Epilogue
RENLEY
“Gossy, do you have everything in place?” Theo asks as he walks into the main space of the candy shop wearing a pair of trousers—as he calls them—a white button-up shirt, and a red bow tie that he insisted on.
He looks so handsome with his hair combed to the side and just a light scruff peppering his cheeks.
When we woke up this morning in our apartment above the shop, he spent a solid hour worshipping me before pulling me into the bathroom and showering the both of us.
When we ate breakfast on the floor—because we still need some furniture—we talked about the opening today, how the spotlight piece went yesterday for Wake Up Boston, and how utterly exhausted we were, but in a good way.
And now that we’re about to open, it feels so surreal that we were able to pull it together.
The inspection was flawless, thank God, because there are still some things I want to do to the shop, but for the most part everything was clean, devoid of all mice—and severed tails—and put into place.
And like Theo said, we have time to make changes, but proving to the business society that we can do this is the most important thing.
While we put together the shop, Rupert was in charge of social media, making all sorts of accounts on all platforms to promote the store.
He spent the last few days videoing us and showing how we were putting everything together.
He even added some of the videos I took sparingly from different renovations.
He’s done a fantastic job and has already garnered us around two thousand followers on each platform.
I think it was the one video he took of Theo trying on a bow tie without a shirt on that really got us some followers.
I know it doesn’t scream “family candy shop”—more like Lollipop Daddy, which is what Rupert called him—but I don’t care.
It worked and we’re gaining traction online in such a short period of time.
I glance around the shop, nerves building inside me as I nod. “I think everything is ready.”
“Good.”
He walks up to me, loops his arm around my waist, and says, “I’m so damn proud of you. Look what you did, Gossy.” He turns me toward the shop to take it all in once again.
Canisters full of candy shimmer under the glowing lights.
Shelves are stacked with every sort of candy you can think of, from nostalgic sugary treats to popular gummies.
The sticker and postcard bar is only partly set up, but it’s just full enough to draw attention.
There is a lollipop wall full of every lollipop imaginable, while the bar is set up with the register, a scale, and paper bags with the Rudder’s logo stamped on the front.
It’s everything I could have dreamed of and more.
And I did it.
With help of course.
But I was able to do this.
I was able to see it through.
And I was able to prove to myself that I didn’t receive my dad’s poor traits but rather his beautiful ones.
His imagination.
His ability to dream.
And his love for small things.
This is how I want to remember him.
“You did this, love,” Theo whispers in my ear. “Burn it in your brain that when you put your mind to it, you can do anything.” He kisses my cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”
I turn around to face him, placing my hands on his shoulders. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You could have.” His hands land on my hips. “But you would have been incredibly horny and frustrated in the process.”
“Oh my God,” I scoff as I roll my eyes. “Honestly, what is wrong with you?”
“Can’t be sure.” He chuckles and then takes my hand, bringing me to the front door. “Go ahead, Gossy, turn the sign.”
With a deep breath, I reach for the Open sign that’s hanging on the door and turn it around.
We’re open.
THEO
“You know, I would have preferred to be in our swimsuits,” I say as our feet splash in the pond in front of us.
“Why do we need swimsuits when we can swim naked?”
My head whips around to look at my girl. “Don’t tease me. I’ll be out of this bow tie in seconds.”
“No, keep the bow tie on.” She wiggles her brows.
“Don’t mind if I bloody do.” I stand up and strip out of my clothes so goddamn fast that it’s as if a tornado flew through and stole my clothes.
Renley laughs as I stand stark naked in front of her, posing while tugging on my bow tie.
“Why do I find that so oddly attractive?”
“Because you can’t get enough of me.” I help her out of her white-and-red-striped dress that she picked for opening day and then bring her to the edge of the pond, submerging us in the water. When we come up, her legs wrap around my waist and I tread water.
Her lips find mine and I let her explore for a few seconds before I gently pull her away and say, “Hey, can we just pause for a moment and talk about how terrific today was? Gossy, the store is a sensation. Did you see all of those smiling faces, and the nonsmiling faces from the business society?”
She laughs. “They were so not happy, especially after a few more news stations picked up the story.”
“Yeah, Rupert is taking credit for the stations coming to see me, Lollipop Daddy.”
“Not even mad about it. If it brings in customers, then I’m all for it.”
“Marjorie hates Lollipop Daddy.”
“Yeah, well, everyone hates Marjorie. Aunt Kitty and Karen were actually going to make shirts and sell them at the market, saying just that.”
“Really?”
Renley shrugs. “Just one of many ideas they have. Doubt they’ll follow through on it, but glad to see Aunt Kitty enjoying what she’s doing.
I know it’s soon, but she seems to be getting along fine and has also told me she enjoys selling expensive cheese to tourists.
She’s starting to pair wine with it, and Karen even said they could possibly sell Aunt Kitty’s wine in the market. ”
“Oh boy, tourists are about to get fucked up.”
Renley laughs, the sound pumping the blood through my veins.
“Today was…was everything I could have dreamed of. I’m so proud of how we kept the nostalgia of the store, highlighted its beauty, and offered families a place to make memories. Thank you, Theo.”
“Anything for you, love.” I kiss her forehead.
“There’s actually one more thing that could make this day perfect.”
“Oh?” I ask as I lightly spin us in the water. “Does it have to do with my growing erection? Possible ejaculation?”
“Oh my God, do not say that!”
I chuckle as she rolls her eyes.
“No, it has nothing to do with that.”
“Then what is it?”
“Well.” She grows serious as her arms loop around my neck. “There’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Because that could affect my erection.”
“A good thing.” She chuckles.
“Well then, what is it?”
“I’ve been wanting to say this to you for a while, but I wanted to pick the right time.
When you came back, I really wanted to say it to you then, but I didn’t think it was a good time.
But now, in this moment, in this pond where I believe I truly started to fall for you, I want to tell you that I love you, Theo. ”
A smile erupts on my face.
“I love you so much, and I can’t believe that in some offhanded way, you wound up in my life, but I’m so grateful for it and I wanted you to know that.”
Heart full, pulse hammering, I grip her tighter and press my forehead to hers. “I love you, too, Renley. So fucking much.”
“Enough to possibly want to propose again?”
My entire body grows still as I pull away to look her in the eyes. “Wait, are you serious?”
Her smile nearly destroys me. She’s so bloody beautiful.
“I am, but in time. I think we should still, you know, wait it out, see where things go—”
“Truth or dare?” I ask, interrupting her.
“What?”
“Truth or dare, Gossy?”
She skeptically eyes me but plays along. “Dare.”
“Good choice.” I kiss her softly and then whisper, “I dare you to marry me.”
“Theo…”
“It’s a dare. You either see it through, or you don’t.”
She chuckles and squeezes me tighter. “You know I’ll marry you.”
“Did you hear that?” I shout, talking to the fireflies and the stars above. “She said yes. With this summer…she thee weds.”
“You are so ridiculous.” She laughs, but I press her up against the embankment of the pond and then maul her with my mouth, not letting her have even a second to joke about saying yes.
Because she’s mine.
All mine.
And there is no way in hell I’m letting her go.
Keep flipping for an excerpt from my other summer rom com, Till Summer Do Us Part