Page 95 of Fan Favorite

“No idea. But trust me, you don’t want the PETA people after you. We’ll have enough problems when I’m sued by the network. Will you still love me when I’m penniless?”

“For richer or poorer.”

He smiled and kissed her again, the kind of kiss that made Edie want to tear his clothes off.

“Seriously, can we get out of here?” she demanded when they pulled apart. “I cannot feel my feet.”

Peter looked at her shoes. “Who wears strappy sandals on a mountain? I expected more of you, Pepper. A practical Birkenstock at the very least.”

“All right, Mr. Designer Loafers. Just for that, you’re gonna carry me down the mountain.”

“May I remind you that I just fell out of a helicopter? Surely, I’ve cracked at least three ribs. I’ll carry you to engagement rock, but that’s it. Then you walk.”

“Fair enough.”

And then Peter scooped her up, like a bride crossing the threshold, and they made their way through the snow toward the Alpina Gstaad.

“Let’s get the hell out of Switzerland,” he said.

“Oh my god, yes. But can we do that? Can we just leave?”

“Why not? Let’s go to Paris for a few days.”

Edie looked at him agog. “Peter, are you serious? ’Cause I love you already. My whole heart might explode if we go to Paris.”

“Then Paris it is.”

“You’re gonna have to get me a phone, though. I’ve got to call Lauren. And I can’t be in love in Paris without a phone. We have to takeso many pictures.”

“We’ll get you a phone. And champagne, and croissants, and baguettes, and all of the cheese.”

“I thought you were lactose intolerant?”

“Not in Paris, I’m not.”

The production team was scrambling to reset engagement rock, replacing broken candles and adjusting tripods and lighting rigs, preparing for Bailey to arrive on Adam Fox’s arm to start the finale all over again. Edie’s heart felt warm, thinking about her friends Bennett and Bailey finding the love theyboth deserved. Edie rested her head on Peter’s chest, content. Somehow, against all odds, they’d arrived at their happy ending. Sure, it wouldn’t be perfect, but Edie felt like she got it now—love was an intention, an action, an acceptance. And perhaps her optimism didn’t need to be psychotic. Perhaps it could be rooted in something imperfect but genuine. In her. And in Peter. However the edit played out, Edie’s journey onThe Keywas probably going to make great TV. But all of a sudden, she knew she’d never watch. All the best stuff happened off camera.

And who needs TV when reality is even better?

EPILOGUE

The wedding, of course, was televised.

“I always knew this day would come,” Jessa pronounced, handing Edie a beautiful bouquet of cascading orchids. “But, oh my god, if you guys didn’t try to kill me along the way. Look up.” Jessa inspected Edie’s makeup, licked the tip of her pinky, and rubbed away a fleck of mascara. “I named my first gray hair Edie Pepper. Right before I plucked that bitch out. You’re welcome.”

Edie laughed. “Pretty sure you loved the ratings. Remind me, did we break all the Tuesday night records? Or just most of them?”

“You think you’re cute, but eight million people are watching.” Jessa pointed at a monitor with a live feed. Social media was already on fire. “Are you ready?”

Was she ready? Every single day since Switzerland, Edie had thought about arriving right here, right now. She smiled her biggest smile ever. “Ready. Definitely.”

And then the double doors were swinging open, and Edie Pepper was walking down the aisle while a string quartet played a dramatic cover of Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams.” Anartful display of driftwood and candles separated Edie from the two hundred guests watching with breathless anticipation. For a moment, it seemed absolutely insane that tweeting at Jessa six months ago had somehow turned into all of this. She’d gone from an anonymous, semitragic Midwestern singleton to an instant fan favorite internet sensation, so used to cameras and exposure that now the cameraman trotting backward down the aisle and blocking her view of the altar didn’t even seem strange. She just smiled into the lens like a professional. The cameraman broke left, revealing a handsome groom waiting for his beautiful bride. They locked eyes, and a sweet rush of love filled Edie’s heart.

“Congrats, Charlie,” she whispered. He smiled with that one crooked tooth and, honestly, he looked happier than she could ever remember seeing him. When Edie met Charlie in that kindergarten cafeteria, she could never have imagined all the ways their lives would diverge or the people they’d become. But somehow, at thirty-five years old, Edie felt like they’d really seen each other again, with all their old and new imperfections, and that they hadn’t looked away. They were family.

Edie took her place next to Max in the row of bridesmaids.

“Adam Fox has been messing with the crotch of his pants for like ten minutes,” Max whispered while looking absolutely gorgeous in her matching strapless, frosé-pink gown. “Like, I’m starting to get concerned about what he’s got in there. Check it out.”

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