The Secret Hook-Up (The Copper Valley Thrusters, #6)

by Pippa Grant

I should acknowledge that I’ll once again wear the same dress I’ve worn for every other formal event since I arrived in this city just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southern Virginia.

I arrived in this city just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southern Virginia.

But when I realized Addie was completely oblivious to the way I was hearing wedding bells in our future, that she didn’t want me as anything other than someone to let off steam with in the bedroom, I broke.

Being in a relationship isn’t about codependency, Duncan. It’s about the enhancement to both of your lives that you can’t get on your own.

Don’t settle for anyone who doesn’t think you’re gorgeous all the time. Don’t even do casual with someone who doesn’t think you’re gorgeous all the time. You’re welcome.”

But Duncan, seriously—if you’re planning on trying something with Addie, just…just don’t, okay?”

I hate when people interfere in other grown up lives like this.

“Got your back,” Ares says, rubbing my head again. I fist bump him too. “Thanks, my dude.” He nods. His eyes say you’re in for a hell of a ride, but that nod reiterates that he’s on my side.

“So fucking infuriating,” she repeats. I love you too, Addie Bloom. But I don’t say it. I know better.

She could be right. This could end poorly. Again. But if it doesn’t—if it doesn’t, we could be magnificent.

Waverly leans closer. “You know who makes the best partners in life?” “Who?” “The people who understand all the ways relationships can go wrong and choose to actively be part of them anyway. Who choose to do their best with all of the lessons they’ve learned from their own experience and from watching others.”

And he’s waiting for me to tell him I’m ready. Who does that? Someone who loves you. That’s who does that. Someone who loves you.

“From this moment forward,” I say, “you can go to bed every night knowing someone likes you for you. All of you. Your drive. Your intelligence. Your passion. Your independence. Your body. Your heart. All of you. And I will destroy anyone who makes you feel like you don’t deserve that. Understand?”

“You excite me. You challenge me. You comfort me. You get me. And you make me want to do bigger and better things, while helping me see that sometimes the bigger and the better things are the little things.” I nuzzle her ear. “And you’re sexy as hell.” She leans into me and hugs me tight. “You still scare me, but not as much.” It’s not I love you too. But I’ll take it.

“You deserve to feel safe,” Addie repeats. “You get to take up space. You get to have needs. You deserve to be happy. And you do not ever, ever have to apologize for any of that, or minimize the bad things other people do to you.”

“Addie.” His voice is hoarse, barely audible, and I hear so much in the way he says my name. I love you. I will be your defender and protector and champion until the end of time. You are everything that’s been missing in my life.

I don’t want what’s expected. I want a life with you. With or without kids. With or without a dog and a cat and a fish and a wedding. You are the basis of where the next part of my life begins. You’re the sun that everything else revolves around. You are where I want to be, what I want to do, and how I want to live.”