Page 97 of Fan Favorite

“Edie Pepper, just the little disruptor I was looking for. This is Christian Brooks,” Carole said, gesturing to an immaculately groomed man next to her. “Head of development at RX.”

“Nice to meet you,” Edie said, shaking Christian’s hand. After everything, Carole remained absolutely the scariest woman Edie had ever met in her life, and she felt desperate to escape. “It’s so great to see you, but I—”

“Don’t be ridiculous, we want to talk to you.” Carole took Edie by the wrist and led her to a less-crowded space next to the bar. “So, Edie, have you thought about what’s next?”

“In what way?” Edie asked, wary.

“For your career, obviously.” Carole rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you plan to sit around waiting for Peter Kennedy to marry you.”

Edie cocked her head but said nothing.

They stared at each other until Carole pursed her lips. “Fine,” she continued, slightly chastened. “Edie and Peter forever. But don’t be stupid. You’re having a moment and you shouldn’t waste it. We don’t want to see you languishing in podcastville with the rest of the reality stars trying to outrun their fifteen minutes. You’re better than that. What we want to talk to you about is a TV show. Late night. On our streaming platform. Pop culture. Comedy. Celebrities.”

Edie looked at Carole, confused. “Sure.” She shrugged. “I’ll come on your show. Just let me know when you need me, and I’ll be there.”

“No, no, no, no, no,” Carole said as Edie tried to escape again. “We’re talking aboutyou. Youhostinga show. We’re thinking about calling it”—Carole painted the word in the air with a sweep of her hand—“Famewhores.”

Edie was completely stunned. On the dance floor, the crowd was cheering as Bennett removed Bailey’s garter with his teeth.

“LikeWatch What Happens Live, but with you as the host,” Christian added helpfully.

“Wait,” Edie said, brow furrowed, “amIthe famewhore in this scenario?”

Christian crinkled his nose adorably. “Of course not. Theguestsare the famewhores. You’re more like a celebrity gossip whore.”

“Oh,” Edie said, not sure if that was better.

“We want to start ASAP,” Carole continued. “I’m in town for two more days. You’ll meet us tomorrow for brunch at the Polo Lounge, and we’ll discuss details.”

Edie was so stunned—her own TV show???—that when Bailey’s bouquet sailed through the air and smacked her right in the head, even that wasn’t enough to snap her out of it.

“See?” Carole gestured at the slack-jawed Edie and the bouquet in pieces on the floor. “This is it. This is the whole show.”

“I completely see it,” Christian agreed. “A total star.”

As Carole and Christian continued to plan—“I want this in production by the time they announce their relationship. That news will go viral, and I want this show mentioned in every single fucking lede”—Edie was swept up inKeygirls loading her arms with broken pieces of the bouquet. After so many hugs and a big “I love you so much!” kiss from Bailey, Edie finally extracted herself and went to find Peter.

Edie made her way onto the deck and down the stairs to the beach. And there was Peter in his tuxedo, hands in his pockets, staring at the ocean. The water sparkled in the moonlight,and out here, everything felt like magic. Vast and unknowable, but also rooted in everything that was real, right here, right now.

“I thought you didn’t stare at the ocean,” she teased.

Peter turned around. He raised one brow. “When did I say that?”

“The first day we met.The Monk of Malibu, remember?”

Peter laughed. “You never let anything go, do you?” He nodded toward her armful of flowers. “Don’t tell me you caught the bouquet.”

“Something like that.”

“Bad luck, you know.” He stepped toward her. “A married woman catching the bouquet.” He took his right hand from his pocket and offered her a simple platinum band that matched the one he was wearing.

“You’re gonna get us in trouble…”

“What? They’re married now, aren’t they?” he said, tossing the broken flowers to the sand and sliding the band onto her finger.

Their wedding three weeks ago was nothing like the weddings Edie had spent her life dreaming about.

And it was absolutely perfect.

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