Authors: Brittainy Cherry

The Space In Between (29 page)

BOOK: The Space In Between

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Six
Months Later

“‘WE’LL JUST GET coffee,’ he said.
‘We’ll go out for breakfast,’ he said.” Andrea rolled her eyes, mocking me as
we sat in the back of the black car. I laughed as I looked down to her growing
stomach and kissed it.

“I can’t help it that you’re addicted to sex. We’ll look
into getting you help.”

“We have arrived,” the driver said.

I turned to him and smirked. “Thanks, Jesu—Joe. Thank you,
Joe.” I handed him a few bills and he shook his head.

“You don’t have to keep paying me. If I’m going to be your
driver, you gotta understand that I get a check every two weeks.” He pushed the
money back at me, and being unwilling to give up on the issue—I slid it into
his pocket.

“I’m just paying you back for all of your sound advice.
We’ll be done around ten.”

“I’ll be here.”

Suddenly, Andrea reached forward and placed her hand on
Joe’s shoulder. “Joe...Awhile back, you helped me through some of the hardest
times. And it sounds like you helped Cooper, too. So, I still don’t know if
there’s something bigger out there...Something helping guide us around this
crazy world. But I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for the ride, Joe.”
Her soft smile met with his as he nodded.

As Andrea and I got out of the car, we saw Eric and Ladasha
stepping out of their ride. Eric had flown in to see the show with us, and the
way he looked at Ladasha made me damned happy for them both. They were still
trying to learn what their story was. They were learning how to make their
relationship work with the distance and the different lifestyles between the
two, but I could tell they both were willing to do the best they could. Ladasha
had a few things from her past that she had to face, and Eric was there to help
her through it all. I watched Eric whisper into Ladasha’s ear and she turned to
him, pressing her lips against his. They deserved each other.

I guided Andrea into the theater, where her dance company
was performing that evening. When we reached our seats, I looked to her and saw
the pride in her eyes.

As I took her hand into mine, we grew comfortable in our
seats and prepared for a wonderful show. We took it one step at a time. One
adventure. One event. One memory.

There was no hurry to plan our futures—other than which crib
to buy for the nursery.

We didn’t follow society’s rules and walk down the aisle
before having children. We made our own rules. We promised to give ourselves to
one another completely—mind, body, and spirit.

I leaned in towards Andrea, kissed her earlobe, and whispered
to her. “Marry me.”

She turned to me and huffed as she narrowed her eyes. She
gave me a quick kiss on the lips, turned back to the stage, and said, “Okay.”

One step.

One adventure.

One love.

We made the rules.

And we promised to always,
always,
live happily in
the moment.

FIRST AND FOREMOST I need to say
thank you to the amazing world of authors, beta readers, bloggers, fans,
friends, and family that have helped make this novel what it is today.

Special thanks to bloggers Can’t Read Just One, For The Love
Of Books, Crazies R Us Book Blog, One More Chapter, The World of Pinkishues and
Midnightblues, 2 Chicks and a Blog, Books, Coffee, and Wine, and Nerd Girl for
all your loving support and open arms to this new author.

A BIG thanks to the amazing cover artist, Kevin Kimmons: For
making my cover ‘dreams come true.’ Your skills, eye for details, and talents
are beyond outstanding. Thank you.

To Mickey, the BEST EDITOR EVER: For being simply that—the
best editor ever. Thanks for not freaking out over MY freak outs.

And the list goes on: Amber, Kyle, Vickie, Melissa, and Jim.
Samantha, Lazandria, Zonzerrias, Lauren, and Mary. Rayen, Sam, and Erinn. Love
all around.

To my five brothers and two sisters: Bryon, Tiffani,
Brandon, Candace, Isaiah, Ben, Will—So much love, respect, and pride to be able
to call you all family. Love you!

To my papa: Thanks for the love and support! *And buying me
the laptop that THIS novel was written on!* Love you, dad!

Lastly, this one is for you, mom: The one who believed in my
dreams when I didn’t know how to. Thank you for standing me in front of the
mirror at a young age and having me say over and over again, “I am somebody.
And I have a voice.” You’re the Sherlock to my Watson. Love you to the moon and
back!