Authors: Kelly Harper
“I believe we had agreed on some money for your helping sign the band,” he said, a smile touching his lips. I stared at him, speechless. “That’s just an estimate,” he said. “I’ll know the exact numbers in about a week and I’ll probably owe you a little more.”
I stared at the check again.
“I don’t know what to say,” I said.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said. “You earned it—it’s yours.” He grinned at me again. “Now go have a good time,” he said.
I smiled and threw my arms around him.
“You’re the best adopted dad a girl could have,” I laughed.
He hugged me back. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said. “Now, seriously, get out there and tell that boy how you feel.” He leveled a smile at me. “Don’t let him get away this time.”
I nodded. “I won’t.”
I folded the check and put it in my purse. I was shocked by how much it was for. I didn’t think I could spend that much money if I tried.
When I got back out to the bar, it had filled with people from the Battle. I groaned, wondering if I was ever going to find Haden. I started making my way through the crowds, looking around. I searched for a few minutes without seeing him or Kyle. I turned to head back to the bar, hoping he’d find me, and then I saw him.
Haden walked through the door into the bar, and I couldn’t control myself anymore. Our eyes locked, and he hesitated for only a brief second. I ran to him, ignoring everyone and everything around us. I threw my arms around him, and planted a kiss on his lips. His arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground and spinning me once. When he set me back down, I slapped him on the arm.
He frowned at me. “What was that for?” he said.
“That was for not telling me you were coming back to town,” I said.
He fixed me with a look. “
You
were the one that wasn’t answering any of my calls,” he said. A grin tugged at the corners of his lips.
I bit my lip. “I’m so sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m so sorry for everything. I never should have done what I did. I wish I could take it all back.”
Haden put a hand on my shoulder, and squeezed it softly. His eyes were so warm.
“You don’t have to worry about any of that,” he said.
He gave me a long look, and I was speechless. He was so perfect. I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve someone like him.
The moment was interrupted when someone appeared next to us. I turned to see Seth, and felt a twisting sensation in my stomach. He must have sensed what I was feeling, because he held his hands up in a placating way.
“Sorry to interrupt the reunion,” he said. My eyes narrowed at him. He blew out a breath. “Well, this isn’t awkward.” He turned, squaring off to me. “I just need a second of your time,” he said. “I just wanted to apologize, again, for what I said to you before. I was being an idiot, and an asshole.” He gave me a serious look. “So… I’m sorry.” His head bobbed once when he said it.
My mouth opened, but nothing came out. I was so caught off guard by the sudden apology that I didn’t know what to say. Haden had the tiniest of grins on his face, and I wondered if he had anything to do with it.
“It’s fine,” I said, finally. “I’m over it.”
Seth nodded once, and held up his hands, again. “Well, then… as you were. Or whatever.”
After he left, I turned back to Haden.
“You have to tell me what’s going on,” I said.
He grinned. “Let’s go sit down, then,” he said. “I’ll explain everything.”
We sat at our usual booth, and he launched into what had happened since I’d last seen him. He’d flown back out to LA because the band’s agent had some important news for them. Apparently, after the Rolling Stones article was printed, the band’s label didn’t want them to go out as an opening act—they wanted them to start their own tour. Their agent got in touch with some promoters, and started scheduling some dates. It was a short fifteen city tour, but it was on their own ticket.
“But what about
Fighting Forward
?,” I asked. “Where did they get involved?”
After they’d sorted out more of the particulars on the tour, Haden had made a call to Stacey,
Fighting Forward
’s manager, and told her what was going on. She put him in touch with Seth, and he managed to convince Seth that it was in his best interest to make amends with everybody. Once Seth found out who he was—he started singing a very different tune, and was more than willing to accommodate Haden’s request.
When he was done explaining it, I frowned and gave him a serious look.
“But, what about the Battle of the Bands?” I said. “What made you guys want to come play?”
He fixed me with a serious look.
“I came back for
you
, Maggie,” he said. “I wasn’t about to let things slip away like they were about to. If you haven’t figured it out, you can’t get rid of me that easily.”
I grinned, but there was something still nagging at me.
“Where does that leave us?” I said. “I mean… long term.”
Haden shook his head. “I don’t care where it leaves us,” he said. “All I know is I want to be with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Where or how we spend it isn’t important.”
Emotions flooded through me. There were a million things I wanted to tell him, but I didn’t know where to begin.
“I don’t know what to say,” I said.
He smiled. “Just say you’re in it with me,” he said.
I nodded, fiercely. “There’s nothing I want more than to be with you. I’m all yours.”
He beamed. “Good,” he said. “I’ve got one more gift for you. I was told that I’d know when the time was right.”
