Epilogue

EPILOGUE

PRESLEY

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Gideon,

I was absolutely not ready for that.

Presley Tatum

Before I can ring the bell, Brock opens the door of his condo in Malibu, backpack slung over his shoulder. He grins when he sees me and lets the backpack slide to the ground to scoop me into his arms. Though he was obviously on his way out the door to head to the hotel for the night, he doesn’t hurry as he greets me with a long, lingering kiss that makes my toes curl, even after a full month of dating. Sometimes our relationship feels like we’ve been together forever—the same way our friendship felt after only a couple weeks. Sometimes he kisses me and it’s as electric as the first time. The way he can completely wrap me up in his arms, and how small and protected I feel against his massive chest—I melt over it on a regular basis.

“Thought you were going to miss me, and I wouldn’t see you until the game tomorrow,” he murmurs into my hair after we pull away from each other .

“Traffic sucked. Sorry.” I rest my head against his chest.

“Drive to the hotel with me?” he suggests, nodding toward the SUV at the sidewalk. He always takes one to the hotel so he doesn’t have to figure out how to get his car home, unless I drive him or he goes with Eli Dash, who lives close by. “I’ll pay Carl for the drive, and you can take me,” Brock says, taking my hand to lead me down the sidewalk. He gives some cash to the driver, who thanks him and pulls away, then we head to my car. It’s definitely not as luxurious as the Escalades that Brock always hires (and drives one of his own), but at least it’s not a tiny sedan he needs to squeeze into. Thankfully, I drive a Toyota Sequoia, and he won’t be too cramped.

I pause next to the passenger door before he gets in. “I brought you something in case you get bored tonight.” I hold out the latest romcom by Gideon Thornridge, which is how I always think of this author, no matter the name on the book. I just finished it. This one is already optioned for a miniseries, according to Mom. Brock and I have been working our way through his pretty expansive backlist since I quit reading Veil of the Queen a couple weeks ago when it turned out that Brock has been right all along. It’s a testament to the fine man he is that he hasn’t finished reading it himself or pressured me to finish it with him so we can see how Gideon has justified this complete betrayal. So instead, we’re reading his romcoms, and I love it as much as if I’d discovered them with Aunt Shannon herself.

“How was it?” Brock asks, taking the book and slipping it into his backpack.

“Well, no betrayals and the kiss scene was mwah .” I imitate a chef’s kiss. “Perfection.”

“There are going to be TOK movies.” Brock leans over the top of the SUV as I walk around to get in. “You going to finish Veil before then?”

I shrug and open my door. “I’m going to have plenty of time to decide.”

Brock chuckles and slips inside .

We chat about another romcom as we drive, the one that Brock just finished and that I read right before him. He doesn’t hate these books, but he’s such a good sport to read them with me. It melts my heart every time he sends me a quote from one and comments with something like, “Just like you,” when it’s a description of a beautiful woman, or “I know exactly how he feels,” when a guy is pining after the love interest. That always makes me snort.

When we pull up into the circular drive of the hotel, Brock gets out and makes his way over to my side, so I get out of the car to hug him goodbye. I’ll see him tomorrow on the sidelines, but we won’t get to talk much since we’re both focused on our jobs. Still, I’ll miss hanging out with him tonight. I always do.

“Good luck,” I say as he leans down to kiss me goodbye.

“I’ve had the best luck since meeting you,” he murmurs against my lips.

“Helps that you’re on a good team now,” I tease.

He pulls back enough to look me in the eyes. “Helps now that I have someone I want to be the best man I can for.”

“I think you should definitely keep reading these romance books. They’re rubbing off.”

He grins and leans over to kiss me again. “Helping me put to words what I feel,” he whispers. “But there’s one thing I don’t need help with.” He cups my cheek in his hand and studies me.

“And what’s that?”

“I love you Presley Tatum. That’s what.”

The words don’t come as a shock, but they send a whirlwind of feeling through my body anyway. I throw my arms around his neck, and he puts his around my waist, hugging me and pulling me off my feet. I laugh softly as I press my face into the hollow of his neck and kiss him there.

“I love you too, Brock Bennett Hunter,” I whisper against his ear. We hug like this for several moments, and then he sets me down. He slips his hand under the Obsidian Kingdom necklace I wear more often than not these days and leans over to kiss it too .

“Also definitely my good luck charm,” he says winking at me. “Since it lured me to you.” He kisses me on the cheek and then straightens, letting out a little sigh that means he hates he has to leave me. It happens a lot, and it’s very endearing.

I hold the necklace and wave at him as he rounds the front of the SUV and makes his way into the hotel. I think Aunt Shannon has been matchmaking all along, and I can’t help but be grateful.

I get back in my car and watch Brock until he disappears through the doors, giving me one last wave before they slide closed behind him.

“Thanks, Aunt Shannon,” I whisper.

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