Sparks - Wendy Higgins Page 0,112

“Yes. There might be other times.”

“Good. And if some of your things started to make their way over during those other times…” He spread out his hands and shrugged. My breathing sputtered and I calmed myself.

“Silas.”

“Yes, babe?”

“Are you…? Never mind.” I looked down and took his hand.

“Yes, I’m asking you to move in with me,” he clarified, making my heart jump. “At your pace. I’m ready when you are.”

I pressed my lips together as the urge to smile like a fool came over me.

“I’d like that.”

He smiled, and I smiled back. Silas stroked my cheek. “I love you, Harlow.” It never got old hearing him say that. The first time I told him had been on a napkin. He now had that one in his wallet along with the first one.

“I love you, too. I’ll miss you this weekend.”

He pecked my lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll slam-click and send naked pics as soon as I can.”

I laughed and went up on my toes for another kiss. “You better.”

Silas left for work and I stood in my classroom, looking around at the safe space I’d created. I snapped a picture from the corner to send my parents. They weren’t thrilled that I was still living in New Jersey, but they were overjoyed I’d gone back to teaching. And I didn’t want to get their hopes up, but Silas was gaining seniority and would soon be able to apply for one of the smaller hubs. We had our eye on Washington, DC so we could live in Virginia and I’d only be three hours away from my parents. It’s funny that we’d talked about moving away together before we’d even talked about me moving into his condo.

I looked down at the key and smiled. I had the perfect keyring for it, a pink macaron that I’d bought on a rainy day in Paris.

My phone whistled and I pulled it out of my pocket. Rhea had started a group text with the roommates.

Hey my bishes, she wrote. Just found a sweet group deal for this adult-only all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. It’s the day after Christmas, though. Four nights. Anyone in?

Ooh, I’d be off work at that time. And it meant I’d get to spend Christmas with my family and then leave the next day. I was certain Silas would be on board, but if not, he wouldn’t deny me a girls’ trip. He was pretty amazing like that.

I’m in, I wrote back. And I’ll see if Silas will let me drag him along.

Yes! Rhea said. Bring his sexy ass!

Me and Big Ray are in, Willamena said. I let out a quiet whoop!

One by one, Syd, Macy, Beth, Holly, and Cheryl all agreed.

Let the shenanigan-planning begin! Rhea said.

I slid the phone back into my pocket, my heart overflowing. I had no doubt there would be bad times in my life again—hard moments teaching, and differences to work through with Silas. It was all about seasons. And because of the lows I’d experienced, I was more able than ever to appreciate this moment. This highlight in my life. I peered around the room, then down at the key in my palm. I soaked it in, savoring the contentment, and filing it away in my heart to remind myself in future hard times that they would pass and sunshine would reign again.

I let the warmth overcome me.

The end.

If you’ve followed my journey on Facebook, you know this is the first book I’ve been able to write in nearly two years. This story was born from a dark time in my life and was written during the quarantine. I needed to laugh. I needed to give Harlow her happily-ever-after. I needed to know I could still do it. I grew as Harlow grew and I healed as she healed. I can’t thank you enough for picking up a copy.

Thank you to all of my readers, family, and friends who have supported me with loving words all along, patiently and gently pushing me. Autumn. Cayden. Mom. Dad. Ilka. Lucy. Frank. My new and wonderful friend Jenny Hofmeister. My Wendy Higgins’ Sweeties Facebook Group. My bishes Amalie, Vonetta, and Damaris.

I’m deeply indebted to my beta readers for their feedback and keen eyes: the amazing Jolene Buchheit, Amalie Howard, Katie McGarry, Jen Fisher, Amber Shepherd, and Heather Hildenbrand. Big thanks to my copy editors Jennifer Murgia and Laura Wehr. My fun cover designer Murphy Rae Hopkins, and my formatter Stacey Blake. And my ever lovely personal assistant Malissa Coy.

1 Peter 4:10

YOUNG ADULT TITLES

Sweet Series from HarperTeen:

(upper YA Paranormal Romance)

Sweet Evil

Sweet Peril

Sweet Reckoning

Sweet Temptation

Eurona Duology from HarperTeen:

(upper YA Fantasy)

The Great Hunt

The Great Pursuit

Indie Published Standalone:

(upper YA Irish Urban Fantasy)

See Me

Standalone from HarperTeen

(YA Contemporary Romance)

Kiss Collector

ADULT TITLES

Indie Published Trilogy:

(Adult Urban Fantasy/Science Fiction Romance)

Unknown

Unrest

Undone

(Greco-Roman Mythology Romance Standalone)

Soul in Darkness

Wendy Higgins is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series from HarperTeen. After earning a bachelor’s in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until becoming a full-time writer. She now lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her children and wee doggies. Visit her at wendyhiggins.co.