"Brett?" I call out as I walk down the stairs, the house eerily quiet, "Brett, where are you?" I repeat, voice slightly shaky as I grip onto the handrail. Where the hell has he gone? He was here half hour ago, assuring me that I look beautiful for our afternoon date.
Taking the final step I swallow the lump in my throat, my heart beating against my chest from panic. Ever since George I have been unable to cope on my own, my mind going into overdrive at the silence, the creak of a door, the wind against the windows. I wonder whether it will ever go away.
Slowly I take a step towards the kitchen, my hand over my bump as I decide to head for the knife block.
"Surprise!" Sudden screams cause me to squeal as a crowd of familiar faces jump up from behind the counter, grinning as confetti falls around me.
"What?" I exclaim as Brett emerges from the middle, walking over and looping his arm around me.
"A little baby shower for you." He smiles and I can't help but grin as I look back towards my friends to see Alex and Ellis hanging up a banner, Elle and Zara placing pink and blue cupcakes onto the table, Becky continuing to throw confetti.
"For me?" I echo.
"Yes!" Alice exclaims, walking over and pulling me into a hug, "Do you know anyone else who's pregnant?"
"Lots of people are pregnant." I retort.
"Well, we only care about one of them right now." Olivia grins, wrapping her arms around me as I smile into her hair. This is amazing.
"Thank you." I exclaim before letting my eyes wander to the counter, "I need a cake."
"Of course you do." Becky smirks, handing me a pink one. "Pink, because I know it's a girl."
"It's a boy Becky!" Ellis argues, rolling his eyes at her.
"Girl."
"Boy."
"Girl!"
"Are you two serious?" I scoff before taking a bite of the delicious cake.
"We have a bet."
"On what gender the baby is?" Elena asks, eyebrows raised.
"Yep." Becky nods, "Loser doesn't get oral for a whole month."
"Jesus Christ!" Zara exclaims from beside us, "Do you two ever think outside the bedroom?"
"No." Ellis shrugs before wrapping an arm around Becky's waist, "This girl has too much talent."
"Ah, thanks!" Becky grins before the couple begin a very public make out session.
"Can't you two get a room?" Missy laughs and Becky flips her the finger, lips not even moving from Ellis'.
"They're a lovely couple." Zara replies dryly as Elena and I laugh.
"Aunt Annie!" The small voice comes from behind me and I quickly whirl around to see my nephew heading towards me.
"Danny!" I exclaim, opening my arms and crouching down. Picking him up and placing him on my hip I turn us to the counter and point at the cakes. "Have you had one of these yet?"
"No. Mommy said I had to wait until you were here." He pouts and I laugh softly.
"I'm here now." I point out, "I bet you want blue."
"Yeah!" He exclaims, "Pink is girly!" He wrinkles his nose up in disgust as I hand him a cake. "If you eat the blue ones does it mean the baby will be a boy?"
"Afraid not kid!" I reply, "There's no way to change it now."
"Fingers crossed it's a boy then!" Danny replies enthusiastically.
"Fingers crossed." I chuckle, "A girl wouldn't be so bad, you know..."
"Nope!" He shakes his head furiously, "Don't be silly Aunt Annie! Boys are best!"
"Sav?" Brett calls out behind me and I turn to face him, eyes widening at the tall football player beside him.
"Danny, will you go find Mommy?" I ask as I put him down, "Tell her you can have as many cakes as you want now that I'm here!"
"Really?" He squeals, clapping his hands before disappearing into the crowd.
"Hi!" I exclaim, straightening up and smiling at the blonde guy and the small brunette beside him.
"This is Ryan, I used to play football with him." Brett introduces, "And his new wife Lizzie."
"It's lovely to meet you." I smile at the couple.
"You too!" Ryan grins, "Sorry it wasn't sooner, our honeymoon was a month long and then we couldn't get back because of poor weather." He rolls his eyes and I feel a wave of relief flood through me. I knew how close Brett and Ryan were, and yet up until now I had no idea whether he'd even told him about me. I shoot Brett a warm smile and he seems surprised at my expression, raising his eyebrows. He doesn't know that my mind has been overthinking where I stand with his friends for the past month. "Imagine my shock when I came back and found out Brett had moved in with a girl." Ryan continues, "And not only that, but the girl who's name he tattooed on himself." He laughs and I immediately suck in a breath. I'm sorry, what?
"Wait, what?"
"Ryan!" Brett exclaims, reaching out and shoving his shoulder as I continue to look between them, shocked to my core. My name isn't on his body, I would have seen it.
"Has Brett not told you?" Lizzie giggles and I shake my head. Oh no, my baby Daddy decided to keep this information to himself.
"Where?" I ask and Brett grimaces.
"My rib cage." He admits and I suck in a breath as I think of the foreign symbols, never having thought to ask what they mean, too wrapped up with other ideas when I look at him. Plus, the guy has so many tattoos now, it's hard to keep up.
"That's what that says?" My eyes nearly bulge out of my head as I grab onto his arm.