I stared at him, confused, while he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a white, folded envelope. He slid it across the table to me, and I stared at it long and hard. A familiar twisting feeling went through my stomach as I looked at it.
“What is that?” I said, cautious.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Open it, and let’s find out.”
When I picked up the envelope, I was surprised by how hard my hands were trembling. It was still sealed shut, and I tore it open, carefully.
Unfolding the letter inside, tears rushed to my eyes when I saw the handwriting. I recognized it immediately. It was a letter from my mom.
Dear Maggie,
Angelica Margaret Simpson. The day you were born was the happiest day of my life. Words can’t describe how you’ve brought new meaning to my life over the years. You stuck by me through my darkest days. You were my savior, in all ways possible.
I’m writing this letter to you because life isn’t always fair. We’ve both been dealt our share of bad luck, but I know that you’re due for something more.
It makes me sad to know that I won’t be there for all the special moments in your life. So, if there’s one thing I want to share with you, it’s that I want you to follow your dreams without care or concern. Don’t worry about what might happen. Find something, or someone you love, and reach for the stars. Life’s too short to cheat yourself out of a single day.
Keep me in your heart, and you’ll never be without love. Though I may not have known how to express it, I loved you more than anything in the world. I hope one day we get to see each other again. I can’t wait to hear about all the amazing things you’ll have to tell me.
I love you.
Mom
Tears were flooding down my cheeks by the time I finished reading it. I set the letter on the table, and wiped at them. Haden shifted the letter over, and read it, too. His lips were pursed together, his face stoic. When he finished it, he looked up at me.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
I nodded.
There was a buzzing in my chest. The letter was the last thing I ever expected him to bring me.
“This is what you had in your pocket after you talked to her?” I asked. He nodded, slowly. I bit my lip. “Why did she give it to you and not to me?” I asked, thinking it over.
“She said that she knew you were struggling to figure out how you felt about me,” he said, speaking deliberately. “And she said she could tell that I was completely in love with you.” He paused, gathering his thoughts before he continued. “She said she hoped it would help you trust your feelings.”
I was silent for a long time. I didn’t know what to say. Mom had always wanted to make me better—maybe it was because she had regretted some of her own decisions. All I knew was, she had trusted that Haden would be in my life, and that he would deliver the letter to me.
I gave Haden a long look.
“You really want to spend the rest of your life with me?” I said.
“More than anything,” he said without hesitation.
I leaned over the table and kissed him again. He tasted sweeter than ever. The kiss lasted a long time, and when we finally pulled apart, I gave him a serious look.
“I guess I gotta get home and start packing,” I said.
“Packing?” he said, puzzled.
I nodded. “My man is headlining a rock and roll tour,” I grinned. “I gotta make sure I’m there to keep all the other ladies away.”
A smile spread from ear to ear across his face.
“You don’t have to worry about any other ladies,” he said. His eyes burned. “What about school?” he said.
I waved a hand, already thinking about the money from Scottie. “It can wait,” I said. “But my life with you can’t.”
This time, he leaned over the table and kissed me. Our mouths parted, and the tips of our tongues touched. It felt like heaven.
When he finally pulled away, he glanced back down at the letter, his eyes scanning over it.
“You never told me your real name is Angelica,” he said, a grin on his face. I shrugged.
“My dad hated it when we shortened my middle name to Maggie,” I said. “So I started going by that, just to drive him crazy.”
Haden grinned something devious at me.
“You know what this means, right?” he said. There was something in his look. I shook my head, uncertain. “You really are my fire-haired Angel.”
A smile spread across my face. I realized that the emptiness inside me suddenly didn’t feel so empty. Peace had settled there. Peace because I finally had something in my life that I could be certain about. I had someone who loved me unconditionally, and that’s all that mattered. Come rain or shine, I knew Haden was going to be there for me, just like I was going to be there for him. We’d both made some mistakes since we’d first met, but we’d overcome those. Our love was strong enough to see past them.
As we sat there with our green eyes locked on one another, I realized that I was the happiest I’d ever been. I couldn’t wait to start the rest of my life with him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Harper is an Amazon Coming of Age Best Selling Author. She’s primarily writes New Adult Contemporary Romance, but also dabbles in other things. If you enjoyed SAVED BY YOU, be sure to
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Books by Kelly Harper
Sinful Nights (Calvin Black Series #1)
Sexual Negotiations (Calvin Black Series #2)
Calvin Unleashed (Calvin Black Series #3)
Calvin’s Control (Calvin Black Series #4)
Ruined By You (Maggie & Haden)
Saved By You (Maggie & Haden)