Epilogue
Six Months Later
“I love Saturdays,” Isabel said, when she woke up in Taylor’s fluffy bed. “Especially the ones where we don’t have to work.”
Taylor turned from where she stood at the window wearing the cutest little pink nightgown that Isabel distinctly remembered taking off her the night before. Pesky little thing. “Hey, baby. I didn’t know you were up,” Taylor said, breaking into a smile and returning to the bed. She sat on the edge and ran a hand through Isabel’s hair. “You were so peaceful. I thought I’d let you sleep a bit, rest up for today.”
“Did we buy sunscreen?”
“We did, and I will make sure that it’s applied amply to your gorgeous skin.” She ran her hands down Isabel’s bare shoulders, inspiring a shiver.
Isabel pulled Taylor back into bed. “Speaking of ample…” Her hands moved immediately under the nightgown to Taylor’s breasts, causing Taylor to make the most wonderfully sexy sounds.
“Do we have time? I’m not sure we do,” Taylor said, glancing at the clock. “We honestly don’t.”
“I’ll make time,” Isabel said, rolling over and taking Taylor with her. “Buy some on Craigslist.” She nibbled on Taylor’s ear. “Whip some up on the stove. Conjure it with my book of spells.”
“You have spells? You’re so resourceful,” Taylor breathed. “And right about the weekends. Do you realize I count the days?”
They’d been back together now for almost six months. In an effort to do this thing right, Isabel hadn’t moved in with Taylor, knowing she’d need time. They’d taken things slow, and that had paid off in spades in terms of her anxiety. She was now a part of the most healthy, exciting, and passionate relationship she’d ever witnessed. They were more in love than ever and grew closer each day. In fact, Isabel couldn’t imagine her life without Taylor. She refused to.
“You’d get sick of me if we worked together all day and came home together at night.”
“Never,” Taylor said, tossing the nightgown over her head. “We have six minutes.”
“Then I should get to work.”
“We both will.” Taylor grinned and kissed her as Isabel drifted into the blissful oblivion.
Three hours later, they arrived at Huntington Beach and found themselves among wall-to-wall people, all decked out in bathing suits and sunglasses for a day of surfing, food, and fun. It was the last day of the US Open of Surfing, and they were there to cheer for Gia in her final heats. The day couldn’t have been nicer. Blue skies, white fluffy clouds, and an even seventy-nine degrees to usher out June. Holding hands, they located Hadley and Autumn in the seats Gia had reserved for them.
“Well, well, well,” Autumn said, turning to Hadley. “If it isn’t the writers of that hit new show!”
“Do you mean The Sub-division? The one about that kick-ass CIA agent turned regular woman? Why, I love that show!” Hadley turned to the man next to her. “Have you seen it, sir? You should really tune in, Wednesdays at nine.”
He nodded politely.
Taylor leaned across and hugged Hadley, then Autumn. “You guys are the best street team ever. Did we miss it?”
Autumn grinned. “Nope. Her heat’s next.”
Isabel turned to Taylor and dropped her tone. “Told you we had time.”
Taylor squeezed her hand, popped on giant sunglasses, and chuckled. “And what a time it was.”
Isabel stole a kiss. She had to.
The heat began a few minutes later, and they watched as their friend went to battle against the other surfers. While Isabel didn’t totally follow the scoring system, she could tell from the crowd’s reactions that Gia was in top form. “Whoa. She’s literally riding a wall of water. They’re going nuts for her.”
“You don’t understand,” Hadley said, excitedly. “She’s pulling in scores she hasn’t seen in over two years. She’s rebounding. Say good-bye to number eight.”
“She’ll be seventh in the world?” Taylor asked.
“If she wins this, higher,” Autumn said, hooking her thumb at the sky.
The announcer’s voice came over the microphone. “And Gia Malone forces a late heat lead change, ousting Elle Britton from the top spot in a stunning switcheroo.”
They joined the roaring crowd, screaming for Gia. Autumn shook her head. “This is crazy. She’s going to be stoked. We need to celebrate with her tonight. You guys in?”
