Page 62 of Keeping Happily Ever After

Bella nodded to her unasked question. “We’re going to be okay.”

Lisa nodded and smiled.

“What about your old Papa? Come here and give me a hug, baby girl. You were…I’m just so…” Roy’s rough exterior gave way to his emotion and tears streamed down his face as Bella hugged him. “I’ve never been so proud in my whole life, Bella. You were born for this.”

His voice shook and Bella couldn’t speak for fear of crying herself. Even more than she already had.

“Thank you all, for…” Bella stepped back to look at her family. She took Jeremy’s hand in hers. “It means so much to have you all here.” She looked at Jeremy in his wheelchair. “So much,” she said, her voice breaking.

“Bella?” Behind her, Bryan cleared his throat. “I tried to give you some time, but…” She turned and he visibly jumped back. “Oh wow.” He reached for the button on his radio. “We’re going to need makeup for Ms. Burton.”

Did she look that bad?Bella laughed. Probably.

“You’re gorgeous,” Jeremy said, reading her mind. “But he’s right. You probably still have things to do.”

She tilted her head. She couldn’t leave him. He was just out of the hospital. She took in his scrubs, the hospital bracelet still on his wrist, and raised her eye in question.

“I’ll tell you later,” he said before, gently and reluctantly, giving her a nudge. “Go. Do what you need to. And I’ll be right here.” He looked over her shoulder. “Or wherever Bryan tells me to be.”

“I’ll sort you out, buddy. Don’t worry.”

Bella smiled between them and nodded. She gave Jeremy a quick kiss on the nose. “Okay. But don’t go far.”

“I’ll take good care of him,” Bryan said.

Before she could respond again, she was swooped up by the hair and makeup staff, who went to work on her like a well-oiled machine. Next to her, Michael, her publicist, started running through what was about to happen.

She’d completely forgotten about the question-and-answer period with the cast. She forced herself to listen as he repeated all the things he’d been telling her for the last few days about how to answer the questions. What to say, what not to say.

“And when it comes to…the man…” Michael stuttered over his words. “How would you like to…”

That was an easy one. Bella smiled and looked straight ahead. “He’s my fiancé.”

Next to her, she heard him take in a gasp of air. No doubt Michael hadn’t been briefed on it. Especially considering it wasn’t really official. But there was no time like the present and really, what more would it take? When you knew, you knew.

And she knew.

There was no one Bella would rather spend her life with.

And that’s exactly how she answered the question fifteen minutes later as she sat on the set with Stephanie Starz, and Scott Hillman and Rory Marks, the two leading men of the film.

She looked to Steph, who smiled supportively. Bella didn’t know how she’d gotten him there so fast—it must have taken a miracle—but she also knew that if anyone could pull it off, Steph could. Getting Jeremy there was all her doing, and she’d never been more thankful for her new friend. Stephanie winked and quickly turned to answer her own question about her personal life.

Bella soaked it all in. After all, the showcase was just the beginning.

And now, she not only hadBombshell, she had the love of her life as well. He was safe. He was hers. And that was all that mattered.

They’d figure out the rest later.

Because they had time.

They had forever.

ChapterTwenty

Takingcare of Jeremy was the least Stephanie could do.

Even then, it hardly seemed like enough.

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