Page 29 of The Last Key (Baker Girls #2)

KENNEDY

Three Months Later

They were a generation promised that they could have it all if they worked hard, but somewhere between that promise being made and their generation coming of age, the world changed.

That promise was null and void as they hit adulthood and were left working long hours for little pay with crushing student loan debt piling up.

Millenials, as I wrote in my last paragraph, got the shit end of the stick. At least as Gen Z, we knew it was going to suck for us. Millenials still had hope .

I stand up from my chair and stretch, looking around the office.

Before I moved in, it was a collection of boxes, scattered exercise equipment, and a small desk.

Now the boxes are gone—what was inside them all sorted and organized in different places throughout the house.

The exercise equipment is settled in one corner, and in the other corner, I have Sharon’s old sewing table, which I’ve turned into a desk.

I also bought an insanely comfortable chair, because I spend a fair amount of my time working in here.

After trying it out for a few weeks, I ended up loving running events at the inn.

It turns out that’s a great fit for me. Devon quickly put together an event coordinator position for me.

It’s still only part time because other than weddings and occasional local events, there’s not much else going on.

I’m hoping to increase the number of weddings held there over the coming year, so Devon and I have been working together to create a strong social media presence to drive people toward the inn. So far, it’s been working.

I also pushed past the fears I had about pitching ideas to bigger online magazines and websites, and had a few accepted.

This is my second big piece, and I’m really excited about it.

In addition to those two things, I’ve still been volunteering at the library and helping Claire plan events at Bloom Beauty here and there.

None of it is how I saw my career going, but I love it this way.

I get to do all the things I enjoy without any of them burning me out, and I’m still making a living.

But if my research for the article has taught me anything, it’s that Gen Z likes to buck tradition—and often authority—when it comes to college and careers.

The doorbell rings, and I take that as a sign to take a break. My eyes were starting to feel fuzzy, and I’m already ahead of my word count goal for this week, anyway.

After turning off my computer, I head downstairs and open the door. The mail truck is down the road and there’s a box on the porch. I excitedly drag it inside and take it into the living room before tearing it open .

What I see makes me smile. A bunch of signed books from indie author Jade Jackson.

After reading all her books over the course of a couple of weeks, Justin slid into her DMs and they’ve had a whirlwind love story ever since.

She and Justin both signed copies of one of her books—which they’re working together to narrate—for the book club.

There’s a sticky note on one with my name on it.

I open it and look at the title page.

Kend,

Here’s to falling in love with your best friend. We picked this one just for you.

Love ya,

Justin

Below it is another signature from Jade.

Kennedy,

Can’t wait till I get to meet you in person. Hope your book club loves this one. (And doesn’t hate the cliffhanger! I promise to send the next if they want it.)

See you soon.

XO

Jade

I laugh at that. Justin and Jade will be coming out here for a visit in a couple of weeks when they have a reader event in the area.

Though we’ve talked over text and video, I’m excited to finally meet Jade in person, especially since she’s already met everyone else in our friend group.

Frannie only lives a couple of towns over from her, and apparently Jade is a huge bandits fan, so Justin took her to a game.

“Hey, babe?” Devon calls through the back door. He’s been working in the backyard all morning. We’re so domesticated. I love it.

“Yeah?” I call, setting the book down and walking down the hall toward the kitchen.

He’s smiling as he leans against the door, shirtless and hair mussed, looking like sex on a stick.

“Can you grab me some water?”

“Sure,” I say, barely able to take my eyes off him for long enough to get some water for him. As I hand him the glass, his fingers brush mine and my core clenches. God, why is he so stupidly hot?

“Okay there?” he asks, grinning. “You look thirstier than me.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my raging hormones. “Well, you sure know how to make a girl want to sing.”

He growls in response, and I’m about to climb him like a tree.

“Before we do that, come outside with me.” I pout a little, but he smiles. “I promise, it’s worth it.” He extends his hand, and I take it without question.

