Extended Epilogue
Nicole
Three years later…
I stand in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing out a blazer over my perfectly tailored black pantsuit.
This is it. Today is the day.
I take a deep breath and then release it, closing my eyes as I try to calm my racing heart.
Behind me, I hear the familiar thud of big, athletic feet and the snort of a dog who still runs the Neelson house like he’s the boss. I turn to find Dom standing there, immaculately handsome, in a suit that fits his biceps perfectly.
He looks like a man who just finished a morning shootaround for the Comets and somehow still found the energy to show up fully for this.
“Let me help you with your tie.” My heels clicking as I make my way to him.
“Thank goodness,” he breathes out, planting a kiss on my cheek. “I was hoping Mrs. Neelson would come to the rescue.”
“Always,” I say softly, adjusting his tie.
His hands settle on my waist, his thumb tracing tiny, soothing circles through the fabric as I finish fixing it. “You good?” Dom asks, soft and low.
“Of course I am,” I say, which is mostly true. “Just… If I pass out, please make sure it doesn’t happen on camera or something. No one needs to make that viral.”
“Noted.” His mouth quirks. It’s almost a smile, and for a second, I forget about everything except him. His hair is longer than when we met, a little unruly at the temples, but it works.
And I love him. So freaking much.
“Cocoa, come here, bud.” Dom squats down and the dog bounds over, tail wagging. He pulls a Welcome Committee bandana out of his pocket and then ties it around Cocoa’s neck, giving him a pat as he stands up straight.
“You ready to charm the pants off the new tenants?” I crouch and give Cocoa’s scruff a good ruffle. “Remember, no eating the refreshments, no barking at the catering staff, and absolutely zero harassing any partygoers.”
Cocoa’s tongue lolls, and I think it’s a promise to do none of those things I told him to. I trust him as much as I do my ability to make good skincare products—which, for the record, is not at all.
Dom grabs his keys. “You want to walk down together?”
Like I’d want anything else.
“Yeah. Let’s do it.”
We step into the elevator, which is so new that it still has the factory sticker residue on the back panel.
We ride in silence to the lobby, my heart pounding in my ears as we step into the decorated space. It’s literally everything I wanted it to be, beautifully urban and modern with a touch of luxury.
Dom whistles. “You did it,” he says, nudging me. “It looks like a five-star hotel.”
“I know. Isn’t it ridiculous?” I almost choke on the words, but then he slides his hand into mine and everything steadies out.
Dom cracks a smile. “I think it’s no more ridiculous than anything else in LA.”
I nod, and together, hand in hand, we make our way to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
I love my life, but I love my husband most of all.
Dominic
My heart is thumping so loudly, I’m surprised no one else can hear it. I’m not even the one who has to give a speech, but after two years of marriage to Nicole, I’m certain that she’s just an extension of me.
And I like it like that.
But man, am I nervous and excited and proud of her all at once.
There’s that saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, but nobody warns you what it feels like to watch the love of your life accomplish the dream she’s been chasing so hard after for years.
The lobby is packed around the podium and small stage.
I scan the crowd to see if there are any familiar faces, and most aren’t, but some are.
Nicole stands next to me, a death grip on my bicep through my suit jacket.
Cocoa sits at my feet, the star of the show, wearing his Welcome Committee uniform like he was born for it.
Finally, I spot my father-in-law, Nikko, who lingers at the back with a grin so wide it makes his cheeks look rubberized. I’ve never seen him look so … well, on the verge of tears.
And it only makes me beam with more pride for Nicole.
Next to him is my mother-in-law, and behind them I can see Nora and her husband wrangling their three kids. Across the way, I spot my own family. My mom conquered her fear of flying just to be here for us today.
A woman in a pantsuit approaches us. She gives Nicole a crisp nod. “We’re ready for your remarks, Mrs. Neelson.”
This is it. Now my wife gets to shine.
Nicole looks up at me, her face full of all the same emotions that I’m feeling, too. “Oh my gosh,” she nearly whispers.
I give her a grin. “You’ve got this, baby. Just don’t trip on the mat.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence,” she deadpans, but then gives me a small peck on the cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I tell her, nearly bursting at the seams with pride all over again. “Go get ‘em.”
She nods and then steps up to the big blue ribbon. Someone hands her a pair of ceremonial scissors, the address of the apartment building engraved on the blades.
