Epilogue
Before the First Annual Boston Bruiser’s Charity Ball, Chase and I return to Concordia because I need to recharge and I simply must try some chocolate cake now that I know I’m not actually allergic.
Freddie better watch out because there will be revenge. I still have to ask Dad about the banana prank.
Then again, Freddie did petition to have the Pippa stories removed from the alumni site.
At the last moment, I contacted the new administrator (Marlow, her sister, and Joe are under investigation, so she’s lying low) and said they can keep it up for posterity.
Wouldn’t want to see my legacy forgotten.
As for Chase, he’s still the star QB for the Bruisers, and nothing about his grandfather’s memory was tarnished by his father or Marlow.
We walk down the quaint, cobblestone and flower-lined lane on a sunny day. The shops in the village have their doors open. The restaurants and bakeries pump out delicious smells and I’ll admit that I have a little skip in my step.
“I always believed that Freddie got the good luck gene, but it turns out mine isn’t so bad after all. After chasing love for years, I found it...”
“And it found you.” Chase squeezes my hand.
“Where will we find the best chocolate cake?”
“I’ve heard about loads of places, but there’s one up in the village that supposedly has the smoothest ganache—I’ve been researching.”
“You know what goes really good with cake?” Chase asks.
“Um, ice cream?”
“Yes, but that’s not what I was thinking.”
“Milk?”
“Nothing involving dairy.”
“Is this a Dad Joke?” I ask.
“Nope. Not a joke. Pizza.”
“Pizza and cake go together?”
“Well, yeah. We should eat dinner before dessert.”
“Is that a rule?”
“Today it is.” Chase’s dimple teases me.
“Well, if you say so.”
“I have to carb up for the Crush or Cupid watch party later.” They did a special finale, recapping the dating disasters and featuring Chase and my story of true love.
“I’m not sure I can handle the first part, given that I had to live it. Not a fan of watching you with other women.”
“For the record, I hated every moment.”
“Obviously. Tory said in all the footage, your dimple didn’t pop once.”
“I’m smiling now.” His dimple pops for me.
“I see that, but it has a hint of mischief in it.”
“Not mischief. Not exactly. Um—” Chase pulls me toward the village garden and sits down on the bench. He smooths his hands along his jeans and then turns to me.
“I was going to do this in a clever way, but I’m not going to push my luck.” Chase pulls something out of his pocket. It sparkles in the afternoon light.
“Chase?” I whisper.
“Pippa, I was going to hide this in a piece of cake—a real one, not a sponge. But on second thought, I wouldn’t want it to get lost or have one of us accidentally swallow it.”
“You know me so well.”
“Just being cautious. But I’d like to be reckless with you now and for the rest of my life. No rules. Just us. Will you marry me?”
The sparkle from the ring catches in his eyes. “Yes, I do. I mean, I will.” I throw my arms around his shoulders and squeeze, then kiss his entire face before landing on his lips and lingering there for a long time.
When we part, he slides the diamond engagement ring on my finger.
“Should I be trusted with this?” I ask.
“I trust you. Do you trust me?”
“Yes. I trust you, but I’m wondering if we should do this sooner rather than later.” I bite my lip, afraid that if we let too much time lapse, something will go wrong.
“Get married? Sure. Whenever you want. I’m patient, but I have had a crush on pizza for a long time.”
I giggle. “We were going to get pizza and have cake...and you were hinting about what goes good with cake.”
“I was trying to come up with a smooth and suave way to tease the proposal.”
“What goes really good with cake is a wedding,” I say.
“We can have as much cake as you want.”
“But what about our wedding?”
“Anytime...except Super Bowl Sunday.”
I smile. “I was thinking sooner. Much sooner. Like now.”
“Now? Like elope?” His eyes widen and so does his grin.
“Just mitigating the chance for things to go wrong.”
Chase laughs. “Pippa, I will marry you anytime, anywhere. Including right now.”
“It’s a good thing our families are in town for the Crush or Cupid watch party.”
We both send out a few texts, then whisk into a shop for a sundress for me and a button-down shirt for him. Afterward, we stop by a jeweler and pick out matching gold bands. In less than an hour, we’re standing in a small stone chapel, surrounded by parents and siblings.
Chase and I hold hands and make our pledges to each other. All I can think about is forever with this man who looks at me like I’m the MVP—the most valuable Pippa.
Afterward, everyone gathers at a wood-fired pizza place in the village. We sit outside on the patio where the lights sparkle, along with Chase’s eyes.
He won’t stop looking at me and I like it. A lot.
Freddie claps Chase on the back and shakes his hand. “Fitting that your reception dinner is pizza.”
“I love pizza,” Chase says with a gleam in his eyes.
We arrange the tables to form an L-shape so we’re all together. Of course, my groom and I sit side by side.
Freddie and Phoebe say a few words, congratulating us as the prospective best man and maid of honor had we not eloped.
Though Chase’s sisters did bring me flowers.
