Page 131 of Brewer Family Collection, Part 1

Epilogue

R ipley

A month later …

“Slow that thing down,” I yell out the window, laughing as a shirtless Tate rolls Jason’s golf cart to a stop beside my car. “You’re going to kill yourself in that thing.”

Mimi, Jason’s wife’s grandmother, sits in the passenger seat, grinning like a loon.

“You stay out of this, Ripley.” Mimi laughs. “This is the highlight of my week.”

“I’m just mad you’re cheating on me with Tate.”

She winks. “Don’t talk about me like that in front of Georgia. She’ll get jealous.”

Georgia laughs from the seat beside me. “Hi, Mimi.”

“Hi, sweet girl. Your mom and Chloe are already cooking. The two of them stress me the hell out,” Mimi says.

“Me, too, Mimi. Me, too,” Georgia says.

Tate hits the gas, and the golf cart lurches forward, then speeds down the street in front of Jason’s house.

The sun is especially bright this Saturday, and the air not too hot or too cool. It’s the perfect Tennessee afternoon. These weekend days are quickly becoming my favorite.

It’s been four weeks since Georgia moved in with me and Waffles. It’s been a learning experience. She hates mornings, loves cheap frozen pizzas, and I’m considering ordering another king-sized bed just so I have room to sleep.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“When are we supposed to go to Canoodle to film our final scene?” Georgia asks, her hair blowing in the breeze.

God, she’s gorgeous. And she’s mine.

It’s still hard to believe sometimes.

“Tuesday,” I say, pulling up next to Jason’s car. “They’re creating fake search terms for us to pretend we used for the basis of us being totally matched together.”

“Do we have a say in the terms?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Darn. Could’ve been fun.”

“They also want us to try to recreate our hiking date. Apparently, they think that footage of us running through the rain would be great for the show.”

“Oh, I’m sure it would. Speaking of the cabin, did you leave your card there that day? Whatever happened with that?”

I turn off the ignition. “I did not. Instead, I made a donation to the park.”

“A generous one, I’m sure.”

I only grin.

“Also, speaking of the cabin, I have some news for you,” I say. “I wanted to wait and tell you in front of everyone because I think your reaction will be hysterical, but the segue right now is too perfect.”

“Why does this scare me a little?”

“Because you know me.” She giggles. “Guess who got a job?”

“I’m guessing you.”

“Guess what I’m going to be doing.”

There’s no way to even guess what this little firecracker has gotten herself into. She could tell me she’s running for governor, and I wouldn’t be surprised. I’d be more surprised if she lost the race.

“A pinup model,” I say, throwing out the first random thing that comes to mind.

“ A weatherwoman .”

I recoil. “What?”

“I’m going to be a weatherwoman.”

“You’re kidding me.” I laugh. “There’s no way.”

She bounces in her seat. “I can’t call myself a meteorologist because clearly, I don’t have that degree. But I can be a weatherwoman because I’m just reading the weather on the morning newscast.”

I burst out laughing but pull her in for a hug. “That is amazing. I … I’m actually speechless.”

“Why? I’m good at the weather.”

“You’re reading the weather, not predicting it. Don’t get confused. If you go on the air and start freeballing the forecast, you’ll be unemployed again.”

She leans back and takes off her seat belt. “I’ll dazzle them with my abilities, and they’ll see what I’m capable of.”

“I’m sure,” I say with as straight of a face as I can manage.

“Is everyone coming today?”

“Everyone but Gannon.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on with him?”

“I would if I knew.”

“Fine.” She checks her nose and teeth in the mirror. “Let’s go in and see everyone. I hope Arlo is here. I could use some baby snuggles.”

I give her a quick kiss. “Go on inside. I’ll be there in a second.”

She climbs out of the car and dashes into Jason’s house. Seeing her so happy makes me happier than I ever thought possible.

We may have had a rough road getting here, but I wouldn’t change a damn thing about our journey. Every little piece of our lives made us who we are so we would be ready for this moment together.

And every one for the rest of our lives.

Gannon and Tate’s books are live now in Brewer Family Series, Part 2. Chapter One of The Merger (Gannon’s story) is next.