“Fine.” He huffed out an exaggerated sigh. “If you miss out, you can apply again in six months. Or you can apply somewhere else. But it’s not a no.”

“How do you know?”

He shrugged with that cocky look of his. “I have faith in you.”

Della stared down at the envelope. Maybe it was better if it was a no. She’d have to spend quite a bit of time in Denver, and the thought of going even a day without seeing Tucker wasn’t one she welcomed. She could, and she would, but she’d miss him every moment.

“You want me to open it?”

Della glanced up, surprised and relieved at the offer. At least Tucker would soften the blow if it was a no. She bit her lip. “Would you?”

It was his turn to roll his eyes. “Of course,” he said with a smile as he swooped it up.

He started tearing into the envelope, and Della squeezed her eyes shut, holding up her hands to slow him down a little. “Okay now, just wait for me to take a couple of deep breaths before you tell me, okay. I have to be mentally prepared for this, and I don’t want to—”

“Accepted.”

Della’s heart skipped a beat. “Tuck!” She opened her eyes to see the official notification in black and white in front of her face. “You were supposed to lead into that,” she chided but with absolutely no irritation as she grabbed the paper and stared at it hard, her heart tap-dancing in her chest.

“Congratulations. I knew you could do it.”

She looked up at him to find a grin as big as Disneyland on his face. “Accepted,” she whispered.

“Yeah.” He kissed her brief and hard. “Accepted.”

Della launched into his arms, hugging him tight, stupid tears stinging the backs of her eyes. She’d have never dared dream of such happiness not that many years ago. “My life just keeps getting better and better.” She pulled away. “Thank you.”

He pushed her bangs off her face. “I didn’t do anything. It was all you. It’s your turn to shine, Della.”

“Oh, really.” Della laughed. “And what are you going to do while I’m bling-blinging?”

“I’m going to love you all the way through it.”

Della’s heart grew as big as the Ferris wheel in her chest. “I like that plan,” she whispered and kissed him in a manner not quite suitable for such a kid-friendly venue.

She liked it very much.

Like FREE Books?! Download one of Entangled’s bestselling books here!

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments