“This will leave you open to other, better offers,” Cole directed at Shane. “There is no reason to slow down your growing business due to the actions of a couple of very selfish, stupid people.”
After that, conversation turned light. The weather, the Lakers, Cole's approval of Shane's taste in muscle cars. The latter followed by another knowing look from Cole to Greta.
Cody, for her part, was pleasant, but quiet. Greta caught her looking at Shane a few times with curiosity and wonder. Like she was seeing a wild animal up close for the first time. You know what it looks like, but it's something else to be in its presence. She asked a few questions about Lenny, and Greta picked up on the regret in her tone. She missed her friend. But for whatever reason, she had decided that staying away was the penance she deserved.
They said goodbye on the sidewalk outside.
Cole shook hands with Shane, and Cody gave the cheek press to both Shane and Greta. Cole moved into Greta for a hug, it seemed, but she took a small step back and he looked to his shoes, lips twitching. Then he offered his hand, which she took.
“Goodbye, Greta.” He didn't shake her hand, just held it. “Best wishes, my dear.”
“Thank you, Cole.”
He released her, then escorted Cody to their waiting car. Shane moved in front of Greta and she gave him a half-grin.
“That wasn't so bad,” she said lightly. Shane bit his bottom lip, and shook his head as if amused by her.
The drive home was quiet, the radio offering a relaxing mix of rock reggae. Greta watched the scenery go by, feeling the pressure that had been pressing on them for the past couple of months completely fade into the bright blue sky.
When they pulled into the driveway she was excited. They could finally begin their lives together without the dark cloud of Harmony and her secret schemes hanging over their heads. The first thing she was going to do was turn that empty bedroom into a studio.
“He's in love with you.” Shane's declaration brought all of her thoughts to a jarring halt.
“What? Who?” she asked.
Shane opened the car door without responding and she scrambled to follow him. He let them into the house and she waited for him to explain himself.
“Cole Parker,” Shane answered as he walked into the kitchen and deposited his keys, wallet and phone in the basket by the microwave.
Greta rolled her eyes. “Cole Parker loves himself,” she corrected.
“I'm sure he does,” Shane nodded and leaned against the counter. He reached an arm out and she went to him without being told, tucking against his side. He wrapped both arms around her and held her tight.
“But he also loves you. I almost feel bad for the guy. Because I know what he's missing. He's a very smart man. He knows what he's missing, too.”
Greta closed her eyes. She didn't want to feel bad for Cole Parker. She was thankful for what he'd done so they could all move on with their lives, but that was it.
“I don't want to be loved by anybody but you.”
Shane's response was to hold her tighter. “You've got that too. Forever and ever.”
***
Clarke watched her best friend dancing with her brother and sister on the dance floor to Pharrell William's “Happy.” Her dark hair was flying all around as usual. Ridiculous, loud, bright, and completely the center of attention.
Completely and blissfully happy.
As it should be.
She smiled. But it was a smile borne of happiness for her friend, competing with feeling sorry for herself. It was a terrible smile and she could feel it.
The O'Neils had rented out Pauly's and surprised Greta with an impromptu wedding reception. It seemed appropriate, considering it was where Shane and Greta had first spoken.
Initially, Clarke had been beyond leery of the two of them hanging out together. They both had very magnetic personalities and Clarke was envisioning the heartbreak to end all heartbreaks. She just didn't know who would be breaking who. But now that they were married and their love was all sorts of official, it made total sense.
The place was packed. Greta had a lot of friends. But Clarke knew that she was the one who was closest to her, well, besides Shane. She should be out there dancing with her friend. Celebrating with fervor, like the rest of the crowd.
“Hey,” Brady nudged her elbow with his, “you look like you're gonna be sick. You okay?”
Leave it to Brady to notice exactly what she was trying to hide.
“I'm okay,” she lied.
“You've been a little... off lately,” he said gently, and she rolled her eyes. “What? I notice things about my friends!”
“I'm fine,” she lied again, this time with a hopefully more convincing smile. “Just tired. Been busy at the shop, stuff like that.” She left out the part about her watching her brother's home movie on repeat until she fell asleep.
“Right.”
Brady looked around the room and Clarke hoped he wouldn't ask about it. Her hopes were dashed.
