Page 64 of Flame After the Fumble

“What is this?” Her hand flies to the already opened box, revealing a key coated in pink glitter.

“A key to the apartment.” Her fingers cradle the key rubbing methodically back and forth across the course glitter coating. “Will you move in with me, Goldie?”

“Yes,” she blurts out, then quickly corrects herself. “Is Violet okay with this? I don’t want to intrude on y’all’s space.”

“I’m more than okay with it!” Violet hollers from her cracked bedroom door. I knew she would eavesdrop. When I passed the idea by her when Liza left to visit New Orleans, she had no hesitations. I was worried that this would push her back into a funk, reminding her of the rocky waters her and Ryan are currently navigating, but instead, she took it in stride. She’s growing, and I’m proud of the person she’s becoming.

Chuckling lightly, Liza grips the key tighter, her huge smile forcing her eyes to squint. “I’d love to move in. Violet may hate our new bedroom paintings, but. . .”

“Goldie.”

“Yeah?” She smirks mischievously.

“You’re not sharing a room with Violet. You’re sleeping inourbedroom.”

“Well, that depends. . .” She taps her chin as if this is taking her time to ponder over. “How do you feel about abstract art across the wall?”

Unable to go a second longer without kissing her, I pull her into me and never intend to let go. “Anything you want. Anytime. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

42

Epilogue Hartley

one year later

“You look delicious.” Liza nuzzles between my neck before licking a line from my collarbone up to my lips. “And I’m starving.” Every time I wear a suit, Liza claims it’s not fair because she can’t focus on anything else.

Groaning at the sight of her before me almost causes me to throw her on the bed and forget about the engagement party. “You’re trouble.” She’s in a strappy champagne colored dress that hits her right above her ankles. Her hair is tied back into a ponytail with pearls placed strategically across the slicked back area. Her heels bring her close to my height, but what stops me in my tracks is the desire flaming in her pupils. The same look we’ve given each other for over a year now. I never get tired of seeing her like this.

“That’s why you love me, though.” Planting a wet kiss on my cheek, she clicks her heels across the wood floors as she passes around me to grab her purse off the bed. “Can you believe they made it here?”

“No.” Flashbacks of Violet and Ryan’s tumultuous road to where they are now brings back stinging memories full of hurt and betrayal, but I’ve got to give it to the guy. He’s done everything in his power to fight for her, and I respect it. On top of that, we’ve all seen him change for the better. “But, I’m glad they did.” Unable to keep my hands off of her, I sneak up behind and grab her hips, placing my chin on her shoulder as we rock back and forth.

“I’m going to cry watching you walk her down the aisle.”

I chuckle and almost tear up at the thought of walking my baby sister down the aisle in absence of her grandfather. “It’s not for another year, baby, we have time.”

“I know, but it’s going to be so special.”

Liza and I are approaching one year of living together. Mason swore we were crazy moving so quickly, but it felt right so I went for it. We’ve had our good days and bad, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else except right here with the girl of my dreams.

A soft knock rattles against the door frame, causing Liza to slip from my grip to answer.

“Hey!” Liza squeals as she wraps one of her best friends into a tight hug. Emberly walks hand in hand inside with her new boyfriend, Gage. He’s the second baseman on the Springs U baseball team. We’ve talked a few times and he seems like a chill dude.

“Are you ready for this?” Emberly asks Liza. The girls have been counting down the days until the engagement party for weeks. I’ve been a little less excited at the thought of Violet becoming a married woman soon.

Gage grips Emberly by the hips and kisses her cheek before leaving her side and greeting me. “What’s up, man?”

“The usual. Going to my little sister’s engagement party and trying not to think about the actual wedding day.”

He laughs, sticking his hands in his pockets. “I get it. My sister is still in junior high, but I’m going to be a tyrant when she gets her first boyfriend.”

“Would you two stop going all papa bear and enjoy yourselves!” Liza complains. “This party has taken every ounce of my blood, sweat, and tears to plan, and I'll die if it’s not perfect for Vi.”

“It’s going to be perfect, baby. Ready?” I ask the group before leaving the apartment to drive us to the beach for the party. Violet wanted to keep it low key, just our closest friends and Ryan’s mom. Her only request for Liza as her official party planner was to pick a place where she wouldn’t need to wear heels.

---