him for wasting a perfectly good milkshake. He told me it was worth it to see me laugh and ordered two more.

I set that drawing aside as well and looked down at the next one. I couldn’t figure out what it was at first, but then realized it was a picture of me sleeping peacefully in his bed. Scrawled in the corner he’d written, You belong here.

I laughed at that, but my laugh didn’t sound right. It was more like a choked sob and I realized I’d started crying again. But these were happy tears and I was thankful for them. Just like I was thankful for the drawings and the boy sleeping in my bed.

I thought I’d never have this.

This soul-stirring, intense, all-consuming, once in a lifetime kind of love.

But I got it.

With my best friend.

And you didn’t get any luckier than that.

“I CAN’T BELIEVE I LET YOU TALK ME INTO THIS,” I mumbled, carrying the second to last box inside the house. Ezra was behind me, carrying the final box—the one that marked the fact that this was my home now too, not just his. I was here to stay. “You know my lease wasn’t up yet.”

He set the final box down on the floor along with the others.

He cracked a smile and leaned his hip against the kitchen counter. “This is your home. This is where you belong.”

“With you?” I smiled widely.

“Yes.” He framed my face, kissing me deeply. “And Toby of course.” He nodded towards the fishbowl. “Toby has really missed you. He cries every night. I have to rock him to sleep.”

I busted out in laughter. “Oh I’m sure, seeing as how rocking a fish would kill him.”

He mock winced. “Yeah, that’s why that’s Toby 2.0.”

I gasped. “What? You killed our baby!”

He laughed so hard that he was bent over at the stomach. “You should’ve seen your face!” Straightening, he sobered. “That’s the original Toby, I assure you.”

“It better be,” I muttered, fighting a smile.

I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around him. His lips brushed against the top of my head.

“So, what do you say Westbrook, are you ready to try out this love thing with me forever?”

“I don’t know,” I hedged, clucking my tongue, “forever is an awfully long time.”

“I’m good company, I promise.” He grinned down at me. The kind of smile that made him seem boyish and young.

“Hmm, sounds tempting.”

“Do I need to do more convincing?” He asked, his fingers gliding beneath my sweater.

“A lot more.” I whispered breathily in his ear. “Preferably naked.”

“I can do that.” A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes.

I squealed when he grabbed me, tossing me over his shoulder as he ran up the steps.

Instead of stripping me naked and making love to me for the rest of the day and night we ended up jumping on the bed like two little kids.

Because that was us.

Our relationship was intense, passionate, and full of fun.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Interviewer: Good afternoon, Ezra. Sadie. Thanks for sitting down with us.

Ezra: Thanks for having us.

Interviewer: Of course I have to ask you if Willow Creek is working on any new music? Can we expect a new release any time soon?

Ezra: I’m not really allowed to say, but we’re working on it.

Interviewer: Good, good. So it’s recently come out that you two are indeed a couple now. <points at both Ezra and Sadie> I don’t think I’m speaking too broadly when I say everyone was expecting this. You’ve been photographed together numerous times and there’s been several headlines hinting at a possible relationship, but nothing concrete. So, is this relatively new, or have you been able to hide your romantic relationship well?

Ezra: <glances at Sadie> Our romantic relationship is new, yes, but we’ve been best friends for a while now. But yes, I think everyone seemed to sense there was a connection between us…I just didn’t want to see it. I didn’t want to ruin a good thing. You know?

Interviewer: Mhmm. Sadie, do you have anything to say? You’re awfully quiet.

Sadie: I read magazines. I know how you guys twist things, so no I’m not talking to you.

Ezra: <chuckles and leans in to kiss her> I love you so much.

Interviewer: <straightens clothes> I’m sorry you feel that way. Ezra, seeing as you two have known each other for a while, can we expect an engagement any time soon? Especially considering two of your band mates are now married?

Ezra: <glances at Sadie with a smile> I love this girl with my whole heart, and yes I’m going to marry her someday, but I don’t know when. Besides, that kind of thing is private and none of the media’s business.

Interviewer: Ah, yes. We all know how you and your band members feel about your privacy.

Ezra: <laughs> We might be famous, but we still deserve to keep certain parts of ourselves private.

Interviewer: Yes, well, I suppose…

Ezra: Do you have any more questions?

Interviewer: <looks for notes> Uh…

Ezra: <reaches for Sadie’s hand> Bye. <they run down the hall laughing>

Interviewer: <watches them leave and pushes glasses up nose> And that’s why Maddox is my favorite. At least he’ll actually talk and not ditch an interview. <grumbles and packs up stuff> I better not get fired for this.

Here we are yet again and I feel at a loss as to what to say.

I guess the best place to start would be to thank YOU. The fans. The response to this series has been overwhelming and greater than I ever dreamed. Thank you for your constant messages, support, and love of this series (and all of my books). It’s because of you guys that I can keep writing and I’m forever thankful for that. I wish I could hug each and every one of you and tell you in person just how special you are to me. Since I can’t, I’ll settle for this really long and rambling paragraph.

Thank you to all of my author friends who supported me and cheered me on while writing this book. You guys know who you are and I love you!

Thank you to my beta readers Haley, Becca, Stefanie, and Kendall. You guys read my books in their rawest form and you never call me crazy, so thanks for that. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys!