Epilogue
Ten Years Later
Holland
The water is a little chilly, but we all get in anyway.
Aeri’s long, dark hair is pulled into two braids that drip water down her back, and even though I’ve told her twice now to stop splashing her brother, she keeps going. Trevor doesn’t seem to mind, so I guess I shouldn’t either; he just giggles from his perch in Phoenix’s arms.
“Why are your kids so much better behaved than mine?” I say to Cat as we sit on the shallow bank of the river, water lapping at our legs.
Cat snorts and glances at where her husband, Noah, is chasing their kids through the knee-high water. “You should see them at bedtime,” she says. “Noah included.”
I look over at Phoenix, staring unashamedly as he lifts Trevor over his head, pretending to toss him. Trevor shrieks with laughter, his chubby toddler cheeks so perfectly squishy, and from below Aeri grabs at Phoenix’s legs, begging for her turn.
“Hold on, hold on,” he says, grinning down at her. He looks over his shoulder at me, and I stand up, wading over to take Trevor.
“Come here, sweet boy,” I say, scooping him out of Phoenix’s hands and into my arms.
“Yes,” Cat says from behind me. “Come to Aunt Cat.”
I laugh and pass Trevor to her.
“You’re such a handsome boy!” she coos, tickling Trevor’s belly. “You’re so handsome!”
“What about me?” Noah says, slowing down as he passes us.
“You’re so handsome too,” she says to him, still cooing in that same high-pitched voice. “Such a big handsome boy, running all by himself?—”
“Yeah, yeah,” he says with a grin, and then he’s off again, chasing after the kids. Cat trails after him, still making faces at Trevor.
“Hey,” Phoenix says to me, approaching me with Aeri in his arms. She’s four now, old enough to push for experience and independence but young enough that she still loves being held and carried. “Why aren’t you calling me handsome?”
“Because your ego already knows no bounds,” I say dryly. “You’ve never once doubted your own attractiveness, Pelican.”
His jaw drops as he wades closer. “What did you just call me?”
“ Pelican, ” I say, enunciating the word. “A giant water bird.”
He comes to a stop next to me, his eyes sparkling. “I don’t remember the last time you gave me a bird name, Amsterdam.”
“It seemed fitting today,” I say as my pulse picks up speed.
One dark brow quirks at me. “Want to explain?”
“Because today I’m a bird too,” I say. I swallow and then go on. “I’m a stork. Carrying your baby.”
The emotions that flit over his face are priceless—he’s dumbfounded for a full second, his jaw hanging open. Then he throws back his head and laughs, setting Aeri down; she runs off to play with Cat and Noah and their kids.
“That’s the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said,” Phoenix says, still laughing as he steps closer and puts his arms around me. “Are you sure? Did you take a test?”
I make a face at him.
“You took two tests,” he corrects himself, his smile widening. “Got it.” He presses a kiss to my lips, to my nose, to my forehead. “Another little person,” he whispers.
I nod. “Due late March.”
“Amazing,” he says, glancing down at my stomach. “Congratulations, Stork.”
“Congratulations, Pelican,” I say, smiling. “Want to be iffy parents and feed our kids ice cream on the way home?” I pause and then go on, “Because I’ve been craving ice cream lately.”
“And the truth comes out,” he says as something playful enters his eyes. “All right. Ice cream.”
When we leave an hour or so later, we go with Trevor and Aeri in our arms. We walk slowly out of the water, our eyes on the path we’re about to walk, sand and dirt sticking to our wet feet.
We move forward together, our babies held close, our friends at our sides? —
And we don’t look back.
Thank you for reading Beauty and the Beach! If you loved this book and want to see what Holland and Phoenix are up to in the future (hint: there are pranks involved), click here! Please also consider leaving a review; it helps more than you know! If you want to return to Sunset Harbor (you totally do!), you can read about actress Presley James and Briggs Dalton, the sexy nerd she falls for, in One Happy Summer— coming July 24, 2024!