Page 117 of Everything In Between
“What’s next, then?” Bethany asks.
I turn from her to Hayes, who is still watching me with pride. He strokes his hand over my head again. It’s a valid question. I have no idea what’s next. The last two days I’ve been consumed with confronting Callum. That was what was next. But now? Now I have endless possibilities. I don’t have to conform to the Silver Shadows schedule anymore. I can do whatever I want, go wherever I want, singwhatever I want.
Hayes’s amber eyes study mine intently, like he’s trying to read my mind. There’s no chance he could. My thoughts are swirling around like a cyclone. I keep settling back on one notion, and I know that has to be what happens first.
“I want to sell my condo,” I say with conviction. Hayes’s lips twitch at the corners. “I’m moving to Milwaukee.”
epilogue
JERSEY
ONE YEAR LATER
“What do you think?”I ask Hayes when I step into the living room. I do a little spin and my yellow dress swishes around me.
The weight of Hayes’s eyes hit me like a freight train, and if I wasn’t feeling beautiful before, I sure as hell am now. He gets up from his seat on the couch and saunters over to me, gaze trailing over my dress and landing on my face.
When he’s close enough, I see his attention flit down to the red stain on my lips before meeting my eyes again.
“That dress has me thinking that we should probably just stay in tonight.” His voice is low, promising something that has my toes curling and nerves tingling.
“You’d have me miss my own release party?” I say, my voice breathy.
“If I get to take that dress off you? Yes, absolutely.” I know he’s teasing—he’d never want me to put aside such an important event—yet the insinuation is fun and scandalous.
It only made sense to have the release party in my favorite little town on earth, so tonight we’re celebrating the album at Red Zone. Preston and Mickey were over the moon when weasked them to host the party at their bar, sharing a quick glance and agreeing within seconds. I made sure Preston knew Chloe was invited too, so he could bring her along.We’ll be meeting up with our friends and a few lucky fans who were chosen by my new PR team to be in attendance.
“What if I make you a deal?” I ask him, playing along.
He bends down and nibbles a trail from my shoulder up to my ear, where he whispers, “I’m listening.”
“What if—” I pause, sucking in a deep breath when his teeth tug on my earlobe. “We go to the release party, and then you get to take the dress offafter?”
“Deal,” he says without hesitation before capturing my lips in a deep kiss.
When he pulls away, my head is spinning. Crazy, given I haven’t even had a single drink yet tonight.
He has my lipstick smudged all over his lips and mouth, just like he always seems to when I put on makeup. It’s like he has to mess up the first coat just so I have to reapply a second one.
I reach up and wipe at his mouth a bit, unable to keep the amusement off my face. “You always do this.”
His eyes glint mischievously. “Maybe I like the idea of your lipstick smudged all over me. You all over me.”
“Your flirt game is strong tonight,” I muse.
“I’m just proud of you.” His voice has grown soft again, tender. “You’ve accomplished so much in the last year.”
“You have too,” I respond, thinking about the replica of the Lombardi Trophy sitting on Hayes’s trophy shelf at home. His Super Bowl win last season still goes down in my memory as one of the most unforgettable nights of my life.
“Maybe.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “But tonight isn’t about me. It’s about you—my beautiful, talented, incrediblefiancée.”
I preen under his praise, thinking about the long days and the longer nights piecing this album together.
It was a daunting task, deciding I was ready and willing to put out my first independent album. Without the weight of a big name label behind me, there was every possibility that the album could’ve flopped and it wouldn’t take me anywhere, but with the settlement on top of additional compensation for Meghan’s song helped with the production cost. Even without being a part of Silver Shadows, my fan base is devoted and willing to take a chance on me—the real me.
They’velovedthe album.
It shot up to the very top of the ranks, where it has stayed for the last few weeks. Words can’t even describe how thankful I am.
