Maybe (28 page)

“Better than a Ring Pop?” he asks with a grin.

I’m crying, and I don’t even care. This is worth crying over. “Oh my God.”

He kisses my tears away and holds me close before he whispers in my ear. “Marry me.”

I’m sobbing when I say yes because it feels like every road I’ve ever taken has led me to this moment. Our lives twisted and overlapped like lines on a map, but they brought us back together.

There are a million reasons to stay here, but he’s the biggest one of all.

Two years ago, I stood on 6th Street, knocking on Tyler’s front door. That place was where I thought I’d made my worst mistake. It was where I thought everything had ended, but I was wrong.

This is everything I never knew I wanted. It’s everything I never knew I needed.

And we’re just getting started.

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About the Author

A true child of music, Amber’s parents surrounded her with the loudest beats they could find, molding her into a girl who found inspiration and meaning in lyrics and chords. Raised on John Hughes movies, Luck Dragons, and pirate ships, she dreamed of love and adventure. When Amber began to create her own world, she envisioned a place where Happy Ever Afters do exist. Since then, she has authored several romance novels, all of which focus on songs and the way they can touch people’s lives. Music may not be able to fix a broken heart, but it can provide one hell of a soundtrack for healing.

A full-time wife and mother with a full-time job, Amber finds her muse in everyday life and the people who bring her inspiration.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the following individuals who ensured that this book saw the light of day.

Aaron and Ems, thank you for letting me live this dream. I love you to the moon and back. Twice. Thank you for constantly inspiring me. Without you, there would be no laughter and love to write about.

Lori Wilt, you have always believed in me and stuck by my side when the world fell down. Thank you for taking my hand while I fought for this and for being the one I could turn to. I know I wouldn’t be holding this in my hands right now if it weren’t for you.

Stephanie D. Alexander, the fact that you read this manuscript means the world to me. Your praise for the final product was just the icing on the cake. Thank you for pushing me through the beginning over and over until I got it right. Your friendship is an honor and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.

Stephanie Rodriguez, thank you for reading the first draft and each subsequent one after. I am thankful for your honesty and for making me see ways to make it better. I’m so glad I found you and can call you a friend.

Angela VanBuren . . . we did it, pretty girl. It’s here, and it’s real. Thank you for the past three years of believing me and rooting me on. You’re always there when I need to slip pages your way, and I’m eternally grateful for your support.

Laura and Inus, your unending support throughout this entire thing has made my heart so full. I am blessed to call you friends, and I am grateful that you’re part of my life story.

Mandy
Arthur, Dani Sorrell,
Amber Sachs, Dani McAleer, Lita Gabriel, Diana Garcia, Kristy Haffey, and Kirston Hardwick—thank you all for reading through the original one last time and giving me your thoughts so that I could make this better than it would have been otherwise.

Kathie Spitz, in October 2009 you told me push the publish button. Thank you for supporting this story from the very first day I shared it. Thank you for your endless words of encouragement over the years. Thank you for telling me to fight for what’s mine.
 

Thank you to Six Against Seven for fueling the music for the original version of this book. Precious Few Things is as amazing today as it was all those years ago. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the perfection that is your music.

To the best street team a girl could ask for: Mandy A., Angela V., Mary Elizabeth, Sally H., Dani S., Lori W., Abee E., Karen D, Amber S., Kristy H., Marty K, Stephanie D., Stephanie R., Kriston H, Kathie Spitz, and Michele M. I do not deserve the amount of support you have given me, but I’m beyond grateful to for your friendship.
 

To the
Fandom. We ebb and flow, but one thing always brings us together—we love a good story. Thank you for believing in me more than I deserve.

The Writer’s Coffee Shop, thank you for saying yes and taking a chance on me. This is such a dream come true.

Mavvy Vasquez, thank you for hanging in there when this seemed bigger than both of us. Your hard work and expertise are the reasons why this isn’t just a pile of jumbled words between a pretty cover.

Deanna Noga and Andrea McKay, thanks for being on my team and for your hard work and support in this process. It takes a village, right?

Jenn McGuire and Jenn Accinelli
—
this cover is perfect and it’s all thanks to you.

Lastly, to the city of Austin, Texas. Thank you for letting me walk your streets with my camera high and head down to count footsteps building to building, making sure I got it right. And thank you for letting my husband’s dream come true in the weirdest town in the world. Next time I will stay to see the bats.