One More Day (30 page)

Her mouth opened but no words came out, so she just nodded, bobbing her head up and down so hard he couldn't mistake her answer.  "Yes!" she finally gasped, and around them, everyone started to cheer.

Only then did she realize that the crowded coffee shop was filled with familiar faces.  Behind her was Leanne, from the cancer clinic.  On the other side was Theresa, her nurse from the hospital.  Sitting along the wall was Doctor Janis.  They weren't the only ones.  A man who she'd made three designs for lifted his cup and across the table from him was a girl who she'd spent hours with, making sure her piece was perfect.  Every client, every friend, every person who she'd felt close to in the last year all were there, beaming back at her.

And Ryan slipped the ring onto her finger.

Finally, he stood, smiling at her so proudly.  "I love you," he said, then crushed her against his chest.

Everyone cheered again, but this time something else joined them.  A high pitched yowl made everyone laugh, and Mack turned to the sound.  There, in the back corner, stood Tony, holding a black puppy.

"He's ours," Ryan whispered in her ear.  "I was going to wait, but it was his last day, and they said black ones don't get homes.  Figured we could at least give him a chance in the land of misfit toys."

"A puppy?" she asked.  Mack glanced down at her hand, up at him, then back to the dog Tony held.  "Ryan, I need to sit down."

"Yeah," he said softly, steering her to the closest chair.  "Too much?"

She laughed.  "It's perfect.  Oh my god."  She twisted the ring, unable to stop giggling.  "It's gorgeous.  It's perfect.  I thought you were upset."

He chuckled and brushed his fingers across her cheek, then leaned forward and kissed her.  His lips were soft and gentle, trembling as much as his hands, but their friends didn't care.  The puppy barked as everyone laughed and clapped again.

"I was scared to death," he said, squatting before her.  "I kept thinking you'd say no, or ask to wait, or maybe you'd have another bad day or something."  He grabbed her hand.  "My fiancée."

"Soon to be your wife," she promised.

He grinned, nodding like he still couldn't believe it.  "Colby busted his ass to make this happen, too.  Told me he almost forgot about the coffee upstairs, so hurried down as soon as his alarm went off, to stash it."

"You," she told the big guy, "are going to be sexy in taffeta.  Still going to be my maid of honor?"

A woman whistled appreciatively, and pushed forward to wrap her arms around him.  Mack laughed when she realized it was Maria.  "Floor length dress, I think," she teased.

"Fuck," Colby laughed.  "I'll wear a damned taffeta speedo if I get to see those two get hitched."  He lifted his cup.  "Mack, today, I want a drink, but I want this kind, not the other.  You're going to be the most beautiful bride ever."

Mack cleared her throat and shook her head.  "Until you get one, right?"

"Oh hell yeah."  He sighed, and moved to slap Ryan's shoulder.  "Grats, bro.  You braved the jungle, slayed the dragon, and got to be the knight in shining armor."

"Ink," Mack clarified.  "Knight in shining ink.  Now bring me that puppy!"

Tony laughed and made his way over, passing the dog to her.  "Can't believe you didn't hear him barking in the back room."

She glanced up at Ryan, her hands rumpling the little guy's face.  "I was distracted."  She bent and kissed the puppy, then hugged him to her, looking at her ring again.  "Ryan?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Thank you.  Thank you for everything.  Thank you for being perfect, for being beautiful, for being sweet, for the ring and the dog."  She paused, her throat closing up again, and wiped at her eyes.  "But most of all, thank you for helping me make it through just one more day.  Today, tomorrow, and the next.  I promise you, I'll keep trying if you will."

"Forever," he swore.  "One more day, and then one more after that, until there aren't any more days to count."

***

Authors appreciate book reviews more than you can imagine.  Honest reviews help others discover their next book to read.  Please take a moment and let others know what you thought about

One More Day
.

About The Author:

Auryn Hadley is happily married with three canine children and a herd of feral cats that her husband keeps feeding.  Between her love for animals, video games, and a good book, she has enough ideas to spend the rest of her life trying to get them out.  They all live in Texas, land of the blistering sun, where she spends her days feeding all of those addictions, plus drinking way too much coffee.

Follow Auryn on Social Media:

Twitter:
@AurynHadley

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/AurynHadleyAuthor

Tumblr:
aurynhadley.tumblr.com/