Epilogue

Three Years Later…

“Can I get my face made up? Please?” Lacy bounced up and down, her trademark ponytail bouncing with her.

“Uh, I don’t know. Is your mom cool with you wearing makeup?” I asked. “Maybe I should text her and check.”

“I don’t want makeup!” Lacy said with a scoff. “I want to look like a fierce dragon! It’s costume makeup.”

“Oh, of course. Well, in that case…”

“Do you think they do gruesome monsters?” Eric mused between bites from the tacos Zach and Tristan bought him at the food truck stationed in front of Fox Entertainment. “That would be awesome.”

The live band performing in front of my store hit an enthusiastic riff, blaring over our voices, so I started corralling the kids toward the makeup booth outside a cool little costume shop that had moved in recently. They were a fun addition to a neighborhood that was starting to see new life after a dozen events to celebrate small indies, music, and art.

“When is Chase getting here?” Zach asked once we were far enough from the music to hear each other better and Eric and Lacy had gotten into line for makeup.

I pulled out my phone. “Any minute. He had to drive back from Olympia.”

“Oh, how is his cousin’s store launch going?”

“It’s going really great,” I said.

“Wow. That makes three stores now, right?”

“Yep! Fox Entertainment was a brilliant idea.”

There was a happy bark behind me. When I turned, Chase was there with Bennie, a too charming smile on his too handsome face. “That’s not what you said about my store when you first heard of it,” he teased.

“Well, I had to make you work for it, didn’t I?”

He drew me into a warm kiss, just a sweet brush of his smile against mine and a nose nuzzle. We could still bring the heat like nobody’s business, but we’d save that for when we were alone. I treasured these small tokens of affection, too, because they reminded me of just how much we meant to each other, even if we gave each other a hard time.

“Such a little tease,” he murmured in my ear before pulling back.

“You know it,” I said with a grin.

“It’s a madhouse at the Olympia store. I almost didn’t make it back in time. They’re swamped.”

“I would have been okay if you didn’t,” I said. “I’m a big boy, and this event practically runs itself these days.”

It had taken a lot of work, but the idea Chase had when he wanted to prove he was a good neighbor, our many “strategizing” sessions, and Tristan and his colleagues’ expertise had all come together to revive Union Heights with a series of events that brought people to our little corner of Seattle.

There was no magic solution for small indies like me, though. The events brought more traffic to my store, and I got a cut of all the merch local bands sold at the events, but there were always some slow periods too. Cold, gray winter days were tough. Business was a shifting landscape. I continually tweaked my approach, working to build my online sales while adjusting my investment in new and used records to find the best balance.

I still had my ups and downs. That was unavoidable. But the roller coaster no longer scared me. With a partner at my side, willing to give me advice—just as Wash972 had done in those early days—nothing was too much to handle.

It also helped that I had a great employee in Briar, who was running the store for me now, and who’d rented my apartment above the store when I’d moved in with Chase.

Step by step, Chase was rebuilding his family’s legacy while I upheld mine—but most importantly, we were doing it together.

I’d made peace with the fact that there was no success or failure, only the energy and enthusiasm we poured into our passions.

I was proud of us, and I knew in my heart that Uncle Charlie was proud, too. No matter what.

“Uncle Chase!” Lacy cried. “Look at me. I’m hideous!”

Bennie growled in surprise, not recognizing her, and Chase laughed so hard he bent over, eyes crinkling at the corners.

My heart expanded, so full I thought it might burst.

I had everything I’d ever need. And it all started with the worst day of my life.

Maybe fate really did have a sense of humor, but I wasn’t laughing. I was too damn busy loving my man.

Thanks for reading! Want more Chase and Austin? Sign up for free access to my bonus scene, You’ve Got Mankini!

Next up? You guessed it! Elle will be heading to law school to win back his ex while Jordan waits not-so-patiently for him to figure out who really deserves his heart! Read their story in Legally Brawn!