Seeker (Riders #2)(111)

Even his temper.

I want it all. If that's not worth shaping my life around, what is?

Besides. Dad and Chief are both obsessed, and it would be cruel to break their hearts. 

Mom, Iz, and I finish up this round of dishes. None of us expected the party to last hours longer than it was meant to, but we should've. These are the best people I know. I don't want this day to end, and I'm obviously not alone in feeling this way.

As Mom and Isabel take the glasses out to the bar set up at the pool house, I slip away.

"Daryn?" Mom says, stopping me at the stairs.

"I left something in my room. I'll be right out."

She smiles. "Hurry back."

I vault upstairs and into my room. My notebook is on my desk.

I grab it and bring it to my bed, flip it open, and read the last entries.

94. Home! With Dad, Josie, Mom, Mom, Mom. Chief! My room. The big gold couch. Josie's cookies. Mom's hugs. Dad's smile. Our house. Home home home home home.

95. Making plans for the future with Gideon. Making a future with Gideon via plans.

96. Isabel, here at home. Like she's a piece of the puzzle we always knew we'd find.

97. Every time I look at Sebastian. Every time.

98. Letting go of regret. Embracing life, the future, love.

I write the next one.

99. Today. This perfect day.

I smile as I hear footsteps coming down the hall.

Gideon appears at my door and props his elbow on the frame. Chief bounces around at his feet for a second, then flops on his back, waiting for a stomach rub. "I think your dad's trying to give me your dog."

I laugh. "Not so fast," I say. "But I'll consider sharing him with you."

His eyebrows go up. "That's better than I expected." He sits beside me and takes my hand. His eyes drop to my notebook, scanning the last lines. "Nice," he says, smiling at me. "What's one hundred going to be?"

It's a really good question. I smile, closing the notebook. "I'm leaving it empty. So I never stop looking."

"I see a Reason now," he says, looking right into my eyes.

I smile. "So do I."