“Are you asking if I believe in love?” He glances to the camera and then to me. Of course. I should have figured there is no way he’s admitting to the free world and his devoted viewers that he’s a fraud. “My heart is full as I look out and see what a little fostering in the right direction has achieved.” He gives both of us a quick pat to the back. “It was the two of you I was rooting for the most.” He sharpens those dark eyes over at me. “And that’s the truth.” He takes off into the crowd, and the music changes pace to something slow that Vi and I instinctually move our conjoined hips to.
“Dexter is a pretty nice guy after all.” Vi lays her head over my chest a moment before looking up. “It’s too bad he’s all alone. Who knows? Maybe one day he’ll be just as happy as the two of us?”
I lean in and land a lingering kiss over her lips. “Something tells me that day is pretty far off. Not everyone is as lucky as we are.”
She wrinkles her nose as she hikes up on her tiptoes. “I think we had a little bit more than luck. I think it was fate.”
“It was fate.”
Violet touches her lips over mine, and we do exactly that for the next two hours until someone shouts it’s a wrap.
* * *
The night air is frigid as Vi and I traverse our way across the street to the Underground. It’s warm inside, and it smells of beer and burgers on the grill. The place is wall-to-wall bodies, and each one of them congratulates us as we head inside.
Vi and I caught the tail end of the buffet at the TSE wrap party before we were ushered out of the room by the cleaning crew. And there wasn’t a steak or a lobster with our names on it, so we decided to fuel up at this place.
Rowen and Sophie wave us over to the back where there are several standing height tables. And it looks like a standing room only kind of a Saturday night.
Rowen gives me a high five, while Sophie douses Vi with a hug.
“It’s over, man.” He slaps me on the shoulder. “You did it.”
Sophie hops up and down as if her heels were on springs. “Congratulations! Two social experiments over and done with! We’re going to have to party.”
Rowen twitches his brows. “I’m pretty sure they’re going to have a private party of their own.”
Ember spills into our small circle and screams and whoops as she falls over Vi. Her blonde hair sits in a tumble on top of her head, and she’s wearing a knit sweater that hangs down to her knees. I recognize that dress because I’ve seen it on Vi a number of times. “You killed it!” she shouts as she gives me a knuckle bump. “I can’t believe it!” She looks to Sophie and Vi. “The two of you participated in the worst idea that mankind has ever had, and you survived!”
“Of course, we survived.” Vi winks over at me before looking back to Ember. “And you’re going to survive, too. As soon as spring break is over, you’ll be up at bat!”
“Three more weeks!” Sophie screams, and the three of them break out in laughter.
Ember fans herself before taking a swig of Sophie’s drink. “I’m just in it for a good time. Don’t go getting any bright ideas that I’m coming out with my heart on a platter, tied up in ribbons ready to gift to Mr. Right. I’m all about Mr. Right Now.” She gives a sly wink. “But, hey? Two out of three ain’t bad.”
“No way.” Sophie shakes her head in protest. “If it happened for Vi and me, it’s happening for you. We’re a team, and we’re sticking together. And as much as you fight it, let me be the first to say the—”
Rowen and I lean in to help finish the thought with the girls. “Odds are in your favor.”
We erupt in laughter, and I wrap my arms around Vi and pull her in.
“In case it’s been too long since I’ve said it last—I love you.”
Her eyes sparkle with tears, and she blinks them away. “Are you always going to be this sweet to me?”
“Only on days that end in Y.”
We share a quiet laugh, and we dance right there, slow and easy to the rhythm of our own making. Our lips find one another, and the boisterous crowd, the loud music, the laughter of our friends, it all melts away. It’s just Vi and me, the way it’s been destined to be since the beginning.
We wrap it up, call it a night, and say a quick goodbye to everyone at the Underground.
As soon as we get outside, I scoop her up in my arms and give a little twirl as a sprinkling of snow begins to fall.
“It’s snowing!” Vi sticks her tongue out to catch the flakes, and I can’t help but kiss it. “This is magic.” She sighs as she lays her head over my chest, that evergreen gaze of hers locking onto mine.
“We’re magic.”
“Aw!” Her warm hand glides over my cheek as she holds me there. “We are magic, aren’t we? I hope we spend the rest of our lives with this feeling right here.”
“We will,” I say, marked with confidence. “It’s up to us to make it so. And I plan on doing exactly that. Keeping the magic alive. That’s one challenge I will happily accept. You won’t believe what I’ve got waiting for you back at my place,” I say as I trot us down the street. My feet can’t carry us fast enough.
Her mouth falls open with surprise. “More roses?”
“Nope. You might have to think outside the box for this one.”
“A bouquet of burritos?” Her body trembles with a laugh.
“You’re getting warm and giving me ideas. Bouquet of burritos?” I mouth that last part. “You’re a genius, Vi.”
“I know I am.” She digs her fingers into the back of my hair. “I ended up with you, didn’t I?”
“Touché.” I speed across the street and up to my apartment in record time. I land her on her feet in front of the expansive window overlooking the city lights below. Vi looks around, her wonder quickly dissipating.
“Not a petal or a burrito in sight. Could this surprise be in the bedroom?”
“Nope.” I get down on one knee and pull out a small velvet box that’s been burning a hole in my pocket all night. “It’s right here, Vi.” I open it between us, exposing a princess cut diamond that made both my mother and hers cry enough tears to fill Sugar Valley Lake this afternoon. I needed to ask her father and her brother’s permission for the occasion, and to my relief, they both gave it.
