by Magan Vernon
She slid her phone to unlock it and handed it to me.
I looked down and saw the screen with a departure from Palermo to Rome at 10:10. “Okay, my flight then. We get some more time together. Cool.”
I found myself smiling but a tinge of sadness to it.
Yes, I wanted more time with her, but the more we prolonged it, the more I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to go through it.
I was just about to say fuck it, cancel my flight to Dallas, and stay in Rome with her when she slid her finger along the screen and revealed a second flight.
Rome to Chicago at 12:53. Was she visiting her parents first?
“Oh, that’s my same flight. Cool. I have a little layover there, and we can hang out before you go to your parents or wherever,” I said, nodding. More time. First, the sixteen-hour flight to Chicago then I’d have to say goodbye. I couldn’t figure out if I was happy or sad.
But Virginia figured it out for me and slid her fingers across the screen, showing the flight from Chicago to Dallas.
“Chicago … to … Dallas?” I asked, my words drawn out as I slowly stared up at her smiling face.
She took a step closer and grabbed her phone, sliding it in her purse. “I’ve thought a lot about things these past few weeks. As much as I would love the job in Rome, there was just something missing, and I realized that what was missing was you.”
I shook my head slightly, licking my lips. “Babe, you can’t give up your dream for me. I won’t let you do that.”
“I’m not.”
“Then what are you doing?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I decided to do some research about the Dallas area and was able to get a last-minute Skype interview for an internship at an art museum in Dallas. It may not be paid, and living expenses will be a bit higher, but Dr. Mercato said it would cover my requirements.”
“Are you saying …?” All words were failing me. All I could do was stare at her smile.
“I’m saying that it looks like you’re going to be stuck with me for a bit longer, Sonny Conti,” she said, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I think it’s you who’s going to be sorry that you kept me around,” I whispered against her lips.
“We’ll see about that,” she said before her lips met mine.
It was the same thing I said to Matthew on the flight to Rome, what seemed like ages ago, and he was right. All it took was one strong woman to knock me out and make me fall in love.
About The Author
Magan Vernon has been living off of reader tears since she wrote her first short story in 2004. She now spends her time killing off fictional characters, pretending to plot while she really just watches Netflix, and she tries to do this all while her two young children run amuck around her Texas ranch.
Find her online at www.maganvernon.com
Acknowledgements
First off, a huge shout out to Susan Stoker for creating the world of the SEALs. I met Susan through an online group and she helped me immensely in writing the first Friendship, Texas book “Edge of Glory” since she was a competitive swimmer. She encouraged me to write in her first Kindle World and I loved the experience so much that I wanted to do it again, but this time bring in some comedy. This may be the funniest readers will ever see Wolf and Caroline unless I give them a sequel…now I have plot bunnies.
Kassi Snider, the mastermind behind these amazing covers for the Friendship, Texas series. She perfectly captured every single book and was able to mingle Susan’s world and Sonny’s.
Jenny Sims, my editor, who is never ever allowed to leave me.
Emersyn Valis, my partner in crime. Thanks for dealing with my crazy ideas and telling me if they worked or not.
Sadie Grubor, for finally joining #TEAMSonny
CC Wood, for our writing dates and telling me this story needed more sex.
To everyone who picked up this book and took a chance on me, thank YOU most of all.