Page 114 of That Friendzone Feeling
“Thanks, sis.”Sheblows me a kiss down the line, then we say our goodbyes and hang up.
Walkeropens the top drawer of the dresser and pulls out a fresh pair of boxers. “Whowas that?”
“Sara.”
“Well,” he says, shoving in one leg, “Inever expected to hear a conversation with your sister end like that.”
“Meneither.Turnsout we’re not as different asIthought.Shewants to start working in pop music and is riddled with guilt that my parents will be let down after everything they did for her.”
Hesteps his other foot into the underwear, then pulls the boxers up over his firm calves and muscular thighs.Istrain for a glimpse of the goods under the towel, but they remain disappointingly covered.
“Wow.That’sa biggie.Shoulddefinitely take the sting out of you telling them you’re slumming it with me.”
Hedrops the towel, crawls onto the bed, and straddles me. “Buthow great that you two might be finding each other after all these years.”
Irest my hands on his thighs and slide them up until my fingers disappear under the edge of his shorts.
“Apparently, it’s taken me way too much time to figure out way too many things.”
“Itdoesn’t matter,” he says, taking my face in his hands. “Allthat matters is that you’ve figured it out now.Thatwe all figure it out.”Hebrushes his lips over the end of my nose. “Andfrom now on, no matter what happens, we’ll figure things out together.”
Hepresses his clean, minty lips against mine. “Ilove you,EmilyLombardo.”
“AndIlove you,WalkerDashwood.”
EPILOGUE
Five months later
WALKER
“R
eady?”ItakeEmily’shand and press it between mine as we look out the window of the resort’s welcome center.
Abouttwo hundred invited guests are gathered on the lawn of the event space in the center of the resort.It’sa mixed crowd of journalists, travel industry people, big names in the brewing world, elite wedding planners, our staff who’ve worked so hard to get everything ready, and our families.
EvenEmily’sparents are here.SheandSarawent to see them afterSara’sconcert commitments inLondon.Turnedout they were way more disappointed inSarathan inEmily—something she hadn’t expected.Butit’s good to know they don’t disapprove of me anywhere near as much asEmthought they would.
Sara’sholding her ground about wanting to pivot her career, and now that she andEmare getting on better than ever, she’s even working on moving toNewYork.Feelingso close to my own brother and cousins, it’s great to seeEmandSarafinally growing together.It’sa miracle to think there’s now hopeEmilymight eventually have one family relationship that means as much to her as mine do to me.
Almostas much of a miracle as the fact we’re holding hands and looking out at our completed resort.OnNewYear’sDay, all those things seemed impossible.
Butnow it’s finally our grand opening weekend.Everyroom is full.Nota single person turned down our invitation.
It’sa pretty daunting crowd.Tome, anyway.Thisis a big day.Andin more ways thanEmilyrealizes.
“Yup.Ready.”Shepicks some fluff off my shoulder. “Andwe could not be luckier with the weather.”
Thesky is blue, the sun is perfectly warm, the sea breeze perfectly gentle and perfectly cooling.
“Youlook beautiful.”Istep back and look her up and down.
“Youthink?Iwasn’t sure if this dress was a bit floaty for me.”
“Youlook gorgeous in anything, whether it’s floaty, hugs this beautiful body, or is a pair of old leggings with breakfast spilled on them.”Irun a hand from the side of her breast down to her waist. “Thisdress is fun.AndIespecially like this part.”Idrag my finger down her chest to the deep vee between her breasts.
“Oh, stop it.”Shebats my hand away and casts her gaze around the reception area to see if anyone’s looking.
