Page 154 of Reconciling With the Rival

“We’re all going to need a drink.”

“Why?” Hads asks.

“Because I’m going to tell you what happened.”

And then she walks by all of us before jumping onto the bed face first and covering herself in a blanket.

This week is only getting started, and we’ve already been thrown for a loop.

Please let this wedding go smoothly,I say to whoever is listening, knowing they probably won’t answer.

Because with Amelia and Henry facing one another again, who knows what could happen? All I know is, I’m going to try my hardest to make this week before Paige’s wedding the best week of her life.

Fingers crossed I can actually make it fucking happen.

Extended Epilogue

Rivals To Lovers

April 2026

“Wait, you guys aredoing what?” Grant asks us, his face full of bewilderment as he looks between Ella and me.

“We’re eloping,” Ella says, kind of lying, since she has been planning this out since we all agreed to come to Vegas this April. It was mainly to celebrate Ella’s birthday earlier in the month, but it’s also a trip for all of us. Today is the last day, and when Ella came up with the itinerary for this week, she purposefully left the last day blank.

For our wedding.

The group of us plan a huge trip once a year, when all our schedules lineup the best, and this year, we chose Vegas.

The only thing we didn't tell our friends was that we planned on getting married while we’re here. It’s not a typical Vegas elopement with an Elvis impersonator and all that shit you see in movies, but anactualwedding.

The main reason we’re doing this is because we’ve been to our fair share of weddings together, since most of us are now married. Paige and Oliver got married first, then Hads and Grant. Grant’s friend Jack also got married, Amelia and Henry soon to follow. After the fourth or fifth wedding, Ella and I realized we didn't want this huge and flashy reception.

We just wanted to be one another’s as soon as we could. Thus, the elopement.

We’re not even worried about our families being here for this, since we planned ahead. When Alissa and I visit England in June, we’re going to have a small ceremony and reception with them as well—Ella’s father and sister included. I haven't told Ella yet, but I bought them tickets to come with us.

It’s going to be perfect. Not only do we get to celebrate with our families for the first time ever, but we also get to get married in front of all our friends.

I spared no expense for Ella to have the wedding of her dreams, and every single dollar I spent was worth it.

The girls throw their arms around her as Oliver, Grant, and Henry come over to me, patting me on the back with smiles ontheir faces. Even Oliver has a smile. God, that son of a bitch has softened out immensely because of Paige.

“Can you guys help me get ready?” Ella asks them, her eyes misty as they continue to hug her.

“Of course we can!” Paige shouts before she throws her arms around me. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

Grant hugs her as soon as she unwraps herself from me. “We totally called this, Paigey.”

“I know!”

Hads smiles at the two of them. “I hate to break it to you, husband, but Paige was actually first.”

I only cock my head at them. I distinctly remember both Paige and Grant shoving Ella and I together way back when.

“Don’t you guys remember?” Hads asks the girls, and they all shake their heads. “We were at that party at the beginning of my sophomore year. Grant had just stopped flirting with me, and when I came back over to ask where Ella was—”

Amelia’s eyes light up, as if she remembers. “Oh, yeah! She was arguing with Zimmerman about who knows what, and Paige told us she shipped them together.”

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