Chapter Seventeen
It was a joyous Saturday night Happy Endings Book Club meeting at the private hotel lounge in the city. The first time since the sologamy ceremony that they’d been able to have a book club meeting with Claire. Ally marveled over the month that had passed since marrying herself. In hindsight, she’d thrown herself into sologamy with just as much blind enthusiasm as she had her old sappy romantic fantasy life, but sologamy turned out to be a good way of healing and moving forward. She’d accomplished a lot, reaching out for new experiences like her fitness classes and hiking and fishing and, finally, taking the risk of letting a man into her life. Not just any man, the best man she’d ever met. Ethan had never once tried to hold her back while she’d searched for what would make her truly content. He’d just been supportive and kind and loving. He was better than any prince she could’ve imagined. She was sure her friends thought she was a lovesick dope, but ever since Ethan openly returned her love, she’d been floating, all gooey and giddy over absolutely everything.
Ally looked around the circle of women with a goofy smile, glad she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to them anytime soon. Now that she was staying local, she was looking for a bigger career opportunity than an assistant job, something she could really help build. She was still thinking on what. Tonight they were supposed to be talking about The Princess Bride, an impossibly romantic fairy tale that had once been Ally’s favorite fantasy. Everyone was wearing the Dread Pirate Roberts T-shirt Claire had given them at her wedding as her promise that she’d be back to talk about the book and then watch the movie together.
But like usual, the meeting got off track. The discussion started with The Princess Bride, but then quickly veered to the personal—how beautiful Lauren’s wedding had been last Saturday, which led to Carrie sharing some of the planning she was already doing with Hailey and the Bride Special magazine people for her own wedding next June.
Ally chimed in. “If only sologamy ceremonies could get so much attention, right? It would probably help so many women feel good about themselves.”
Sabrina agreed. “If you came up with something, I’d be happy to share it with my clients struggling with singlehood.”
“Maybe I could make special kits with vows and a necklace,” Ally said, thinking out loud.
“Or you could make it a bachelorette party thing,” Lauren chimed in.
Missy huffed. “For the last time, women want strippers at their bachelorette party.”
They cracked up.
“Get the woman a stripper!” Mad exclaimed, which set them off again.
Once everyone quieted, Ally returned to the sologamy idea, hope sparking within her. “You really think there’s a market for sologamy stuff?”
“Absolutely,” Missy said with a nod. “I think it’s a worthy cause.”
“Wow,” Ally muttered. “I never really thought about it before, but I have been looking for a new business venture.”
Hailey leaned across the circle toward Ally, her brows shooting up, a wide smile lighting up her face. Not her stressed-out beauty-queen smile either, more of a super-excited smile. “Really?”
Ally exchanged a look of concern with her friends. Ever since Josh and Clarissa had gotten together three weeks ago, Hailey had been a little…hyper. It was the first weekend in November, which meant everything had slowed down for Hailey’s wedding planning business, but Hailey had sped up, throwing herself into community events. So far she’d arranged a massive Black Friday shop-local campaign for Clover Park, a holiday stroll for the following weekend, including not just the usual decorations and breakfast with Santa, but also an ice-sculpture artist, strolling carolers, horse and carriage rides down Main Street, an outdoor crafters market under a heated tent, and a hot cocoa station with glazed nuts. She had more in the works too, some kind of holiday fundraising event at Ludbury House to benefit a local food bank and Toys for Tots, as well as something special for senior citizens she was still thinking on. It made Ally tired just hearing about it all.
Ally spoke slowly and cautiously. “Yeah, I’d like something I could help build.”
“Ally!” Hailey squealed, wiggling in her seat. “That sologamy thing could be a nice add-on to my business! I could put it on my website as an option.” She gestured wildly. “You could guide the bride and bridesmaids through their own special ceremony to make them feel empowered and good about themselves. Like you did with us!” She looked to their friends for confirmation, who quickly agreed.
Ally considered it. The idea had merit and she was sure once Hailey was back to her usual non-hyper self, she’d be good to work with. “I have been looking to get out of the classroom, just get out there and do something awesome.” A slow smile dawned. “This could be really awesome.”
Hailey bounced in her seat. “Yes! Come work for me! I’m going to need someone very soon. You can be my right-hand woman and run the sologamy service. I can train you on weekends until the school year’s over. Once that Bride Special article comes out next August, it’s going to be nuts. Then I could bring you on full time. It’s perfect!”
Ally wiggled in her seat. “Omigod, it is perfect! I love that idea!”
