Page 68 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

He used his thumb to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Soon, babe. Soon.”

When he first started to work on their house, he, too, was impatient. He wanted it to be done now. Without waiting. So they could move in right away and get started building their lives together properly. But then Travis realized something that had changed his entire perspective.

They were already building their lives together and the completion of their home wouldn’t change that. It wouldn’t suddenly signify the start of something more. He already had everything he needed. And the process…well, it was part of the fun. “Let’s not rush this part.” He stroked her hair. “I want to enjoy every single moment of this life with you. And after all, there’s no rush to get into the house. We’re not going anywhere.”

“No,” she said. “We are definitely not going anywhere.”

He cupped her cheeks and kissed her deeply.

“Except maybe down to town for your premiere.”

She laughed before turning in his arms so she was pressed up against his back and gazing out over their land. Travis held her tight, and she tipped her head back against him and sighed. “But maybe we can just wait a few more minutes?”

He nodded and kissed the top of her head. “Babe, I’ll wait forever with you. Always.”

After all, he’d waited his entire life to find his true love, the one that had changed him completely. If he stopped to think about it, it still caught him off guard how far he’d come in the last year. Stephanie Starz had changed his entire life, every bit of it for the better. She’d opened him up to a life and love he never could have imagined was even possible. At times, it made him sad to think that he could have missed out on all of it if he hadn’t taken a chance.

A life alone, keeping everyone who mattered at a distance didn’t even begin to compare to the life he was creating with Steph. Not even close. And it wasn’t just Stephanie, either; it was the entire extended network of family and friends he’d opened his heart to. It had only been a few months since he would have preferred to be alone in his camper van rather than attend a massive movie premiere with pretty much everyone he knew. But to his surprise, he was actually looking forward to it.

But not enough to rush the most perfect moment. Travis held her a little tighter. “I love you, Stephanie.”

It was unlike any other movie premiere Stephanie Starz had been to. There was no red carpet. No throng of screaming fans held back by red velvet ropes. No paparazzi lined up, all clambering to get a shot of the stars—only a few select photographers and reporters, but only because the production company had insisted.

Instead of the usual Hollywood glamour and sparkle, Stephanie and Bella had suggested a very different affair and to their surprise, the publicists had agreed. It turned out that the public was hungry for more of Stephanie Starz’ssmall-townlife after her “rescue from across the bridge” was reported in the press. The fact that Bella Burton, the star ofBombshell,also called Glacier Falls home was an added bonus. And because the small town had become so important to both women, they wanted to give back to all the townspeople in the best way they could think of.

It was perfect.

Stephanie and Travis were late to arrive at Ever After Ranch, where the festivities would take place. Not that Stephanie cared. Normally, it would have made her crazy if she wasn’t the first person there. But lately she was learning to slow down. Travis was a big part of that. Just the way he’d been a big part of most of the changes in her life.

“You look gorgeous,” Travis said as he took her hand and led her toward the festivities. “Have I told you that yet?”

She laughed. “Only a dozen times.” With her hand still in his, she did a half spin, letting the jade-green sundress spin around her legs. Far from the extravagant gowns she usually wore for movie premieres, the sundress was simple and perfect for a summer evening in the mountains. “You look pretty sharp yourself.” She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed her husband’s cheek. “You clean up pretty well.”

Travis had opted for dark jeans, a black shirt, and a black felt cowboy hat. He was definitely the sexiest man she’d ever seen. When he’d emerged from the bathroom at their little cabin earlier and given Steph that cocky grin she’d fallen in love with, they were almost even later than they already were. It took a lot of self-control on both of their parts to walk out the door instead of falling back into bed.

“This is pretty incredible,” Steph said as they got closer. “They’ve really outdone themselves.” Faith, Hope, Logan, and Levi had been excited for the chance to turn Ever After Ranch into a movie theater for the night, and although Steph might have had some doubts about how they were going to pull it off, it was clear she needn’t have worried.

They followed the trail to the back of the barn, where a giant movie screen had been set up in the trees. Rows of blanket-covered hay bales were full of their friends and family and townspeople who were already settled in to watch the movie that had just started. “Oops,” Travis said. “We’re a bit later than I thought.”

“It’s fine,” Steph said with a smile. “I’ve seen this one.”

He kissed her cheek and pulled her close.

Instead of taking their seats at the front and disturbing the viewers, they opted to stand at the back to watch the movie undetected. At least they thought they’d gone undetected. Steph noticed a few people turn and spot them, and a photographer—who kept a respectable distance—snapped a few photos of them.

When the credits rolled, the audience stood up from their seats and cheered. There was a tear in Stephanie’s eye because not only was it a good movie—it was one of her best—but her dear friend Bella had been phenomenal in it. Just as Steph had known she would be.

“Come on,” Steph said to Travis as the crowd started to break up and head toward the barn, where cocktails and food catered by Birchwood was to be served. She took her husband’s hand and pressed through the crowd, nodding and smiling to everyone as she went. There’d be time to chat later. She had one person she had to see right away.

And there she was. At the front, right under the screen, Jeremy’s hand in hers, Bella Burton stood surrounded by a crowd, all of whom were lavishing her with compliments and praise. Steph stopped and watched, a proud smile on her face. Bella deserved all of her success, and it made her unspeakably happy to have played even a small role in bringing her talent to the world.

“Are you going to go say hello?” Travis asked her with a squeeze of her hand.

Stephanie shook her head. “No. This is for Bella.”

As if her friend sensed her, she looked up over the crowd, and her eyes locked with Stephanie’s.

Before she could say anything, Stephanie smiled and nodded a little, blew Bella a kiss, and turned away. “Come on,” she said to Travis. “Let’s get a drink.”

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