by Haley Travis
EPILOGUE TWO
* Kate *
*** Six Years Later ***
Six whole years since we’d made the pact to really start looking for nice boyfriends. Five weddings full of laughter and happy tears, and some serious bridesmaid dress negotiations. Four new mothers, terrified and hopeful.
Looking around at the smiling faces of my girlfriends, I could see how each of us had changed. We were all a little rounder, curvier. Somehow softer. Kim’s hair was her natural dark brown now instead of black. Becca’s hair was shorter, and less wild. Laura usually had her hair up in a tidy ponytail these days so that her kids didn’t pull it. We all had slight smile lines setting in, but that made sense. I could see in each pair of eyes that my friends were incredibly happy.
As always, the conversation circled around in frantic loops as we were all so excited for each fresh bit of news.
Joanna showed us a photo of three-year-old Alicia, making a mess in the back garden as she picked her first carrots. Dean ’s proud smile made each one of us swallow hard to choke back a tear.
Laura reported that Jerrica and Jason were both taking karate lessons, so their entire playroom was now a warzone. Becca’s Darby and my little April were both nearly four, and fascinated with coloring books.
Every month or two we’d get the whole gang together in someone’s backyard for a rowdy barbecue, or laid back pizza party. We’d all dropped any pretenses about being perfect mothers long ago, and agreed that keeping our kids healthy, happy, and with a steady stream of books was good enough.
Kim signaled for another round, and we waved our orders to the new server, Stephanie. She’d only been here for a few months, but knew our hand signs well. She also appreciated that since we still had a standing tab, we were incredible tippers. Most of us just threw up a “W” twice, for our usual white wine. I didn’t know what Kim’s princess wave meant, but Stephanie nodded and smiled.
“Oh right,” Joanna said, turning to Kim. “Did you hear about that project?”
Kim’s grin lit up the whole table. “Ladies, you’re looking at the new exclusive video content producer for the museum.”
A string of squeals and congratulations circled the table.
“And Kate,” Becca asked, “That new album you’re working on. Didn’t you say something was up with that?”
My smile was so huge that my face felt stretched. “Yeah. It’s being licensed for a movie soundtrack.”
“What?!” Laura shrieked.
“It’s a movie about a singer, so they need songs that she supposedly wrote throughout the story. They’re hiring an amazing professional singer to record the tracks, but they’ve purchased the whole thing.”
“Damn,” Joanna shook her head. “Well, April’s university tuition will be taken care of.”
“Ladies,” Stephanie murmured as she set drinks in front of us, and cleared away the empties. “Enjoy.”
We thanked her as she left, reaching for our glasses. We didn’t do shots anymore, or get tipsy. Two or three was plenty for us these days.
Four of us were drinking white wine, but Kim’s martini glass was garnished with some floating frozen grapes, an orange slice, and a little umbrella.
“Fancy,” Laura laughed. “What are you drinking?”
“Ginger ale with a pinch of orange and cranberry juice.” She was wearing her sauciest grin as she stared around the table.
It took about three blinks for us all to scream at once, “You’re pregnant!”
Hugs and tears and shrieking ensued.
“I actually set up a hidden camera to capture Devin’s face when I told him,” Kim laughed, “But it was so intense that I can’t share it.”
Becca reached out to grab Kim’s. “He cried. Tell me he cried.”
“Not saying a word,” Kim said, sipping her fruity ginger ale.
Becca’s hand instantly fluttered against her necklace as she blinked hard. “Why does it always choke me up when the tough guys tear up?” she sighed.
“Because they’re our tough guys,” I said, looking around the table while we all tried to dab at our eyes before our mascara melted.
“You know,” Laura said slowly, “When we first decided to look for boyfriends that summer, and we were joking about ‘friends before mens’, we didn’t really believe that was the summer that our lives would all turn a corner.”
“That’s for sure,” Joanna nodded. Then she giggled. “Oh, my god. Why didn’t we pick ‘sisters before misters’ instead?”
