Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“Everyone will remember this for years to come. You made your mark, Zoe. Just like your mom,” Ann replied, giving me a squeeze before walking off to talk to someone else.
Maybe I had left a mark on this town, but my recent time here had certainly left a mark on me too. I found myself dreading the thought of leaving this place behind after everything that happened. Rockview wasn’t some sad place anymore to me. It was where I met the men who had captured my heart. Where I helped take down the cartel who killed my mom. Where I finished her case and wrote the best story of my career.
An ache gripped my chest as my mind traveled to my mom. She would’ve loved to have been here right now, celebrating justice and victory. As the celebration raged on, there was definitely something missing among all the excitement, and I knew that it was her.
She deserved to share this moment.
I took a deep breath as my eyes started to burn, bittersweet pride blooming in my chest. Without her, none of this would’ve happened. No matter what, I wouldn’t ever let anyone forget her and all she had done for every single person in this town.
As the firefighters filed off stage, I moved in that direction, my heart pounding heavily as their eyes caught mine.
“There she is!” Matty quipped as he circled his arms around me, playfully lifting me and spinning me.
Our laughter mingled as he set me down, my world spinning a little. That was just the effect that they had on me, though.
“You guys were amazing,” I told them as they crowded around me, the warmth of their high spirits and smiles enveloping me in an invisible embrace that I cherished. I wanted to be surrounded by them forever. The world outside of them wasn’t as exciting.
So… why leave?
“No, you’re amazing,” Kit assured me as he held up his phone. “Your article has thousands of hits already. Everyone is reading it!”
I smiled as I took a closer look, pride filling me. That was my story!
“My dad told me he read it. He was really proud,” I said, my heart aching just at the thought. But it was a good ache. My dad actually sounded really happy and lively for the first time in years.
But I also knew that this was all probably still hard for him to digest. The love of his life died, and when I returned to town, I dredged everything back up. It must’ve felt like a punch to the stomach for him when I asked about her and made him remember all over again.
But he didn’t turn his back on me. He accepted me with open arms, and despite the grief that we still felt, he was here today to celebrate her too. It felt like the beginning of something new.
Something promising.
Could I really leave on that note?
“Of course, he was,” Gabe said as he gave my hand a squeeze. “We’re all proud of you.”
I chewed on my bottom lip in thought as my eyes darted back and forth between all of them. My mind generated thought after thought, noise filling my head. I had been thinking about this for a while now, but given everything that happened over the past few days, my mind was becoming clearer.
I just had to get the courage to say the words in my head.
“What is it? Are you okay?” Jae asked as his brow furrowed.
“You have to leave now, don’t you?” Cohen added as his shoulders slumped, leading to everyone else’s smiles plummeting off their faces.
If I wasn’t sure about my decision before, I was extra sure about it. How the hell could I leave this place when I had ten smoking hot, intensely sweet and caring, and astonishingly brave firefighters wanting me to stay? I wasn’t an idiot.
I was happy here again. I never thought I would say that, but I came back to Rockview with pain in my heart and work on my mind. I tried to detach myself as much as I could, but this was my home. My family was here. My memories were here. Good and bad.
And amidst the darkness, I’d found love and pride and truth. I needed those things more than I realized. I wouldn’t find what I needed in North Carolina.
It was all right here.
“Actually… I was thinking of staying,” I revealed, stunned silence greeting my words for a few seconds. My stomach twisted. I didn’t misread the situation, right?
“Really? In Rockview?” Angus replied.
“For good?” Kit added with shocked eyes.
“What about your job?” Jae asked.
Gradually, a smile crossed my face when I felt the anticipation in the air.
“I’m going to resign. I want to live here,” I admitted. “For good.”
I wasn’t prepared for the swarm that came next. I was dragged into a flurry of embraces, lips caressing my cheeks and my forehead as their excited words washed over me.