Can't Let You Go: A Wheeler Brothers Novel (38 page)

"When does the job start?" Jake asks me.

"A week from Monday."

"Are you excited?" Ivy asks.

"I'm a little nervous, but yeah, I'm excited." I move closer to Bryce as he puts his arm around me.

"She's gonna do great." He kisses my head and I look up at him and smile and wonder why I ever even considered leaving. This is where I belong. Here, with Bryce, and his family and all our friends.

I ended up getting a job at the other company I interviewed for that paper I wrote. It's a company on the west side of Chicago that makes potato chips and other snack foods. I called them up the same week I was considering taking the job in Denver to see if they read my paper. They said they didn't remember ever getting it, so I sent them a copy, then followed up with them a few days later. They liked the analysis I did of their current accounting system, and while we were on the phone, I offered up some ideas on how to make their current system more efficient. They were impressed at how much thought I'd put into it and agreed to let me come in for an informational interview.

The interview went well and I really liked the environment. It's a family-owned company so didn't have that cold, corporate feel of the company in Denver. Everyone there was really friendly and they weren't racing around and talking really fast like the people at the Denver company. It was a much calmer environment and made me feel at ease.

The only problem is they didn't have any openings in the accounting department. But they offered to let me intern there for the summer, and if all goes well, they'll hire me for a permanent position in the fall. The company has been steadily growing the past few years so they were already planning to add additional staff later this year, which I never would've known if I hadn't contacted them.

It took guts to put myself out there like that and call them up, knowing they didn't have any job openings, but I took the initiative and it paid off. Just like giving Bryce a second chance paid off. He hasn't even attempted to distance himself from me like he did last time. He's committed to this, just like he told me. In fact, he's even mentioned marrying me someday. It was just in passing, while we were walking by a jewelry store at the mall. He asked if I liked any of the engagement rings. I pointed one out and he saw the price and said, "Shit. I better get some more bonuses." I laughed, but I think he was serious. I think we might have a real future together. I shouldn't be surprised by that. Deep down, Bryce and I always knew we belonged together. It just took us a while to get here.

"Sounds like a good job," Nash says as we eat our cake. Callie made the cake. It's her new thing. Making cakes and decorating them. She says it helps her de-stress from her classes.

"It's exactly what I wanted," I say. "I like what I'll be doing. I like the people I'll be working with. The offices are nice."

"You really lucked out," Callie says.

Austin chuckles. "Too bad you're stuck living with Bryce."

Bryce smiles and throws his napkin at him. "Shut up, idiot."

"It's just for the summer." I lean over and kiss Bryce's cheek.

"And the fall." He kisses me back, on the lips. "And the winter. Spring."

I laugh. "Yeah. I get the point."

My lease runs out at the end of the month so I'm moving in with Bryce for the summer. He wants the move to be permanent, but I keep saying I'll get my own place in the fall. But I probably won't. I'll like living with Bryce too much to leave. And besides, even if I had my own place, I'd be over at his all the time anyway.

As we're finishing the cake and everyone's talking, I check my phone. I thought my mom might call or text me to congratulate me on graduating, but she didn't. I haven't heard from her since that day at Bryce's apartment. After that happened, I sent her a note saying I was sorry I yelled at her but that I couldn't have a relationship with her if she was going to keep trying to destroy Bryce or break us apart. I never heard back.

I sent her a graduation announcement and a ticket to the ceremony, but she didn't show up. So I guess that means we're done. She wants nothing to do with me, and maybe that's for the best. She never wanted me. And now, she can go on with her life without me. I've come to accept that and be okay with it. I don't need her in my life. I have another family. The Wheeler family. And they're all I need.

Bryce

"You ready for your graduation gift?" I ask Jen.

"You already gave me a gift." She holds out the necklace I gave her; a silver chain with the letter J hanging from it. She always wanted a necklace with her initial but I could never afford to buy her one, at least not a nice one like I wanted her to have. But now I have money so I got her one in sterling silver that has little diamonds along the J. She loves it and said she'll wear it every day.