Hailey leapt out of her seat and Ally met her halfway for a jumping hug.
“What’s all the hugging about?” a familiar masculine voice asked.
Ally startled. She pulled away to see Ethan heading straight for her. The guys were right on his heels.
Claire stood. “I invited the guys here for drinks. I know you usually have after book club meeting drinks, so I thought we’d just shift it here so I could join in. Hope that’s okay with you all.” She squeaked as her husband came up behind her and goosed her. Then he wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her neck.
“Absolutely,” was the general consensus. At least from the women reuniting with their husbands and fiancés. The single women eyed the single men, who all headed over to the fully stocked bar, where Marcus and Josh immediately got to work serving up drinks. Marcus owned his own bar, The Burrow, a popular place in lower Manhattan. Luckily Josh hadn’t brought his new girlfriend; otherwise Hailey might’ve shifted from hyper to manic and who knew what she’d plan then? Maybe a statewide dance marathon or a bare-chested bachelor auction. Actually, a bachelor auction could be fun. Ally smiled to herself, already shifting to planning mode. This new business opportunity was definitely a good fit for her.
Ally shared the good news with Ethan right after he gave her a big kiss. “I’ve got a fantastic job opportunity! I’m going to be working with Hailey, helping with wedding planning and offering sologamy ceremonies so everyone can feel happily empowered.”
He gave her one of his rare big smiles that lit up his gorgeous face. “Awesome. I love it and I love you.” He was so expressive now like his heart had cracked open and the love just poured out.
She melted, heart squeezing, weak in the knees, goofy smile and all. “Oh, Eth! I love you too.”
He snagged her by the hips. “Maybe one day you’ll be planning one of those weddings for us.”
“You asking?”
“I will.” He looked around at the noisy crowd and back to her. “Not here. I want to do it right. Would you like that one day with me? Something permanent?”
She nodded happily. “I would.”
He entwined his fingers with hers, lifted her hand, and kissed her fingers. “I would too. I could not love you any more than I do in this moment.”
“Aww,” Ally exclaimed, her heart bursting with happiness. “Me too!”
“More lovey-dovey stuff, Eth? Give it a rest.” Ben appeared at Ethan’s side and elbowed him. Ethan just grinned.
Missy crossed to Ally. “Hey, leave them alone,” she told Ben. “If they want to be lovey bears, more power to them.” She fist-bumped Ally.
Ben stared at Missy. “Do I know you?”
Missy rolled her eyes. “We played pool together, like, four months ago.” At Ben’s confused look, she added, “At Marcus’s bar? That mixer Hailey planned. Ring any bells?”
Ben’s brows scrunched together in confusion. “We played pool together?”
“Yeah, on the same team.” At his continued confusion, she added, “I could not be less flattered right now.”
Ben barked out a laugh. “I’m sorry.” He studied her for a moment. “Wait, did you used to have red hair?”
“Yeah, it’s naturally red, but I dyed it dark brown. My face is the same.”
“I never remember a face,” he joked, his blue eyes glinting mischievously. He glanced down at her body and then met her eyes, giving her his usual charming dimpled smile. “I do remember you! Missy Higgins.” He offered his hand. “Ben Wright.”
“I remember you, Mr. Wrong.” She laughed dryly and walked away. Ben’s gaze followed her.
Ally bit back a smile. Mr. Wright had sure been wrong tonight.
“Mr. Wrong.” Ethan chuckled. “She got that right.”
“Oh, shut up, lovey bear.” Ben stalked off to the other guys.
Ally smiled, shaking her head.
Ethan framed her face with both hands, tipping her head up, his eyes so full of warmth and love gazing into hers. “Being single’s not so bad, but being with your forever love is so much better.”
She instantly choked up. Actually hearing “forever love” coming from this tough, formerly hard-to-read man zinged a direct hit to her heart. “Eth, you’re going to make me cry.”
He scooped her up in a hug that lifted her off the ground. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
“I make me happy. And you do too. Double the happiness. We are lovey-dovey, aren’t we?”
“I love it.”
“Me too.”
He set her down, his hands resting lightly on her waist before leaning down to her ear, his voice a sexy rumble. “I really want to get you alone. Could we cut out early?”
She slid her hand to the back of his neck and brought him close for a kiss. “Yes. Absolutely. Like right now.”
He smirked.
She smirked back.
They turned as one to their friends all gathered by the bar. “Have fun, guys!” Ally called.
“We have an early day tomorrow,” Ethan said, guiding her quickly toward the door.
Then they ran out the door, hand in hand, eager to get their hands on each other.