Saving Ever After (Ever After #4) by Stephanie Hoffman McManus Read Free Book Online

the rest of us.
    “Are they
all still coming out for family weekend next month?”
    “Dad said he
was. I’m not sure about the twins. I guess it will depend if they have better
things to do, like shopping.” I said it jokingly, but we both knew I was
serious.
    “Yeah, I
know how they are, and don’t worry about Mom and Dad. Things will settle down
soon, I’m sure. I know Dad really wants to be there for you more, he’s just got
a lot to deal with right now. He’s not used to being very involved in our
lives, but I don’t think we should give up on him yet.” She didn’t say anything
else about Mom. Not that there was much to say. I’d tried so many times since
my accident to make peace with her. I knew I could be difficult, and that I
hadn’t made things easy on her. I lost my temper and got frustrated with her a
lot, but I’d apologized so many times. I was trying to make things right, but
my efforts went unacknowledged by her.
    I sighed,
“Yeah. It’s okay. I know he’s trying, and I’ve got you.”
    “Yes you do.
I’m always here, even though right now I actually have to go. We’re watching
Abel and from the look on Ace’s face right now, he needs to be changed. Jax
will be picking him up soon and then I’m sure she’ll want to talk about the
party.”
    “Okay. Well
then go take care of dirty diapers. Oh, and congratulations. I’m really happy
for you guys. I love you.”
    “Love you
too, Mia, and I’ll see you this weekend if I don’t see you before then. Call me
if you need anything.”
    I ended the
call, still smiling. I’m a sucker for happy endings, and my big sister was
finally getting hers after so much struggle and heartbreak. I hoped that
someday I would find a guy like Ace. My mind immediately went back to Chris,
like it had so many times the last few weeks. Before the day at the hospital, I
hadn’t seen him since the night of Sadie’s disastrous birthday dinner when
Leila had spent all night flirting with him.
    After that
night, I’d tried to make myself forget about him, told myself so many times
that he would never be interested in me. I was too young and immature and not
his type. I’d contented myself with following him online like every other girl
in the country and relinquishing the hope of ever having any more of connection
than that. I’d allowed myself the silly celebrity crush, because everyone had
one and I thought they were harmless.
    Then, after
one afternoon in a hospital waiting room, and a fifteen minute car ride, suddenly
he was all I could think about. He was on my mind to the point of serious
distraction, and the way he was consuming me felt anything but harmless.
    Unfortunately
for me, Chris was so much more real to me than the usual celebrity fantasy most
girls have. I didn’t have to imagine how wonderful he was, or how good he
smelled when you were in close proximity to him, like cooped up in his Porsche
Cheyenne. Or if those bright blue eyes that always appeared in his photos,
drawing you in, were real or photoshopped. I already knew all those things. I
knew his eyes were real and that it was all too easy to get lost in their
depths. He was also sweet and funny and thoughtful and down to earth and the
kind of gorgeous that made girls stupid. He talked to me like he was actually
interested in what I had to say, and he seemed to genuinely care when I brought
up my parents’ divorce. I don’t know why I did that, other than it was the
other thing, besides him, that was always on my mind lately.
    Before my
happy mood could sink any further, there was a knock on the door of my room.
    “Hey, I
texted you like fifteen times,” Jillian said when I pulled it open. She’d only
texted me three times, but it was all the same to her.
    “Sorry, I
was on the phone with my sister. She got engaged last night,” I shared.
    “Ooh, I love
weddings. That sounds like a reason to celebrate to me. Let me call Heidi and
she’ll find out where the party is at