“I’m going to say my bit and sit this old ass down,” she started. “I’ve said this at every one of her birthdays, and I’ll say it for as long as the good Lord allows me to be on this earth. This little girl coming into my life was one of the best things that ever happened to me. All of my boarders become friends and family, but Hadley became so much more. She filled a void in my life. She’s the daughter and granddaughter I never had and I love her to the moon and back. Happy birthday,” Bev said, her words catching as Hadley threw herself into Bev’s arms.
Tears flowed all around the room.
Once Bev had taken a seat, Jesse cleared his throat. “I wasn’t prepared to become a father again eighteen years ago, but life doesn’t always care if you’re prepared. Hadley taught me so much about myself and she and I kinda grew up together in a lot of ways. I’m so proud of the person she’s become and I know she’s going to do amazing things.” Jesse wiped at a tear. “And I’m really fucking glad she’s staying close to home. Happy birthday, Hadley girl.”
Cooper kissed Jesse and sniffed before taking Hadley’s hand. “Back when I was your nanny and then your dad’s boyfriend, I imagined a day when we’d stand together and cry as we watched you drive off to college. It was almost unfathomable back then, but here we are. Thank you for not going too far, I’m not sure I could keep this old man in tissues if you left completely. And thank you for the privilege of being your dad.”
Hadley’s tears streamed as she hugged Cooper and Jesse.
Turning to face her family and friends, Hadley smiled through her tears. “Thank you all for being here and for supporting me my entire life. I lost my mom and grandma, but I gained a family and friends I wouldn’t trade for the world.” She reached for Cooper’s hand. “Way back then, when you and Dad would take me to the fountains and let me toss coins, I used to wish for you to be my dad. I knew you were the perfect person for Dad and me, and I’m so very grateful that wish came true.” She turned and smiled at everyone. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world to have my very own Remington Place crew. We may not all be right there together anymore, but we’re in each other’s hearts and that’s what matters. Thank you for being you, thank you for teaching me about love and acceptance, and thank you for shaping me into the person I am today. I look forward to seeing where our journeys take us over the years. No matter what, we’ll always be coming back home to what’s important and that’s family.”
~THE END~
Thank you for reading and loving Remington Place. Readers like you are the reason I can’t stop writing the stories in my head.
Please leave a review.
Also by A.D. Ellis
Adore (Remington Place 1) is a steamy, age-gap, bi-awakening, dad’s best friend M/M romance with a sassy smartass and a sexy silver fox. It’s the first book in the Remington Place series and can be read as a stand-alone.
Remington Place series- Crave (book 2) is a steamy, friends-to-lovers, fake relationship M/M romance with a virgin nursing student and a gruff, grumbly construction worker.
Desire (Remington Place 3) is a steamy, age-gap, hurt/comfort M/M romance featuring a heart-of-gold mechanic and a twink who’s a lot stronger than he realizes. Please note: This story has mention of sex trafficking and sexual abuse.
Power Struggle is a steamy M/M, age-gap, forced proximity romance set in a small town. A twenty-year history, rival schools and jobs, and a hotel with only one bed make for a hot and heavy, sweet and sexy, HEA-guaranteed love story.
Take Me Home M/M age-gap, opposites-attract romance with plenty of steam and a scene that will make you appreciate camouflage and work boots
Let Love In M/M age-gap, forced proximity, dad’s best friend, bisexual-awakening romance. Available on AUDIO!
Let Love Win M/M brother’s best friend romance. Available on AUDIO!
Buried Secrets Romantic suspense stand-alone title. Available on AUDIO!
Silver in the City (3 books- meet the Silver crew you read about in Forged in the City) Available on AUDIO!
Forged in the City (3 books- a spin-off series from Silver in the City) Available on AUDIO
The BJ Boys Series (3 books, small town, big love) Available on AUDIO
Forever Better Together (friends to lovers) Available on AUDIO!
His Reluctant Cowboy (age gap, opposites attract, cowboy romance) Available on AUDIO!
What Blooms Beneath (LGBT Fantasy romance) Available on AUDIO!
Sawyer
(this was the first M/M I wrote and you may remember Sawyer and Luke being mentioned in Barrett & Ivan as well as in Ryker & Gavin)
Start Something About Him with a FREE short story:
(The Beginning https://instafreebie.com/free/84Cxr)
Then continue with the other stand-alone titles in the series (available to read FREE for Kindle Unlimited subscribers):
Bryan & Jase
Brody & Nick
Barrett & Ivan
Braeton & Drew
Ryker & Gavin
Kade & Cameron
Or grab the boxset HERE.
Plus several other titles:
Devoted (a Something About Him novella)
Saving Us
Stranded Hearts (a short story)
Eli & Gage (a Something About Him short story)
Escape (a 3-book collection of fun stories)
A.D.’s first stories (all male/female except Sawyer which is male/male) are in the Torey Hope and Torey Hope: The Later Years series. Find the 8 book box set HERE or you can find each individual title on Amazon.
For Nicky
Because of Beckett
Christmas in Torey Hope
Loving Josie
Decker
Sawyer
Zach
Kendrick
Acknowledgments
It’s always so hard to write this part because I’m worried I’ll forget someone without meaning to.
Readers- you are the reason I write. As long as you continue reading my stories, I’ll continue writing them. Thank you for your support.
Bloggers- your support, reviews, and promotion are very much appreciated. Thank you!
My author buddies- I don’t know that I could keep doing this without our brainstorm sessions, laughter, road trips, meals, wine, and friendship
