Songbird (36 page)

Did he? He annoyed the ever loving shit out
of me on most days but I couldn’t deny that yes, I had been happy
on tour with him. Since I couldn’t deny it, I said nothing.

“Songbird.” His tone held a little impatience
and trembled just enough to signify fear too.

I lifted my head and pulled back just enough
that he had to move so we were face to face again. “Can we just be
friends?”

He shook his head. “I can’t be just friends.
We are more than just friends. You’re just too stubborn to admit
it.”

“Nicholas—”

“I love you. I want you to stay because
you
want to stay. But, I’m selfish.” Nicholas dropped off my
lap and back to his knees. He pulled something from his pocket and
held it up for me to see.

Two birds, one rose gold, and the other
silver swooped around a very large diamond. The two metals twisted
together to form a solid band.

“Holy shit. Is that what I think it is?”

“I told you I was selfish. Will you stay?
Will you move into the house? Will you take my name and let me love
you for the rest of this life and all that follows? I swear to you,
Songbird, if you give me this one thing, you’ll never doubt that I
love you. I have AC.”

I swallowed hard and stared at the beautiful
ring. “How long have you been carrying this around?”

He shrugged. “Since we got back. I have to
give you back the ring I took from your stuff. I called the jeweler
when we were in Denver and took him your ring to use for sizing
when we got home. When I came and saw you I intended to give it to
you then for you to think about it but you weren’t ready. I hope
after some time without me you could be ready for me.”

My breath choked and I forced it out. For
over a month he’d been carrying around an engagement ring. He’d
been carrying a promise when I had told him he’d never love me. He
still carried it after I walked away.

He carried an engagement ring. He was
serious. Nicholas Walker was serious about being in love with the
fractured being that was me. How about that.

“Songbird, I love you. Please, even if you
say no, I can wait. Well, I will pursue, but give us another
chance.”

I closed my eyes and just absorbed his words.
I love you.
There was nothing in me that doubted he meant
it. Did I love him? Could I love him?

I swiped at the fresh tears on my cheeks as
my heart clutched and swelled. “Could you repeat the question?”

He tilted his head and considered me for a
long enough time that I thought he would put the ring away. “I love
you. Will you marry me?”

“Yes.” I pushed forward and wrapped my arms
around him kissing him breathless. “I love you, Nicholas
Walker.”

One would think by the end of writing the
eighth book I would know how to write an acknowledgement by now.
Sadly this is not the case. I still sit and stare at a blnking
curser for some time before ever typing a word. The fear of
forgetting someone is real, people.

Thank you readers for traveling this road
with me. I know genre hopping isn’t common but I enjoy the new
challenges and I hope you’ve enjoyed the new work. Thank you for
being here.

Donna, I love you. I want to say that first
and then pretend I typed out a lecture of all the sighs and
cringes. However, your laughter made not quitting worth it. Thanks
for keeping me going.

Let’s not forget the fabulous Queen Empress
of the Editingverse, Anna. Because of the two of us, only she knows
how to use a comma. LOL.

My Southern Family I love you for being you
and you know who you are. Thanks for pulling my head out my ass on
occasion. I needed it.

Thanks to the family I live with for not
killing me when I didn’t hear them but the characters in my
head.

Mom, thanks for making sure I ate.

I hope I didn’t forget anyone but if I did
thank you for being who you are and I really appreciate you too.
(Even if I didn’t single you out.)

O
nce upon a time,
long, long ago, Victoria was born in sunny Florida, except it
wasn’t sunny; it was the middle of the night. Midnight actually,
well, two minutes past, but she tried really hard for midnight.

Victoria has been to twenty one schools in
her lifetime. With all the continual switching around, she’s relied
on her imagination for friends and books for close companions. In
high school she remained apart from the whole and spent most of her
time in the library either reading or writing.

Currently, Victoria has set down roots in
New York with her family. She still reads and writes every day. She
finished her debut novel
Of Gaea
in the
spring of 2013, its sequel
Of Sparta
in
the Winter of 2014 and has many other projects planned. Look
forward to seeing more.

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