We all laughed. “Damn, that one is perfect,” Kim said. “Trust the poet to find the perfect rhyme.”
“Or,” Becca said softly, “Maybe it’s just ‘sisters and their misters’. We’re all family now. The whole crazy bunch of us.”
Joanna raised her glass. “To our huge family.”
As we all clinked glasses, Laura added, “And to Kim for extending hers.”
We sat at that round wooden table for hours, making plans and telling stories. We had to figure out who had the best stroller to give to Kim, who was available this weekend to help Joanna paint her playroom, and who wanted to come to a fancy furniture store opening with me tomorrow night.
“Ray is going to be swamped showing off his new designs to the owners and interior designers,” I explained. “I’m just dropping in for an hour to support him, and because the food is supposed to be incredible.”
“I’ll come,” Kim said brightly. “Finally, an exclusive event that I heard about before Devin did.”
My phone buzzed, and I checked to see Ray’s text.
Ray: Hope you’re having a great time at girls’ night, kitten. Take your time, even though I miss you.
Looking up, I saw that everyone was checking their phone. “Must be ten o’clock,” Joanna laughed.
Me: I’ll be home in an hour. Miss you too.
Ray: I need you, kitten.
The thrill of a tingling shudder running through me never wore off.
Me: I’ll be home in fifty-three minutes.
Ray: That’s my girl.
Looking around the table, every one of us was grinning into their phones, eyes lit up from the blue-white light, and the loving messages from our husbands.
“This New Year’s, let’s make another pact,” I said. “The first one worked out really well.”
“But we already have everything we could have dreamed of,” Laura smiled.
“Yeah, so let’s think outside the circle,” I said.
“Like, wishing for world peace?” Becca grinned.
Joanna cocked her head, thinking. “Or something a bit smaller, like a new wing for the Children’s Hospital.”
“We’ll think of something,” I nodded.
As my friends, my sisters, all smiled together, I wondered what the next chapter of our lives would bring. Together, we were indestructible, resourceful, and super creative. Our next mission, whatever it turned out to be, was guaranteed to be incredible.
*** *** ***
If you enjoyed this series, you might also enjoy the Up Love Series .
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Novellas / Short Stories:
Click for the “ Up Love - Insta Love Shy Girl Romance ” Series.
(Just 99 cents or available through Kindle Unlimited)
Next Guy Through The Door (Short Romance) A personal challenge. Some personal growth. And a hot guy who thinks she’s perfect.
Damn Valentine (Novella) It’s all about timing. Breaking a silly curse with open hearts, a duck, and the right guy.
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Novels:
Heart Shaped Spotlight: Second Chance Rockstar Romance It’s one thing to pine for the perfect man you lost years ago. It’s another thing to turn on the TV and hear him singing directly to you. NOTE: Link
at end of novel for a FREE bonus story about two side characters! (Or visit HaleyTravisRomance.com)
Whispered Curses A shy girl alpha male romance novel Tea time prophesies, accidental insta-love, and dealing with one’s demons.
Love in the Darkness A shy girl alpha male romance novel A week in the dark has them seeing everything in a new light.
Donuts and Handcuffs: A sweet, floury, mixed-up love story. A budding baker. A caring cop. A sweet and spicy romance of opposites.
Owned by Pirates : Sweet Romance on the Sea Selling one’s daughter isn’t as rare as you’d think. But to the Captain of a pirate ship? It’s the best thing that has ever happened to a sheltered young lady with a taste for adventure.
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About the Author:
Romance author Haley Travis lives in a charming (old and rundown) little house with an old fashioned (overgrown and crazy) garden and just the right amount of books (six overstuffed shelves, the floor is starting to creak). She enjoys writing quirky, sexy modern romance, and loves creating interesting female characters who are at a turning point in their lives. Women who need a life shake up, not a man. But these things never go as planned, do they?
