AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Epilogue
Jenna
A Year Later
“I’m so glad you guys finally moved in together,” Stacey says. She sits on the carpet in my new office, helping me unpack boxes of books I brought to Brett’s place.
He’s been in California for a couple of months, training with the new team before the season starts. Since he’s arrived, the four of us—me and Brett, and Marc and Stacey—have been hanging out a lot, and it’s so great that we all get along so well. We have a solid group, and Stacey and I can relate on so many more levels than before. We’re both seeing men who are famous, who need to travel with the team for games we can’t always make. We face the paparazzi together.
It’s only brought us closer, and I didn’t even know that was possible.
“We’ve been taking it slow,” I say. “We needed to get to know each other. And it was a big change for Brett, going from his bachelor lifestyle to being in a relationship.”
Stacey snorts. “You’re making it sound like he needed time to transition.”
“Didn’t he?” I ask.
Stacey laughs. “The guy has been head over heels for you since the moment he laid eyes on you in Hawaii, and you think he’s still trying to get used to being in a relationship?”
I shrug. But the truth is I know Brett is serious about me. He’s been serious about me from the start. I’m the one that held back, that took the time to really get to know each other and know that this is what we want. After all, I spent a decade hating the guy, not knowing how he felt about me.
Despite all that, I knew we had something special. But there’s nothing wrong with being careful, right?
“What do you think is next?” Stacey asks, a glint in her eye.
“I don’t know,” I giggle. “Just let me wrap my mind around this part for now. There’s more than enough time to focus on something more serious down the line.”
I start lining the books Stacey unpacks on the shelves. I like my new office. Brett opened up a room for me where I can run my business from when I’m not at the office.
When I returned from Hawaii, I started organizing weddings. I did it, even though I didn’t get the publicity from Stacey’s wedding I’d hoped for. A few brides had still contacted me when they found out who I was, and that was enough for me to get on my feet.
Now, a year down the line, my business is strong enough that I’m looking to hire someone to help me out permanently rather than relying on my temporary staff.
Business is good. My personal life is good.
Everything turned out just the way I wanted it to be.
“I need to get going,” Stacey says, glancing at the time. “I still want to shower and wash my hair before we go out.”
I nod and hug her goodbye before she lets herself out.
Tonight, we’re going on a double date. We’ve been doing it a lot lately. Brett and Marc are meeting us there, and I’m still settling in before I get dressed.
When I finally tear myself away from my new office, I’m almost running a little late.
I get dressed in a sequined black dress that shows off my form and shimmers in the light when I move. I twist my hair into a chignon so that it shows off my back, and pair it with strappy heels. A red lip, smokey eyes, and a black clutch completely the outfit.
I decide to wear jewelry Brett bought me for our six-month anniversary, and I’m finally ready to leave.
When I hail a cab, I give the driver the restaurant name. The paparazzi are already waiting at the doors, snapping as many photos as they can get their hands on of the various celebrities and sports stars that arrive. The restaurant is popular among the rich and famous because they know just how to handle the vultures that circle us and ruin our evening.
Two large bouncers wait at the door and step forward to escort me from the cab when I arrive. Flashes go off, but I doubt they got anything they can use.
Once I’m inside, I’m taken to a table in a VIP area that’s removed from the rest of the restaurant. Stacey is already there.
“Fancy meeting you here,” I say with a smirk when we blow air kisses at each other. She’s wearing an icy blue dress that matches her eyes and her black hair hangs in ringlets over her shoulders. She looks like an ice queen.
“Marc let me know they’re on the way,” Stacey says. “Have you ever been here?” She looks around.
