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She lowers the phone, then drops it into her handbag. "So what now? Are you going to continue with your wedding planning business?"
"It’s still my dream. So yes, I’m going to continue to build it up." Needless to say, the popularity of the videos means I’ve been flooded with offers to organize weddings. I decided to take my time in accepting the ones I’m going to work with.
My new focus is to offer discounted services to women with conditions like mine who need help with organizing their weddings in a way that gives them the most confident start to the next chapter of their lives. Having shared my real self with the world, I feel so right, so ready, like I’m finally fully in my body. I want to bring that same feeling to those who’ve felt defensive about their looks. If I can help make them feel good about themselves and enhance their wedding by making them feel their best selves, then I’ll know I’ve done my job.
Also, Lila finally messaged me. She went off-grid for a while to get herself together and is now traveling around the world. She decided not to use her father’s money for the trip. Instead, she’s working her way through her journey. By all accounts, she’s enjoying herself and discovering parts of herself she didn’t know existed. She’s thankful I saved her from marrying Liam, and she’s happy we found each other. She’s seen some of videos and says it’s obvious we were meant to be. Apparently, she also caught my viral video where I revealed I have alopecia and she was very supportive of that, too. She assured me that we’re still friends and says we’ll get together when she gets back. She’s not sure when that will be, but promised to keep in touch. And of course, I can follow her journey on social media.
"And I assume your fake wedding is no longer fake?" Zara arches an eyebrow.
"Far from it." I laugh. "And Liam insists he doesn’t care about getting access to his trust fund or having the rights to his company finally transferred to him. He insists that as long as I’m happy, he’s happy, and everything else is secondary."
Zara screws up her face. "Stop. The two of you are going to give me diabetes, with how lovey-dovey you always are."
"It is what it is." I raise my hands. "I can’t help that I’m madly in love with my husband."
"You called, baby?" Liam’s voice reaches me. I turn to find him making his way over to me. He bends, and at the same time, I tilt my face up. Our lips meet in a long, drugging kiss. By the time we break apart, I’m flushed, and Liam’s wearing that infernal smirk on his face. A smirk I find even hotter, knowing the man behind all that sexiness is so caring, so tender, so tuned into my every need, that I’ll never lack for anything as long as I live.
“I had a message from my ex-hairdresser,” I cup his cheek.
“Oh?” He tilts his head.
“Don’t pull that innocent look on me. Did you threaten him or something?”
“Do I look like the kind of man who goes around threatening people?”
I laugh. “Yes, you do. Especially when that person is someone who’s upset me. I don’t know what you told him, but he apologized profusely for his statement. He told me he could only imagine how much distress his comment must have caused me, and promised to be more aware of what he says to his clients in the future. He asked how he could make it up to me.”
“And what did you say?” He searches my eyes.
“I didn’t want to forgive him, to be honest. But I knew I was being petty, and the only way I could heal move forward was to accept his apology and not harbor ill feelings toward him anymore. I made him promise never to judge another person so harshly again. He also agreed to donate 10% of his next month’s salary to the National Alopecia Research Foundation.” Liam pulls me closer.
“You’re a better person than I am. This is why I love you so much. You have such a generous heart, Isla.” He kisses me firmly. My heart jumps in my chest, and my stomach flutters. Liam’s kisses are the best. I mean, everything else he does to me is also amazing, but the touch of his lips on mine? It’s the most romantic thing ever.
"Love you," I whisper against his mouth.
"Love you." His lips curve up.
"Ugh, okay. I get it. Time for me to leave." Zara jumps up to her feet.
"Oh, hey, didn’t mean to drive you away," I protest.
Zara snorts. "Please, the two of you can’t wait to get rid of me so you can go back to burrowing into your love nest."
I laugh, not denying the fact that I love spending time with my new husband. But I also don’t want any of my friends to feel like I’ve deserted them. "Call me, please, and tell me how the preparations for your new campaign are going."
"You got it, babe." She blows me a kiss, turns to leave, then stiffens.
There, leaning against the doorframe to the patio, is Hunter. He looks her up and down, a look of blatant longing on his face. Zara’s shoulders seem to tense even further. Then she walks over to the doorway. As she’s about to walk through, Hunter steps in front of her, blocking off her exit.
"Ooh, this should be interesting," I murmur.
"Indeed." The next moment, Liam lifts me, before sitting down on the sofa in the spot Zara has just vacated, with me in his lap. "Now we have a ringside view."
I cuddle into my husband and watch as Zara’s spine goes ramrod straight.
"Let me pass," she says in a low voice, which we can still hear.
"And if I don’t?" Hunter drawls.
