Always The One. Tara Randel

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СКАЧАТЬ let me buck the system and call tails,” Derrick said.

      “Magnanimous of you.”

      With a chuckle, Derrick sent the coin into the air. It hovered. Dropped. Derrick eyed the metal and said, “Guess I had to lose some time.”

      “Let me see,” Dylan said, reaching for the coin. Derrick snatched his hand away.

      “Nope. Doesn’t work that way.”

      “So you really lost?”

      “You doubt me?”

      “You’ve been known to cheat.”

      Once again, Derrick went for hurt. “I’m wounded.”

      Dylan crossed his arms over his chest. “Yet you haven’t confessed.”

      Derrick shrugged.

      “Fine. You win.” Dylan took a few steps back, then turned to leave. A couple of minutes later Jasmine reappeared.

      “How did it turn out?”

      “We decided I’d have the honor of walking you down the aisle.” He puffed out his chest. “I am the oldest, after all.”

      “And this decision didn’t have anything to do with you manipulating the coin toss?”

      His eyes went wide. “How…”

      “You boys think you’re a step ahead of me.” She rolled her eyes. “That will be the day.”

      Barking out a laugh, Derrick hugged the woman who had loved him since birth, the woman he’d be pleased to give away in marriage.

      She pulled back, her eyes bright as she searched his face. “You’re okay with this?”

      “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said.

      “With the upcoming weddings and happily-ever-afters, I don’t want you to feel left out.”

      His chest squeezed tight. He knew his mother was referring to Hannah. “I’m okay, Mom.”

      She tilted her head. “Really?”

      “Yes,” he lied.

      While she continued to read him, he led her in the direction of the beach. “Yes, I’ve always been in love with her. And yes, I’ll continue to love her. But by her silence, Hannah’s made it clear she doesn’t feel the same way. I’ve tried to find her. Failed.” He ran a shaky hand over his closely cropped hair. “Maybe Dylan is right. It’s time to move on.”

      A bright sheen brightened his mother’s eyes in the bonfire light. “I know how much this hurts.”

      It did. Every day. But it didn’t change reality.

      He swallowed hard. Forced himself to believe the words he was about to say. “I’m ready. Probably should have been years ago.”

      “You never gave up hope.”

      “Sometimes hope isn’t enough.”

      At those words, his mother tightly hugged him. Then she stepped back and wiped her cheeks. “I’m happy about your decision. And that you’ll be here for the wedding.”

      “I have vacation time coming. And believe it or not, I’m happy you found James.” He lifted his chin in the direction of her fiancé. “Go enjoy your night.”

      “You promise you’ll be okay?”

      “Promise.”

      She frowned. “I worry about you. You talk a good game…”

      “Go.”

      At his directive, she made her way back to James, the smile from earlier returning to her lips.

      He glanced around the crowd, catching glimpses of his brothers and their girlfriends. He was the odd man out here. He’d head back to DC early, get some paperwork done and take off on his unwelcome vacation. It was going to be a long six weeks, but what choice did he have? Sit around his apartment and mope? The idea of a solo trip didn’t appeal, but he realized that maybe he was better off alone in the long run. In life.

      On that sobering thought, Derrick made his way to the water’s edge to escape the pervading good cheer. The surf rolled in at a steady pace as he approached. The scent of burning wood and wet sand should have relaxed him, but as he stared out over the dark horizon, his mind traveled elsewhere.

      Usually he kept himself so busy at work that he didn’t have time to dwell on the past. The pace in DC was hectic, and in his position as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he took every case he could. But coming here to Florida brought back memories he’d tried to block over the years. Even as they faded to black-and-white.

      He and Hannah had come up with the idea to get married while they were at the beach, shortly after high school graduation. Hannah had been talking about college and how she didn’t want them to be separated and before he knew it, they’d hatched a plan. It had been a night much like this, filled with promise and joy, but they’d been alone instead of in a crowd like the folks gathered here to celebrate with his mother. Seemed like it had always been him and Hannah against the world. He’d liked it that way. Didn’t need anyone else and neither did she.

      Excitement had gleamed in her eyes. She’d thrown herself into his arms for a kiss that sealed the deal. Two months until their birthdays and then they’d make things official.

      Until fate decided otherwise.

      He let out a sigh as he heard someone approach. He looked over his shoulder and spotted Dylan walking his way.

      “You going to be able to make it back in time for Mom’s wedding?” his brother asked.

      “Looks like I’ll have to now.”

      “Because you cheated.”

      He canted his head. “Like that’s a shocker.”

      Dylan chuckled. “You can get time off?”

      “Turns out I’ve accrued a month and a half worth of vacation time my superior is hounding me to take. He hates paperwork and wants me to lighten his load by going, in his words, anywhere.”

      “Have you made plans?”

      “I was thinking about hitting the road.” Dante had restored and modified a classic ’67 Challenger for Derrick. The same car that was a piece of junk when he’d arrived in Hannah’s driveway the day he’d discovered her gone…

      He’d jumped out of the car. Run up the brick path to the front door and rung the bell. Could barely keep still from the excitement coursing through him. After a few minutes of silence, he’d pressed the button again. And again. He’d moved to the large picture window and cupped his hands around his eyes to peer into the dark recesses of the house before stepping from the porch to walk around the СКАЧАТЬ