Magan Vernon - The Only One

John plopped down on the couch and I sat next to him, resting my head on his shoulder as he slid his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. John kissed my forehead and then leaned back to look into my eyes.

“As great as that was, I just wanted you to know that I do love you. So much. I’ve gone too long without being in love and when I finally let go, and let myself love you, it’s been the most amazing thing in the world,” he said with his eyes never leaving mine.

I was about to give into a kiss when my phone vibrated on the table. I glanced over, expecting it to be Valerie asking when she could come home, but it was a different number. Dr. Rodriguez’ number.

“Hold that thought, baby.” I put my hand up and reached over, picking up the phone and sliding it up to my ear. “Hello, this is Melanie.”

John eyed me skeptically so I mouthed ‘doctor.’ He nodded in response, taking my free hand in his again.

“Hi Melanie, this is Dr. Rodriguez. I know this is a holiday, so I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“No, no it’s fine.”

“Okay, good. I just knew you were waiting on these results and they came in early, so I thought I’d give you a Christmas gift. The tests came back and there aren’t any remaining cancer cells on your cervix.”

“What? No cancer? I’m cured?”

She laughed lightly. “We like to call it remission, but yes. Basically. I’d still like to see you in my office next week to go over follow ups, but I thought you’d like the news early.”

The tears flowed freely from my eyes. Not like the tears from the first phone call, but bright happy tears that I couldn’t hold back. “Thank you so much, Dr. Rodriguez.”

“You’re welcome, Melanie. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too.”

I hung up the phone and then looked at John. There were tears in his eyes as well. “Is it true, Red? No more cancer?”

I nodded and then leapt into his waiting arms as he embraced me in a huge hug. “That’s fucking awesome.”

“It is, isn’t it?” I sniffled into his chest.

He pulled back, wiping the tears from under my eyes. “This is turning out to be a better Christmas than I thought.”

“And none of it would have been possible without you.”

He slowly shook his head. “I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. It was all you.”

“But I wouldn’t have wanted to do any of it without you, John. I love you.”

“I love you too, Melanie. And I always will.”

One Year later

There were many moments I had with Melanie. So many perfect days to celebrate. There was the Halloween party where we first met. Thanksgiving break when I first fell in love with her. But the best was probably Christmas Eve. The day I actually got the balls to tell her that I loved her and we got the call that she was in remission from cancer.

Melanie was taking a long time to get ready as usual. We were supposed to spend Christmas Eve at her mom’s, but I told her I had a detour planned before we went there. I didn’t tell her where we were going because I knew she loved surprises. She told me that she didn’t, but every time I would surprise her with something I loved to watch the way her eyes lit up. Just like they did last Christmas when I showed up at her house. And not to mention it was pretty close to her O face, which was pretty fucking hot.

She was holed up in the bathroom, which left me surfing through channels. Her mom wasn’t too happy that I moved in with her, but there was no stopping it. There was no fucking way I was moving back into the Alpha Mu house and if I was spending all of my time there anyway, there was no reason not to.

Melanie finally emerged from the bathroom, smelling amazing from her cucumber melon body wash and her hair falling in loose curls around her shoulders. I wanted to peel the sweater off of her right there and take in every inch of her amazing body. But I couldn’t. We had plans that there was no way in hell I was breaking.

“Where are we going?”

I grinned and stood up. “Come on, Red, why would I tell you that?”

She rolled her eyes. “Are we doing this again?”

I took a few steps to her. The apartment was small enough that it didn’t take too long to get to her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her against me. I could feel myself getting hard just from her touch. There had been plenty of other girls, but there wasn’t one like Melanie. She was always so focused and I loved getting her flustered. “Always, Red. Always.”

“John, if you don’t let go of me, we may never leave this apartment.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, leaning in on her tiptoes. “Unless that’s the plan?”

“As much as I’d love to spend the night here, making you come over and over again, I have other plans for us.” I stepped back and took her hands in mine. As hard as it was to ignore my dick, I had to. I wasn’t fucking these plans up. “Now come on.”

I drove the familiar stretch of highway that I did over a year ago. The night I realized how much I really did love her. Sure, I knew there was something the night she showed up for Whiskey Wednesday. When I first kissed her I knew that I was a goner for those soft lips and big green eyes. I thought maybe I just wanted to nail the uptight girl with a thing for Harry Potter. Then she got the call from her doctor and I watched the put together girl crumble. I got to see her vulnerable side and it was amazing. But I was too stupid to realize how great she was. It wasn’t until I took her ice skating that I realized how much I loved her vulnerability and watching her out of her element made her all the more sexy.

“This place? Again?” She stared at the old ice skating rink.

“What if someday you want to take up figure skating?”

She smirked. “Yes, so you can re-enact that fantasy you have about me wearing spandex while you wear your hockey uniform.”

