Today is my anniversary with Ryan and it’s also exactly one week until Obsessed comes out. And I find that so absolutely fitting.
Warning: This post is going to be long and sappy. And it’ll contains spoilers for some of my books that are already out.
Four years ago my husband and I said “I do.”
So much of our story reflects what is written in The Hunted series. Ryan, you are the James to my Penny. I fell in love with you crazy fast. I think it’s easy for young hearts to fall that quickly. But we’re the lucky ones. The ones that kept growing together. And falling even more in love.
You encouraged me to start writing. To chase my dreams. And I wrote what I knew. You and me. I write you into all my books. Pieces of you and me.
You make me laugh like you’re the Tanner to my Ash.
We’re written in the stars like Summer and Miles.
You feel like home to me, the same way Matt feels like home to Brooklyn.
One of the hardest scenes I’ve ever had to write was Matthew Caldwell’s wedding vows. The ones he had to say on the saddest day of his life instead of the best. Thinking of a life without you Ryan…channeling what that would be like? I couldn’t stop crying for days.
But most of all…I wrote us into that very first series. Penny and James. I can’t believe that I wrote Temptation six and a half years ago. And that for almost a whole year you’re the only one who knew I was putting my heart and soul out there. I kept my writing a secret because I didn’t have the confidence I do now.
You believed in me. You encouraged me. You lifted me up in the best way possible.
And I can’t thank you enough for helping me find my thing. Writing is my happy place. And sharing my words with you chapter by chapter makes me the happiest human ever.
You are my true love. My happily ever after. My everything. Because only with you am I whole. Only with you have I really figured out who I am.
And that’s what James is for Penny too. I think a lot of people view needing someone to complete you as a weakness. But I think it’s incredibly strong. To trust someone so completely with your heart. There’s strength in vulnerability.
Getting to write about James and Penny again in Obsessed feels like coming full circle. Like coming home. Like remembering what it was like to give you my heart in the first place. It was the best decision I ever made. And I’m so excited to share our story in a new way next week.
Hands Down, I wouldn’t want to do life with anyone else, Ryan. I love you.
