“I will end you, Prior Brady. This is a nice happy family moment. Don’t mess it up.”
“Ah, you guys are so sweet,” Hazel said with a laugh.
Dakota laughed before she continued. “Anyway, we’re moving in next week. And, thankfully, we’re still in the same school district, although I’m glad we’re not going to be at that school next year anyway when Joshua ages out.”
None of us needed to say why. That was where he’d been abducted. Joshua was doing just fine, but he was still a little scared. We were going to therapy as a family, plus all of us individually. And mother and son were going together as a duo, too. Somehow, we were making it work. I had never been one to talk about my feelings, but I learned that I needed to when I was first hurt. Now, I was doing it even more.
“Well, this just makes me happy,” Paris said, grinning. “You guys are too cute. And the fact that your parents are in love with that kid there? I’m pretty sure they’re going to start asking for grandbabies soon.”
“They never ask for grandbabies.” Arden shook her head. “They’re always very polite about it, but I think they’re ready,” she said.
“Well, they’re welcome to be the most amazing grandparents to Joshua there is. I, for one, am thrilled that they’ve connected so well,” Dakota guaranteed, and I kissed the top of her head.
“Look at us, growing up and having families,” I said. “Who would have thought?”
Cross narrowed his eyes and looked around. “You know, there is one set of people who are not in this circle right now. And they haven’t settled down.”
“I was hoping nobody would notice that.” Dakota winced. “Does anyone know where they are?” she asked, and I pulled her closer, hugging the love of my life as I kissed the top of her head once more.
“I have no idea, but soon, we’re probably going to hear the shouting. That’s how it always starts.” I shook my head, putting Nate and Myra out of my mind because I knew they’d figure their problems out. Our group was too solid for them not to.
And, honestly, the only person I needed to focus on today was Dakota. Joshua was taken care of, and I had the woman I loved in my arms.
Nothing else mattered.
And after a lifetime of focusing on others and months not knowing if I’d make it out of the darkness, the little bit of hope that filled me at the thought of a future with Dakota and Joshua made it seem like the rest had been worth it.
I’d found my happiness.
Finally.
Epilogue
Nate
I looked around the patio, at the groups of people that I should probably be able to put names to, and yet couldn’t focus well enough at the moment to figure it out.
My head hurt, and I didn’t know if it was from stress or another migraine coming on, thanks to the concussion protocol that never went the fuck away.
I grumbled, knowing I wasn’t my usual happy self, but people would have to deal. There were enough people around here with a sense of humor and sarcasm to get the mood going. I would only make it worse.
I got a beer from the ice chest and went back into the house, finding a quiet spot to rest my head, and myself. I was tired. I didn’t know how I’d ended up here. I had thought I’d pushed it all away. That I’d been able to be the happy, carefree guy that could handle anything.
And yet, one hit after another, I was back here, wondering why the fuck I was always the one left behind. Why the fuck everything hurt.
I sat in a leather armchair in front of the fireplace and looked at the books in front of me. I could barely even focus on them.
The headaches weren’t that bad. Not usually. It just meant that I couldn’t drive some days, and I’d had to change my career.
It wasn’t the only part of me that mattered.
But I hated that it had mixed with the past. Memories I would rather forget.
As if on cue, the sound of stiletto heels on wood echoed in the hallway, and she stood in the doorway, the perfect silhouette of curves and sin.
Of ice and cold.
“We need to talk.”
I looked up at Myra and raised a sardonic brow. “Do we?”
“You know we do and why, Nathan.”
“I honestly don’t,” I lied. It felt like it had taken years to get to this point. Decades, even. I pulled my gaze away from her, despite the pain that had nothing to do with my headache. It was always so hard to tear my gaze from her.
I hated her.
With the strength of a thousand fiery suns, I hated her.
Though I think I hated myself more.
“Yes, we do, husband.”
I flinched, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone was around to hear. “Don’t fucking call me that.”
Myra just raised her chin, looking like the ice princess she was. “Fine. Ex-husband. Whatever title you want to use. But we’re going to talk.”
Next up in the PROMISE ME SERIES?
Nate and Myra in FROM OUR FIRST
For more information, go to www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Macon & Dakota? CLICK HERE!
A Note from Carrie Ann Ryan
Thank you so much for reading FAR FROM DESTINED.
I loved writing this story! I think I fell in love with the chowder and Joshua just as much as I did Macon and Dakota!
Next up? Let’s just say things are about to get even messier for Nate and Myra in From Our First.
And in case you missed it, Arden and Liam might be familiar if you read Wrapped in Ink!
And if you’re new to my books, you can start anywhere within the my interconnected series and catch up! Each book is a stand alone, so jump around!
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