Epilogue
Taylor
… One month later
Sitting in my car, I stare at the library, and unlike the first time I was here and apprehensive to head inside, this time I can’t freakin’ wait.
Linc and his grandma will be inside, and I’m excited to see my man.
He’s been away for the past five days with the team.
FaceTime through a screen isn’t the same as in person face time.
Grabbing my bag, I climb out of my car and head inside. Entering, I find Linc off to the side and, once again, Eve has him pinned down. Putting one foot in front of the other, I walk over to them and do exactly what I did last time.
Sliding in next to him, I slip my arm around his waist and look up at him. “Hi, boyfriend.”
“Hi, girlfriend,” he replies, leaning in and kissing my temple.
“Really, you two are still going with the ‘we’re dating’ ruse?” She air quotes “we’re dating” and sneers at the two of us, well, me.
“There’s no ruse,” I tell her. “Linc and I are a couple.”
“Bullshit,” she growls. “What’s his favorite color?”
“Green,” I answer confidently but then again, since his team’s color is green, that wasn’t a hard one.
“Favorite book?”
“Intensity by Dean Koontz.”
“Wroooong,” she singsongs. “It’s Fallen by Rebecca Barber, because the hero, Zach, is living the life he would have lived if he didn’t do what he does.”
“I did say that,” Linc agrees with her, and she give me a “ha” look, but that look is wiped off her skanky face when he adds, “But I never said it was my all-time favorite. That title goes to Intensity.”
“Bullshit,” she snaps. “Why are you playing along with this hussy?”
“Watch your mouth, Eve. I won’t have anyone disrespect my girlfriend. Tay and I are dating and—”
“They’re gonna make me a great-grandma,” Linc’s grandma interjects with a beaming smile as she joins us.
“You’re pregnant?” Eve hisses, shock and outrage marring her face.
“N—”
Kelly interrupts me, “Well, maybe. She’s always there for pancakes and mimosas on Sunday, but I guess since she’s drinking, she’s not pregnant … yet … but she will be.”
“Grandma,” Linc warns her.
“What? I’m just stating facts, and I cannot wait for the day it happens.”
“As much as talking about babies is fun, I’m not pregnant.
” I look to Kelly and offer, “Sorry,” with a shrug.
Then I look back to Eve. “Linc and I are dating. We may have embellished things the other week, but now we really are dating, and if that upsets you, I’m sorry.
But I love Linc, and I’m not going anywhere. ”
“You love me?” he asks from beside me, and then I realize what just slipped out.
Looking up at him, I nod. “Yeah, I do. You’re an amazing man, Lincoln Schofield. How could I not love you?”
“Well, you, Taylor King, are an amazing woman, and I love you too.”
“Kiss her,” Bonnie sings out, and when I turn toward the sound of her voice, I realize we have an audience. Everyone is grinning. Well, almost everyone. But Eve’s facial expression is moot because Linc loves me, and I love him.
“Guess we better give them what they want,” Linc says, and I can’t help but laugh.
“You just want an excuse to kiss me.”
“I don’t need an excuse, Tay. You’re my girlfriend and I love you, therefore, I can kiss you anytime I want.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
“Nothing.” Turning to face me, he grips my cheeks in his palms and in the middle of the library, he kisses me. I can feel this kiss deep in my soul because it’s one filled with love, hope, happiness, and all the other descriptive words for being in love.
Since moving to LA, my life has been a whirlwind but in the most amazing way. Who knew putting myself out there would lead to finding my penguin. I guess you could say, I found love in the club. Well, I found love at book club.
THE END!