I barely knew anyone on the guest list, but the invitation had also been extended to my friends at Wasted Words. They’d all shown up. Tyler and Cam stood near Rose and her boyfriend, Patrick. And Ruby, Harrison, Beau, Jett, and a few others were clustered near the windows overlooking Central Park.
It was overwhelming and humbling to have so many people had there to celebrate me, offering their congratulations and well wishes. Even Fanny had offered words of kindness, though nothing about her tone could have been considered warmhearted or affectionate.
My eyes wandered to Elle where she stood across from Ward, just outside of the crowd. The air between them was charged, but their faces betrayed little—until he said something that sent a flash of emotion through her, gone as soon as it had appeared.
She spoke again and walked away, leaving him watching after her.
I moved in her direction, reaching for her hand the moment I was able to. “Are you all right?”
She offered a smile that would have fooled anyone but me. “I’m fine.”
Fine—the greatest lie ever told.
Before I could press her for more, Susan appeared at my elbow.
“Oh, Annie.” She beamed, pulling me in for a hug. “I am just so proud of you. I hate that word, the implication that I did anything to earn the right to feel pride for your achievement, but it’s the best I can do. I’m so happy for you, I could just fly away.”
I leaned into her, breathed her in, letting the peace I’d found in my life settle into my heart. “Thank you, Susan.”
She squeezed once and let me go, her eyes teeming with tears. “You’re so very welcome. Are you girls having fun?”
“It’s been incredible,” I said with a smile I felt in my bones. “The food, the company—all of it. I can’t thank you enough for putting this together for me.”
“Well, we had to celebrate. Everyone wanted to come and wish you well.” She leaned in, glancing around. “Even your grandparents.”
A little shock shot down my back, and Elle and I exchanged a look.
“They didn’t,” I said.
“They did, but John refused. This isn’t the time or place. I don’t know when there ever will be a time or place.”
Elle’s face held worry. “I think we’re going to have to deal with them at some point.”
The three of us glanced at Mama, who was laughing at something Meg had said.
“But how?” I asked, knowing there was no answer.
Movement caught my eye, and I looked toward the bar to find my uncle leaning in to speak to Greg. With a nod, Greg picked up a flute of champagne and turned to meet my eyes, smiling.
That smile lit me up like a campfire, warm and crackling and comforting.
Uncle John picked up a champagne flute of his own and pinged the glass to get everyone’s attention.
When Greg reached me, he pressed a kiss to my flaming cheek, placing the champagne in my hand just as John began to speak.
“There are few things in this world so uplifting as art. Music, in particular, has been a joy of mine, even back to the days when my sister, Emily, and I made our loved ones suffer concerts wherein we butchered such greats as Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.”
A chuckle rolled through the room.
“But Annie possesses a talent for music that her mother and I never did. And after hearing her play, as we did earlier tonight, I think we can all understand why Juilliard would have been mad not to want her.”
A few people called, Hear, hear!
“And so, tonight, we celebrate Annie. Tonight, we wish her luck, though her talent stands on its own. We drink to her success, knowing it is at her fingertips. We raise our glasses and congratulate her with all of our encouragement behind her.” He raised his glass and met my eyes. “Here’s to you, Annie, and to the joy your music brings to the world. May it bring you the happiness that you bring to each and every one of us.”
The sting of my nose and the tears in my eyes accompanied my smile as we all raised our glasses, and the room turned to me with cheers on their lips to precede the champagne.
Greg stayed by my side as a line of people made their way over to shake my hand and speak with me. And when the crowd ebbed, he took my hand and stole me away, pulling me into the music room.
The lights had been dimmed, the noise of the party far away. The moment we were in the room, he pulled me into him for a kiss.
His lips transcribed the words of his heart, telling me how much he loved me and how proud he was of my success, of my future. And I told him without speaking, through my own lips and the tips of my fingers on his face, that I wanted nothing more in the world than him.
When he broke away, I was breathless and smiling, caught happily in his arms.
He smiled back. “How do you feel?”
I didn’t even have to consider my answer. “Like I could do anything. Like all possibilities are mine for the taking. Like my whole future is laid out in front of me, and I’m about to step into it.”
“You can, and you will.”
“And I’ll step into it with you.”
He looked into my eyes, his smile shifting, coloring his face with adoration and reverence. “I’ll be here as long as you’ll have me, as long as you love me.”
“Forever, then?” I asked quietly.
He pulled me closer. “If I’m lucky.”
“Oh,” I said with a smile, “luck has nothing to do with it.”
And the dizzying depth of his kiss served to secure his everlasting place at the very top of my list.
Click here for The Sound of Silence, Elle’s book and the next installment of the Austen Series
Acknowledgments
As always, I have so many people to thank.
Jeff — Once again, you have shown up to save the day in every small way and every big one. You silently take care of everything in our lives to ease the burden on me so I can do this thing I love so much. And it’s just one of the many reasons I love you.
