Nina and Margaret sit on either side of me and I place my arms over the backs of their chairs. Harlow and I are so damned lucky to have them in our lives.
When Harlow and Margaret came to the city for the first time, we were able to talk Margaret into moving here. She went back to Park Ridge, sold her home, and shared an apartment with Harlow for a year.
Harlow took Becca’s advice and lived apart from me, although her apartment was only a few blocks over from mine. She slept over at my place more often than her own, but she had the independence of choosing.
Over the last four years, I’ve watched the meek, shy Harlow of Rochester morph into a determined New Yorker. She even yells at cabbies now.
“They’re getting ready to call out her name,” Margaret says, straining to see over the heads of people sitting in front of us. “I only wish her mother could see her. She’d be so proud.” Margaret wipes her eyes.
“Me, too,” I sigh.
“Harlow Masters,” the master of ceremonies announces in a formal tone.
She walks across the stage, smiling from ear to ear, beaming with joy. My beautiful Harlow shakes the hand of the college president and then leaves the stage. It’s one of the proudest moments of my life. She returns to her seat with a bounce in her step.
After everyone has formally graduated, a speaker ends the ceremony asking all the graduates to move their tassels to the other side of their caps and a few fly up in the air as shouts ring out over the crowd.
“Are you ready, Sin?” Nina gives me a sly smile. “Here’s the box.”
Nina takes my graduation present to Harlow from her purse and hands it to me. My hands aren’t even shaking. I’m ready to officially make Harlow mine forever.
Margaret hands me an empty Dunkin’ Donuts sack with the words, “Harlow Masters, will you marry me?” written across it in black Sharpie.
The grandmothers and I exit our row and head to the back of the venue. We agreed to meet Harlow there after the ceremony and they’re standing at my side.
Harlow breaks free from the crowd of maroon robes and starts to head in our direction. I glance to each side and see the encouraging smiles of the other two women in my life.
It’s show time.
I drop to one knee and hold up the sack. Harlow slows as she tries to make out the sign. I know the instant she can read it. She stops and becomes as still as a statue, her mouth forming into a perfect “O”. Her hands fly up to her cheeks in total surprise.
A few seconds later, she’s all glowing smiles and running toward me as fast as her heels will allow. Her gown billows around her, but she doesn’t slow down as she approaches. She’s still barreling on, full speed.
I stand up in just enough time to catch her in my arms. The sack lies long forgotten on the ground by my feet. I spin her around in my arms and she throws her head back in bliss.
“Marry me,” I say, and she raises her head to look into my eyes. I stop spinning and her feet touch the ground, but we don’t break our embrace.
“Yes,” she breathes.
My lips descend on hers as I kiss the beautiful woman who will be my wife. She thinks I rescued her, but truly, she’s the one who set my heart free. I have the rest of my life to thank her for it, too.
THE END
NOTE TO READER
Thank you for taking Harlow’s journey with me. She learned she’s not an object to be owned, but a being to be loved.
May I ask a favor? If you share a review of this book (and thank you if you do), consider keeping the “exacts” of the ending secret. Thanks for your understanding.
xo, Liv
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BOOKS By LIV MORRIS
Adam’s Apple
Adam’s Fall
Touch of Tantra
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Where to begin…
To my sweet Nomad. I met you when I was eighteen and knew nothing about love, but I hit the husband jackpot. We just fit. Thank you for supporting me, pushing me when I needed it, and letting go when it was for the best. You are my life and without you in it, I am nothing.
To my three beautiful grown daughters… Fair warning! This book contains sex. I know you think you were immaculately conceived, so I don’t want you to read this and faint.
To my crazy bestie, Kelly. Everyday, I thank the good lord for What’s App. It’s almost as good as a phone call…
Ruth, Suzie, Michelle E., Michelle G., Pam M, Pam G, Taylor, and Marla. You all have been such dear friends to me and I love you for it.
To my lovely and gracious friend, Erika, You will always be my forever inspiration as a writer. Thank you.
To my dear agent and friend, Rebecca Friedman, thanks for believing in me as a person and writer. I love you.
Big thanks to The Rock Stars of Romance for their awesome support in helping me spread the word about MSK. Lisa H., you truly do rock!