Read Stacked Up: Worth the Fight Series Online
Authors: Sidney Halston
Stacked Up: Worth the Fight Series (21 page)
Travis stood at the front of the small church, looking out at all the people he cared about. Jack and Chrissy sat together laughing at something Slade was saying. Next to Slade was Jessica, holding his hand, but talking to Francesca. Next to Francesca was Tony, who was chatting with Cain, Violet’s head resting on his shoulder. In the pew in front of them, right in the first row, was his sister, whom he’d loved all his life, with her husband and his best friend, Enzo, each holding one of their children. JL turned and found Travis’s eyes. She put a hand on her heart, mouthing, “I love you,” and he did the same. As the music began he unconsciously rubbed the tattoo of the puzzle piece on the back of his neck, the one he’d gotten with her. His sister was amazing and strong, and she had been the only light in his otherwise dark existence until he’d met Penny and Belle.
He looked around and saw Iggy flirting with the producer of
Fight Night,
who was there as a guest. He saw Olivia and Will, Patsy, and even Joe. But no one mattered as much as Penny.
They had already been through a lot. They didn’t need a big wedding. In fact, they had been planning to elope, but JL had convinced Travis that Penny deserved more than a Vegas elopement. So here they were a month later in a small church in Tarpon Springs, with all the people that mattered to them most gathered to watch them exchange vows.
That morning Francesca had given them the best present possible: she’d arranged for all the adoption papers to become finalized and paid all the expenses, and had given it to them as a gift. He now had a daughter, legally and officially, and she was wobbling her way toward him in a poofy white dress, curls of blond hair flowing around her cherubic face.
“Daddy!” she said when she reached him.
He didn’t even bother to hold back the tears. He bent down and kissed her plump cheek. “I love you, baby girl.”
“Wuv you, Twavis,” she replied, and his heart soared. Then the music changed and his breath caught.
Penny wore a classy yet simple floor-length lace dress. She held a small bundle of white roses in her hands, and her brown hair was loose down her back, except for a simple crystal pin that held back a swoop of hair on one side. He was glad they were getting married in a church. Her faith was strong and made her who she was, and he loved her because of it.
“Mama!”
“Hi,” Penny whispered when she made it to the front.
“Hi,” he answered, his voice thick with emotions.
“Pwetty Mama,” Belle said.
“Beautiful momma,” Travis agreed.
Olivia came forward and tried to take Belle, as had been rehearsed.
“No,” she cried. “My Twavis.”
“Honey, come with me and Megs.”
Belle hugged Travis harder. “My Twavis,” she repeated.
“It’s okay, Olivia. I’ll hold her.”
He turned to his soon-to-be wife, who had tears in her big brown eyes. “I have a confession to make to you. I loved her first.” He kissed Belle’s cheek. “From the moment she first said Twavis, I knew it. It hit me straight in the heart. She’s my daughter, and I’ll thank God every single day that you allowed me to be her father.”
“I’ll tell you a little secret,” Penny replied. “I knew that. I saw it in your eyes and I saw it in hers, and that, my sweet cowboy, is why I fell head over heels in love with you. Because you, Travis, are the best man I’ve ever known.”
This book is dedicated to all the single mothers out there. You guys are the real warriors! You inspire me.
Writing these acknowledgments is bittersweet. This is the final book of a series that changed my life. Making a career change as an adult with three kids is something I never envisioned happening. But, I wouldn’t have changed the events that led me to this moment for anything. The characters in this book feel like dear friends, and finishing this series with Travis, who has been with the series since
Against the Cage,
just felt right. It took me forever to finish writing this book because it was so difficult to let these friends go.
This time I want to start with the readers. Thank you all for loving this little MMA Academy I’ve created for you, where the men have huge hearts and lots of abs! Thank you!
The two New Yorkers I adore: none of this could’ve been possible without Sarah E. Younger, my agent. She sweetly (and diplomatically) puts up with me and makes me feel important when I know she has a billion more important things to do than answer my crazy and redundant questions. You, Sarah, are stuck with me because I’d never want to work with anyone else (and you have the best gifs). But, seriously, you are the best, and I thank you for everything you’ve done to make this series so successful and for always looking out for my best interests. And then, of course, my editor, Junessa Viloria. Nothing makes my day brighter than receiving an email that says: “Hey, can you look through all these pictures of men and see which one you like best.” (For a cover, of course.) I mean, how can I not love you? And, to top it off, you make my jumbled and sometimes unorganized thoughts into actual stories. Thank you for your patience and support in making this series so special. I hope we’ll be working together for many more series to come!
One of the best things that has happened since I began writing is all the online friends I’ve made. I consider most of you to be my true friends, even if we haven’t met in person. I’ll start with Heather Marie and Leisha. I don’t know if you two understand how important your feedback is. You are the first to read my stories and your comments really do help make the final story possible. I can’t thank you enough and I can’t wait to meet you both! To the COPA ladies, thank you so much for all your support, funny comments, and just for being awesome women.
My family, especially my husband: It’s not easy to have a career, three kids, a house to maintain, and deadlines to meet. If it wasn’t for your help and constant support I couldn’t live my dream. There are just no words that can express how thankful I am to have you and how much I love you. And to my kiddies, who will never be able to read any of this, I love you!
And, finally, a big HUGE thank-you to all the bloggers who support my books—I wish I could list you all one by one. You guys are really invaluable to me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Y
S
IDNEY
H
ALSTON
Worth the Fight
Against the Cage
Full Contact
Below the Belt
Laid Out
Fighting Dirty
Stacked Up
PHOTO: © GABRIEL ESCUDERO
S
IDNEY
H
ALSTON
lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in south Florida with her husband and children.
Want to connect with Sidney Halston?
Swing into spring this May with Loveswept! We’ve got something for everyone, so take your pick from these fabulous romance books.
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It’s a great month for relationships, so follow us on Facebook and Twitter and let the romance begin!
Until next month ~Happy Romance!
Gina Wachtel
Associate Publisher
