“We have all night.” I pulled a seat out from her table and motioned for her to sit. “Or until you throw me out.” We both settled at the table and met each other’s gaze for a long minute.
“No way. I can’t believe you’re back. And running your own business!”
“Wait,” I raised my hands and shook my head. “It’s Uncle Billy’s business. I’m just the manager.”
Brianna sucked her teeth as she frowned at me. “You always loved cars and bikes. I remember that afternoon at your house when you took apart an engine just to see if you could put it back together.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Almost had it, too. I got shit from the old man when his car wouldn’t start the next day, though. Always the bad seed.”
“No.” Brianna’s face hardened as she glared at me. “You weren’t. In fact, don’t panic, but I think you’re a success story now.” Her mouth twisted in a smirk.
I gasped an exaggerated breath and clutched my chest. “Bite your tongue. God forbid! Who am I, if I’m not the local troublemaker?” I laughed, but she frowned in response.
Brianna leaned back in her chair and sighed. “You never were. Not to me. You had it rough and, yeah, got into some trouble.”
“Some? Like the ocean has ‘some’ water in it?” I shook my head as I broke my gaze from hers. Even after all I put her through, she only saw the best in me. I couldn’t accept it back then, and I sure as shit didn’t deserve it now.
She leaned over and rested her palm on my chest, over my heart. “This was always good. You could pretend with everyone else, but not with me. I’m proud of you.”
I reached up and rested my hand on hers as a lump formed in my throat. When I left, that was all I wanted. When I saw her again, I wanted her to see a man with his shit together, who’d be worthy of her. Those four words falling from her lips were like hitting a jackpot to me.
Unfortunately, now she was someone else’s fortune.
“Enough about me.” I pulled my hand away and rested my elbows on the table. “I want to hear about you. You’re a writer now, right?”
“Copywriter.” Brianna corrected me with a bit of an eye roll. “Fairly big agency. I get to work on some cool stuff. The billboard on Jersey Turnpike, just before Route Seventeen, I wrote that headline. I take a picture every time we drive by.”
“That’s pretty cool. You’re famous.” I nudged her shoulder and she rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, okay. Welcome to my mansion. Ugh!” She slapped her forehead with her palm. “I am the worst hostess ever. I should make you something to eat. Or drink. You walked in and I . . .”
“You forgot everything else?” I gave her a playful wink and loved the giggle I got in return. “Pizza would be good for me. We have a lot of time to catch up on. You can make special mac and cheese for me another night.” I snickered and let my gaze fall to the table.
“It was your idea to mix Ritz crackers with blue box mac and cheese, and you loved it.” Brianna stood from the table, her eyes narrowing into slits. Her chestnut hair was almost blonde now and cascaded off her shoulders in waves. The curves that nearly forced me to carry my book bag in front to hide the bulge in my pants were still spectacular, only now they were lean and toned. Same tiny waist, same perfect breasts, same cherry red lips turned down in a scowl when I teased her. It all drove me even crazier. Every inch of her was so damn beautiful. Keeping it in the best friend zone would be a shitload tougher than I imagined. I shifted in my seat, hoping she wouldn’t notice me adjusting myself under the table.
“Sicilian still good?” Brianna smiled as she picked up the phone. “I have Coronas in the fridge, and a couple of limes, too.”
I let out a sad chuckle and nodded, remembering our days at my house, watching sweet Brianna’s face crinkle in disgust when she took her first sip of beer. Coronas became her beer of underage choice at the time. At least that was one of her firsts that was all mine. Things happened the way they had to, but with her, I always wished they were different . . . better.
“They said a half hour.” Brianna slid a bottle of beer in front of me, alongside three lime wedges on a tiny white plate.
“I always thought you’d be writing books now.”
She shrugged. “I have a book done, actually—the first draft anyway. I just can’t find the guts to do anything with it.”
I squinted at her as I took a sip from the beer bottle. “You’re kidding me, right? What happened to the one you made me read in school?”
She let out a long sigh and nodded. “That’s the one. To this day, you’re the only one who’s seen it or even knows about it.”
“Scott doesn’t know you like to write.” Since we were in grammar school, Brianna wrote constantly. Poems, riddles, we’d watch a show and she’d say, ‘What if it ended like this . . . ’ Granted, she annoyed the shit out of me sometimes, but her excitement was always adorable and infectious. I couldn’t see that not being a part of who she was anymore.
“He’s more a corporate type of guy. Just started his own accounting firm with his brother. Writing, designing—he really doesn’t take it too seriously. He’d laugh his ass off if he knew about my book.” She shook her head with a sad laugh and took a long gulp of beer.
“Where did you meet him? Have you guys been together long?”
“We started dating only a couple of years ago, but we met in college. He used to tease me that my creative writing classes were ‘cute.’” She held her fingers up in air quotes. “He wouldn’t be interested in reading my book.”
“Are you guys . . . serious?” Trying to keep a casual tone while praying she said no was pretty fucking difficult.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Brianna nodded as she took a sip of beer.
Hmm.
“Give it to me.”
Brianna drew back in her chair. “What?”
“The book. You tortured me with it in school; at least grant me the courtesy of seeing how it ends.”