"The night after our first game we got ridiculously drunk and decided to get tattoos." Ryan explains, "I got my jersey number. He got some girl's name." He wrinkles his nose up at the memory, "I told him he'd regret it, but here we are." Ryan grins, "Congratulations!" He says and I can't help but smile in return. I already like him.
"Thank you." I reply.
"We'll have to meet up for dinner next week sometime?" Lizzie pipes up, "Really get to know each other!"
"That sounds good to me." I smile, glancing over at the still humiliated looking Brett. I don't know why he's embarrassed, that revelation is sure to score him some points in the bedroom tonight.
"Sav?"
"Oh!" I exclaim, turning to look behind as someone calls my name, "Excuse me!" I say to Ryan and Lizzie.
"Of course!" Lizzie smiles and I quickly turn away to see a grinning brunette.
"Alice?"
"You'll never guess what I just found out!" She exclaims, leading us away from people.
"What?"
"After that whole bitchy Lacey drama two weeks ago I told Mom."
"Alice!" I hiss, narrowing my eyes at her. Olivia has enough to deal with.
"Hear me out!" She retorts, "Mom jumped on the phone to Lacey's Mom straight away to tell her what her daughter had been up to."
"Is it really that big of a deal to them?"
"They're a very conservative family," Alice advises, a smirk on her face, "They told her she could either hop on a plane to Michigan and work on their grandparent's farm, or she'd be cut off."
"What?" I exclaim, my eyes wide. Hell, these rich families mean business...
"Yep." Alice grins, "She flew out this morning and will be joining Ashley for the next year."
"Ashley?"
"Oh yeah, she's been there since May." Alice reveals, "The family found out she'd been having an affair with a married man."
"Oh my god!" I giggle, "Alice, you've made my day!"
"I thought it would." She grins.
"Anna!" My sister's slightly irate voice comes from behind, "Did you tell my son he could eat as many cakes as possible?"
"I told him he could have as many as he wanted." I admit, turning to face her as she narrows her eyes at me.
"He's had four."
"That doesn't sound like enough."
"Really?" Elle scoffs, "You'll change your attitude after your baby pops out."
"Maybe." I nod slightly, "Maybe not."
"No way did you get my prom date pregnant!" A sudden deep booming voice from behind has me grinning before I even turn around as Brett curses, walking straight past me.
"Ben?" I exclaim as I turn to see Brett and him hugging. He looks exactly as he did back in January and just as handsome.
"That's against the rules man!" Ben laughs, "I had dibs on her!"
"Shut up! I can't believe you're here!" I smile as he walks over and gives me a hug.
"Believe it baby, I've been posted here for six months."
"Watch it." Brett growls at his words, his arm reaching to rest on my shoulder.
"He's a lot more protective than he was in high school." Ben smirks.
"That's for sure." Ellis agrees as he joins us.
"You can't say much." Brett scoffs, glaring.
"Hey Ben." Becky grins, appearing from behind Ellis, "You look good."
"Watch your mouth angel." Ellis snaps slightly, his arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her flush against him.
"Wow." Ben smirks at his two friends, "You're both whipped."
"Any ladies in your life Ben?" I ask and he shakes his head.
"Sadly not. Too much work to make time for a lady."
"Hey Elena!" Becky immediately yells out as our friend walks past, "This is Ben." She gestures as Elena stops, wide eyed.
I giggle at the blushing Elena as someone taps on my shoulder, "Sav?" Missy says as I turn to face her, "It's time to play a game!"
"A game?" I repeat. Does no-one ever remember that party games and I do not mix well together?
"Yeah! Sit here!" She orders, dragging me to one of the chairs in the middle of the kitchen, "Brett?"
"Yeah?" He replies, looking just as surprised.
"Sit here please." She points and he immediately slouches down behind me.
"Okay..." Missy says, handing each of us two paddles, "You have to decide, out of the two of you, who is more likely to be or do whatever we say." She explains, "Pink is Savannah, blue is Brett."
"This could cause arguments." I exclaim as people laugh.
"Agreed." Brett retorts from behind me.
"Okay, who will be the strictest parent?" Zara asks and I immediately throw up the blue paddle, knowing that if a kid wants food, I'll be a sucker and give it to them. Apparently Brett also agrees, a loud cheer echoing through the crowd.
"Who will forget to pick the kids up from school?" Elena asks and I hesitate for a moment before throwing the blue one up. No-one can discredit how organized I am. Brett, it would appear, disagrees, judging from the 'boos' that sound out around the room.
"Who will ignore the crying baby if you're busy in the bedroom?" Really? Throwing the blue paddle up meets a round of laughter as I shake my head, giggling.
"Without a doubt." I exclaim.
"Hey!" Brett objects from behind me, "A man has needs."
The game continues, all of us laughing and joking as the afternoon rolls on, game after game, cake after cake. It's exactly what I needed, everyone who cares about me in the same room, all drama and trouble forgotten, nothing mattering except for the future.
"Hey girls!" I say as I walk up to Becky, Elena and Zara in the corner of the room as they munch on some chips.
"Are you having fun?" Zara asks.
