Page 92 of Just the Tipsy
Sadie interrupts the moment, licking both of us under our chins.
“Sadie,” I say with a laugh.
“She’s just giving her blessing, I guess.” Waylon pets her.
“Good, because I wouldn’t want to date someone she didn’t like.” I give him a cheeky smile.
“Good thing Sadie loves me then,” he says. “She’ll be excited to see Duke and Murphy again when you get back to Jepsen.”
“I’ll just have to tell Kaitlyn that I’m moving back,” I say, smoothing his collar even though it’s not rumpled. “How did you get in touch with her anyway?”
“Jada. She follows Kaitlyn on Instagram and connected us.” Waylon runs his thumb along my cheek, looking at me with so much warmth that it almost makes me tear up. “I didn’t want to pull a move the way your ex did, so I figured I’d ask if you’d be open to this.”
“What if we never mention each other’s shitty exes ever again?” I squeeze his shoulder, then his upper arm. “And just think about us in the future?”
Waylon’s smile brightens even more, which I didn’t even realize was possible. I want to imprint the memory of it into a safe part of my brain.
“That sounds like a really good idea,” he says, leaning down to kiss me again.
EPILOGUE
BIANCA
One yearlater
The lobby of the spa is already packed with people and the opening party has barely begun. Kaitlyn and I have been meeting on video calls in between to get all the details right, and in between when I fly up from Jepsen.
My stomach churns. What if it all fails? I’m still doing freelance social media work for Stryker Liquors, but —
“It’ll be great,” Waylon says, coming up behind me. Do I really look that tense? He rests a hand on my lower back and kisses my temple. “Look at all these people.”
“But —”
“Shh.” Waylon kisses me on the lips to quiet me. “Even if it doesn’t work — which it will — you can at least celebrate all the hard work you’ve done to get this place open. It looks great and you’re going to help a lot of people.”
I smile and step closer to him, letting myself get wrapped up in his arms.
“Thank you.” I run my hands up and down his arms. “And are you ready to meet my parents?”
Waylon goes a little pale this time. “Um…yes.”
“You sound so sure,” I tease.
“I’m terrified but can you blame me? I want them to like me,” he says.
“They’ll love you because I do,” I say, kissing him. “I need to go greet a few people, but I’ll find you, okay?”
“Okay. Good luck.” He kisses me again and lets me go into the crowd.
I saved up all the mental energy to network tonight, and I work the crowd as the event starts, saying hello to so many people that I get dizzy.
“Hold on, now,” my mom says, catching me by the arm. “We’ve been trying to catch you all night but you’ve been so busy.”
I throw my arms around her, then my dad, who’s standing behind her. I’ve seen them a few times since I moved to Jepsen, but seeing them in person always lifts my mood.
“I’m so glad to finally see you,” I say.
“We’re so proud of you, honey,” Mom says, cupping my cheeks. “I still can’t believe you live inTennessee.”