“Hmmm. That would be nice, but the ice may be too cold for that. We could try the locker room though, if you’re up for it.”

She scrunched her nose in the adorable way that brought out her dimples. “No thanks.”

“Well then we’d better get our asses inside before I bend you over right here in the car.”

“Can you ever say something unsexual?”

“Nope.”

I got out of the car and walked around to the other side, opening the door for her. I was trying to appear calm, but I was a wreck inside. I was afraid that everything would fall apart. I didn’t know if I should have kept her in the car longer and stalled. Maybe a quickie would make sure that we didn’t arrive too early. But she was already out of the car and walking toward the building. I didn’t even have time to grab my ice skates. I ran after her and stopped her before she got to the door.

She blinked as I opened the front door for her. “After you, m’lady.”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course I am.” I smiled, but I could feel the sweat gathering under my armpits. God, this had to work. This had to be right.

She gasped as soon as we stepped through the doors. It was exactly like I wanted it. The lights were dimmed and a slow song was playing. There wasn’t anyone in sight and the only hint that anyone was around was the shadow of someone from the DJ booth who also shone the lights down on the ice.

“What is this?” she whispered.

I took her hand and pulled her forward until we were at the rink. She stopped once we were at the ice. “I’m not wearing any skates,” she said, looking down at her heels.

I bent down and then swooped her tiny body into my arms, walking her across the ice.

She squealed, “John! What are you doing?”

This wasn’t the way I planned it, but no turning back now. I sat her down on one of the ledges and then reached into my pocket, pulling out the velvet black box. Monica had gone with me to pick out the perfect ring. It was a princess cut diamond with tiny teal gemstones lining each side of it. The color for the cervical cancer ribbon. I couldn’t have been happier when I got down on one knee and opened the box. Her eyes lit up when she saw the ring sparkling up at her.

“Melanie Wilder. I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you, Hermione costume and all. We’ve been through Hell and back and I would do it all over again. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so please tell me that you’ll marry me.”

I watched as the tears filled her eyes. The put together girl hated to cry in public and seeing her come undone was always the best sight. She immediately jumped off of the ledge and into my waiting arms. “Yes! Yes John! Yes I will!”

I slipped the ring on her finger, watching it glow against the lights of the skating rink. She kissed me over and over and I held onto her like if I let go she would leave. “You’re the only one for me, Melanie. I belong with you.”

She wiped the happy tears from her eyes and looked at me, a big grin on her face. “And I belong with you.”

We stayed there for what seemed like forever, just holding each other. I knew that I would never let her go as long as I lived. She was the only one I wanted to be with and now I would never have to be without her.

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Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media.

You can find her online at http://www.maganvernon.com

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First off, I have to thank YOU. Yes. You. The reader who picked up this book and gave me a chance…even though I kind of think you just picked it up for the hot cover.

All the amazing bloggers who have done so much for me and my career. I love that you love my characters and find my awkwardness charming.

My publicists, Jessica and Kelly, I love that you’re able to up with my weirdness and still promote me.

Regina Wamba, for my amazeballs cover. You still have the market cornered on these panty dropping covers.

My critique partners and Betas: Kelly Viel, Kate Ashton, Ava with Book Nerds Anonymous, Leigh T. Moore, Christina Lee (My Flover), Chelsea Cameron (Twitter Wife), Karen Hooper (KPoop) and Brenda Rothert.

Special shout out (again) to Brenda Rothert for copyediting this mother and having long text conversations with me that were borderline inappropriate.

The Indelibles, thank you for dealing with my constant whining.

Donna Dull, Kristina Circelli, and Jennifer Synder thanks for reading my smexy times and not judging me for them.

Dawn Pendleton, for our word sprints that I so desperately needed to get this story done.

Amanda Clark, for discussing male parts with me. We may be inappropriate, but I don’t care. I love it.

Tasha Tomlinson, thanks for putting up with me asking you random questions and being one of the first real readers of this book.

Jeremy Glenn, Nathan Weller, and cousin Vinny Happach for dealing with me constantly asking “IS THIS SOMETHING A COLLEGE BOY WOULD SAY?”

Scott, Yeah you were my college boyfriend and we’ve both gone our separate ways, but thank you for not running for the hills when I got the dreaded “call.” Thank you for letting me cry in your tiny room at the Teke house and thank you for caring. I’ll never forget that as long as I live.

Katie, we found a friendship in a hopeless place. Being sick sucks, but I’m glad that we found each other.

My girls, Claire and Olivia. I write strong heroines for you. I write about these situations that happen to a lot of people and no one writes about for you. I want you to have women to look up to and stories to read that aren’t just a textbook.

Tim, my heart, my soul, my everything. Thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams. I love you more than words can say.

Aubree

“This solution is incorrect, Miss Walker.”