Liquid Redemption (Liquid Regret Book 4)

by MJ Carnal

  As soon as it’s in the water, I have it skimming over the top at full speed. Seeing it dance over the lake makes me smile. I feel like the nine-year-old boy I was then, wide eyed and innocent. Katrina puts her hand on my leg and it’s like my life has come full circle.

  “Want to take it for a spin?” I hold the remote out to her and she takes it with a smile.

  My hand finds my pocket for the hundredth time today. I run my fingers over the gold band and the nerves kick in again. If I don’t ask her soon, I’m going to make myself sick.

  “This is so much fun.” She giggles as the boat takes a turn too sharp and almost tips over.

  “Yes it is, Princess.” I put my arm around her and she snuggles in like she always does.

  Joshua stands at the side of the lake, staring out over it quietly. He’s been lost in thought a lot lately and I wonder if he’ll ever open up to any of us. Now that the tour is over and it will be awhile before we go back out on the road, maybe he’ll find someone to share his time with. Knowing how happy we all are, I can only wish that for him. This gift he’s given me has helped me heal. How can I ever thank him for that?

  “Walk with me?” I hop down off the rock and offer her my hand.

  She takes it without a second thought. We walk quietly, hand in hand, enjoying this cool fall day. I asked Lorenzo permission to ask her this question so many weeks ago. He granted it readily, even though I could see the pain in his eyes. He keeps in touch with Katrina between races. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him but it doesn’t hurt my feelings that he’s in Europe and can’t be at her side as often.

  I bend over and pick up a rock and Katrina starts laughing. She’s asked me so many times why I give her rocks and I never answer her. She has a pretty large collection of them and she acts like they are the most valuable possessions she has. When I met her, there was such a huge wall up around her. I wasn’t sure it would ever come down. I take pride knowing that loving her helped crumble that stone and open her up to a life of love. Every time she smiled, another piece of the rock wall came down. I thought she should have a reminder of every single time a piece of that wall fell.

  “You dropped something,” I whisper in her ear.

  She holds her hand out and I drop the ring into her palm. Her eyes go wide with shock. She had no idea this was coming. Her other hand covers her mouth and tears fill her eyes.

  I drop to one knee. “I fell in love with you when I was eleven years old. Even then, I knew you were my forever. When I look at my future, you’re the only one I see. If we were lucky enough to find each other twice, I think we’re worth betting on for life. Take a chance on me Kitty Kat. Will you dance with me at our wedding?”

  She kneels next to me and throws her arms around my neck. I hold her as she cries and I feel a few tears of my own hit my cheeks. “Yes, Lennon. I will take a chance on you. A million times, yes.”

  Her lips find mine and I’m home. Kissing her will always be my favorite thing to do. Her lips were made for mine and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to her.

  I take the ring from her hand and slip it on her finger. The chocolate, pear shaped diamond sparkles almost as brightly as her eyes while she stares at it. The smile on her face tells me I picked exactly the right ring.

  I take her hand and help her stand. I hug her tightly, breathing in the moment. I want to remember everything. I pull away and take her face in my hands. “I love you, Katrina King. I’m going to spend every single day making sure you know that.”

  As we walk back to meet our friends by the lake, I realize that this moment changes my whole this. This is the moment I find my happily ever after, the moment she saves me from myself, the moment I find my redemption.

  The End

  MJ Carnal with Chance (Jared Seth Coy)

  USA TODAY Bestselling Author, MJ Carnal, is an Ohio native who has settled down in the state of South Carolina. The daughter of a poet, she spends her time writing everything from romance novels to children’s books. When she isn’t writing, you can find her spending every possible second with her daughter, playing chauffer and dance mom, singing karaoke for anyone who will listen, and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She has a small obsession with all things Winchester and Supernatural, Sour Patch Kids and So You Think You Can Dance.

  She loves to hear from fans, fellow writers and book lovers. Find her online at www.facebook.com/mjcarnalauthor or on Twitter @mjcarnalauthor

  Thank you!

  I’d like to say a million thanks to my mom, who has always been there for me and who taught me the meaning of truly loving someone and accepting people for who they are. You mean everything to me.

  To my daughter. I love you more than life. Thank you for being so incredible and for loving me the way you do. You are a superstar and you’re destined for greatness. I’m so glad I have a front row seat.

  To my cover model, Sam. I am so blessed to have you as a friend and I have loved all our adventures. I can’t imagine taking this journey as a writer without you!

  To my photographer, Golden from Furious Fotog! I am forever in awe of your talent. You always capture exactly the right shot. I excited to work with you on so many future projects.

  To Marisa Shor from Cover Me, Darling. You inspire so many of my stories by the art you create for my covers. Thank you for always having a vision because you know I don’t!

  To Dawne. Thanks for being my rock through all of life’s ups and downs. Hard to believe we haven’t always been family. We were meant to be sisters.

  To my beta readers Janelle, Hannah, Dawne, Tish and Tracy! Thank you will never be enough for reading and encouraging me to keep going. I love your texts and emails because they get me excited about my work again. Your input is invaluable.

  To Kellie Montgomery for being an awesome PR rep, editor, pimper, blogger, friend. I absolutely adore you!!

  To Rachael Yunk. Thank you for being a part of the story, even if I did have to nickname you Ray so I wouldn’t get confused because of Max’s Rachel.

  To all the bloggers who spread the word about my sales and new releases and everything in between. Thank you for doing what you do. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

  To the Liquid Regret Groupies. Thanks for hanging in there with me when I dropped off the face of the earth. You never gave up on me and I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate that. You guys are my rock stars.

  To Traci Hyland. You kick ass. You’ve pimped me when I was hiding from the world and didn’t know when my next book would come out. Thanks for being you.

  To my air conditioner, Spotify, sour patch kids, pictures of Bruno Mars and Ibuprofen for always being there for me when I write. I know I’m a pain in the ass. This is a serious thanks. These things keep me going.

  And last but NEVER least, my readers. My rock stars. My everything! You make my world go around and I love every single one of you. Thank you for always being amazing!!!!

  Coming soon from MJ Carnal:

  The story of band manager, Joshua Seymour.

  Coming fall 2017.