On the Island (On the Island, #1)

by Tracey Garvis Graves

“Yes. She told me to ask myself if my life was better with him or without him.” Sarah and I were lucky. Our mother had perfected the art of giving simple, yet practical, advice. She stayed neutral, and she never judged. A parental anomaly, according to many of our girlfriends.

And I know they’re not coming back, but saying it out loud seems like giving up.” “I used to feel that way, but I don’t anymore.” Anna studied me. “You’re very adaptable.” I nodded. “We live here now.”

I grabbed her face with both hands, and I kissed her, hard. She opened her mouth and I slipped my tongue inside. I could have kissed her for days, and if she told me to stop I wasn’t sure I’d be able to.

When he kissed me, I hadn’t stopped to think before I kissed him back. We were two consenting adults, but no matter how I spun it in my head I knew if we ever got off the island, and people found out what we’d done, there would be repercussions for my actions.

“Did that feel good?” “Yes. Where did you learn that?” T.J. laughed, still trying to catch his breath. “I have an excellent teacher. She lets me practice all the time until I get it just right.”

The selfish part of me, however, couldn’t fathom not falling asleep in his arms or being with him every day. I needed T.J., and the thought of being away from him bothered me more than I wanted to admit.

“I love you, Anna.” The surprised look on her face told me she hadn’t seen that coming. “You weren’t supposed to fall in love,” she whispered. “Well, I did,” I said, looking into her eyes. “I’ve been in love with you for months. I’m telling you now because I think you love me, too, Anna. You just don’t think you’re supposed to. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. I can wait.”

“But there’s no way I could ever hold a baby in my arms that had his eyes, or his smile, if I couldn’t have him, too.”

“I’ve thought about you all day,” he said. “On the island, I promised that if you just held on we would spend this Christmas together, in Chicago. I will always keep my promises to you, Anna.”

“You were right. I did need to be on my own. But some of the things you wanted me to experience already passed me by, and I can’t go back. I know what I want and it’s you, Anna. I love you, and I miss you. So much.” “I don’t fit in your world.” “Neither do I,” he said, his expression tender yet resolute. “So let’s make our own. We’ve done it before.”

Is your life better with him, Anna, or without him? I decided, right then, standing on that sidewalk, to stop worrying about things that might never go wrong.

“I never wanted anyone else, T.J. I just wanted what was best for you.” “You are what’s best for me,” he said, cradling my head in his arms, his legs intertwined with mine. “I’m not going anywhere, Anna. This is right where I want to be.”

“I want you to be my wife. There’s no one else I want to spend the rest of my life with. We can live out here, you, me, our kids, and Bo. But I get it now, Anna. My decisions affect you, too. So now you have one of your own to make. Will you marry me?” I held my breath, waiting to slide the ring on her finger. Her blue eyes lit up and a smile spread across her face. She said yes.