Epilogue
A YEAR LATER…
“A girls’ brunch, at last!” Noelle exclaimed, relaxing.
It was one of those rare heat waves in Northern California and everyone was out and about. Tourists filled the beach. Boats filled the marina and beyond.
“You think they can give us some shots?” Gigi frowned as the waiter placed another glass of wine in front of her, her oversize sunglasses perched atop her head. Walter barked excitedly from the high chair she insisted the staff bring out for him.
“Girl, it’s a brunch. Ain’t nobody doing shots,” Serena said dryly, stirring her cappuccino despite the heat.
“Oh, so now you’re a saint?” Gigi shot back, her perfectly arched brow lifting. “I seem to remember somebody dancing on tables at that New Year’s party.”
“ Years ago , and you drugged me,” Serena said.
“Drugged? Girl, it was gin. And I told you before you drank it that gin will fuck you up, but nooo, you had to have three glasses and then you were twerking on Mrs. Dupont’s geriatric husband.”
I snorted, covering my mouth, and Serena glared over at me. “I’m sorry, but that was funny.”
“We came here to celebrate, or did I turn down my Grammy- winning rapper’s offer of an all-exclusive trip to Madrid for nothing? Let’s party! We’ve made fucking accomplishments this year.”
That was true. The gallery was thriving. The town was raking in money. Reese and I were better than ever. Arthur had told me just last week that I had turned Lush into a destination, his grin so wide it could’ve cracked glass.
And the King Foundation for Change?
Just hit its one-year anniversary. The gala we hosted last month raised over half a million dollars, doubling the number of scholarships we could award this year. I just knew Grandpa and Augustus King would’ve been proud.
My phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts, and Reese’s name lit up for the fifth time.
“You know he’s gonna find you sooner or later.” Noelle raised a brow and sipped her mimosa.
“So?” I replied, dropping the phone back into my purse. “I need a break. I told him to go ride his bike or something.”
“Married life, couldn’t be me. I like my freedom.” Gigi sniffed.
I reached for my drink and looked at Serena, ignoring G. “How’s the acquisition going?”
Serena’s mouth thinned, and she looked back down at her cappuccino. I knew running King’s Development had been Serena’s pride and joy, but lately I heard less and less about it.
“Ass,” Gigi said, taking another sip of wine and winking at Serena. “It’s ass , and she ain’t even tell Mama yet.”
“Mind your business. You don’t even have a job,” Serena snapped.
“My parents are millionaires.” Gigi swatted her braids over her shoulders. “My only responsibilities are looking good and shopping. Don’t blame me ’cause you wanna be all independent and shit. I’m soaking up all my nepotism.”
My phone buzzed on the table again. Reese, again.
“Girl, if he’s called you one more time…” Gigi swirled the la st bit of mimosa in her glass. “Y’all good, right? Or should we be worried? I can’t be a child of divorce.”
“We’re fine,” I said quickly. “He’s just…being protective after everything.”
“He’s being clingy ,” Gigi quipped, sitting up straighter. “Noelle, can you put a tracking device in Laurene’s phone or something for him? So he doesn’t keep killing our vibe?”
Noelle rolled her eyes, the corners of her lips twitching in amusement. “I have better things to do than that.”
“Like what?” Gigi asked.
“Like trying to track down my biological parents.”
“ What! ” my sisters and I screamed. I knew years ago Noelle had been interested in her birth parents, but the McKenzies adored Noelle, and after a while she stopped bring up searching for them.
“That’s…big,” I said softly. “Have you found anything?”
“Not yet. But I’m making progress. It’s hard but I’m slowly pulling records. It’s a lot of reading and tossing out junk. I just—” She paused, letting out a small breath. “It’s important for my doctors to know.”
“You’re gonna find them,” I said, reaching out to squeeze her hand.
Before Noelle could respond, her phone buzzed loudly this time.
“Speaking of unstoppable,” she muttered, checking the screen. “If Adam calls me one more time asking for a meeting?—”
“It’s not Adam,” a deep, familiar voice cut her off from behind us.
I turned, and there was Reese.
He looked pissed…and sexy.
His jaw was tight, his green eyes dark with something unreadable, but the slow, deliberate way he held himself sent a thrill down my spine.
“Hey, baby,” I said, trying and failing to hide the surprise in my voice .
“Don’t sweet-talk me,” he said, leaning down to kiss me before glancing at the others. “Ladies.”
“Hi, Reese,” they all said simultaneously, and I glared at each of them.
Traitors.
“You’re not answering my calls.” Reese frowned as he picked up my glass. “That better not be wine you’re drinking or that’s a spanking.”
I flushed in embarrassment. “Reese!”
“Gag.” Gigi made a face.
He took the glass out my hand and took a sip.
“Oh, cranberry juice.”
“ Cranberry juice? ” Gigi said and she glared at me. “I thought we were throwing back mimosas?”
“I—”
“Laurene’s pregnant,” Reese said, downing the rest of my drink.
The table went completely still for a moment. Then, Gigi’s face lit up, and she let out a loud, dramatic scream that shook the entire patio, and a waiter nearly dropped a tray.
“ What? ” she yelled, sitting up straight, her hands flying to her mouth in excitement. “Oh my God, Lulu, you’re pregnant? Wait, does that mean I gotta start shopping for my future niece?”
Noelle’s face broke into a wide smile, and she threw her arms out across the table to hug me. “Oh, honey, you’re gonna be a mama!”
I opened my mouth to said something, but Gigi was already going off, making plans.
“I gotta get her all the flyest little outfits. Like, we’re talking the cutest little designer onesies. Chanel, Gucci, Prada! Nothing but the best for her, oh my. I need to fly over to Rome and get Isabella to make a custom bootie set?—”
Serena raised a brow. “It could be a boy, you know.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m making sure my niece or nephew is the freshest baby on the block, okay?” She had her phone out and was typing rapidly. “Don’t worry about nothing when it comes to clothes!”
Noelle clapped her hands, almost spilling her mimosa. “This is so exciting! Someone needs to tell Erik. Oh, you better believe I’m throwing a baby shower for you. Whatever you need, I’m in. I can try my new recipes…”
Serena gave a small smile. “I’ll find a new house for y’all immediately. If you want me to manage the foundation while you’re on maternity, no worries.”
“You guys are crazy,” I muttered, my voice tight with a mix of nerves and relief.
Noelle, Gigi, and Serena were already making plans and arrangements, and Reese leaned down into my ear.
“Come on,” he said, pulling me gently to my feet. “Let’s get you home. You need to rest.”
He took my hand, and I let him lead me out of the café, which my sisters and Noelle didn’t even notice in their heated debate. The salty air from the ocean, just a few blocks away, teased the breeze as we walked toward his car.
Reese’s arms wrapped around me, and when we reached his sleek, dark car parked at the curb, he paused and turned to face me.
“You couldn’t keep it a secret for a few more weeks?”
He shrugged. “I couldn’t help myself.”
I rolled my eyes, but he grabbed me by my shirt, pulling me flush with him.
“I love you,” he murmured, his voice low and full of something raw, something real.
His hands gently cupping my face as he guided me into his arms. His lips were warm, soft, but urgent against mine.
I loved this man with every inch of me.
“You and me,” he whispered, his voice full of promise. “Our next adventure.”
“Together,” I murmured, feeling the truth of it settle deep in my bones. “Our next adventure.”