BooksBarbecue
Back Common Ground Save as PDF
Chapters (107)
  1. Glossary
  2. One
  3. Josh
  4. Two
  5. Delaney
  6. Three
  7. Delaney
  8. Four
  9. Delaney
  10. Five
  11. Josh
  12. Six
  13. Delaney
  14. Seven
  15. Josh
  16. Eight
  17. Delaney
  18. Nine
  19. Josh
  20. Ten
  21. Delaney
  22. Eleven
  23. Josh
  24. Twelve
  25. Delaney
  26. Thirteen
  27. Delaney
  28. Fourteen
  29. Delaney
  30. Fifteen
  31. Josh
  32. Sixteen
  33. Josh
  34. Seventeen
  35. Delaney
  36. Eighteen
  37. Delaney
  38. Nineteen
  39. Josh
  40. Twenty
  41. Delaney
  42. Twenty-One
  43. Delaney
  44. Twenty-Two
  45. Delaney
  46. Twenty-Three
  47. Delaney
  48. Twenty-Four
  49. Josh
  50. Twenty-Five
  51. Josh
  52. Twenty-Six
  53. Delaney
  54. Twenty-Seven
  55. Delaney
  56. Twenty-Eight
  57. Josh
  58. Twenty-Nine
  59. Delaney
  60. Thirty
  61. Delaney
  62. Thirty-One
  63. Delaney
  64. Thirty-Two
  65. Delaney
  66. Thirty-Three
  67. Josh
  68. Thirty-Four
  69. Delaney
  70. Thirty-Five
  71. Josh
  72. Thirty-Six
  73. Delaney
  74. Thirty-Seven
  75. Josh
  76. Thirty-Eight
  77. Delaney
  78. Thirty-Nine
  79. Josh
  80. Forty
  81. Delaney
  82. Forty-One
  83. Delaney
  84. Forty-Two
  85. Delaney
  86. Forty-Three
  87. Josh
  88. Forty-Four
  89. Delaney
  90. Forty-Five
  91. Delaney
  92. Forty-Six
  93. Delaney
  94. Forty-Seven
  95. Delaney
  96. Forty-Eight
  97. Josh
  98. Forty-Nine
  99. Delaney
  100. Fifty
  101. Delaney
  102. Fifty-One
  103. Delaney
  104. Epilogue
  105. Delaney
  106. Also by Wendy Smith
  107. About the Author

“I’m sure I’ll stop when I actually meet him and give him shit about how he was always too busy to meet me the first time around.”

“He’ll love it.”

I sigh. “I should get some sleep, and you do the same. I’ll start the ball rolling here tomorrow, and let you know what’s going on.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

After the call is ended, I place the phone on the bedside cabinet and stare at the ceiling for a while.

Just because I’ve made up my mind doesn’t mean I’m not scared. I’m terrified.

But I was no less terrified when I bought the diner and moved here.

That worked out well.

Surely, everything will get better from here on in.

Forty-Three

Josh

“Have you got ants in your pants?” Reece laughs as I look at the clock for about the millionth time this morning.

“You know Delaney and Amelia arrive today.”

He walks around my desk and grips my shoulder. “I know. Why don’t we head over to the airport and have a drink or something before they arrive?”

“We?”

He grins. “I want to meet this woman. You’ve kept us apart for way too long.”

I shake my head. “She wants to meet you too. But I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.”

“You’re worried I’ll steal her from you.”

I laugh and stand. “That is one thing I’ll never be worried about. She loves me.”

Throwing on my jacket, I lead the way out of the office. Reece follows me as we walk to my car.

“If you want to come in my car, you’ll have to sit in the back on the way to my place.”

He shrugs. “It’s easier going in one vehicle.”

I smile. There’s no shaking him. But it does make me feel good that he wants to make the effort to meet my girls.

My girls.

I’ve been so anxious for this day to come. And once they arrive, that’s it. No more being apart. Where I go, we all go. We talked about what we would do if I did have to travel, and Delaney has agreed to her and Amelia coming with me if it’s for any length of time. Amelia will attend school in LA, but we’ll hire a tutor if we have to. And that won’t happen until she’s settled and made friends to come back to.

The only thing missing is Mom and Dad. Mom is champing at the bit to meet Amelia, but I managed to persuade her to wait a while and let Delaney settle in. I know that this whole life can be overwhelming, and my girlfriend doesn’t need the extra stress.

It’s not a long drive, but I’m relieved when I pull into the car park.