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“Gina, so help me—”
I intervene, “Gina, don’t wind him up. And Ryan, you need to tone down the caveman act. Gina doesn’t need your approval to see anyone.”
“Actually, Stella, Ryan’s right to be concerned since I’m not just seeing Antonio.”
Ryan looks at his sister, his eyes widening as saucers, mirroring mine, and for the sake of everyone, I hope she’s not about to say what I think she is.
“We got married last week.”
Epilogue
Stella
Six Months Later
I stare at the tranquil lake with the sun just peeking over the horizon, and I can’t help but chuckle softly to myself.
Bonnie and Brooke swore that if they lived in a house like this, they’d never leave the bed.
But for me, it’s the opposite. Now, I scramble awake just for this moment, to watch the sunrise. It’s become a daily ritual that fills me with a sense of new beginnings.
My hand drifts to the mug of Gold Medal ginger tea on the ledge beside me, fingers circling the rim. I switched from coffee to tea last week, and going by my friends’ strong recommendations, I chose ginger tea.
The door behind me creaks, and I recognize that step, the confident stride that can only belong to one person.
“Ready to roll?” I ask without turning, still tracing the rim of the tea mug with my finger, a small smile on my face. He usually leaves for work before six on days he’s not taking Harriet to school.
I feel his warmth on my back before he slips his arm around my waist, pulling me against him in his signature embrace. I’m pleasantly surprised to feel his naked torso against my back and I melt into him, the age-old butterflies fluttering awake low in my belly.
“Good morning, baby.” He presses a kiss to my temple then buries his face in my neck.
“You’re not dressed for work.” I raise my arms and link my hands behind his neck, then let my fingers trace his warm skin down to his shoulders and back up. “Did Harriet wrangle another drop-off day out of you?”
“Well, that little scamp Jack Adler stuck his tongue out at her again. He’s getting a stern look.”
“Baby, the last ‘stern look’ only lasted two days. I don’t think it’s working.”
He drops light kisses on the curve of my neck. “I’m going to have to get more creative then.”
“Actually, Harriet is going to have to come up with a more convincing story to get you to take her to school.”
Ryan chuckles, “I don’t mind.”
“I know you don’t. But what about your routine?”
“My routine is you girls. If you want me somewhere, I’ll make it happen.”
“Yeah, and Harriet definitely knows how to milk that.”
He sucks on my earlobe, “Unlike her mom who still hesitates to bother me.”
“She’s wound you so tightly around her pinkie finger, you might as well be a ring.”
He bites down on the flesh at the juncture of my neck and shoulder, and I shiver, the
throb between my legs intensifying into an ache.
“And what about you, wife? What do you think you’ve done to me?” He cups my breast and pinches my tight nipple.
