Epilogue
Tate - One Year Later
Sitting on a weathered bench facing the ocean, I close my eyes and lift my face toward the sky, enjoying the afternoon sun while I patiently wait for my boyfriend to meet me for lunch. And for once, I’m the early one.
It’s been a few weeks since Daija and I graduated from CBU, but we’re staying in Crescent Bay and working at Epic Events for another year while our friends finish college.
Then, we’re all moving to New York City together to start our own event planning business.
Even Jake is coming. I’m actually happy things worked out with him and Daija.
He really is a good guy at the end of the day, and I know he’ll treat my girl right.
That’s what matters most, even if she’s still completely out of his league.
Jake’s convinced they’re going to get married and start a family together in upstate New York one day.
Especially since Daija’s dad welcomed him into their family with open arms. He even watches football with Mr. Morales on the regular.
I want to say Jake’s delusional, but we all have dreams, and if you put in the work, a lot of the time they come true.
And that boy has been putting in work for years.
As he should, because Daija is definitely the prize.
There’s plenty of time to contemplate marriage and kids later on. Right now, we need to focus on our careers, while the boys focus on school.
We have another year in South Carolina, but I already can’t wait to fuck shit up in New York and take the wedding and party planning scene by storm. With Spencer by my side and my friends there with us, nothing is impossible.
We’ll all have our roles in the company. Jake’s going to create the website and manage our marketing while Spencer handles the bookkeeping and taxes. That leaves Daija and me for the party planning, Toby for the music, and Shane for the food. It’s a fucking dream team if you ask me.
I’m ready for magazine features and charity balls. The socialites of New York City won’t know what hit them as soon as I arrive.
I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but I keep a journal full of business ideas, tips and tricks I’ve picked up from Epic Events, and detailed scrapbook pages of all the themed parties we threw over the past year. Complete with vision boards and testimonial feedback.
It’s like my grimoire of party planning that I’ll just keep adding to. Maybe one day, it’ll even become a family heirloom passed down through the generations.
“Hey, baby,” my favorite voice rumbles behind me, startling me from my runaway thoughts.
I realize I’ve never daydreamed about a future with anyone before, but I can’t stop thinking about my life in New York with Spencer.
I glance behind me, using my hand as a visor against the sun. “Hey, you. How was work this morning?”
“Eh. Same old. Stocking books and handling inventory. You?” he asks, taking a seat next to me.
Spencer is working at the campus bookstore now. The pay isn’t as good as it was at the accounting firm, but he couldn’t handle another summer with his dad, and I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t be able to work with my dad either.
“Busy,” I reply. “We have two days left to finish the final prep for the bar mitzvah, and I’m a little stressed. The mother has a few very specific requests that are going to be hard to pull off.”
“I’m sure you can handle it,” Spencer encourages, kissing my cheek sweetly.
“Thanks,” I murmur with a smile, so beyond happy that this is my life now. “What did you get us?”
“Hummus and veggie wraps.”
“Sounds great,” I say, watching patiently as he pulls out a fresh pita and spreads a thick layer of hummus on it before layering cucumbers, carrot strips, lettuce, and tomato.
My stomach grumbles loudly, so I press a hand to it as I wait for him to finish.
Damn, that looks good.
As if he can read my mind, Spencer passes it to me and starts to make another.
“Thanks, babe,” I say with a grateful smile, taking a huge bite and moaning at the delicious flavor and crunchy veggies.
“Of course,” he replies like the gentleman he is.
I’ve become so spoiled by our lunches, I don’t think I could ever give them up. Once we own our own company, I’ll never have to think twice about it. And if we live together . . . that’s even better.
“Have you decided if you’re going on the cruise with your mom this summer?” Spence suddenly asks, taking a bite of his pita.
“Yeah. I agreed to go with her and Aunt Jenna this year. As long as they don’t get wasted and embarrass me, it could be fun,” I admit with a shrug. “But it would be even more fun if my favorite person came with me,” I say sweetly, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes.
“Are you inviting me on a cruise?” he asks with a raised brow.
I nod emphatically. “If you say yes, we can get our own cabin,” I sing-song, waggling my eyebrows. “Away from my mother. Like on another level.”
Things with my mom have been rocky ever since she told me about the divorce, but I think this trip will help our relationship grow in a positive direction.
My relationship with my dad, however, has slipped even further without my mom around to enforce it.
Whatever.
“Ok. I’m in,” Spencer agrees easily.
“Yeah?” I smile wide, staring up at my boyfriend while excited butterflies flutter in my stomach.
He nods, leaning down to peck me on the lips. “Of course. I love you so much. I want to do everything with you.”
Before Spencer, I was scared to give love another shot. Scared to build anything meaningful. But this gentle, kind man slowly infiltrated my life and showed me I was worth something more. Worth being loved, cherished, and fucking adored.
“I love you, too,” I murmur, giving him a big hug and nearly jumping on his lap. “I’m so freaking excited! Are you ready for another epic summer?”
“I’m ready for anything as long as you’re by my side, princess.” Spencer kisses me tenderly and lovingly, making me melt further into his arms.
Who knew that a spontaneous sex arrangement would lead me to the love of my life and turn into the beginning of my healing journey and my happily ever after?