“Of course we’re in!” Isabel said, over the crowd. The adrenaline hit she received from watching her friend do magnificent things was amazing. They stuck around until the end, when Gia was announced as the Open’s winner in an upset that had everyone talking.
“I’m so glad we got to be here for this,” Taylor murmured to Isabel. “We should come to more of these.”
“The more events where I get to see you in a swimsuit, the better.”
They celebrated that night with Gia and the other surfers at an outdoor luau on a private section of the beach. Isabel and Taylor raised excited eyebrows at each other as they presented their VIP tickets to the party and were each awarded a lei upon entry.
“You don’t know what it means to me that you guys were there,” Gia said, approaching their group with an ear-to-ear grin. She’d taken her hair down and traded her bathing suit for white pants and a crop top. She radiated.
Isabel grabbed her. “Do you know how crazy that was? How exciting? How proud of you we are?”
Gia laughed. “I agree about the crazy and exciting, and I’ll take the proud. I needed this.”
A striking woman with a headset appeared and tapped Gia on the shoulder. “Hey, Gia, can we get a shot of you by the water? The sun is setting and it could be a nice way to cap off the day of the tournament.”
“Sure thing, Jordan.” She turned back to her friends. “Be right back. Part of a documentary they’re shooting on the surf tour. I’m one of the surfers they’re featuring.”
“Go,” Hadley said. “Be important. We’ll be right here drinking piña coladas and swaying to the music.”
And that’s exactly what they did. Gia returned a short time later and they spent the evening dancing on the beach, and laughing, and talking about their plans for next week.
“Who’s the hot producer?” Autumn asked, as she swirled her hips to Jimmy Buffett.
“Totally taken,” Gia said, twirling Autumn easily. “I asked. Married.”
“Lame. My life is boring.” Autumn pouted. “I need some action, some excitement, someone like that!”
Isabel laughed. “Give it time. Eventually, the right one will surprise you.” She looked deeply into Taylor’s eyes as they danced, and she found herself undone once again.
Taylor nodded, never taking her eyes from Isabel’s. “The love of your life could arrive at any damn moment.”
Hadley sighed. “I love it when you two get all dreamy-eyed. Don’t you guys love it?” Hadley asked Autumn and Gia.
“Yep,” Autumn said. “And since I’m jealous and alone, the next round is on me.”
“They think we’re cute,” Taylor said quietly with a gleam in her eye.
“Objectively, we are. Have you seen us?”
She relaxed into a radiant smile. “A stunning couple, I’m told.”
Isabel stared at her, lost in the onslaught of emotion that hit. “I love you,” she whispered in Taylor’s ear. “I really, really love you.”
“Good,” she said, leaning in close to Isabel. “Because you’re all mine, and I’m all yours, and that is never going to change.” It was a common phrase from Taylor, and Isabel couldn’t hear it enough.
“You know what?” Isabel said, inclining her head to the side. “You have a way with words.”
Taylor laughed. “I’ve never heard that before. Not once.”
As Isabel danced with Taylor in her arms, her heart swelled and she realized just how ridiculously lucky she was. With amazing new friends, a job she was thrilled with, and a woman she loved, she’d never felt more fulfilled. While there might be more shaking in the closet, the attacks were now few and far between. She kept her monthly appointments with Jim, a therapist who helped her learn better ways to cope. When those dark times came, however, she now had her friends to see her through. More importantly, she had Taylor. Though she still had work to do on herself, Isabel wasn’t alone, and she never would be again.
“Here you go, buddy,” Autumn said, presenting her with a fancy-looking fruity drink and then handing one to Taylor.
“Would you look at that?” Isabel said. “Now, that’s a pretty drink.”
Autumn nodded. “Not as pretty as that married producer over there, but it’s all I’ve got.”
“Hey-o!” Gia said, dancing with her drink over her head.
But the best part of all of this? Isabel knew inherently that there were a million more moments like this one to come—with the people she loved around her. There would be more dancing on the beach, more Pajamas coffee, and more stolen mornings with the love of her life. She smiled at Taylor, who danced, carefree and beautiful. God, with eyes like those looking back at her every day, how could she go wrong?
Isabel Chase was right where she was supposed to be.