I’ve set the garage up exactly as it was the day I met her, which wasn’t exactly hard. All it needed was my car to be here and in the spot it was on that day with its hood up. The only thing it’s missing is her beautiful self underneath that hood.
Candles are littered everywhere in the room. Around the car, I set them out in the shape of a heart. And I’ve got “Dangerous” playing on a loop.
I’m a soppy fuck, but I don’t care because it’s worth it to see the look on her face right now. Her eyes are wide, and she has the biggest smile.
She looks the most beautiful I’ve ever seen her.
Breathtaking.
“Carrick…”
I seize the fact that she’s lost for words. I’m not wasting time. If I do, then I’ll lose my nerve and fuck this up.
I can’t fuck this up.
Standing before her, I take her hands in mine and say what I’ve needed to say for a long while now, “From the moment I saw you in here, Andressa…you had me. I knew my life was about to change. And it has, beyond my wildest dreams. I used to think the only place I could truly feel alive was on the track, but I now know different. I feel most alive when I’m with you. You challenge me. You make me the happiest I’ve ever been. You make me laugh like no one can. You love me like I didn’t know possible. But most importantly, you make me a better man.”
My hands are shaking, my heart pumping. I can feel her hands trembling in mine. I’m just praying that’s a good sign.
“I want to keep feeling this way for the rest of my life, so that’s why I brought you here.” I pull the ring box from my pocket.
She gasps. Pulling her hand from mine, it covers her mouth.
“I want to ask you in the very place on the very day that you changed my life if you’d consider sharing yours with me. Let me change your life. Let me give back to you everything you’ve already given to me.” I drop to one knee and pop the box open. “Will you marry me, Andressa?”
She’s staring at me and then at the ring, back and forth her eyes go. Her hand is still covering her mouth as a tear runs down her cheek, quickly followed by another and another.
My mouth is dry, my heart beating like a motherfucker. I’ve never been as scared in my whole life as I am right now.
“Andressa…”
“Yes,” she whispers, moving her hand from her mouth.
“Yes?”
“Yes! A million times, yes!” She smiles big. And my heart explodes with relief, and pure fucking happiness.
Hands shaking like a bitch, I get the ring from the box, and I slide it onto the only finger it was ever meant to be on.
Then, I’m on my feet, pulling her to me. Claiming her mouth, I kiss her like it’s not enough because it never will be with her. I’ll always want more.
Pulling back from me, she stares at me with glittering eyes. “So…we’re getting married?” She sounds like she almost doesn’t believe this is happening.
My heart tightens in my chest. “Yeah, babe, we’re getting married.”
And I smile on the knowledge that I’m about to enter the most exciting race of my life, and there’s no one else I’d want to be in it with than her.
ANDI AND CARRICK’S STORY hit me with the force of a freight train, and from the moment I started writing it, I haven’t stopped, apart from sleeping during odd hours and occasionally eating things.
So, I have to thank my family—my husband, Craig, and the two lights of my life, my children, Riley and Isabella. They’ve put up with my absence and erratic behavior for the last few months without a word of complaint. And I know I tell them this all the time, but I’m still going to say it again. I love you all to infinity and beyond. The three of you make me a better person.
Andi and Carrick’s story came to me when hearing a song for the first time. You’ve probably figured out which song. If you haven’t heard me talking about it at any given opportunity, then it’s featured heavily in the book—“Dangerous” by David Guetta, featuring Sam Martin. And I know they’ll probably never see this, but I have to say thanks to them both—David Guetta, for his musical genius, and Sam Martin, for his voice. If it weren’t for their musical talents, then Andi and Carrick would never exist to me as they do now.
I want to say a humongous thank you to Trish Brinkley. Trishy, when I came to you, bursting with this story and rambling like a lunatic, you burst into it right along with me. You’ve lived this story with me for the last few months, championing it and me. From the daily word counts to lending me your ear when I was having a meltdown or when I needed to run something by you or ask a random question or show you another paragraph or blurb, you were always there. Thank you for all of that and for loving Andi and Carrick as much as I do. You’re the best friend a girl could ask for. I adore you.
And Shawn Brinkley, I owe you an honorary mention! Thank you for Mut! And for every other suggestion you send my way!
My gorgeous Sali Benbow-Powers—I literally threw this book at you with next to no time in which to do it, but as always, you jumped right into it with no word of complaint. I heart you. Your advice is invaluable to me, and you’re always bloody right. I hate that! And I will get to Australia one of these days, so I can squeeze you in real life!
Christine Estevez, what would I do without you? You make my life a million times easier. Honestly, I’d be screwed without you! Thank you for fixing all the things I don’t have the time to fix.
Surjit Harvey, that book…I will treasure it forever. You have no idea how much receiving it has turned things around for me. I truly treasure your friendship and our posh coffee chats!
Jovana Shirley, editor extraordinaire! Seriously, you take my words and weave them into magic, and no one can format quite like you can. Thank you for always doing an amazing job!
Najla Qamber, cover designer wonder woman! You literally took the image from out of my head and made it real. Thank you for that!
Lauren Abramo, my agent—We haven’t been working together long, but in the short time we have, you have guided me and given me valuable advice. When I came to you with this book, telling you the route I wanted to take with it, you supported me one hundred percent. I can’t thank you enough for that.
And finally my biggest thank you goes to you. Yes, you, the one reading this. Reader, blogger, reviewer—you’ve changed my life in a way I never thought imaginable. Thank you for taking a chance on me. Thank you for sticking with me and for supporting me. There aren’t enough words in the world to describe how much it means to me.
SAMANTHA TOWLE is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She began her first novel in 2008 while on maternity leave. She completed the manuscript five months later and hasn’t stopped writing since.