Epilogue

AMANDA

One year later

" H ey, you should sign it Tits McGee," Blake whispers in my ear.

I pause just as I'm about to write my own signature. My eyes slide to him. "What? How did you know about that?"

"Oh, I've learned about a lot of things since your newfound fame," Blake says, leaning in closer. "That your high school nicknames included Tits McGee, Lord of the Geeks, and Sir-Pukes-a-Lot. The last one was pretty explanatory. You know, considering."

I look up at the young woman standing on the other side of the table, waiting eagerly for me to sign her book. I flash her a nervous smile.

This is our first book signing. Blake's father agreed to hold it at Crawford's Books. The store is doing really well now thanks to the new store manager they were able to hire. Plus there's the celebrity aspect of it all since everyone knows by now who Blake Lovecox really is.

But they also know who Blake Crawford is, just as they know who Amanda Newland is.

It's been a year since Falling for the Secret Male Stripper came out. Since then, we've released ten other erotic novels, with one of them, Slammed by the Single Dad , hitting the New York Times' list. You can bet Rio thinks she can add that title to her name as well. She's teaching English in Japan now, but she says she introduces herself to people as a New York Times' bestselling influence, which is kind of true when you think about it.

It hasn't been just smut though. True to our hopes and wishes, writing and selling the kinky stuff and finding success in the genre has opened a world of possibilities for us. We both have agents, and we both have our own novels out. The Land of Tears and Bone —now retitled Phenelope —was just released this month by a major publisher. Blake's sci-fi horror, Blood Aurora , was published by a small press two months ago. It's already been optioned for a film, the lucky bastard, even though they say that's never anything to get too excited over since options rarely amount to anything.

But it's hard not to get excited these days. Things are falling into place.

And every day I'm falling more in love with him.

I mean, he's still the man who holds my hair back when I vomit.

Which I did on the way over here this morning, as we walked from our apartment. Right as tourists in a horse-drawn carriage were wheeling past. I think they got photos.

Who knew your first book signing would be so nerve-racking? I was so worried that no one would show up, and then I started worrying that everyone would show up. What if I spelled someone's name wrong? What if someone told me they hated my work? What if I farted? All valid concerns.

But so far it's been going okay, except I almost wrote Tits McGee in this person's book. I slide the open page over to Blake, glaring at him. "If you talk to me while I'm signing, I will seriously write down all the wrong things."

He just flashes those dimples at me and writes down his name in his usual chicken scratch handwriting. At least I'm known as the "neater one."

Even though the signing is only for a few hours, it seems like everyone I know has come in to get something signed at some point. The show of support is amazing, albeit surprising. Sarah and her new husband David stop by, as does Miss Dumas and Heath. Kevin and Angelica briefly pop in on their way to Butchart Gardens for a fun day together.

Though the divorce is old news and she and Blake's dad have gone their separate ways, Angelica and Kevin never ended up moving away. In fact, they moved to a modest house closer to us and even Fluffy is allowed back home. The four of us (minus Fluffy) spend a lot of time together when Angelica isn't working, and we bond over our love of Benedict Cumberbatch. At least, everyone but Blake does.

Speaking of moving on, Blake's dad is also here, putting his disdain for smut aside to watch the money roll in. And let's face it, I know he's proud of his son. But he's not alone. Ana is with him.

Yeah. I guess sparks were flying that day at the LARPing event because when it was Kevin's turn to get made over by Ana, she and his father started talking. Next thing everyone knew, the two divorcees were dating. They can't be more different, and I have no idea what they have in common, but somehow they make it work. They're both happy, that's the important thing .

"I didn't know your parents would be here," Blake says to me as I'm signing another book.

I look up to see my mom next in the line, my dad hovering in the background, talking to Blake's dad. My mom gives me a sheepish wave.

"Mom," I say, not expecting them to be here either. My parents and I have gotten closer over the last year, even though it took a good three months of keeping our distance before we could start again. Now they treat me like an adult (mostly) and I try and act like one (mostly). It's not always easy but it's working so far.

My mom has a copy of our latest erotica, Sex Bomb, in her hands and shyly slides it toward me. "It's for your Aunt Sylvia," she explains. She leans in closer and lowers her voice. "You two don't have anything female on female do you?"

"Mom," I admonish her. This is so sweet, incredibly touching but also majorly embarrassing.

"I had to check," she explains with a shrug.

I sign it to Aunt Sylvia and hand it over to Blake to sign.

She hovers at the table. "How about you two come over for a celebratory dinner tomorrow night?"

"If crazy Aunt Sylvia is there, I'm in," Blake says. He looks at me and explains, "I feel she might have some good stories for our next book."

I wrinkle my nose and he gives her the book back.

"We'll be there," I tell my mom. "I'll call you about it later."

She walks off to join my dad and they both wave at us.

"Well, that went well," Blake says with a sigh after the last of the attendees have been pushed through. "Better than I expected."

"Yeah, well, you got that one woman crying over meeting you," I joke. "And then you had to sign that pair of underwear. And the condoms. And that other lady's breasts. So yeah, it went quite well for you."

"Don't be jealous," he says to me, giving me a cocky smile as we get up and slowly make our way across the store, stretching our cramped hands, arms, and legs. "The time will come when you get to sign breasts too."

We pause among the stacks of books and a thrill goes through me that our own books are in the store here. It never gets old.

But neither does being in love with Blake.

He grabs my arm and spins me around until I'm pinned back against the bookshelf. He brushes his fingers through my hair before placing a soft kiss on my lips.

"What's next, peach?" he asks me softly.

"You mean story idea-wise, or about life?"

"Both. What's our next chapter?"

I link my hands behind his neck and gaze up at him, the love of my life.

"I guess we'll have to keep writing and see," I tell him.

He grins, grabbing my hand, and we walk out of the store and into the sunshine.

THE END