“Hi, everyone,” she begins, and instantly the room hushes.
“I’m Nicole Farrarah Neelson, and I’m so excited to say we’re officially open.
” She gestures around at the building, at me, and then at Cocoa.
“When we started this project, I thought the hardest part would be picking a paint color that wouldn’t make everyone look like a zombie in the morning.
But as it turns out, the hardest part is this moment right here. ”
I chuckle, giving her a thumbs-up. She has no idea how magnetic she is.
“I want to thank everyone for believing in something new,” she continues.
“This isn’t just a luxury apartment building.
It’s a place for athletes to belong—to have a home that understands the weird hours, the crazy energy, the need for both privacy and community.
And maybe a karaoke room that’s actually soundproof. ”
Now the crowd is really laughing. I glance at Nikko in the back, arms folded, nodding. He’s not crying, but he’s definitely close. I then glance back at Nicole, who is looking at me, and is tearing up.
“I couldn’t have done this alone. Not even close. Not without my team, my family, and especially my co-founder, who’s also the first resident.” She motions to me. “I love you so much, and I owe a lot of my success to you. You always believe in me, always.”
I nod, hardly able to hold back my own emotions. I mouth, I love you.
There’s a final burst of camera flashes, and then it’s time.
Nicole raises the scissors and cuts the ribbon.
The blades slice the fabric clean in two, a satisfying snip that echoes.
The crowd erupts—applause, cheers, the sound of a hundred Instagram Stories being born at once, probably.
Confetti cannons explode, showering the entryway in blue and silver.
Cocoa barks, startled, then delighted, bouncing around my feet.
Nicole is all smiles as she returns to me.
I wrap my arm around her and lean in. “You did perfect, honey.”
“I almost fainted.” She bursts into giggles as I wipe away a tear from her cheek.
We pass through the lobby, past the glass-walled fitness center and the mural wall where artist friends painted silhouettes of athletes in motion.
I catch the scent of fresh lemon from the housekeeping cart.
I watch as the first batch of tenants step into the lounge, looking around with the awe of kids at Disneyland.
And I’m so proud, I could cry.
“You made it look easy, kid,” Nikko says as he approaches us, extending a hand to Nicole. “I’m proud of you.”
However, just as the words leave his mouth, Cocoa lunges, ripping the leash right out of my hand.
Cocoa, freed from decorum now that the formalities are over, does a running leap at one of the new arrivals—a linebacker-sized man with arms like tree trunks and a face familiar from the news.
“Whoa!” he calls out, catching Cocoa in his arms. “Who is this little guy?”
“That’s Cocoa.” Nicole is on top of the moment, already holding her arms to take back our insane little fur child. “And you must be Logan Chase, the Los Angeles Hawks quarterback.” She smiles at him, extending her hand.
He shakes it, giving her a grin. “You got it. I’ve been waiting for my move-in date, and I’m stoked it’s a month early.”
“We were ahead of schedule.” Nicole beams, taking Cocoa back into her arms. “And the building is already full.”
“That’s incredible.” He gives us both a nod as I join Nicole as backup for Cocoa. “I heard Owen Callahan is moving in, too?”
“We make room for all athletes,” Nicole replies. “Even baseball players.”
“And golfers,” I add, thinking of Reid Morgan, who just signed a lease.
“Incredible,” Logan says, before a friend calls him over.
I nudge Nicole, who looks up at me, grinning. “You happy with how it all turned out?”
“Yeah,” she says, another tear slipping down her cheek. “I really, really am. It almost feels so surreal, you know? We have a full building, and we just opened. I never would’ve thought that we’d be this successful. I thought it would take time to get everything going.”
“I had a feeling it was all going to work out just the way you wanted,” I tell her, wrapping an arm around her waist as she hugs Cocoa to her chest. I’m pretty sure she’s getting dog hair all over her white blouse.
But I don’t think she cares. It’s just another thing I love about her.
“I’m so proud of you,” I say softly, placing a kiss on her temple. “I knew, all those years ago, that you were something special. I’m just so glad you finally believe it, too.”
She leans into me, resting her head against my chest. “I’m glad we decided to stay in LA. I can’t imagine calling anywhere else home.”
I give her a light squeeze. “Me either.”