when she straightens up, tears are free falling down her face. She chews on her bottom lip, her jaw working side to side in her best effort to stave off sobs. She hauls in her next jagged breath. “I don’t care if I lose business. What I care about more than anything in this world is you.” She pokes my chest. “I love you. You stole my whole heart when I never meant to let it go. And I don’t want it back.”
My eyes fill with moisture, and the boulder on my chest moves up, morphing into a giant lump in my throat. I croak, “You stole my heart too.”
Her face crumbles and sobs overtake her. I tug her into my arms, plastering her trembling frame to my bare chest. She feels so perfect. “Rocky.” Her face tips upward. “I don’t want my heart back.”
She smiles tremulously. “Good. Because I’m keeping it forever.”
Epilogue
Roxanne
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
“So, how did you get suckered into keeping me busy while Adam sets up for my surprise party?” I ask Lisa.
She focuses on the road in front of us without even blinking. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I wanted to hang out with my friend.”
Oh she’s good, I’ll give her that. But I’m better. It didn’t take much effort on my part to figure out that Adam was throwing me a party. He was acting all squirrelly around me, completely unlike himself.
“Give it up, Lisa. I won’t tell anyone.” Her hands flex on the steering wheel, the only indication she’s rattled. “You’ve got an active imagination.”
“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll drop it and just know I’m right. That’s enough for me.” I smile.
“Is there anywhere else you’d like to go?” Lisa questions.
“Nah. I wouldn’t want to throw the party timeline off.”
Lisa giggles. “Let it go, Rox. Maybe you need to accept that there’s no party. Don’t worry, I’m sure Adam’s planning a private party for the two of you.”
“Who said I’m worried. I’m hoping he’s not having a party. You know how much I hate surprises.”
Lisa’s eyebrows climb up her forehead. “You don’t like surprises?”
“Nope. I hate them,” I lie. I’m trying to provoke a reaction and it seems to be working.
Lisa rubs her lips together. Is she trying to decide if she should confess there really is a party?
“Adam should know better. I hope he doesn’t think he can just flash his dimple at me and all will be forgiven,” I continue, trying not to laugh.
“Rox.” Lisa sighs. “You didn’t hear this from me, okay?” She briefly flicks her eyes to me and I nod. “You’re going to walk into a party when you get home.”
I giggle. “I already knew that, but thanks for confirming it for me.”
“You suck. Ugh. I played right into your plan, didn’t I?”
“Yep. One of these days you’ll learn.”
“We can hope anyway,” Lisa mumbles.
“If it’s any consolation you look sexy as fuck driving this car.”
Lisa grins. “Thank you and thanks for this awesome car. I never expected you to follow through on gifting your BMW to me.”
“Hey, I said I would. We may not have shook on it, but I blurted it out with the utmost confidence. What the hell was I thinking? I didn’t stand a chance against Adam’s charming persistence.”
“Yeah, he was determined to win you over. And he continues to do sweet stuff for you. How lucky are you?” she asks.
“Believe me, I know how fortunate I am.” The nine months we’ve been together have been the happiest of my life. I can’t imagine a day spent without him.
She navigates the car into Adam’s driveway. Did he think I wouldn’t notice my own mother’s car parked on the side of the street? Or Rex’s truck?
“Do you want to leave your bags in the trunk for now?” Lisa asks.
“Yeah, good idea. I don’t need them to see how much stuff I bought.” I snigger.
We trek up the driveway to the side door. Lisa turns to me. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah. Might as well get the awkwardness over with.” I twist the knob and open the door.
“Surprise,” A crowd of family and friends shouts. I jump from surprise, even though I expected it. It’s like winding a jack-in-the-box. Even though you know he’s going to fly out of the top you’re still never really prepared for it.
Adam has me in his arms immediately and I whisper in his ear, “I’m going to make you pay for this.”
He draws back with a grin. “Whatever you do, it’ll still be worth