I shut the door behind us as we step onto the back porch. As soon as we do, I see a section of the fence in the backyard set to look like a soccer goal.

“What is this?” I ask. “Is this what you’ve been doing all morning?”

“I mowed the yard first. Then raked the grass clippings so we wouldn’t slip on them while we play. It’s been too long. And since I know how much you love kicking soccer balls at a fence…”

I turn and throw my arms around his neck.

“This is amazing.” He leans in to kiss me, but I push away and run down the steps, grab the soccer ball, and dribble down the field toward the goal.

A moment later, he’s next to me and we’re fighting for control of the ball.

We both make shots at the goal and miss, but finally I get a good enough lead on him that I can take my time, and I manage to score.

He grins and runs for the ball as it rolls back to us, but when he gets close enough, he kicks too hard and it soars over the fence.

“Nice one,” I tease. “Guess we better go get it.” I stare over the fence, trying to see where it went.

“Actually, I have another,” he says from behind me. The ball lightly hits the fence next to my feet. When I bend down to pick it up, I realize there’s writing on it.

I turn it in my hand until the words are right side up. And, oh my god. It says…

Will you marry me?

I spin around to see Devon kneeling in front of me, ring box in hand.

“Kend, the day you moved in next door to me was the best day of my life. It’s the day I met my partner in crime, my forever best friend, and the love of my life—even if I didn’t know it at that moment.

I’m so unbelievably lucky to have spent seventeen years as your best friend.

Now I’m ready to spend the rest of my life as your husband.

In many ways, nothing at all will change.

It’s still the same love, the same trust and respect we’ve always had for each other, but now it will grow in new, stronger ways as we walk through life together.

I love you so much, Kennedy. Will you marry me? ”

“Yes. Hell yes. All the fucking yeses. I love you.”

He stands and wraps me in his arms, giving me a deep kiss. I lean into him, twisting my tongue with his until I remember…

“The ring!” I yell, leaning back.

He laughs and steps back, pulling the ring from the box and taking my hand. It’s a gorgeous center cut diamond with small diamond clusters on either side set on a twisted platinum band. Classic and breathtaking.

“I love it.”

“I’m glad. You have the most eclectic taste in jewelry. I had to get advice from Frannie and Hallie. And Claire went with me. ”

“You did good. It’s perfect.”

He kisses me again, then slowly pulls away before kissing my head and looking at me reverently.

“I can’t wait to marry you.”

“What are you thinking? Next week?” I tease.

“Maybe three weeks. Justin will be in town then. We’ll just need to get the rest of your family from New York.”

“I can’t tell if you’re serious or not.”

“When it comes to marrying you, I’m always serious. Though it would be a lot to pull off that quickly.”

“Well, I am the event planner at a gorgeous inn. I’m sure I could make it happen.”

“Anytime, anywhere.”

He sweeps me into his arms bridal-style and carries me toward the back porch, kissing me as he goes.

When I came back early for the reunion, I never could’ve predicted this is how it would end up, but in my heart, I know it’s right.

When I decided to stay, I told Devon I was smashing my window, carving out my own path, but really, I’d finally found the right one to walk, the right door to open.

And it turns out I had the key the whole time.

I just had to know where to look. I had to be honest about what I wanted and go for it.

Now I have it.

Who knew moving to Brighton seventeen years ago would end up being the best thing that ever happened to me?

Devon carries me up the stairs and into our bedroom, setting me on the bed, then climbing over the top of me.

“I love you,” he whispers.

“I love you too,” I breathe.

I may not have wanted to come here originally, but it turns out Brighton was always where I was meant to be.

I just had to be willing to see that. Some people think fate controls every aspect of life, but I think there’s a lot of free will involved, too.

I’m thankful that I listened to my heart when it called me to the arms of my best friend.

I’m even more thankful that I trusted my heart when it said I could have the future with him I always wanted.

Best decision ever.

The End