“You and the musician seem to have cooled off. That wouldn't have anything to do with that mopey look on your face, would it?”
Her eyes drifted along the edge of the revelers until she saw him. Mike Osborn, drummer extraordinaire. Tonight would have been a whole lot easier if he hadn't come. But that wasn't fair to him. Greta was part of the family, it would be way weirder if he weren't here.
Clarke felt the hair on her neck stick up and she inhaled slowly as her eyes shifted to the tall, svelte blonde hooked to Mike's side. The supermodel was staring at Clarke openly, like you would study an exhibit at an art show that you didn't quite understand. Clarke held her gaze for a few more seconds before breaking the contact first. She had nothing to prove, no reason to feel uncomfortable. She hadn't done anything wrong.
“Mike and I are friends, that's all we've ever been.”
And that's all they would ever be.
Epilogue
Wildfire
Three Years Later
“Would you relax? It's not like we've never done this before,” Greta laughed at Shane as he paced back and forth in front of her.
He stopped in front of her and raised his eyebrows silently. She laughed harder.
How she could be so calm at the moment was beyond him.
“We are more than three thousand miles from your regular doctor. The same doctor who successfully delivered Spencer and Marcus.”
He shouldn't have to remind her of this. Maybe there really was such a thing as pregnancy brain, despite the fact that Greta had been the most levelheaded pregnant woman he had ever met. Throughout each pregnancy.
“Yeah, but it's Ma's birthday. It's important to be here—” she was cut off by another contraction.
Shane grabbed both of her hands and stared at her face as it scrunched in pain and she breathed through it.
“This is why they don't let you fly during your third trimester,” Shane said flatly when the contraction had passed.
He should never have let her talk him into taking Cole Parker's Gulfstream. He should have put his foot down and made them all stay home until the babies arrived.
Greta sighed and gave him a soft smile. Her finger traced the edge of his jaw. “I miss the beard.
“I'll grow it back in the winter,” he promised, wishing like hell they were back home and not in Boston, where he didn't know the doctor or nurses. Everyone was a stranger.
“Ice chips!”
Almost everyone.
“Thanks, Zeldy,” Greta said, taking the cup from her sister-in-law's hand.
“How you doin', big guy?” Zelda asked Shane, a look of understanding on her face.
“This entire family is crazy,” Shane deadpanned.
“Yeah,” Zelda agreed, her wild hair tied back in a barely controlled ponytail.
“I think you guys just don't—”
Another contraction.
Both Shane and Zelda helped her breathe through it.
“That's two minutes,”
Shane said to his companion.
“I'll alert the family. They're about driving the nurses crazy with their questions.” Zelda moved to the door and paused.
“I have never seen so many people excited to greet babies into the world.” Her green eyes glossed over and she smiled. “They're going to be so loved.”
Shane looked back to his wife, who was smiling at him despite the discomfort she was obviously in.
“Clarke's gonna be pissed she missed another one,” Shane pointed out.
Greta gave him her signature smirk. “She'll get over it. She's busy anyway. On her honeymoon.” She rolled her eyes. “I don't know if I'll ever forgive her for making me wear a bridesmaid's dress at nine months pregnant.”
“To be fair, you're usually pregnant,” Shane reminded lovingly.
Greta had given him what he had wanted for so long. A family.
It had started with her parents and siblings, the band an obvious addition. Then she gave him two sons who had her hair and his eyes. Every day was an adventure. Every year only brought more joy.
His house was crammed with toys, laughter, and excitement.
They had had to move from his little two bedroom to a much bigger estate closer to Clarke's neighborhood. He'd traded the Mercedes in for an Escalade, but kept the Viper for date nights.
“It's almost time,” she whispered to him. “Are you ready for twins?”
“With you, I can face anything.”
***
Greta's eyes fluttered open.
Her private room was dimmed and it took her a minute to adjust to the light level.
She spotted Shane in the rocking chair across the room. He was hunched over a tiny bundle with a pink knit hat, talking to her softly.
They had never found out the sex of any of their babies ahead of time, choosing instead to be surprised. With the twins, they ended up with one of each.
Greta named the boy Paul, after Clarke's brother. Shane named his little girl Aurora.