Vi bucks as tears spill from her at the sight. She covers her mouth with her trembling hand. “I know there are a million places far more romantic than my living room to do this, but there are just some moments I want kept between the two of us, and this is one of them. Vi, would you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me? It would make me the happiest man alive to know that one day you will be my wife.”
“Yes!” She jumps while clutching onto my shoulders, and I pull her down to the rug with me. “I would be more than honored to be your wife, Lane.” Vi melts a soulful kiss over my lips that says just that and so much more.
Violet and I make vows with our bodies long into the morning, loving one another with words, with actions, with the promise of the future riding out like eternity before us.
I’m so grateful for so many things. And I’m especially grateful there is a disillusioned fool out there named Dexter Houston. I’m also damn glad the coach saw fit to force me into that twisted social experiment.
Sometimes a couple of seemingly wrong moves can lead to the right one.
Vi and I are living proof of that.
Vi and I are just right.
We are magic through and through.
Books by Addison Moore
For up to the minute pre-order and new release alerts
✦Follow Addison on Bookbub, too! http://bit.ly/2mLl95b
✦Like on Facebook http://bit.ly/2kk7sFw
* * *
*Be sure to subscribe to Addison’s mailing list for sneak peeks and updates on all upcoming releases!
* * *
Romance
3:AM Kisses (3:AM Kisses 1)
Winter Kisses (3:AM Kisses 2)
Sugar Kisses (3:AM Kisses 3)
Whiskey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 4)
Rock Candy Kisses (3:AM Kisses 5)
Velvet Kisses (3:AM Kisses 6)
Wild Kisses (3:AM Kisses 7)
Country Kisses (3:AM Kisses 8)
Forbidden Kisses (3:AM Kisses 9)
Dirty Kisses (3:AM Kisses 10)
Stolen Kisses (3:AM Kisses 11)
Lucky Kisses (3:AM Kisses 12)
Tender Kisses (3:AM Kisses 13)
Revenge Kisses (3:AM Kisses 14)
Red Hot Kisses (3:AM Kisses 15)
Reckless Kisses (3:AM Kisses 16)
* * *
Value 3:AM Kisses Boxed Sets
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 1-3
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 4-6
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 7-9
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 10-12
* * *
Low Down & Dirty (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 1)
Dirty Disaster (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 2)
Dirty Deeds (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 3)
* * *
Burning Through Gravity (Burning Through Gravity 1)
A Thousand Starry Nights (Burning Through Gravity 2)
Fire in an Amber Sky (Burning Through Gravity 3)
* * *
Beautiful Oblivion (Beautiful Oblivion 1)
Beautiful Illusions (Beautiful Oblivion 2)
Beautiful Elixir (Beautiful Oblivion 3)
The Solitude of Passion
* * *
Someone to Love (Someone to Love 1)
Someone Like You (Someone to Love 2)
Someone For Me (Someone to Love 3)
* * *
Young Adult Romance
Melt With You (A Totally ’80s Romance 1)
Tainted Love (A Totally ’80s Romance 2)
Hold Me Now (A Totally ’80s Romance 3)
* * *
Paranormal Romance
(Celestra Book World in Order)
* * *
Ethereal (Celestra Series Book 1)
Tremble (Celestra Series Book 2)
Burn (Celestra Series Book 3)
Wicked (Celestra Series Book 4)
Vex (Celestra Series Book 5)
Expel (Celestra Series Book 6)
Toxic Part One (Celestra Series Book 7)
Toxic Part Two (Celestra Series Book 8)
Elysian (Celestra Series Book 9)
Perfect Love (A Celestra Novella)
* * *
Ethereal Knights (Celestra Knights)
Season of the Witch (A Celestra Companion)
* * *
Ephemeral (The Countenance Trilogy 1)
Evanescent (The Countenance Trilogy 2)
Entropy (The Countenance Trilogy 3)
* * *
The Countenance Trilogy Books 1-3
Celestra Forever After (Celestra Forever After 1)
The Dragon and the Rose (Celestra Forever After 2)
The Serpentine Butterfly (Celestra Forever After 3)
Crown of Ashes (Celestra Forever After 4)
Throne of Fire (Celestra Forever After 5) Soon!
Acknowledgments
Thank YOU for reading BITTER EXES. I hope you had a fun ride with Violet and Lane like I did. There’s something yummy about exes reigniting that old flame and I hope you found that here. XOXO
A huge thank you to Lisa Markson and Tabby Coots for giving it a look over before anyone else. I appreciate you both!
A very special thank you to Kaila Eileen Turingan-Ramos who wields her eagle eyes like a ninja. I love you, girl!
Thank you to the awesome Kathryn Jacoby who is an angel who landed in my midst. Wow, you are awesome. What else can I say?
And to the fabulous Paige Maroney Smith whom I am so indebted to—the best editor on planet earth. I am so honored to call you friend.
And last, but never least, thank you to Him who sits on the throne, my king, Jesus. Worthy is the Lamb! Glory and honor and power are yours. I owe you everything.
About the Author
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously, she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading.
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading. Addison’s Celestra Series has been optioned for film by 20th Century Fox.
* * *
Feel free to visit her on Instagram.
*Be sure to subscribe to Addison’s mailing list for sneak peeks and updates on all upcoming releases!
*Want to chat about the books? Hop over to Addison’s Reader Corner on Facebook!
For up to the minute pre-order and new release alerts
✦Follow Addison on Bookbub, too! http://bit.ly/2mLl95b
✦Like on Facebook http://bit.ly/2kk7sFw
* * *
*Be sure to subscribe to Addison’s mailing list for sneak peeks and updates on all upcoming releases!
Chat with Addison!
addisonmoore.com
Bitter Exes: The Social Experiment 2 Page 17