And they’re not intimidating at all. Phoebe will always be number one, but I feel like I have three more sisters now.
I wonder if they used to torture their brother with tea parties and princess balls.
I’ll have to ask later...and find out if Erica is single because Freddie has his eye on her.
I order all the appetizers, especially the ones with marinara sauce, because I don’t care if I sit in it. Nothing could dampen this day. Not even rain or Marlow. But thankfully, the sky is clear.
“Are we doing professional critiques because if so, I’d say a bit more oregano,” I say after we dig in and everyone else is talking among themselves.
“It’s going to be a shame when I have to go all season sans pizza.” Chase tells me about his game diet.
“Better enjoy this while you can, then.”
“Mmm.” The way he looks at me makes me grateful there won’t be any restrictions on us and sends my heart fluffies wild. “Thoughts on fresh basil?” Chase asks.
“I’m a fan...a big fan.” I nudge him with my shoulder. “You might say your biggest fan.”
“What if I were to retire?”
The table goes silent, suddenly interested. Chase’s father’s eyebrows lift. His mother tilts her head in understanding. It’s a gladiator sport, after all, and we all want our Lion around for a long time.
“I have an idea for Pippa’s Pizza Parlor. Fan or not?” Chase asks.
“What?” I ask, nearly choking on my orange soda.
“Well, you know about that whole inheritance thing? When I first found out about it, I drafted up a business plan and have been waiting to put it into action.”
Chase tells us all about a pizza franchise that will hire people coming out of tough situations, like jail, homelessness, layoffs, or extreme cases of job loss.
“Every Friday, we’ll feed the homeless and families in need.”
“This is amazing. Tremendous.” Chase has such a big heart and my greedy little fingers are glad it’s mine. All mine.
“I was wondering if you’d help me launch it...and help with the merch, candles in particular,” Chase asks.
We all talk about the pizza parlor enterprise, with everyone suggesting ideas. April mentions a pizza and pie shop in a small town out west called Hawk Ridge Hollow. Even Mr. Collins makes a few suggestions for how to structure the business.
I haven’t pried into his conversations with his father, but they’re gradually making amends. I know they’ve had a couple of long talks behind closed doors...and none were broken afterward, so that’s promising.
After we’re done eating, we stroll through the park and then along a quiet side street with a few shops and cafes. The scent of vanilla and sugar wafts in the air.
“Mmm. It smells good.”
“Hungry for dessert?” Chase asks.
“For wedding cake? I suppose I have room.”
With his hand on the small of my back, Chase leads me into a café. Our wedding party follows us. Treats of all kinds fill the display case.
“Want to grab a table?” Chase asks.
“As long as you bring me back something delicious.” I settle at a vacant spot in front of the window.
Moments later, Chase and my brother return with two cakes—one vanilla sponge cake with vanilla frosting and another has Concordia’s famous chocolate cake with shiny ganache.
As Chase sits down, he says, “Pippa, I thought it would be a piece of cake to ask you to prom.” He shrugs.
“That didn’t work out. But I’m thankful that you married me. ”
“I always thought if my life were a movie, it would be a romantic comedy of errors, but it’s turned out pretty perfect.”
Everyone laughs and I don’t cry at all. Not this time.
As the cake gets eaten, we kind of take over the café and invite strangers off the street to join us. “The more the merrier,” Mum calls, serving cake alongside Ruth.
Chase gives me a look that says, You sure this is okay?
For the first time in years, I don’t feel awkward or overwhelmed out in public.
Breathing is easy and the night feels alive in a rare way.
I’m sure I’ll need a few days of recovery, but I wouldn’t trade seeing my family and my husband and family so happy, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.
Even Mr. Collins looks slightly less grumpy than usual.
“I’ll recharge later,” I whisper as the strains of an Elvis hit play through the speakers.
We get up to dance and I fling my arms around Chase. Before I can stop it, the engagement ring goes flying across the room.
“I knew my wedding day was an accident waiting to happen.”
But like the amazing rugby player he was, Freddie catches the ring in his hand. He opens his palm and says, “Thanks for inviting me to your wedding, sis.”
“Thank you for coming to our wedding,” Chase says as we dance.
From the speakers comes the song “Brown Eyed Girl.” Chase spins me around and catches my waist. “Can this be our first dance?”
“I think it’s our second.”
“First time getting married.” His dimple pops.
“Second time dancing.”
“Third time at forever?” he asks.
“Finally.” I beam a smile.
I rest my head against his chest as we sway to the music.
“Will you be my brown-eyed girl?” Chase asks.
“I already am.”
“I love you, Pippa.”
“I love you, Chase.” I kiss him lightly on the lips. “If I’m your brown-eyed girl, you’re my Superman.”
Chase’s lips quirk with a flirtatious smile and I feel like the luckiest girl on earth...and the universe.
Want more? Read an excerpt from book four, The Kiss List, telling Everly and Grey’s story, laced with some suspense.