Greta didn't cry often. It just wasn't in her nature. But seeing her husband, the biggest, toughest guy she knew, holding their daughter and whispering promises only a daddy can, made the tears fall easily.
She knew exactly why he chose that name. And she knew exactly how huge it was to give Shane a daughter.
Shane's head lifted when he heard Greta sniff back her tears. He grinned.
“She's gonna have your eyes.”
“It's too soon to tell that,” Greta chided.
“Doesn't matter,” he responded, looking back at the little bundle, “she's already beautiful, like her mama.”
Greta's heart warmed. Her life had become the most incredible thing. She loved every terrifying, chaotic second of it.
“Thank you,” Shane said softly, meeting Greta's gaze.
“For what?”
“For being my happily ever after.”
“Ditto.”
***The End***
The Double Blind Study series continues with the story of Mike Osborn in Deepest Blues.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to each and every one of you who have come along side me during this endeavor. I usually start with Scott Colby and the ladies of FFP (and Jon!). Without Scott's leadership and amazing program, I would not be anywhere close to where I am. And the amazing, strong, and talented women I have met along the way. You guys rock my freaking socks off. I am continuously in awe over you and the things that you have overcome. Inspired isn't a big enough word.
Tara, the editor I can't live without. You're gorgeous, brilliant, patient, and scary smart. I am so thankful you haven't flown across the country to kill me yet.
Laura, my best friend and sister. The girl who reads and reads again. You are the Rory to my Amy, the Vera to my Jayne, the Andrew to my Jonathon. I'd be lost without you.
My betas: Nichole, Jodi, Amy, Katie, Emily. I love you with a million sloppy kisses.
My brother, AJ, for giving me advice on how guys think and what they would say in different situations. His gorgeous wife, Sarahi, for being an endless source of encouragement and hilarity.
Mama and Papa, for being the greatest parents a girl could hope to have. And thank you for introducing me to Neil Diamond at such a young age, thereby instilling a devotion to all things romantic which has led me here. Sorry for all the “heat.” I'll try to cool it down.
The fans (all 8 of you) who have harassed me for the next installment in Double Blind Study. The fans who have become friends in the process (Angie and Jo!) I'm so glad this ridiculous band brought us together.
Jamie, thank you for naming Shane's company. It would have been terrible without your assistance. You're also super funny, encouraging, and sweet. So glad we're friends.
Miles, thank you for being so frickin' cool. You're a total pro. Thank you for being the easiest person in the world to work with. I hope you know what an inspiration you are to everyone watching. Looking forward to working with you again in the future.
Dave Grohl and your beard. I truly hope you never read anything I write because I would die of embarrassment. But you should really be acknowledged for the role you've played in this whole thing coming to be. And if you do happen to read this, I would really like to know your hair care regimen. It's just so... lush.
Charles, your patience with me is astounding. Thank you for loving me. I don't know if I'll ever feel worthy.
God, thank you for putting these people in my life. My cup continues to run over.
About the Author
Heidi Hutchinson was born in South Dakota and raised the exact right distance away from the Black Hills. She had an overactive imagination very early on, and wasted no time in getting most of her friends in trouble due to her unrealistic and completely ridiculous ideas. Seeing as she was so lazy and also afraid people would think she was bonkers, she didn't write down any of the story lines that played out in her daydreams.
During her high school years, she took pen to paper and filled more notebooks than she is proud of with angsty, depressing, self-depreciating poetry. This led to her writing down more things: notes, ideas, character bios, plot twists that had no plot yet to twist. After years of cleaning up her own scraps of imagination with nothing solid to hold on to, she sat down and wrote the story that had been in her head the longest. Fueled by coffee and her unwavering and perfectly normal devotion to Dave Grohl, she discovered a writer living inside of her.
She still lives in the Midwest, though not as close to the Black Hills as she would prefer, with her alarmingly handsome husband and their fearless child. They eat more pizza than God intended and she listens to her music the same way she lives: loudly.
Links to Author:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/heidirhutchinson
Blog: http://heidihutchinson.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7275775.Heidi_Hutchinson
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChosenbyFaith
Tectonic (Double Blind Study Book 3) Page 30