Kandi Steiner — Every day, you save me. Every day, you inspire me. Every day, you love me, and that love makes me stronger. Thank you for always being there. #MTT
Ace Gray — This book wouldn’t be what it is without you. Your constant good cheer and positivity motivated me every single day, and your willingness and gladness in shouldering my incessant obsessing over the details of each scene deserves a medal. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and how much you mean to me because there aren’t words, so I’ll just say thank you. Know it’s from the very bottom of my heart.
Lori Riggs — My life twin, I am so happy to have you back. Thank you for your brain, your love, your advice, your time. Your photographic memory of the Austen works will never cease to amaze me. I love you.
Kyla Linde — Every single morning, I look forward to you. I am so honored to have a friend as giving and driven as you are, and I am so grateful to have found you. Our friendship means so much to me, and every time we speak, I find new purpose and hope. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Tina Lynne — Your support has changed my life and my career for the better. Thank you for everything you do for me. Thank you for the hours spent at Onze plotting and obsessing and beating my story until it submitted. Thank you for your joy, your love, your giving nature, your smile—all those things make my life so much fuller.
Karla Sorensen — Even when you’re “not helping”, you always help me, because being friends with you makes me a better person just by influence alone. Thank you for your help, for reading for me, for putting up with me. You’re a saint. An evil, whip-wielding saint. And I love you.
To Lauren Perry — Once again, you have outdone yourself. The photoshoot is brilliant and beautiful and perfect. Please never leave me!
To Jenn Watson, Sarah Ferguson, and the team at Social Butterfly PR — Thank you for your constant support with my releases, for organizing all the chaos, for guiding me through this and every release. Your help over the years has changed the pat
h of my career, and I will forever be grateful.
To Megan Bandfield — Thank you for the time spent answering all of my medical questions! It was such a relief to have a resource who could help me pin down the details, and I can’t thank you enough.
To the Ebstein’s anomaly group, and to Crystal — Thank you for sharing your experiences with me, for letting me bother you with the millions of questions I had, for supporting me in writing a story about a girl afflicted by a condition that has brought so many of you pain and fear and worry. Your help was invaluable.
To my beta readers — You are all incredible. Thank you for the hours you spent reading, putting together notes, answering my questions, and even re-reading for me when I ripped it all down and put it back together again. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
To my readers — I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you all. Thank you for your love and support—it’s what keeps me going.
Also by Staci Hart
CONTEMPORARY STANDALONES
Bad Habits
With a Twist (Bad Habits 1)
A ballerina living out her fantasies about her high school crush realizes real love is right in front of her in this slow-burn friends-to-lovers romantic comedy.
Chaser (Bad Habits 2)
He’d trade his entire fortune for a real chance with his best friend’s little sister.
Last Call (Bad Habits 3)
All he’s ever wanted was a second chance, but she’ll resist him at every turn, no matter how much she misses him.
The Austen’s
Wasted Words (Inspired by Emma)
She’s just an adorkable, matchmaking book nerd who could never have a shot with her gorgeous best friend and roommate.
A Thousand Letters (Inspired by Persuasion)
Fate brings them together after seven years for a second chance they never thought they’d have in this lyrical story about love, loss, and moving on.
A Little Too Late (Follow up to A Thousand Letters)
A story of finding love when all seems lost and finding home when you’re far away from everything you’ve known.
Living Out Loud (Inspired by Sense & Sensibility)
Annie wants to live while she can, as fully as she can, not knowing how deeply her heart could break.
The Sound of Silence (Inspired by Sense & Sensibility)
Elle/Elinor, Coming May 2018
The Tonic Series
Tonic (Book 1)
The reality show she’s filming in his tattoo parlor is the last thing he wants, but if he can have her, he’ll be satisfied in this enemies-to-lovers-comedy.
Bad Penny (Book 2)
She knows she’s boy crazy, which is why she follows strict rules, but this hot nerd will do his best to convince her to break every single one.
The Hardcore Serials
Hardcore: Complete Collection
A parkour thief gets herself into trouble when she falls for the man who forces her to choose between right and wrong.
HEARTS AND ARROWS
Greek mythology meets Gossip Girl in a contemporary paranormal series where love is the ultimate game and Aphrodite never loses.
Paper Fools (Book 1)
Shift (Book 2)
What the Heart Wants (Novella 2.5)
From Darkness (Book 3)
Fool’s Gold (Novella 3.5)
SHORT STORIES
Once
Desperate Measures
Nailed
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About the Author
Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life: a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom to three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, even though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey, and her favorite word starts with f, ends with k.
From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north in Denver, until they grew a wild hair and moved to Holland. It’s the perfect place to overdose on cheese and ride bicycles, especially along the canals, and especially in summertime. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, gaming, or designing graphics.
www.stacihartnovels.com
[email protected]
Staci Hart, Living Out Loud
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