Page 66 of Happily Ever After

She thought about the publisher who wanted to speak with her. She’d taken a screenshot of the email so she could reread it on the plane. They were all set up to talk tomorrow at ten.

Her heart gave a small, excited thump, but she refused to get too excited. After all, she’d already talked to a couple of publishers. Nothing much had come of those interactions so far.

So she wasn’t afraid of the call, exactly. She’d had meetings and interviews and negotiations in the past that made this look like a casual chat.

But this was different. This wasn’t about being chosen for her face or her figure. This was about being chosen for her words. For her story.

And that made her feel exposed in a way that not even modeling had.

Blaise set her phone down on the tray table. She didn’t need to stare at it for the next hour and work herself into a spiral.

Instead, she closed her eyes and let the engine noise smooth out her thoughts.

She pictured Brick’s truck in the pickup lane. He’d be in a clean T-shirt, already fully awake and completely caffeinated. Beau would be sitting beside him, alert and hopeful, watching every person who walked out of the terminal like he might spot her first.

That image alone made her smile.

Was it possible that Brick had spoiled Beau so much he wouldn’t want to come home? That made her laugh. Beau would always be her baby.

When the plane began its descent, Blaise sat up, put her tray table away, and adjusted her new scarf, now tied around her neck.

Outside the window, the blue sky and clouds gave way to the patchwork of land and water below, sunlight glinting off roofs and roadways. The familiar flatness of Florida spread out beneath them. She squinted, imagining the palm trees that she couldn’t quite make out yet.

The wheels hit the runway with a solid thud, followed by the low roar of the engine’s reverse thrust.

Home. It was a good feeling.

She deplaned along with everyone else, eager to be done with the stale air inside the plane. Eager to see Brick and Beau.

Inside the terminal, the air-conditioning hit her the moment she walked off the jet bridge, almost too cool against her skin. She moved with the flow of people, her carryon tote slung over her shoulder, her gaze searching for a familiar face in the waiting crowd.

Her phone, no longer on airplane mode, buzzed, but she ignored it. There would be time for whatever that was later. She kept walking toward the exit, scanning the crowd for Brick, then she realized that buzz might have been because he’d texted her.

She moved to the side and dug out her phone. Sure enough, it was from him.

Text me when you land. At the cell phone lot. I’ll pull around to your exit.

Smiling, she answered him. I’m on the ground.

His response came immediately. I’m on my way.

She went straight for the exit.

As the automatic doors slid open, warm air rushed in from outside. The pickup lanes were crowded with idling cars. A horn sounded and a few drivers pulled forward as people waved.

Blaise scanned the line, knowing it would take him a few minutes to get to her. But then, there he was.

Brick parked farther back, where it was less chaotic, one hand resting on the steering wheel, the other petting Beau, who was sitting next to him, but barely.

Even at this distance she could see his little body was taut with excitement, ears up, eyes locked on every person who passed.

Brick spotted her and his face changed in a way that made her chest tighten.

He scooped up Beau and got out of the truck, putting Beau down as they came around to the sidewalk. Beau wriggled with excitement, the leash keeping him from darting forward. He let out a happy sound that was half whine, half bark.

“There she is,” Brick said.

Blaise laughed as she rushed forward. Before she could say anything else, Beau was at her, tail going like it might detach, his nose pressing into her leg as if to make sure she was real, his soft whimpers breaking her heart.