Brianna laughed and shook her head. “Josh, you don’t have to—”
“I want to. I’ll give you my email address. Send it to me and I’ll start right away. And I don’t know Scott, but he’s wrong. It takes talent to put words together, to make people stop and pay attention. Whether it’s a billboard or a book, I think being able to do that is amazing.”
Her cheeks flushed as she dropped her gaze to the floor. “Thank you.”
You’re amazing is what I wanted to say. And if Scott didn’t think so, I was about to give him a run for his money.
Available Now
I’M GOING TO do my best to keep this short and sweet, but as I’m long winded and sappy—and am blessed with a lot of friends—it’s a challenge.
To my husband and son, my superheroes, my reason, and my purpose. Thank you for supporting me through this crazy writing journey, even when it takes me away from you at times. I love you more than you could ever imagine.
To my mom, I watched you work your fingers to the bone and take care of me all by yourself and never truly realized how hard you really had it. I admire and love you very much, and I hope you know how grateful I truly am. All that I am is because of you.
To my betas: Bianca, Joanna, Christine, Franci, Saffron, Shannon, Lara, Ella, Jessica, Angie, Christine, and Lisa. Thank you for helping me perfect the slow burn and for helping me make Sara someone you could love, even if you started out thinking she was the villain.
Jodi and Julia, for completely derailing my writing schedule and lobbying for this book in the first place and then reading chapter by chapter at all hours. I’m so glad you made such a great case. Your support and encouragement are what made me write the fastest 80,000 words of my life. I love you guys.
Laura, you always help get my brain on the right track. Thank you for helping me with the blurb, title, and always making sure I know when The Godfather is on. You’re a class act, sister—and I appreciate you more than you know.
To Jenn, my official blurb editor forever. Thank y
ou so much for stepping in and making it perfect.
Jaimee, my wonderful friend who always finds the little things in my drafts that make the biggest difference. I love your big heart and eagle eye and hope my lack of geography knowledge gave you a good chuckle.
Beth, you came in to read when I was ready to set the whole thing on fire, and knowing someone like you loved it saved it, and saved me. I’ll never forget that, and now you’re stuck with me.
Mila, my brilliant friend who always makes time for me and my books to be my last pass. I’m elated you loved my slow burn romance and I treasure our friendship.
Kaitie, thank you so much for being my last review, and as always, your attention to detail is impeccable and invaluable. Thank you so much for being so thoughtful and considerate, so glad my books brought us together.
Barb, the wonderful soul who became my best friend and always has my back. Thank you for being both my cheerleader and my center and pushing me to make this book the best it could be. I couldn’t function without you, and I can’t wait until we unleash Cole and Tierney out into the world. I love you and thank you will never be enough.
To Jenn, the world’s best PA. You’re insanely organized, huge-hearted, and funny as hell. You get me and know how to handle me. I don’t know what I’d do without you and never want to find out.
Najla, my cover designer with loads of both talent and patience. Each cover is my new favorite, and you captured Drew and Sara perfectly, as always (and never laugh at my weird ideas that usually don’t work out).
Mary Ruth, thank you for making a beautiful announcement teaser! I’m always in awe of your talent and wonderful heart.
Daniela, thank you for your gorgeous edits! I can’t wait to show them off!
Mitzi and Marisa, thank you for making sure my baby was clean and tight, and making me laugh along the way. You guys are true professionals and I learn something new from you each book.
To Christine, you run Type A Formatting with a flawless professionalism and tolerate nut job clients like me. You are truly the best and are stuck with me for life.
Thank you Give Me Books and Enticing Journey for organizing a wonderful cover reveal and release event. Thank you for helping get my baby out there.
To the readers and bloggers who took a chance on me and this book. I always remember how when I first published, I said if ten people who weren’t related to me bought my book, I’d consider it a success. This, all the support I’ve received across 6 books and three novellas, continues to blow my mind. It’s a blessing I’ll never stop being grateful for.
To the Rose Garden, my happy place on social media. Thank you for all the support and encouragement and tolerating my daily free association. I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart for staying with me.
To the father who acknowledged me in death more than he ever did in life, I’m sorry for all you missed and pray you found peace.
STEPHANIE ROSE GREW up loving words and making up stories. Being able to share them with readers is her dream come true. This lifelong Bronx girl loves Starbucks, wine and 80s rock. Her voice often gets mistaken for a Mob Wives trailer.
She married her prom date and has a LEGO obsessed son. She believes there is nothing sexier than a good guy who loves with all his heart and has made it her mission to bring as many as she can to the page.
Follow her everywhere, she loves hearing from readers!
Contact Stephanie
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THE SECOND CHANCES SERIES
Always You
"Always You is the debut novel for Stephanie Rose and I have to say she knocked it out of the park."
~Jennifer from Book Bitches Blog
Only You
"Paige and Evan's story was beautiful yet so very sad—stunning in its romance, love and friendship.
~Jenny and Gitte, TotallyBookedBlog
Always Us
Finding Me
"What a gorgeous book. Five whole-hearted stars."
~Emma Scott, author of
Forever Right Now and the Full Tilt Duet
After You
Some books make you wanna shout them from the rooftops. After You is that book.
~Paige, A is for Alpha B is for Books
STANDALONES
Rewrite
"Rewrite gripped me from the start and never let me go."
~Award-winning and Bestselling author, K.K. Allen
Intimate Strangers
—St. Helena Vineyard Kindle World Novella
Simmer Page 26