Epilogue

 

Four Months Later

 

Jordan

 

I never thought I’d be back in Friendship, Texas. Or living in my grandparents’ house with my girlfriend. I tried not to think about the fact I was sleeping in their bedroom, especially not when I had Abbey bent over the old four-post bed.

“Oh, my God!” Her body clenched around my dick, and it didn’t take long before I was finishing inside her, moaning as we both stilled.

Of course, she couldn’t let me just enjoy the sight of her. Abbey just had to pull away and slide her panties up before straightening her little pink dress.

“You sure you don’t wanna try for round two?” I whispered in her ear, wrapping my arms around her waist.

She squealed and squirmed until I unraveled her. “You know it’s Sofie’s wedding, and I need some chubby cheek pinching time with my nephew!”

“Technically he’s your step-nephew,” I said, pulling my dress pants up.

“You’re just jealous because he likes me better.”

“The kid’s four months old, and he hasn’t experienced doing real artwork with Uncle Jordan yet. Wait until he’s at least one; then the real fun begins.” I wiggled my eyebrows.

“Please. Aunt Abbey will always be his favorite. She takes the pictures and will be the one sneaking chocolate,” Abbey said, grabbing her K1500 from the bedside table that I might or might not have used a time or two to get a really good shot of her coming out of the shower.

She always said she hated it, but her smile said something different.

The smile that I hope never faded.

I might have fucked up royally when I left her after high school and in New York. Things weren’t as easy as I thought they would be, and starving artists were a dime a dozen, so no one was buying my shit. But being back in Friendship was like a breath of fresh air.

I might not have been doing street art or walking around the busy city streets, but Texas women loved their online yard sales and Canton first Mondays. That was helping to pay the utilities and some other fixings on the old house.

“Anyone I need to worry about coming?” I asked as Abbey slipped on her flats.

The girl got more gorgeous every time I saw her. I still couldn’t believe I let the long-legged brunette go when I was a stupid kid. Even just a few months ago, I almost lost her just so I could try to make some money. So I could try to show her I wasn’t a complete failure at art and she could make her dreams as a photographer.

But the girl was even greater than I gave her credit for, jumping at the opportunity to assist a Dallas photographer and start a small studio out of the sunroom that I may or may not have upgraded for her liking with paneled walls from the old barn and furniture for all the senior and newborn photos.

We still went out for walks on the property, and I sketched the trees while she took pictures of the landscape. In the quietness, as I looked over at her, smiling and bending over to get the perfect shot, was when I would think about how damn lucky I was to get the girl who I thought got away forever.

Abbey shook her head. “Just close family and the Conti’s. No Joey or Teagan. Or Christy, for that matter. She and Sofie are still just being cordial.”

Friendship was a small enough town that we still saw the aforementioned pain in the asses who had almost ruined our relationship. But they made sure to stay far away from us, and from the grapevine, we heard Teagan was looking to stay in Austin after she graduated, which was just fine by me. The less drama, the better.

“You ready?” Abbey asked, walking up and straightening my tie.

“Ready.”

 

***

 

The wedding was a small affair that took place at a lake, which should have been freezing balls in December, but in Texas, it was seventy and beautiful.

Only a handful of people attended, and that was all they needed. These people were like family. Abbey’s family. She might have had a rough go around before, but the Conti’s, Dave, and Sofie were good people. I knew she’d be in good hands, and now, I knew I was in theirs too.

After the wedding, everyone headed to Conti’s Italian restaurant in downtown Friendship for a lot of booze, food, and a little bit of dancing.

Abbey somehow got roped into a big girls circle with her mom and Sofie, so I stood on the side, sipping my drink and watching my girl.

“Cake’s pretty good, isn’t it?” a woman’s twang said next to me.

I looked down at my untouched cake that was still in my hand. “Yeah. Real good.”

The woman smiled. “Not as good as Abbey used to make at my bakery, but you know I think she’ll be my one that got away.”

I laughed. “You must be Carla who owns Forever Sweet.”

She looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “And you’re Jordan, the one who stole my best baker.”

I put my hands up. “Hey, all is fair in love and cupcakes.”

She smiled, shaking her head. “I get it. I definitely get it. I just wish I could still have her, even part time. You know people have asked about her cakes and her to take smash cake photos for their kid’s first birthdays. If only there were a studio close by for her …”

Carla tapped her fork on her chin.

“You know, we have a studio in our house now. If you wanted, I’m sure she could leave some cards for you.”

She waved her hand. “That’s almost twenty minutes out of town. I’m not sure people would go there.”

“Oh, I bet they would for an Abbey Dillinger photograph.”

Carla smirked. “Maybe. Or maybe they’d rather go to a place downtown. Maybe even a shop where someone could display their artwork …”

I turned to fully face the petite redhead. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

She huffed. “Okay, well, I guess I can’t stop beating around the bush anymore.” She set her plate down and put a hand on her hip. “The boutique next door is going out of business. It’s a great location for a studio and gallery, and maybe I can even borrow Abbey to do a little bit of decorating at the bakery on occasion. There’s also a small loft space above the building that would be a great art studio or even an apartment to rent out if you needed it.”

I blinked slowly, taking in everything she said. Instead of thinking or overthinking like Abbey would have, I did what I always did and put my hand out. “You got the keys or who am I calling?”

Carla smiled, pulling a set of keys from her pocket. “I thought you’d never ask.”

 

***

 

When I finally got Abbey to leave, instead of walking toward my truck, I walked her in the other direction of the boutique with a ‘going out of business sale’ sign in the window. Since it was Christmas Eve, the place was dark, save for some glimmering Christmas lights in the window.

“Jordan? What are you doing? Are you that drunk? Your truck’s the other way!” Abbey proclaimed, her arm looped around mine as she gently squeezed my bicep.

“We’re not going to my truck.” I smirked, pulling out a set of keys and putting it inside the old lock, pushing open the door to inhale a big scent of something florally.

“Jordan, what are you doing?” Abbey hiss-whispered and released me as I walked into the space, my dress shoes clicking on the old hardwood.

There was exposed brick on each side with high beam ceilings that would be perfect for displaying taller work.

“Yeah. I think those windows will be good for natural light shots and in the back where these dressing rooms are would be great maybe even for some boudoir sessions. Or we could even make this my art studio,” I said, walking toward a small curtained off area.

Abbey shook her head, almost running behind me. “Jordan, what the hell are you talking about?”

I turned toward her, putting my arms out. “This. This is us. Our future. Your photography studio. My art studio and gallery.”

Her eyes widened. “Jordan! We can’t afford that! I put all my savings down on the house we’re still paying off, and though your stuff helps with the utilities and I’m doing okay with personal photography, it’s nothing that could afford this place.”

I grinned, stepping forward, so we were toe to toe. “That’s where you’re wrong. The owner said she’d give me a good deal if you helped out with some cake decorating on the side.”

She blinked. “Carla?”

I nodded. “So what do you say, Abbey? Are we gonna let this place get away?”

She leaned closer and wrapped her arms around my neck, whispering against my lips. “We’re never letting anything get away again.”