Yes, now would be the perfect time to add another Carson to the world. If she wasn’t growing one now, maybe she would be soon. I’d talk to Mols about it later. It might take a little while, but we’d have a fucking blast trying. I laughed to myself, causing my friends to look at me like I was nuts. Before I could justify my actions, Noah came into the room. “They’re here guys!”

A quiet hush fell over the group as Lia’s voice drifted into the room. “I hate being late.”

“We’re not late, Red. I bet half the boys aren’t even out of bed yet.”

She laughed, a sound that still made me smile. “Good point.”

Then, the door opened and a very round redhead waddled into the room to shouts of, “Surprise!”

Putting her hands on her non-existent hips, she beamed at us. “You guys!”

Nate laughed, his hands coming around to rest protectively on her giant belly. They looked more than happy. Content. It was about damn time.

Since we didn’t know the gender, and wouldn’t until the next Kelly came flying into the world looking for a brawl, Molly had decided on a “Precious Cargo” theme. The room was a blend of antique suitcases, planes, and maps in gender-neutral colors. I now knew way more than I ever wanted to about baby shower etiquette. But watching my girl smile and pay me with kisses as I helped was worth handing in my man-card for a few days.

The party moved surprisingly quickly. Before I knew it, we’d eaten lunch, played games, had cake, and Nate and Lia were opening presents. I didn’t know what half the shit was, or what it was used for, but Molly, Lia, and Janet oohed and aahed over every little thing. Lia had just set the last present down when I stood up.

“I have one more,” I told them, pulling the small gift bag out from where I’d hidden it, handing it to my friend.

Lia took it gingerly, glancing at Molly, who shrugged. “This is from you?”

I nodded, clearing my throat. “It is.”

She pulled the tissue out slowly, reaching in as she eyed me suspiciously. Pulling out the book I’d spent weeks searching for, she turned it to see the title. “The Kissing Hand?”

I shrugged. “You will never be alone, Lee. I’m always right here.” I smiled, not wanting her to focus too much on it right then. “Now open the rest of it.”

When she pulled out the two soft plush raccoons, her face was a mixture of horror and delight. Molly smacked my arm, appalled – if she’d known that I was going to buy them, she would have stopped me. Lia stared at the two little vermin, who were holding hands, for a long moment, and then she clutched them to her chest.

“Arthur and Rocket.” Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head at me. No one in the room could understand that gift, or know why my best friend began crying over a pair of raccoons. But I did.

We’d been two lost, miserable kids. We’d clung to each other, and loved each other for so long that we didn’t know how to survive without the other. Our lives were changing, and we’d grown into people that didn’t need each other quite as much. But like the stuffed animals she held, we would always be connected.

When she stood and threw herself into my arms, I hugged her back. I still loved her, as much as I ever had. Somewhere along the line, I realized that love was nothing compared to what I felt for Molly. Lia was my sister. Molly was my everything. I deposited Lia back into her husband’s arms and pulled my wife down onto my lap.

“We should design the nursery in a raccoon theme,” Lia sniffled into her husband’s shoulder. “They’re really cute and very soft.

“Unless they have glowing red eyes,” Nate muttered, trying not to laugh. Dick.

“Or giant fucking fangs,” Molly added, bursting into giggles as I tickled her sides.

A sappy and emotional love song came on the radio. I rolled my eyes, thinking about how much I hated songs like that. Then I realized I was living a goddamn country song complete with cowboy boots and a camo Yankees hat. I chuckled. It really was amusing how you could just be living your life, and then one day, completely out of the blue, everything changes.

Note for the reader:

Dear Reader,

This was a book I never planned to write. Mike had an important role in Forever Red, yet I never anticipated how much you all would love him and crave his story.

I had no idea where this book would go, or who would steal Mike’s heart until Molly made her intentions clear. I fought against the match – Mike and Molly, really? – but there really wasn’t anyone Mike wanted to be with other than Molly.

In the end, Mike and Molly turned out to be my favorite couple out of all my book couples. I love them together! Don’t get me wrong, I adore Nate & Lia, and Matty & Jo, but there is just something about Mike and Molly that makes me smile.

This is not the end for our ‘Bama Boys. Noah is up next – Black is coming in Spring 2016. I have loved Noah since Red and I cannot wait to sit with him and see where his story takes us. Hopefully Emily doesn’t break his heart too much!

Thank you for loving Nate and Red with me!

I hope you love Mike Carson and Molly Ray just as much!

I’ve been asked numerous times about Kevin’s song. No, it is not a real song. It is, however, a poem called ‘Good Night Dear Friend”. When he was 21, my best friend Brett lost his battle with cancer. I wish I could say that I held myself together, or that I was strong. I didn’t and I wasn’t. I wrote the poem that Molly’s uses as lyrics to read at his funeral. It was the only way I could express my loss – a loss I still feel sixteen years later. If I was Molly, Brett was my Mike – it is only fitting that the words I’d written for him found a forever home in Mike’s book.

Please let me know what you think!

Remember lades, Forget Prince Charming.

carinaadamswrites@gmail.com

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Acknowledgments:

This book was a labor of love for me. While I wrote Blue, everything in my personal life went crazy. You’re reading this now because the people who love me wouldn’t let me stop writing, even when I thought I was going to have to. To everyone who told me to take a deep breath, who promised everything would be ok, and who just made me laugh, Thank You! I love you more than you could imagine.

For my husband, who supports my dreams and my love of imaginary people, even when I’m worn out and cranky. Sometimes love isn’t expressed in words or romantic gestures – it’s shown by cooking dinner night after night, getting the kids ready for bed, and doing whatever it takes to give your wife time to sit and write, even though you work eighty hours a week. I will work harder to remember that because you mean the world to me Bambino

For the real Kevin, who rescued me, over and over again. I could not have survived high school, my family, or my dad’s death, without you. If I could go back and do it again, knowing that you wouldn’t be part of my life anymore, I wouldn’t change a thing because everything happened the way it was supposed to. We may not talk now, but the teenage me will forever be in love with the teenage you. I hope you found all the happiness you deserve!

I seriously have the best group of women supporting me. They not only read my words, they put up with my crap and are always there for me. Even if I didn’t always agree with them, they were a constant support. Thank you Ada, Amanda, April, Jen, Kim, Lauren, Theresa and Tristan for loving Mike with me! You are the BEST BETAS EVER! I hope you’ll join me for Noah!

Amanda and April – I tell everyone that I have the world’s best PAs. I mean every word. I adore you two. Thank you for all that you do!