"Let's go outside," I say to Jen, getting up from the table.

"Where are you guys going?" Jake asks. "The party just started."

"I have to give her her gift," I say, "and I don't want a damn audience."

"Let me guess," Austin says. "Another tattoo? Nothing says love like a tattoo." He laughs.

Nash shakes his head. "Do not tell me you got another tattoo. You can come up with a better gift than that."

I roll my eyes. "This is why I don't want an audience. We'll be right back." I lead Jen out to the back patio.

"So is that what it is?" Jen asks. "Did you get another tattoo?"

"No. But I thought about it. I thought of getting one with our initials but...well, I wasn't sure I wanted that on my body."

She looks hurt. "Why not?"

"Think about it."

She laughs. "BJ. Yeah, it's probably good you didn't get that."

"I think you'll like this gift better." I settle my arms around her waist.

"What is it?" She looks up at me with that big smile she's had on her face ever since she turned down that job.

Jen is so happy now, and I love seeing her like this. I know some of her happiness is because of me, and because we're together, but I know it's also because she got a job and is no longer talking to her mom. Things are going really well for her, and for us.

"I'm taking you to see the ocean," I tell her.

"Wait—what?" Her eyes get wide. "Are you serious?"

"Already got the tickets. We leave tomorrow. We're going to Florida for five days. Our first real vacation. We're gonna hang out on the beach, then go to the Orlando parks and ride every ride they got, even the kid rides."

She stares at me, like she can't believe what I just said. Then it hits her and her eyes widen. "Oh my God! We're going to Florida? We're really going?"

"I told you it'd be my graduation gift. I was just hoping you'd forget so it'd be a surprise."

"I didn't think you'd really do it."

"Well, I did. I keep my word." I lean down to her ear. "And I get to see you in a bikini, so that's an added bonus for me."

"I can't believe this! Thank you!" She brings my face to hers and kisses me. "I love you, Bryce. I've loved you since the day I met you and you gave me that dandelion."

I laugh. "I was such an idiot. I didn't know it was a weed."

"I didn't care. I thought it was so sweet of you to give it to me." She wraps her hands behind my neck and looks up at me. "A part of me fell in love with you that day."

"
All
of me fell in love with you that day. I just didn't know it was love."

"Then how do you know it was?"

"Why else would I hang out with some girl? You didn't even play football. And you didn't have any race cars. Love is the only explanation that makes sense." I smile, but then get serious again and fix my eyes on hers. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to tell you."

"Better late than never." She smiles, and I kiss those beautiful lips of hers.

I'm so damn thankful she forgave me for all those years I pushed her away. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life and I'm sure I'll make many more. But not when it comes to this. Jen and me. Letting her go four years ago was the biggest mistake of my life and I'll never make it again.

"You guys ever coming back in?" Austin yells from the kitchen. "Or are you just gonna stay out there and make out all freaking day?"

I sigh and say to Jen, "You know that being with me means you're stuck with my family, right? It's kind of a package deal."

She laughs. "I love your family. Let's go inside."

We meet everyone back in the living room. There's a pile of gifts on the coffee table and everyone's sitting there waiting for Jen to open them. I was just kidding when I said she was stuck with my family. I know she loves them. And they love her. She's always been part of our family.

And someday, she'll officially be part of it. Because someday...I'm going to marry that girl.

From the Author

Want to read more about the Wheeler boys? Austin's story is next. And if you liked Bryce and Jen's story, please tell a friend and leave a review.

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Books by Allie Everhart

The Jade Series

(New Adult Romance/Suspense)

Choosing You

Knowing You

Loving You
 

Promising You

Forever You

Finding Us

Becoming Us

Always Us

Garret: A Jade Series Companion Novel

The Kensingtons

(Romantic Suspense)

Needing Her

Keeping Her

Protecting Her

Only Her

Contemporary Romance

Next to Me

Give Us a Chance

Can't Let You Go