Free Unbreakable Forever: A New Adult Romance Novel by Amanda Chayse Page A

got in! I have a full scholarship , Mom.”
    “Oh, my God, sweetie , that is so wonderful!” I heard the tears of joy in my mom’s voice.
    Tears immediately welled up in my eyes as I told her the wonderful news. “They loved the documentary, Mom. They want to show it to first-year medical students at Stanford.”
    Tears were streaming down my face now. My mom had worked so hard to get me to this point. And now I was telling her everything that she wanted to hear. All those days that she believed in me when no one else did, all those years of sacrificing everything for me, were justified in this one moment. And now I got to tell her this wonderful news.
    My face became drenched with tears, and my nose got stuffy as emotions poured through me and overwhelmed me. Devon handed me several tissues, and I cried on the phone with my mom, who never stopped believing in me.
    “Devon is here. He gave me cardinal-colored flowers. He knew I was accepted from the size of the envelope. We got it today.”
    “ That is so Devon. Honey, I am so proud of you. I always knew you had the talent and the brains to compete with the best. I am so proud of you!” I was crying already when she tipped me over the edge. “You should be proud of yourself, Erin. You deserve this. You deserve a great future. You deserve to have a great life.”
    “I love you, Mom.”
    “I love you, sweetheart. We are celebrating tonight.”
    “Thanks , Mom. ’Bye.”
    “ ’Bye, dear.”
    I jumped up and down and threw my arms around Devon again. He pulled me close and looked at me intently. “I told you, Erin. You are so talented. I am so proud of you, baby.”
    “You never stopped believing in me, Devon. I am so grateful for that.”
    Devon wiped the trail of tears from under my eyes with the pad of his thumb, and stared at me for a few seconds. “You are so amazing, Erin. I want you to know something.”
    “What?”
    “This is just the beginning for you. You are going to do something great with your life, Erin. You’re going to impact a lot of people. What I see in you, what Stanford sees in you. Pretty soon the whole world is going to see it, and they’re going to give you a standing ovation.”
    “You are so sweet. I love you.”
    “I love you. And I want to be there to see it. I want a front-row seat to the great things you are going to do. Do you promise me I can have that?”
    “No.” I said with a soft smile.
    Devon waited for me to respond. He knew me all too well now.
    “I can do you one better. I can give you a backstage pass.”
    “That’s all I’ve ever really wanted.”
    Devon pulled me close to him. My arms rested on his broad shoulders ; my safe place that had protected me from everything now wanted a permanent place in my life. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. I felt the rough whiskers of his chin scrape against my back. His embrace made every part of my body sing, and this came close to being the best day of my life.
    But nothing could prepare me for what happened next.

Chapter Fourteen
~Erin~
    I grabbed onto Kathy’s arm. I was so excited to tell her the news.
    “Erin, I told you that documentary was phenomenal. It was unreal. I’m so proud of you.” Kathy gave me a tight hug.
    “ They want my permission to show it to first-year medical students.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes!” I cried with excitement.
    “That is incredible. Oh, my God!” My best friend embraced me.
    “Kathy, this was your idea! You are so smart! Thank you so much!”
    “So can I have some of your scholarship, then?” she teased me.
    “ I know you can get in, too, Kathy. If I can do it, you can do it.”
    Kathy would be applying next year. I was going to do anything it took to put the word in with Dr. Brenner. I would tell him the documentary was her idea. I was sure she would also get a great reference from him.
~Devon~
    Several weeks had passed since Erin received the news. Erin had filled out all of her paperwork, and she was now enrolled at the