"So much fun." I nod, "I'm so lucky to have such an amazing group of friends." I grin, grabbing hold of them and pulling them in for a group hug. I'm so blessed to have these four girls in my life - what an incredible girl band we would make!
*~*~*
"Hey!" I exclaim as I walk out the back door towards the pool, hands holding my dress up as I smile at Brett.
"Hey baby." He grins, turning to face me.
"Your Mom said you needed to speak to me?"
"I do." He nods and I stop beside him, anxiously trying to figure out his emotions. Is he okay? Is he thinking about his Father again?
"Is everything okay?" I ask, worriedly and he smiles.
"Everything is perfect."
"Oh?"
"Do you know how cute you looked in that blue diner uniform?" He asks and I widen my eyes. What? "The first day I saw you I was so taken by you." He smiles at the memory, "Absolutely breathtaking." He grins, "Little did I know I'd never be able to get rid of you!"
"Hey!" I exclaim, reaching out and shoving his shoulder.
"But alongside that came the laughs and the smiles. The feeling of absolute joy when you're in my arms." Brett smiles, his hands reaching out and grabbing hold of mine, "For a long time I didn't understand what it meant." He says, "We pushed each other away too many times to count," He smirks, "But we always found our way back to each other." He grins, reaching up and placing a strand of hair behind my ear, "I never knew why, not really." "Not until I woke up four weeks ago on my own because you were in the hospital." He admits, "It was then that I realized that you are more than just a person, more than just laughs, more than just a gorgeous face." He continues and I watch his expression, curiously, "You're my home." He declares and I feel my face break out into a smile at his words.
He's my home too.
"Brett..."
"I love you, more than I ever thought was possible." He continues, cutting me off, "I need you in my life, I need to hold you and protect you, to make you smile forevermore." He smiles, stepping back and letting go of me as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a light blue box, my eyes widening in disbelief.
I know that box. I know that fucking box! Fucking Tiffany!
"Oh my god!" I exclaim as Brett grins, lowering himself onto one knee as my mouth drops open.
"Savannah Grace Hurst, will you marry me?"
"Yes!" I squeal, "Yes!" I grab onto him as he stands back up, my lips immediately seeking his as he lifts me up and whirls me around, both of us full of smiles as we stand back. He grabs hold of my hand and slides the ring onto my finger, my eyes wide as I stare at the ridiculous yet gorgeous diamond.
"I can't believe this!" I breathe out, looking back up at him, never having felt more happy than I do now.
"How many months has it taken?" Brett asks, his hand wrapping around my waist and pulling me against him, "According to your diary?"
"Well, there were twenty four in the diary." I reply, "But since I wrote in there there have been eight more." I muse, "So thirty two."
"Thirty two months to get here."
"Only because you kept messing up!" I retort with a teasing grin on my face.
"Okay, okay!" He laughs, "I know." He admits before placing a peck on my lips, "But I'm never letting you go again."
"Never?"
"Never." Brett shakes his head in defiance, hands tightening on my waist, "No matter how many times we've been tested, how long we've waited, I'm finally back in your arms, and I'm never letting go of you ever again."
"It's been a real test of time." I giggle.
"It has." He agrees, reaching down and gently caressing my face as I stare into the ocean blue eyes that have owned me from the moment he stepped into the diner the very first day we spoke.
"I love you." I declare with as much conviction as possible.
"I love you." He replies and I grin, wrapping my arms around his neck and connecting my lips with his, the future Mr and Mrs Brett Winters making out in the grounds of their family home as they plan their future. Together.
T H E E N D .
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I can't believe it's over!! I'm so sad!
A few little fun facts about this book for anyone who's interested...
1. Becky was originally supposed to be a bitch. I'm talking worse than Ashley, worse than George. This stemmed from the fact that my own childhood bully was actually called Becky Gordon! However... I fell in love with the character and couldn't do that to myself or my readers. Becky redeemed all Becky's for me ❤️
2. People ask me what inspired me to write this book. Truth is the only plan I had when I first started writing was for a popular jock to cheat on the main character with her best friend. But when I got to the end of Part One I just couldn't leave it like that.... imagine how much you all would have killed me?!
3. As soon as I introduced Ellis as a character I knew he would end up with Becky one way or another! Despite all of you rooting for Chris for so long!! Becky's book Perseverance is now out on my profile!! 💙
4. I was stuck on Part Three for ages, unsure of how I could get Sav and Brett back together without it being repetitive! It took a good two months before I figured out the little pregnancy storyline!
5. George was originally going to kidnap Savannah, but I knew I not only wanted to destroy the godforsaken car, but I also wanted Sav to be able to save herself (not be the damsel in distress!) so I just couldn't figure out how to do it. It took me over a month of writer's block to figure out how to reveal George and Olivia's role in her parent's murder! I hope I didn't disappoint 🥰
Thank you all so much for following me on this journey, I couldn't have done it without all of your support!
So many of you have been here since the beginning and I cannot put into words how grateful I am!
I love each and every one of you 💙
Stay tuned for my new books and don't forget to add them to your library!!
You know where to find me and my adventurous ramblings that somehow turn into stories: