Epilogue Felicity
EPILOGUE: FELICITY
ONE YEAR LATER
“ W hy am I so nervous?” I asked Nina. I smoothed the front of my white lace sheath dress. “It’s stupid to be nervous, right?”
She grinned at me mischievously and shook her head in disagreement. “Oh, you have every reason to be nervous considering the crowd out there includes two former presidents, a Grammy winner, and the number one lifestyle Instagrammer in the world. I’m nervous for you, and all I have to do is walk down the aisle and stand there. You have to recite vows!”
“Thanks.” I smacked her playfully. “I hate you.”
“Liar.”
Only Cameron O’Connor could get the movers and shakers of Manhattan to make the twenty-five-minute trek out to Wave Hill Gardens in the Bronx. The grounds were always stunning, but our wedding planner Dana and the floral team had leveled up the place to create a sumptuously dreamy setting for our big day. I tried not to let the fact that Nina was right about the mega-high-profile crowd rattle me.
The day was about Cameron and me. The other stuff was background noise.
“Hey there, special delivery,” Megan said as she slipped in the room holding a small box. “Cam asked me to give this to you.”
My eyes preemptively swam with tears. I was going to be a mess at the altar.
“I can’t believe how gorgeous you look,” I told Megan as I took the package from her. “How do you have a newborn? Look at that body.”
She swiveled back and forth, modeling the blush halter gown for us like a pro. “I didn’t really have a choice; you picked a killer dress. I hope my Spanx hold up!”
We all laughed with her. She was right, the dresses were formfitting, but both of my bridesmaids looked perfect.
“Do you want to open that in private?” Nina asked as she pointed to the package.
“No, I need to practice holding back my emotions thanks to all this makeup. Stay, please.”
I walked to the window and perched on the wide ledge. The box was wrapped in pink and silver paper and had a thick white bow wrapped around it. I took my time taking everything off, and Nina fussed at me.
“I know, I know,” I answered. “I just want to enjoy every second of today.”
“Please do,” Megan replied. “I’m glad I have the photos and video because I remember nothing from my wedding!”
I took a breath before lifting the lid off the box. Cameron was a generous gift giver, and I had a feeling that whatever was inside was not only going to be magnificent, but also truly meaningful. When I saw what it was, I realized I was right.
Sitting on a navy pillow was a small silver locket in the shape of a book. The cover showed our initials in tiny diamonds.
“Oh, it’s perfect ,” I sighed, pulling it out by the delicate silver chain.
Nina and Megan crowded around me.
“It looks like an antique. Does it open?” Nina asked.
I gently clasped the book and pulled it apart to reveal two small black-and-white photos inside. One was of the two of us in profile with our foreheads touching and the other was of our clasped hands. I’d never seen either of the beautiful photos, but that was Cameron, always finding new ways to delight me.
“Check out the back,” Megan said.
I turned the locket over. The tiny script read, “ May our love story never end .”
“Aww,” they both said in unison.
I blew out a breath between pursed lips. “Keep it together, keep it together,” I chanted as my heart nearly spilled over with happiness.
“Oh, I know what’ll distract you!” Megan said, pulling out her phone. “Have you seen the latest video from Kira?”
“A new video? Gimme!” I said, making grabby hands. I loved Kira’s videos.
Had I really thought she looked delicate and demure when I saw her on that morning show with Steven? She’d been anything but demure since their very public split, and I was here for it.
She’d titled her vlog “Unhinged Asshole,” and every new entry broke down another way that Steven Brudny was the scum of the earth. There were thirty videos so far, and she showed no signs of slowing down.
Of course, he absolutely had it coming after cheating on her with the starlet who’d been hired to play her in the movie adaptation of his book. The news of the affair broke before filming even started, and it caused such a public backlash that the project ended up falling apart. There wouldn’t be any movie now…just a string of videos from Kira making it abundantly clear what being with Steven had really been like. She laid it all out: the pettiness, the manipulation, the way his love was always conditional on her fluffing his ego and pretending to be wild about his boring conversation and mediocre performance in bed. Steven had tried to counter, but Kira was owning the breakup narrative, and she wasn’t letting him off the hook about anything.
It was awesome.
Dana peeked her head in the room to see us all laughing over Kira’s latest takedown. “Hey, ladies. We’re almost ready. Can I get you anything?”
“We’re okay, thank you!” I answered. “And I’m ready to go when you are.” As fun as it was to watch Steven get torn to shreds, I was more than happy to put down the phone and get on with what really mattered.
I’d been ready to marry Cameron for a long time now.
The final getting-ready moments were a whirlwind, and the next thing I knew I was beneath a cloudless sky, walking down the aisle to my one true love.
I wasn’t surprised that the mighty Cameron O’Connor teared up as I got closer to him. The roles were reversed this time, with Aiden reaching over to squeeze his brother’s arm. Tyler leaned in to give Cameron a pat on the back.
When I joined him at the altar, he gave me a quick kiss, prompting laughter from the crowd and a light scolding from the officiant. I couldn’t stop staring at him. I’d seen him in a tux before, of course, but Cameron in this tux on this day? It was all for me.
Twenty minutes later, we were husband and wife. We sealed our vows with a real kiss that took my breath away.
Cameron squeezed my arm against his side and placed his hand on top of mine as we made our way down the aisle together.
“I’m the luckiest man alive,” he whispered in my ear.
I bit my lip and smiled up at him, hoping the happiness in my face would suffice as an answer, because every time I tried to talk, I got choked up on tears of joy.
When we’d planned the reception with Dana, we told her we had one goal for it. We weren’t looking for pure elegance, although that was a given considering the event’s price tag, all we wanted to ensure was fun . That’s why the band was cranking from the cocktail hour through dinner. Sure, we had them throw in a few ballads and standards, but the upbeat party vibe meant that people danced the whole time.
Even Cameron.
He was by my side through the ridiculous line dances, lindy hops, club songs, and cheek-to-cheeks. We laughed, sweated, switched partners and grooved the whole night. Megan had warned me that the one thing she regretted about her wedding was not actually enjoying it with Aiden, which was a lesson Cameron and I took to heart. A wedding was a party, and we were going to enjoy every last second of it.
The band finally paused toward the end of the night, and the crowd ran to grab their drinks to cool off in between songs.
“Hey everyone, can I get your attention for a minute?” a familiar voice rang out over the mic.
Cameron glanced at me wearing a shocked expression. “ Tyler ?”
I craned my neck and spotted him in front of the band with his guitar slung over his shoulder. I scanned the crowd and spotted Nina with her hands clasped in front of her mouth, looking exactly as she did the first night we’d seen him in concert.
“I’m only supposed to be a groomsman today, but I couldn’t resist taking over for a quick song. Cameron, Felicity, I wrote this one for you. Get out here, you guys.”
I couldn’t tell who was more shocked between the two of us. Nina caught my eye and nodded as Cameron led me back to the dance floor. I had a feeling she’d helped Tyler with the song, since the pair were now writing together all the time.
Tyler’s song was an upbeat ode to love that hinted at our personal love story but still focused on the universal experience of finding “the one.” It wasn’t a weepy first dance song, it was hopeful and filled with joy. The chorus was a dynamic call and response that had everyone singing along by the end of it.
“I think our boy has a hit on his hands,” Cameron said in my ear as we danced.
“I’m not sure he’ll ever play it again,” I mused. “It’s ours in this magical moment, and once it’s over, it might be gone forever. Ephemeral.”
“That might be what he wants, but look over there,” Cameron replied, nodding over my shoulder. “Lucy is up to her old tricks.”
I glanced where he was looking and spotted Lucy filming Tyler wearing an excited expression.
“Oh no,” I sighed. “I guarantee he’s going to get a zillion new followers, and some label is going to come knocking on his door.”
“He’ll figure it out,” Cameron replied. “I’m not worried.”
Tyler and Nina had found balance in one another. They’d navigate whatever came next together.
The party raged on, and the venue nearly had to kick us out at the end. Hours later, after the cake and fireworks and tearful farewells, Cameron and I were finally alone in our honeymoon suite at the Four Seasons, exhausted and blissed-out.
“I love this dress, but I need it off now ,” I said, contorting myself to try to reach the buttons. “Can you undo it for me?”
I turned so my back was to Cameron.
“Hold on, not so fast,” he said. “I need to look at my wife once more before you take it off.”
He walked around me slowly, like a tiger on the prowl, letting his eyes trail down my body.
“You are flawless , my love.”
Suddenly, I was no longer tired.
“You have got to be the sexiest bride I’ve ever seen. That dress…”
Cameron had hinted he wasn’t a fan of princess bridal gowns, and anyone who knew me understood I wasn’t going to be that type of bride anyway. The girls had helped me pick a showstopper of a gown—a formfitting, strapless lace dress with subtle beading.
“I knew you’d like it,” I said. “And you . Come on, you’re basically a model.”
He grasped his lapels and struck a pose.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” I laughed.
We both moved together at the same moment, finding the familiar spot in one another’s arms.
“Best day ever,” he murmured.
“ Agreed ,” I snuggled closer to him.
Cameron kissed the top of my head, then sputtered. “I’m sorry, is your hair shellacked?”
I pulled back, laughing and mortified at the same time. “My hairdresser wanted to make sure the updo held since we were outside. I guess she went a little crazy with the hairspray? That’s why I want out of this dress, so I can shower and…you know…” I winked at him.
“Maybe I’ll join you in there?”
“ Or ,” I said as I stepped away from him. “Or, you can wait out here for your blushing bride to come out in her sexy new boudoir set. I mean, I put some thought into it; I’d love to actually use it. And since I am a virgin…”
I glanced down shyly.
“Ooh,” Cameron played along. “That’s right. It’s going to be our first time.”
“Be gentle with me,” I fluttered my lashes at him like I was a helpless maiden.
He closed the distance between us and cupped my cheek gently. “I will, my precious. When we finally make love, the heavens will sing.”
We dissolved into laughter.
“Unbutton, please,” I turned around for him.
He traced kisses down my spine as he did it, and I came close to forgetting about my new lingerie and jumping his bones right then and there.
“Hurry up,” Cameron said. “I’ll be the naked guy out here.”
He swatted my ass as I tripped toward the bathroom.
I turned on the shower and realized I’d never felt so deliriously happy. It had been the perfect day, in so many ways. Sometimes I still had to pinch myself to prove everything I was experiencing was real. The man who’d made my life miserable was now the best part about it.
I’d intended to take a leisurely shower, but it was late, and the adrenaline was starting to wear off, so I rushed through it, dried off quickly, and piled my damp hair in a clip on top of my head. The diaphanous white chemise I’d packed had wide lace inserts along the side, so I was as good as naked in it.
Perfect .
I walked out and posed against the door. As promised, Cameron was in bed, his gorgeous bare chest signaling that he was likely naked below the sheets as well. He was so busy smiling at his phone he didn’t even notice me.
I cleared my throat.
He looked over, still smiling, and when he saw me he dropped his phone. His reaction was one of the many things I loved about him. Here I was, scrubbed clean with wet hair, and it was enough to take his breath away. Cameron loved every version of me.
I strutted over to the bed and climbed in. “What were you watching?”
“I forget,” Cameron sounded like he was in a trance as he answered me. “Because look at my bride!”
He kissed me.
“Something had you grinning,” I said as I pulled away. “Tell me.”
“It was Lucy, saying she was right about us. She edited together a bunch of clips of us over Tyler’s song, from the night in our flagship when you were trying on rings to tonight. She was gloating, saying she’d called it.”
I straddled him. “She was the only one who believed it was possible.”
He pulled me closer to kiss me, sliding me against his hardness. “Not true.”
We kissed, getting more feverish with each second.
“I knew I was going to make you mine from the first moment I saw you, all grumpy and feisty out on that sidewalk,” Cameron murmured.
“Liar,” I laughed against his mouth. “You hated me.”
“Maybe.” I felt him grin. “All that matters is we’re here now. And this is the first day of our journey together.”
“Lucky me,” I sighed.
Cameron kissed me harder.
“No. Lucky us , my love.”