She pouts, obviously not yet picking up what I’m putting down, so I lay it on a little thicker. “Go out to dinner with Holley tonight like you were supposed to, and I’ll see you before you know it.”
“Why are you being so weird right now? I know you have to go, and I respect it, but I’m allowed to be sad.”
I laugh, screaming a little in frustration.
“What?” she questions then. “What am I missing here?”
I step toward the edge of the mattress and take her hands in mine. I squeeze them tight and then, finally, make a decision. Fuck Jake and his shitty secrets.
I’m telling my wife the plan. He can let Holley be surprised.
“Jake planned a secret trip for the four of us to a ranch in Utah, and if you just go to dinner with Holley and let me pretend to leave, we’re going to surprise you tonight and get on airplane and go there,” I say in a quiet rush, like Jake is hiding in our fucking closet or something.
Lauren’s face lifts into a smile as she squeals. “Oh my God, really?”
“Really,” I confirm with a nod and lean forward to press a soft kiss to her lips.
“I love you so much,” she says against my mouth. “Thank you for betraying your oldest, dearest friend and telling me.”
I chuckle. “Anything for you, baby.”
“Holy moly! Now I’m excited to get dressed for dinner!” She jumps up from her spot on the bed and bounces on her toes. “And you can go. Pretend you’re leaving. I won’t pout this time.”
I laugh and shake my head as she runs into the closet, and one painfully honest thought runs through my mind as my heart squeezes in my chest.
I might have to leave for short periods of time for work, but when it comes to Lauren Alexander and our life, I’m never, fucking ever, going anywhere.
THE END
Love Garrett, Lauren, and the crew and want to read more of them?
Well, we have great news!
You can take a trip with Garrett, Lauren, Jake, and Holley to a Utah Ranch right now in this EXCLUSIVE EXTENDED EPILOGUE!
It’s completely FREE and not-to-be missed!
OR
Are you new to the Single Dad Collection?
Now that you’ve had a taste of Holley and Jake, are you dying to read the whole story?
Read Single Dad Seeks Juliet right now, or keep on flipping pages to read the short excerpt we’ve included at the end!
If you’ve already read and loved Jake and Holley, you can preorder the next romantic comedy standalone book in the Single Dad Collection today!
Grumpy Cowboy is coming May 22nd! Yeehaw! LOL!
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT TO ALL OF THE ABOVE?
Never fear, we have a list of over THIRTY other titles to keep you busy for as long as your little reading heart desires! Check them out at our website: www.authormaxmonroe.com
COMPLETELY NEW TO MAX MONROE AND DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
Check out our Suggested Reading Order!
WHAT’S NEXT FROM MAX MONROE?
Stay up-to-date with our characters and our upcoming releases by signing up for our newsletter on our website: www.authormaxmonroe.com/newsletter!
We’ll be announcing our NEXT new release soon!
(Hint: It’s coming in March and it just might be the funniest book we’ve ever written.)
You may live to regret much, but we promise it won’t be subscribing to our newsletter.
Seriously, we make it fun! Character conversations about royal babies, parenting woes, embarrassing moments, and shitty horoscopes are just the beginning! If you’re already signed up, consider sending us a message to tell us how much you love us. We really like that. ;)
Follow us online:
Facebook
Reader Group
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Goodreads
SINGLE DAD SEEKS JULIET EXCERPT
Chloe
“No, you lunatic! I am not typing those words about my father—ever.”
“Oh, come on!” my best friend and altogether wild woman, Hailie Hargrove, teases, setting her chin on my shoulder and rubbing it into the muscle awkwardly. “Not even if there were a werewolf chasing you? And I’m not talking about dreamboat Jacob Black trying to imprint on you either. I’m talking full-on werewolf with beady eyes and sharp teeth that can’t be deterred by humans or hella sexy vampires.”
I roll my eyes and jerk my shoulder to make her weirdo chin find another home. “For the sake of our friendship, you need to stop rereading Twilight.”
“It’s not my fault Stephenie Meyer released Midnight Sun and I’m back on my Team Edward bull-shizzle,” she responds, acting like her words provide a perfect explanation for the fact that she’s read the Twilight series no fewer than fifty times.
No joke. She’s been reading that series since we were, like, twelve. And considering we’re both seventeen—almost eighteen—now, her obsessive love for a fictional vampire is going five years strong without any signs of letting up.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Twilight, but Hailie could stand to read about some socially conforming mortals every once in a while.
“It would do our friendship some good if you fit in a few John Green or Jenny Han books between your Edward Cullen binges.”