Epilogue
One month later …
CARI
I couldn’t be happier.
Having brunch with the girls is one of my favorite things. The October sun beams onto the kitchen table laden with platters of fresh fruit, pastries, and steaming coffee. Aunt Scarlett is fussing over a bowl of eggs, her stern face a stark contrast to her tender hands. Bianca and Eliana sit across from me, deep in a conversation about the latest trends, their laughter a soft hum in the background.
I glance at the clock on the wall, my stomach fluttering with a mix of excitement and nerves.
“Stop fidgeting,” Aunt Scarlett says, not looking up from her task.
“I’m not fidgeting,” I lie, tucking my hands under the table.
“Yes, you are,” Bianca teases. “You’ve been staring at the clock like it owes you money.”
When I told my girls about the Knight family dinner, when Jett stood up to his father and told him, in front of everyone, that he loved me, they were happy, if a little wary. Still.
Aunt Scarlett has been going on about when we can all meet this Jett Knight and see for ourselves what his intentions are .
It’s like they don't trust me.
Like they think I lost my mind in Bermuda and fell for him. They thought the heat might have gotten to my head.
Aunt Scarlett was worried. Eliana and Bianca, not so much. Now that a few weeks have passed and things have settled down in both of our lives, it seems like the perfect time for them to meet Jett in person. He’s coming here. I keep looking at my watch, knowing that he’s a stickler for time. He should be here any moment now.
At work, Jett has a new assistant. I was in the interview. She's lovely. In her forties, with a son at college. Jett joked that I didn’t trust him so I picked someone older and married.
I do trust him, implicitly. But Deborah is good, and she was the best of the bunch. I also needed someone who would be able to stand up to Paul Knight, because I sense he's placed a target on Jett's back. I'm sure that man hated being shown up in front of everyone. Hated that Jett took a stand, and that even the lure of millions of dollars wasn't enough to sway him.
The doorbell rings and I rush to open it. Jett is standing there looking effortlessly debonair, yet casual—how does he do it? Brooke grins at me, her cheeky smile always lifting me up. “Hey, sweetie!” I don’t even try to lift her, because she’s suddenly starting to get too big and lanky for that. I bend down and hug her. “Hungry?” I ask. She nods. “Good, because we’ve made a lovely big breakfast.” I turn to Jett, and we lean in and kiss. Brooke giggles. This is still going to take some getting used to for her. “Nervous?” I ask him.
“Shouldn’t be, but surprisingly, yes.”
I’ve been telling him that Aunt Scarlett wants to meet him, and knowing how important my family and friends are to me makes Jett a little nervous. It’s something I didn’t expect from him. I take him by his hand and lead him into the kitchen.
“Jett and Brooke,” I say, announcing them with dramatic flair.
“Hope we’re not interrupting,” Jett says, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. Brooke, for once, is quiet, surveying the room and everyone in silence. I take her hand, ready to introduce her one by one to everyone when Aunt Scarlett steps forward, her eyes narrowing as she sizes Jett up. “So, you’re the famous Jett.”
He nods, extending a hand. “And you must be the infamous Aunt Scarlett.”
She doesn’t take it, crossing her arms instead, and I hold my breath, not wanting any drama. Wanting my aunt to love the man I love. “You break her heart, and I’ll—” She stops, as if she’s only now realized that Brooke is here.
“What will you do?” Brooke pipes up, her eyes wide.
Aunt Scarlett leans down and manages a smile. “I’ll be sad.”
Brooke gasps.
Then my aunt raises to her full height and whispers to Jett, loud enough for me to hear, “I’ll kill you.”
He laughs. “Duly noted.”
I’m in shock. “Aunt Scarlett!” I cry, relieved that Brooke hasn’t heard.
But my aunt smirks and finally takes Jett’s hand, giving it a firm shake. “Good. Now, sit down and eat something.”
The kitchen fills with laughter.
Jett sits down to eat with us, and Brooke comes and sits right by my side. She has a new nanny now. Katie, who is in her mid-thirties, calm, and sensible, and perfect for Brooke.
We eat and talk, laughter filling my tiny apartment, and I can’t help but notice something unusual—Jett and Aunt Scarlett are deep in conversation. More than I expected. More than what seems normal.
I also notice the way Jett keeps glancing at his watch.
“You have somewhere to be?” I ask, watching him with narrowed eyes. There’s a restlessness to him, something I don’t understand. After all, the plan for today was simple—he and I were taking Brooke out. A movie, the park, whatever she wanted.
But then Jett and Aunt Scarlett exchange a knowing look, and my stomach tightens.
What the hell is going on?
Jett clears his throat and leans forward, his blue eyes locking onto mine. “While everyone’s here, I wanted to let you all know about my plans for the day.”
Something flutters low in my stomach, but I force myself to stay calm. Jett making an announcement, here and now? That can’t be good.
My gut is right.
“Once upon a time,” he says, smirking a little, “I may or may not have been the reason my girlfriend missed a concert she’d been waiting years for.” He pauses, eyes flicking to me as the word girlfriend lands like a spark against my skin.
It’s the first time I’ve heard him call me that. My breath catches, warmth surging through me like a slow-burning fire. God help me, I love this man.
"So,” he says smoothly, stretching an arm along the back of my chair like this is no big deal, “today, I’m flying her to see The Mayflies—”
My hand flies to my lips as realization crashes over me. I look at Eliana. Then Bianca. Then Aunt Scarlett. They’re all staring at me.
Like they know.
Oh my God.
I’ve been set up.
“What?” The word barely leaves my mouth before my heart slams against my ribs.
"The Mayflies!" Eliana squeals.
“But... they’re playing in Canada.” My voice is breathless, and my brain struggles to catch up.
Jett’s eyes glint with amusement. “That’s where we’re going.”
My stomach does a full-on nosedive. “B-but… Canada?” I echo, still not quite computing.
“It’ll be a weekend trip,” he says casually, as if he’s discussing dinner plans. “We could fly back right after the concert, but—”
“But we have plans,” I murmur, glancing at Brooke. I’m still trying to process what’s happening, still trying to figure out if this is real life or a dream.
Eliana lets out an ear-piercing squeal. “You get to see them, Car!”
I spin toward her. “You knew about this?”
“You have backstage passes!” she shrieks. “And VIP access! You get to meet them!”
Bianca nods enthusiastically, grinning like a fool.
Aunt Scarlett, looking suspiciously like the Cheshire Cat, beams at me. “You’re welcome.”
I gape at them. “You all knew?”
“Of course we did,” Aunt Scarlett says smugly. “Your boss—sorry, your boyfriend —wanted to check if you were free this weekend.”
I turn back to Jett, overwhelmed. “You could have just asked me.”
He smirks. “Where’s the fun in that?” Then, as if dropping the biggest bomb of all, he turns to the others. “Oh, and you’re all coming too.”
A stunned silence.
Then:
“What?” comes a chorus of gasps.
Jett nods toward Aunt Scarlett. “She assured me you were all free. And that includes you too, Scarlett.”
I see an unfamiliar expression on my aunt’s face. Surprise. Shock. Awe. I turn to Jett, feeling giddy with happiness. “You planned all of this?”
His smirk deepens. “Guilty.”
Brooke’s eyes are huge. “We’re going to Canada, Daddy?”
Jett pulls her onto his lap. “We sure are, sprout.”
“To see The Mayflies? All of us?" Eliana asks, feeling the same disbelief that I feel.
“Yes, really."
She makes a strangled noise like she’s about to combust. “T-thank you, Jett, this is—” She throws her hands in the air, utterly speechless.
Aunt Scarlett shakes her head in disbelief. “To Canada and back in one day?”
Jett shrugs. “Not just that. We’re going to the after-party too.”
I choke. “What?”
Bianca lets out a low whistle. “Well, damn. Money really can buy anything.” Then, as if realizing how that sounds, she tacks on, “Not that I’m complaining.”
Jett chuckles. “Didn’t think you would.”
Aunt Scarlett lifts her coffee cup in a toast. “Jett, this is… wonderful. Thank you. I don't know what to say. Thank you.”
"It's a pleasure, Scarlett. No need to say anything, but I suggest you all get packed quickly."
His eyes settle on me. like I’m the only one in the room.
Like I’m the only one who matters.
"Jett," I murmur in a low voice. I'm overcome with emotion, and I would seal this moment with a kiss were it not for Brooke sitting on his lap. I tap her on the nose gently. "We get to go on the plane again, Brooke. We get to spend a weekend together!"
"Yay!" She hops over to me and sits on me, her arms encircled around my neck.
"Thank you," I mouth to Jett.
***
The low hum of the jet is almost hypnotic as it cuts through the sky.
I still can’t believe this is happening.
I don’t know what’s more surreal—finally seeing the band I missed, or the fact that my entire world is here with me. My friends, my aunt, Brooke… and Jett.
Bianca and Eliana sit across from me, wide-eyed, their gazes bouncing around the cabin like they’ve stepped into a dream.
“This is insane,” Bianca murmurs, running her fingers over the butter-soft leather armrest.
Eliana nods, voice hushed. “Is this real life?”
“You’ll get used to it,” I tease.
Jett leans in, his hand brushing mine. “See? You belong here.” Then softer, just for me. “With me.”
My heart swells.
Getting used to this world of his will take time. But being with him?
That feels like home.
The concert is everything. We have the best seats. The perfect backstage passes. Meeting the band that Eliana and I have worshipped since forever feels surreal. But the after-party? That’s something else entirely.
Only the three of us—Eliana, Bianca, and me—go. Jett stays behind at the hotel with Brooke, who falls asleep in the car before we even pull up to the lobby.
Aunt Scarlett opts to stay back too, claiming she wants to take full advantage of the luxurious hotel amenities—though, between us, I think she’s just enamored by the massive suite she has all to herself.
By the time we return in the early hours of the morning, I’m exhausted. Happy. I step into the suite quietly, tiptoeing past Brooke’s adjoining room, the door slightly ajar. Jett stirs as I slip into bed beside him.
“Shortcake,” he murmurs sleepily, pressing a lazy kiss to the top of my head. “You’re back.”
I snuggle closer, inhaling the clean, familiar scent of him.
“I am.”
He sighs, his fingers skimming down my back, his voice a gravelly whisper. “If Brooke weren’t in the next room I’d …”
A slow, knowing smile tugs at my lips. “But she is.”
“Damn shame.”
I laugh softly, curling against his warmth.
We may not have tonight.
But we have forever.
Thank you for reading Cari and Jett’s story! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it. Would you like to read a teeny bit more about them?