Epilogue

Victoria

We followthe suited driver out of the airport, Erin holding my hand and my parents trailing behind us. We're in Los Angeles for the premiere of Julius Caesar.

The driver leads us to a large black vehicle, but before we reach it, Hayden climbs out. Dark sunglasses shade his eyes, but nothing disguises the wide smile on his face.

We've worked hard to keep our relationship out of the public eye since the beginning, and while people know about us, he's done his best to shield me from the prying eyes of the press. But when we've been apart for weeks with him doing press for the new film and meeting with people about his next project, he can't wait patiently in the car for me.

He gives Erin a high five before turning his attention to me, wrapping me in his arms, and kissing me—keeping it rather chaste considering my family's presence and the likelihood that we'll be photographed.

The driver loads our bags in the back and Hayden opens the door, gesturing Erin and my parents into the car first. Once they're safely inside, he presses me against the car and kisses me more thoroughly, his fingers gripping my waist. "I've missed you," he murmurs against my mouth.

"I've missed you too," I whisper back. "I hate when we have to be apart that long."

He hums in agreement. "Me too." But he doesn't promise it'll never happen again, because we both know it will. This isn't the first time, and it surely won't be the last.

In the last year since Julius Caesar finished filming, we've spent as much time together as possible between him coming to Arcadian Falls and Erin and I coming here—sometimes with my parents tagging along to help watch Erin when I have day-long obligations like this trip. And I just took the jump to quitting the dentist's office after being only part time for the last six months. Not having the guaranteed paycheck anymore felt like a big risk, but Brit's buying my things for her shop outright now instead of them being there on a consignment basis. The sweatshirts sell best in the cooler weather—and I did a special ChristmasFest design this past winter—but the lightweight tops do well in the summer. And she convinced me to make table linens in the same vibe as the tops—similar colors and fabrics—that sell like hotcakes. I've also been working with Mia on costumes for a couple of films, and she's passed my name along to others, so I have more costuming work all the time. Likewise, Aurora's been so happy with the process of getting her gown for this premiere that she's started telling other movie stars about me.

According to everyone, after tonight when she's photographed wearing the gown for the premiere, I'll start getting even more commissions, which'll likely necessitate more travel down here. In the summer, like now, that's not such a big deal. But with Erin starting middle school in the fall, it might get trickier.

Hayden has mentioned us moving here with him, but I haven't decided yet. Not because I don't want to live with him—he's been staying with Erin and me when he's in town since the winter—but because uprooting Erin is a big deal. I have to do what's best for her, and I'm not sure taking her away from the only life she's ever known is it, even if she loves her room in Hayden's house and always gets excited about coming down here.

But right now I don't have to make that decision. There's no pressure. For now I get to relax and enjoy spending time with the man I love, attending my first red carpet event wearing a gown I designed, and basking in the beautiful life we've created and continue to create together.

"I love you," he says, dropping another kiss on my lips.

I tighten my arms around him. "I love you too."

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