Page 59 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

“So, what does one do about theblack moment?” It was Logan who asked.

Travis swallowed hard, because he wasn’t quite sure.

“That’s easy.” Jeremy spoke up. “The grand gesture, of course.”

“The what?”

“Do you love her?”

Travis didn’t hesitate. “More than anything.”

“Then you tell her that,” Nick said. “In the biggest way possible.” He laughed, but it made sense to Travis.

Tell her. Biggest way possible.

But what was that when it came to the most famous movie star in the world? What would be big enough for Stephanie?

He knew exactly what to do.

Travis finished his beer and set the glass down and said something he’d never said before. “I’m going to need your help.”

“They’re out there, all right.” Faith walked into the ranch house kitchen and shook her head. “I mean, I know you’re famous and all, but I guess I didn’t really knowknow.Ya know?”

Stephanie laughed. “They’ll get bored. There’s not much story here.” But even as she said it, she didn’t believe it. She’d been constantly refreshing the internet browser on her phone, waiting for the story to break about the movie star and her newmystery man.

It was coming. She was sure of it.

“Stop looking at your phone, Steph.” Hope walked into the kitchen. “Nothing is going to happen. Everything will settle down here right away. You’ll see.”

She smiled, even though she didn’t believe it. It was only a matter of time.

“I just got off the phone with Georgia at the bakery, and she told me that the guys who’ve been camped out on Main Street are starting to pack up and go home. They’re getting annoyed that they can’t go into any business.” Hope laughed. “I love how Glacier Falls came together on this one.”

It was pretty awesome. And just one more reason why Stephanie loved it there. “Hey, have you heard from my parents?” she asked Faith. “They were supposed to call when they landed and got their rental. I don’t know why they wouldn’t let me send them the helicopter.”

But she did know. Her parents had never been comfortable with their daughter’s fame. They were proud of her, for sure, but when it came to Stephanie spending money on them, it had always made them a little uncomfortable, like they didn’t know quite how to accept the gift she tried to give them.

“I haven’t heard,” Faith said, but she shook her head and looked away.

It was odd, but Steph chalked it up to everything being odd. Because that’s how it had felt ever since they drove across the bridge.Odd.

She had underestimated how much she’d grown used to having Travis around. Without him, she felt empty, like a very important piece was missing.

Even after spending most of the day on video conferences with Lewis and her publicist, she still felt unsettled. The only thing she wanted to do right then was go back to Lynx Creek and cuddle up with Travis and Tink.

But she couldn’t do that.

The reporters were still out there, and even though they couldn’t go on private property, they could follow her. It was just easier if she stayed put for the time being.

“It’s getting late.” She needed something to focus on besides her own drama. “I should call my mom. See where they are and what’s going on. I don’t want them driving in the dark and—”

“Oh. I forgot to tell you,” Hope said from the sink where she was filling a kettle. “Levi picked up your parents.”

“What?” Steph shook her head. “Youforgotto tell me?”

She shrugged and smiled sweetly. “I was just getting ready to put the baby down for a nap and it just slipped my mind.”

Steph raised her eyebrows and turned to look at Faith, but her sister avoided her gaze. “How did that slip your mind?” She looked back to Hope. “I’ve been waiting for—”

---