Epilogue

AJ

It’s a Summer sister tradition that on the first Saturday of each month, the six of us get together. We take turns picking the location or activity, anything from margaritas and a movie to wine and painting classes at the small gallery uptown. One thing, though, is as certain as the sun rising over the Chesapeake Bay every morning: there will be alcohol involved.

Always.

Well, for most of us.

Tonight, only fifty percent of the Summer girls are drinking. Two are knocked up and one is hoping to be. Me? It’s not even on our radar yet, so I volunteer to drink their share. I’m a good sister like that.

Since not everyone can drink and it was Jaime’s night to pick, she settled on a chocolate making class at the local bakery. It was offered as a way for couples to enjoy a night out, while making yummy chocolates, but we decided it would be much better to take the class as sisters. Especially since there’s only one remaining single sister, and no one wants to make her feel like a third wheel…or an eleventh wheel, if you count us all up.

So we’ve taken over the entire back table, our group of six, and completely ignore the couples in the room feeding each other chocolate and licking traces off each other’s fingers. Our group is loud, even without half of us consuming alcohol we had to bring ourselves.

“I like this one,” Lexi says, shoving another sea salt and chocolate covered caramel into her mouth.

“We know. You’ve told us. You know the object of this class is to take your goodies home with you, right?” Abby asks her twin.

“I’m not sharing with Linkin. He’s already back to his overprotective ways. I’m barely four months pregnant and he’s already talking about me going on maternity leave.”

“That’s because he loves you so much,” Payton says as she fills chocolate molds with cherries.

“No, I totally get what she’s saying. Ryan wants to install bars in the tub and shower in case I slip. What am I? Eighty?” She grumbles, rubbing her swollen belly. She’s five months pregnant and has the cutest little ball attached to her midsection.

“How about you, AJ? How are the wedding plans coming along?” Abby asks, pouring dark chocolate into her mold.

“Good. He finally reached out to all of his groomsmen and asked them to stand up for him,” I tell them.

“His brother is best man, right?” Jaime asks, concentrating intently on her treat in front of her.

“Yeah, his brother and his two cousins. He asked two of his former teammates to stand up too.”

“The hot cousin who was here last October?” Lexi asks, looking so much like Grandma right now.

“Yeah, and Maddox has a younger brother too. Aiden,” I share, watching their eyes light up at the thought of seeing the two Jackson brothers together. I saw them both at Christmas, standing side-by-side, and I have to say…H.O.T.

“There are two?” Lexi gasps.

“You’re married,” I remind her.

“So! Married doesn’t mean I can’t ogle the hot cousins!” she declares loudly, drawing the attention of a few couples around us.

“I can’t believe you’re going to have professional athletes at your wedding,” Payton says. “Maybe we can set Meggy up,” she offers with a smile and a wink.

Meghan smiles back, but there’s no missing the way she tenses. “That’s not necessary,” she says politely. But it’s what she doesn’t say that stands out.

Giving her a small smile, I finish telling them quietly all about our upcoming July nuptials. We’re getting married in our backyard, a beach-themed wedding, with very little information being shared. The press has already caught on that Bad Boy Randall is getting hitched again, and the last thing we want is to have them shooting photos of our big day from boats out in the Bay.

“I just hope this baby comes on her due date. That’ll give me time to fit into my bridesmaid dress,” Jaime says.

“You? I’ve got to go a month longer than you. I’ll practically be giving birth while walking down the aisle,” Lexi groans. Her due date comes just mere weeks before our July twenty-ninth wedding.

“At least it’s only one baby this time,” Payton says.

“Truth,” Lexi replies, getting frustrated that her cream is pouring out of her chocolate piece. “This is hopeless. I suck at making candy.” She drops her tools on the table and grabs her water bottle.

“I heard that about you,” Payton teases, referring to her suck comment.

“Seriously, this time around, my hormones are all over the place, but I’m still horny as hell,” she adds, a wicked smile on her face.

“Me too,” Jaime adds. “We go out in the driveway all the time and just sit in his truck so I can give him road-head.”

“Why do we always talk about this?” Abby asks, a blush creeping up on her cheeks.

“Don’t deny that you don’t regularly lick the flesh lollipop, Abigail. Yours is bedazzled. I bet that thing’s in your mouth more than your toothbrush,” Lexi sasses with a pointed look. The color of Abby’s face rivals a red crayon as she averts her eyes and tries not to smile. “See. Told you,” Lexi replies when she notices her twin’s fuchsia face.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, so I gingerly pull it out, trying not to catch anyone’s attention. There’s an unspoken rule that the guys aren’t allowed at sisters’ night, but we all know it’s crap. I bet most of them have already either sent a text or received a text from their significant other.

Sawyer: How much longer? I miss you. *sad face emoji*

Me: Don’t give me that sad face. You’re probably having a great time with the guys.

The bubbles appear right away.

Sawyer: We’re having fun, but mostly talking about you all. We’ve become lame in our old age, babe. We’re not even drinking anymore. *tear face emoji*

Smiling, I type my reply.

Me: Aww, poor babies. Would it make you feel better if sexual favors are promised tonight?

Sawyer: You mean more favors than playing teacher/student when we get home???????????? *heart eyes emoji*

Me: Definitely. I was thinking we could use that suction cup dong tonight…

Sawyer: Keep talking…

Me: Place it on the wall, get us both all hot and bothered…and finally use it for its intended purposes. *heart eyes emoji* *eggplant emoji* *peach emoji*

I can’t help but snicker when I hit send.

The bubbles appear and then disappear. It takes a few minutes before I finally see a reply.

Sawyer: N.O.T. Happening. That thing isn’t going anywhere near my ass, Alison…

Me: *giggling girl gif*

Sawyer: Just for that, I’m using the red dong on you…

Me: *twerking gif*

Sawyer: You’re making me hard.

Me: Can I molest you like I molest cardboard Mr. Randall?

Sawyer: Fuck yes. How much longer?

I glance at my watch before replying.

Me: It’s only nine.

Sawyer: So…

Me: I’ll be there in a while.

Sawyer: Five minutes *pouty emoji*

Me: It’ll be longer than five minutes. We’re making chocolates. You can eat some when I get there.

Sawyer: Off your naked body?

Me: Definitely… *smiling devil emoji*

Sawyer: Hurry. *kissy emoji* *red heart emoji*

I set my phone down, a goofy grin on my face, and get back to making chocolates.

“She’s so getting some tonight,” Payton singsongs to no one in particular, which makes me laugh.

Who would have thought I’d find my happily ever after while drunk in a bar? What started out as an embarrassing disaster turned into one of the greatest moments of my life. It led me to Sawyer. And even though our road wasn’t easy, it has been worth it.

The headline will read: “Player to Spend the Rest of His Life with a Teacher.”

Sounds pretty damn good to me.