Call Me Michigan (29 page)
Authors: Sam Destiny
“You first,” she insisted, handing him the envelope. He eyed her suspiciously, then looped a finger under the side and tore it open. The pictures tumbled into his lap, and Taylor watched him stare down at them without lifting one up or dropping the envelope.
“We figured you need new pictures in your truck, so Becca and I took some. We might have gone overboard, but you can always pick your favorites.” She shrugged and then gave him a wink. ‘Overboard’ was exactly right: There were more than fifty photo booth photos of her and his daughter, but Becca had been especially cute that day and, well, Taylor was in love with her.
One by one, Mason looked at them, shaking his head and clearing his throat a few times.
“Wow, that’s freaking amazing,” he whispered, collecting a pile of them in his hand. “How am I ever going to decide?” He shook his head, probably already giving up the task, but Taylor just took the pictures from him, cuddling into his side to look at them, too. It took a while for them to look through each and every one, but she didn’t mind. She loved them, and whichever he didn’t take, she’d put up in her truck, if she’d ever get a new one.
“Thank you, Taylor, honestly. Those are ... my two favorite girls in the world.” He kissed her softly, and Taylor wanted to melt. “Now you,” he insisted, but she shook her head.
“I got a lot already. You’re spoiling me!” She didn’t want any more since she felt as if she could never again get even. She knew – technically – it wasn’t a competition, but she didn’t want him to think she needed gifts to be happy.
“Well,” he mumbled, turning the parchment over in his hand, “let’s say actually it’s a gift for me then, okay?” He met her eyes, and she just sighed, moving his arm until she rested her back against his chest, then told him to unfold it.
He did, ever so slowly, and Taylor’s heart stopped as she read the first words. She spun in his arms so quickly that she bumped her head against his lips, making him gasp.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but Mason … is that what I think it is?” She could barely see him through a curtain of tears.
“It’s not, since, of course, I could never take the official documents, but I still wanted you to know they are ready to be signed by you whenever you want to put your name under it and make it official,” he promised, speaking ever so quietly, as if he could scare her away. Instead, she threw her arms around him, and in a flurry of arms, legs, and kisses, she made sure he knew how gracious and happy she was, while a parchment fell to the floor, the words ‘adoption paper’ looking like a dark shadow on the crème colored sheet.
The End
First and foremost I want to thank my best friend, Yvi, who is always there when I need it and who keeps loving my stories. I personally think we all need someone who loves our stuff no matter what. ;-) You’re my superstar and I look up to you … and always will.
Second, and nearly as important, Terra and Aimie. I cannot pick one to be more important than the other. T, you always, always, always manage to make me smile and calm me down again. Aims, you always understand. I don’t know; you just get me even when I’m being impossible. Thank you for that. I love you, ladies, so so much and I know that one day I will hug you very super extremely tight.
My Betas, Kay, LucyLou (who is so much more than just my beta), and Jacklyn: You rock my world, even when sometimes you have to tell me that my books don’t work just yet. Thank you for always being honest.
Melissa, thank you so incredibly much for this amazing cover. Honestly, it’ll be so sweet and perfect on my shelf.
Jenny Sims, thanks for making my wrongs right. I learned so much from you you have no idea! Thank you. Seriously.
Wendi and Katheryn, this is the fourth book you’re making pretty from the inside and I can never tell you enough how incredibly much I love each one of it.
Dearest CS chicks, you manage to make me smile, and you help whenever I need it. Thank you. <3 Keep at it, you all do so great, I am honored to know you.
My aunt, who, even though she cannot yet read this since it’s not her language, has always supported me and never once stops to think about it. She just does, and it means the world to me.
And last, but not least, my readers. You, the one holding this ebook or paperback right now. Thank you. Come and stalk me … or talk to me.
Love,
Sam
Once upon a time there was a young girl with her head full of dreams and her heart full of stories. Her parents, though not a unit, always supported her and told her more stories, encouraging her to become what she wanted to be. The problem was, young Sam didn't know what she wanted to be, so after getting her A-levels she started studying Computer Science and Media. After not even one year she realized it wasn't what her heart wanted, and so she stopped, staying home and trying to find her purpose in life. Through some detours she landed an internship and eventually an apprenticeship in a company that sells cell phones. Not a dreamy career, but hey. Today she's doing an accounting job from nine-to-five, which mainly consists of daydreaming and scribbling notes wherever she can.
All through that time little Sam never once lost the stories in her heart, writing a few little of them here and there, writing for and with her best friend, who always told her to take that last step.
Only when a certain twin-couple entered her mind, bothering her with ideas and talking to her nonstop did she start to write down their story - getting as far as thinking she could finish it. Through the help of some author friends, and the encouragement of earlier mentioned best friend, little Sam, now not so little anymore and in her twenty-seventh year, decided to try her luck as an Indie author. She finished the story of the first twin, Jaden, and realized she couldn't ever stop. So, it really is only after five that the real Sam comes out. The one that hungers for love, romance, some blood, a good story, and, at the end of the day, a nice hot cup of Chai Tea Latte.
And if the boys are still talking to her, she'll write happily ever after.
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