Chapters (42)
- TITLE PAGE
- COPYRIGHT PAGE
- CONTENTS
- START READING
- PLAYLIST
- PROLOGUE
- PART 1
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- PART 2
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- EPILOGUE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- PREVIEW: PLAYING WITH FIRE
- PROLOGUE
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With a rush of laughter, Joe runs toward me, and I run toward him—yes, trespassing—and we crash together, our lips finding one another. The kiss gets salty, fast. With my tears. With his tears. We laugh into it, our teeth knocking together. I haven’t brushed my teeth in twenty-four hours, but I doubt he cares. Being awkward and a little gross around him seems to be the theme, and I’m embracing it.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I’m really sorry.”
“For what?” He can’t stop kissing me.
“All of it. I should’ve always chosen you. I should’ve never turned my back on you. Even when Mom died.”
“Good thing I know how you can make it up to me.” He picks me up by the backs of my thighs, laces my legs around his waist, and carries me away from the wharf.
Clipboard Guy is yelling after him that his shift has just started, but Joe and I both know that he is handing in his resignation before the day is over.
“How do I make it up to you?” I murmur into his mouth.
“Never leave again.”
EPILOGUE
EPILOGUE
One year later.
“Don’t be nervous.” I press my cheek against Joe’s back, embracing him from behind. He fumbles with the nicotine gum pack in his hand before popping two into his mouth.
“What the hell is nervous, anyway? The word sounds familiar. Alas . . .”
This is the biggest lie he’s ever told me. The only one he may have told me in our lifetime. Because in a few short minutes, we are both going to leave this hotel room, take the elevator down to the Vine, a swanky restaurant in one of New York’s most prestigious hotels, and celebrate his book release with an official dinner.
For Ever will be published tomorrow—Tuesday—and available in all major retailers. It has a new title, a gorgeous cover, and front-to-back superlatives from the biggest newspapers.
“Of course you’re not.” I turn him around, making him look me in the eye. “I’m just projecting.”
“That you are.” He kisses me softly as he collects my face in his big palms. He tastes of nicotine gum. “Shit. I hate not smoking.”
“And I hate the idea of you dying on me from cancer.” I tug at his tie playfully, biting on his lower lip. “So deal.”
It was on the second anniversary of Dom’s death that Joe decided to quit smoking to honor his brother’s fight against cancer. It’s been three months now, and Joe is still bitter about the whole thing.