by J. Nathan
Drew and I froze, though our heads whipped toward the doorway. Avery turned on his heels and headed back outside. I buried my face in Drew’s chest, laughing at what Avery overheard.
Drew lowered his lips to my ear. “He wanted us together almost as much as I did.”
“Smart guy.”
“Don’t let him fool you. He definitely likes you. But with Avery, there’s always an ulterior motive.”
I pulled back, gazing up into the eyes of the guy who came along when I least expected him and turned my world upside down. I deserved to be happy. So did he. So did Avery. So did—
I glanced to the door with a slow-spreading grin. “Logan.”
If Drew and I could get it together, there was no doubt in my mind that Avery and Logan could, too.
I looked back to Drew. “Oh, yeah. They’re totally going to happen.”
“Well, can they happen later? Because I’ve got plans for you and me and this big empty room.”
“Oh, yeah?”
He lifted me up so I had no other option but to straddle his waist and lock my arms around his neck. “Oh, hell yeah.”
EPILOGUE
Four Years Later
Italy
The shotgun fired, echoing throughout the packed stadium. My back foot pushed off the starting block. Every part of me focused on the finish line two laps away. Not my uncontrollable nerves. Not my over the top excitement. Not the other seven women vying for one of my medals. Yes, my. I wouldn’t allow myself to believe otherwise.
I just needed to get to the end. And if my latest finish was any indication, I was in good position to place.
My feet slapped off the track as the momentum of my arms propelled me forward. As soon as I could get out of lane four, I wanted that front spot in lane one. I deserved that spot. It had been four long years in the making. And I’d be damned if anything else got in my way of achieving it. I’d come too far.
I rounded the first curve. My breathing was even. My adrenaline peaked. My heart crashing around inside my chest like a pinball. But none of it mattered. In less than two minutes, I’d know my fate.
Sure, it had been a long road. But I’d made it. And I didn’t need to question how I’d gotten there. How I’d gotten back on my feet four years ago. How I’d pushed myself to train day after day.
The answer was easy. Drew.
He’d been my savior. He’d been my strength when I didn’t have any. He’d been my confidence when I considered giving up. He’d been my motivator when I swore I’d never make it back.
Don’t get me wrong. At times, he could still be a total asshole. But I knew how to handle that side of him. And when that ego of his got a little too big, I was right there to knock him down a peg or two. Because I loved him. I mean, he hadn’t really given me any other choice.
Somewhere up in the massive crowd, probably somewhere he could see the entire track, Drew sat cheering with my parents and Logan. I could feel him down on the track. I could hear his words of encouragement. I could recite his constant praise as I trained my ass off to get back. And I could sense every bit of his unconditional love for me.
I hit the back straightaway and the break line, crossing over into the inside lane and into the middle of the pack. I trailed slightly behind three other runners. But that was fine. I’d planned for a slower first lap, saving all my energy for the second when I’d make my move.
I rounded the next curve, passing one of the runners. It felt good. I felt good. My knee and leg had fully recovered and were like brand new.
With every stride, I gained on the leaders. But my small victory was short-lived. Two other runners gained on me, passing me on my right.
Come on, Andi. You got this. You didn’t come this far to finish in fifth place.
My body knew what it needed to do.
I entered the second lap, pushing myself into high gear.
This was the freaking Olympics. This was my dream.
My knees lifted higher. My arms pulled back further. My chest pressed out in an effort to lengthen my stride. My speed increased.
The breeze created by our motion blew against my sweaty face as I passed one runner. Then another.
You got this.
I tried to stay out of my head. I really did. But the two girls ahead of me weren’t inches ahead; they were a couple strides ahead. I wouldn’t be able to catch them. I knew that now.
But I didn’t need the gold. My goal had always been a medal. And if I just kept up my pace and didn’t let anyone else pass me, I would be a world champion.
I focused.
Focused on my form. Focused on the sounds of our feet clapping off the track. Focused on not getting tripped up in any of the other runners’ feet.
As we rounded the final curve, the sounds of the crowd finally resonated. I’d been so focused on me and my journey, I hadn’t thought of all the fans. All there to support their country. All there to cheer on their favorite athlete and see them bring home the medal.
But that’s not why my parents, Logan, and Drew sat in that crowd. It’s not why they flew thousands of miles. They sat there for me. They sat there to be my support system. They sat there to see my dream come to fruition.
And I couldn’t let them down.
I wouldn’t let them down.
I wouldn’t let myself down.
I could see the finish line just meters away.
A runner approached on my left. Oh, no way in hell. We were neck and neck. Our strides were in sync, as if a reflection in a mirror. She was the only thing standing between me and my dream.
The first two runners crossed the finish line to earsplitting cheers from the crowd.
I willed myself to the end, pushing my body to its breaking point. In that final second, I threw my chest across the finish line and hoped to God I’d beaten her.
I ran until I was able to stop and bent at the waist, grasping my knees and gasping for air. Sweat glazed my eyes. My heartbeat ricocheted off my chest. It had been close. Too close for the human eye to detect. It would be a dead heat.
All I could do was wait. Wait for the photos to determine my fate.
I couldn’t bear to look up into the crowd. I couldn’t bear to see my parents, Logan, and Drew. I couldn’t bear to see their faces if I’d finished fourth. I couldn’t bear to let them see mine if I wasn’t an Olympic medalist.
In the end, though, I knew I’d run my heart out. I’d given it my all. I’d done everything I was mentally and physically capable of doing. And if that wasn’t good enough, then I didn’t deserve to wear the medal.
I stood up with my hands grasping my soon-to-be cramping sides. My cheeks pulsed with heat and sweat drenched every part of my body as I walked in a small circle.
“Andi?”
That voice.
My head whipped around.
Drew hurried toward me, moving around coaches and runners. He threw his big arms around me and kissed me hard before pulling back to look at me. “You were amazing.”
How was it that when my life, future, and dreams hung in the balance, he always showed up and made everything okay? I tried to smile, but I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my gums.
“You won. I just know you did.” He released me and stepped back. “But no matter what happens, I still love you.”
I cocked my head. “Seriously? Were you planning on dumping me if I didn’t place?”
He cocked his own head, unfazed by my sarcasm.
As if it were happening in slow motion, Drew dropped down onto one knee in the middle of all the commotion and pulled a small black box from his pocket.
My eyes bugged out and my hands flew to my mouth. “Oh my God.”
He looked up at me through those thick eyelashes and grinned. “Marry me, Andi. You’re already the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You challenge me. You push me. And above all, you love me. You’re not my better half, you’re my best half.”
I stared down at this gorgeous, kind, compassionate
guy who changed my world. Who changed himself to become the type of guy he thought I deserved. Who loved me more than anything else for the past four years.
I dropped my hands. “It took you long enough.”
His brows lifted. “Wasn’t exactly the response I was hoping for.”
I grinned and, with no doubt that this was my fate—he was my fate, I nodded.
He flashed his cocky grin that still made my stomach a fluttery mess. “I’m gonna need to hear you say it.”
As if the entire stadium didn’t exist, I answered him. “Yes, Drew. I want to marry you. And have your football playing babies.”
He threw back his head and laughed as he slipped the most beautiful cushion cut diamond ring onto my ring finger. The stone sparkled like crazy under the bright morning sun. Logan had been right about things that sparkled. They did make you happy.
A hush fell over the crowd as an Italian announcer’s thickly accented voice projected through the speakers, reverberating throughout the stadium. “The third place finish goes to the United States’ Andi Parker.”
I closed my eyes and my head fell back. Pure bliss swept over me. Drew jumped up and grabbed me in his arms, spinning me around like I weighed nothing at all. “You did it, Andi! You won the medal!”
My eyelids slid back, only to find Drew’s big bright eyes staring back at me. “We did it. We won the medal.”
He didn’t hesitate. His lips collided with mine. And in front of thousands of fans in that stadium and millions at home, we sucked some serious face. And I didn’t care. I was engaged to someone who loved me more than life itself, and I just won the freaking bronze medal at the Olympics.
Euphoria I’d never experienced before gushed through every part of my body. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought I’d drift off and float away.
Eventually, I was pulled away from Drew and whisked off to be interviewed. The first reporter asked what I’d learned during my journey to the Olympics.
I leaned down, speaking into the cluster of microphones on the table in front of me. “I’ve learned two invaluable lessons over the past four years. First, without strife, there’d be no push to persevere. And without perseverance, there’d be no joy in success. And second…” I smiled into the camera, visualizing Drew’s cocky grin on the other side. “Sometimes, if you dream big enough, all your dreams really do come true.”
STAY TUNED FOR
Avery and Logan’s story
After Avery
A novella
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to the wonderful readers who made this second book possible. Had you not read, reviewed, and spread the word about Until Alex, I would not have had the courage to try again with Since Drew. Nothing, besides my family and friends, makes me happier than creating these fictional stories and characters. So thank you for making my dream come true!
Thank you to my husband for “patiently” tolerating my computer in front of me at all times. I appreciated your offer to be the cover model…Maybe next time. Thank you to my amazing little boy for bringing such happiness into my life (and still napping so I have time to write).
Thank you to my parents, sister, brother-in-law, family, and friends, for telling every person you come in contact with that I wrote a book. As embarrassing as it can be at times, I appreciate your support. You’ve motivated me to make this second novel even better knowing my first grade teacher or next door neighbor may soon have it in their hands. So thanks for that. I think…
Thank you, yet again, to my wonderful editor, author Stephanie Elliot, for your amazing editing and suggestions. Without you, I never would have begun this exciting journey. Please know I take full responsibility for any errors in this final draft since I’ve revised it at least twenty times since you read it—being the crazy reviser that I am.
Thank you to author Sierra Hill for helping with the blurb. You have such a beautiful way with words and helped me tremendously when I was stressing out. I’m so happy to have another author friend to share experiences with.
Thank you to Letitia at RBA Designs for the beautiful cover. You were so wonderful to work with and captured exactly what I’d envisioned—bringing Drew very much to life.
And lastly, thank you to Dali at TJ Loves to Read for beta reading. I truly appreciated you taking the time to help me. You gave me so many fantastic suggestions. It was exactly what I needed. You’re the best!
CONTACT INFO
I love hearing from readers, so feel free to reach out to me at any of the links below.
Jnathan.net
https://www.goodreads.com/jnathan
https://www.facebook.com/jnathanauthor
https://twitter.com/@Jnathanbooks
https://www.tsu.co/JNathan
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