Epilogue
The trial had come and gone, and Vic was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
As far as Alexis had heard, his associates had since picked up his sales, and he wasn’t missed.
The U.S. Marshals had deemed her safe to resume her life wherever she pleased as she had been released from the witness protection program.
Lonnie had asked if she was going to revert back to her old name, but it felt like an old chapter that needed to be closed.
Her new name was her identity now, and she had no intention of changing it.
Lonnie was needed back in Texas to work for the band again.
Alexis flew down to see him often, and he flew to see her when he got a moment as well.
The long distance had made their relationship a challenge, but they had decided they would rather have each other at a distance than not at all.
She had talked about selling her shop, but starting from scratch wasn’t something she wanted to do.
He insisted she should keep her shop for now and then said he could leave the band.
But she wouldn’t have him give up a job he loved for her. For now, the distance worked.
The bell above the shop door jingled, and Alexis looked up, no longer in fear of who would walk through the door. Lonnie stepped in, and she smiled brightly.
“Hey! You weren’t supposed to be here for a few more hours,” she said, going around the counter and throwing her arms around him.
He wrapped his around her waist and breathed in her hair, something she had noticed he always did when they hugged. “I wanted to surprise you.”
She squeezed him tight and then stepped back. “What a wonderful surprise.”
A few more people stepped in behind him, and her eyes widened. The famous rock band, Chaotic Notes, was standing in her shop. She had met the guys several times, but she was still awestruck whenever she saw them.
“You didn’t tell me the entire crew would be here,” she said.
“We figured it was time we came to see your place,” Liam, the drummer, said.
Melissa came rushing around the counter with her eyes wide. “O. M. G.”
Alexis looked at her with an amused smile on her face. “You could just say, ‘oh my—’”
The scream that came from Melissa as she hopped up and down cut her off. “You’re Chaotic Notes!”
Alexis looked at the band apologetically, although she couldn’t blame Melissa. The men were a sight to see. They were all perfectly fit with buff arms and tattoos. Their presence alone screamed to be noticed.
“Can I get your autograph? And a selfie?” Without waiting for a reply, Melissa had her phone out and was snapping photos.
Alexis laughed and turned to face Lonnie, her arms around his waist. “Come with me?”
Lonnie smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” She took his hand and led him from the shop and to the alley in the back, leaving behind Melissa’s excited chatter. The door closed, and then it was just the two of them. She held her arms out toward the large food truck parked behind the store. “Ta da.”
A pink food truck with Sweet Cream Cupcakes was printed on the side. There was a spot for a door to open so customers could walk up and order cupcakes.
“Wow,” Lonnie said. “That’s awesome.”
Alexis smiled brightly and walked toward the doors at the rear.
Unlocking and opening them, she motioned for him to step inside.
She watched as he stepped into it and looked over the setup.
Two ovens had been installed, and the cabinets held all the supplies she would need to make cupcakes on the go.
It had been a labor of love as she had tried to do some of the work herself to make it cheaper.
Melissa had helped her, and the two women had grown closer during that time.
“So, what do you think?” Alexis asked.
Lonnie stepped out of the back of the truck and wrapped his arms around her. “It looks amazing. I’m proud of you for going after your dreams. What do you plan to use it for? Events around Cupid City?”
Alexis bit her lip. She knew Lonnie was confused. There wasn’t much need for a food truck in Cupid City, except that she could take part in street fairs or events that weren’t near her shop. But it definitely wasn’t a necessity.
“Well… I plan to travel the country, chasing after this popular band I’ve heard of. I thought that maybe their fans might like to get some cupcakes before the show.”
Lonnie’s face went from confusion to understanding to downright elation. He lifted her up and spun them around. “Are you serious?”
She laughed in his arms. “Yes.”
He set her down and kissed her deeply. When they pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you would do this, but what’s going to happen to your store?”
“It’ll still be here when I’m not traveling. I hired staff to run it while I’m gone. I’ll fly back occasionally to check on it, but I think they can survive without me.”
“I love you so much,” Lonnie said.
“I love you too.”
Would you like to read more about the band members from Chaotic Notes? Check out K. M. Ryan’s rockstar series, beginning with Sweet Wine of Mine.
Next up is Operation: Temptation by Annee Jones