by A. K. Evans
“Oh. Um, I… wow. I wasn’t referring to the ring, but that’s amazing.”
“What were you talking about?”
She moved her hand between the two of us. “I was talking about this. Us. I never thought I’d have a romantic relationship at all. And now I’m sitting here on the couch in my man’s house wearing the ring he just slipped on my finger. I’m getting married, Cash. I can’t even tell you how happy you’ve made me.”
“I feel the same, firecracker,” I told her. “That’s why I’m making it official. There’s nobody else out there better than you.”
Silence stretched between us a moment before she said, “I can’t believe we’re engaged.”
“Believe it because it’s real.”
She looked at her ring one last time. Then she tucked her feet up underneath her ass and curled her body into mine. “Will you watch the movie with me?” she asked. “I just started it.”
“What are we watching?”
“10 Things I Hate About You,” she answered.
“Once a cynic…” I trailed off. She giggled. “Do you want any snacks before we start it again?”
“Snacks would be good,” she said. “Surprise me.”
“Okay.”
At that, I kissed her once more and got up to get some snacks and drinks. Then I joined her on the couch to watch a movie that was going to make her happy. And as I sat there beside her, I realized that life had just gotten a little bit better.
Preview of Wish
Prologue
Beck
“I can’t do this.”
“What exactly do you mean by that, Bill?”
Something was wrong.
I didn’t understand it; I just knew they were angry. They weren’t shouting, though. My mom and dad never really shouted. But they did get angry. And when they were angry, I could always tell by the way their voices sounded.
And they always used each other’s real names.
They didn’t know I was watching. Listening.
I was supposed to be in bed. I had school tomorrow, and it was past my bedtime.
“I want a divorce, Sandy,” my dad told my mom.
Divorce.
I didn’t know what that was. It didn’t sound like a good thing.
“A divorce?” my mom said. “Why?”
“This isn’t what I want,” he told her.
“What about the kids? Sadie is only two. And Beck? Beck is just six, but Bill, he adores you,” she said.
That’s when I knew a divorce was definitely a bad thing.
“He’ll be alright,” Dad said. “They both will. You wanted them; I know you’ll give them everything.”
My mom didn’t say anything for a long time. Then she said something that proved I was right about divorce being bad. “Everything except a father.”
Why wouldn’t we have a father? Where was our dad going?
“I’m not cut out for this.”
“What are we going to tell them?” she asked.
I heard him take in a breath and let it out. “You can tell them whatever you want. I’ve already packed a bag, and I’m leaving tonight.”
“Bill.”
Her voice sounded strange. She sounded scared. Sad.
“I’m sorry, Sandy.”
“How am I going to do this on my own?” she asked him. “How do I teach Beck about being a man?”
Now I understood what divorce was. Dad was leaving.
And he was going to do it right now because I heard the chair move on the kitchen floor.
“Bill, wait.” Mom was begging him. “We can work this out.”
“We can’t. I’m done.”
I scooted back on the stairs to hide behind the wall because I didn’t want them to see me. Then they were at the front door.
“Please don’t leave us. We love you.”
Say it back, I thought.
He didn’t say it back. And he wasn’t going to.
I knew that because I heard the front door open and close. Then I heard my mom crying.
I didn’t know what to do.
Anytime I was upset, she always hugged me until I felt better. I thought I should do the same for her.
So, I got up off the stairs and walked to the front door. My mom was crying so hard she didn’t even hear me. She was sitting on the floor with her knees up by her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs, and her face was resting against her knees.
I moved closer to her.
Then I sat down beside her, put my arms around her, and said, “I love you.”
My mom hugged me back and cried harder.
I used to think my dad was the coolest guy in the world. Now I didn’t think that at all.
In fact, I hated him for making my mom cry.
Get Wish here.
Also by A.K. Evans
The Everything Series
Everything I Need
Everything I Have
Everything I Want
Everything I Love
Everything I Give
Cunningham Security Series
Obsessed
Overcome
Desperate
Solitude
Burned
Unworthy
Surrender
Betrayed
Revived
Hearts & Horsepower
Control the Burn
Behind the Wheel
Far Beyond Repair
How to Rebuild
Out of Alignment
Archer Tactical
Line of Fire
Collateral Damage
Silent Target
Rock Stars & Romance
Fragile
Wish
Closer
Underneath It All
Terrible Lie
Complication
Road Trip Romance
Tip the Scales
Play the Part
One Wrong Turn
Just a Fling
Meant to Be
Take the Plunge
Miss the Shot
In the Cards
Only in Dreams
Break the Ice
About the Author
A.K. Evans is a contemporary romance author of over thirty published novels. While she enjoys writing a good romantic suspense novel, Andrea’s favorite books to write have been her extreme sports romances. That might have something to do with the fact that she, along with her husband and two sons, can’t get enough of extreme sports.
Before becoming a writer, Andrea did a brief stint in the insurance and financial services industry and managed her husband’s performance automotive business. That love of extreme sports? She used to drive race cars!
When Andrea isn’t writing, she can be found homeschooling her two sons, doing yoga, snowboarding, reading, or traveling with her family. She and her husband are currently taking road trips throughout the country to visit all 50 states with their boys.
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