That man she loved hadn’t died with her. I’d lived, and I’d moved on.
Once Alivia and Camilla reached Trestan and me, the minister began the very short ceremony. On my request, everyone was welcomed, a blessing was given, we were asked to repeat each vow she said, and I was instructed to slide the diamond band on Camilla’s finger.
Done.
Seven minutes.
Shouts of congratulations rang out as I kissed my bride with our kids squished between us. Trestan took the opportunity to wrap his short arms around Camilla’s neck and hold on for dear life. He was definitely a mama’s boy.
As everyone laughed at Miss Kitty voicing her own congratulations with a series of loud meows, I took my wife’s hand in mine, and with our kids in tow walked us down the aisle toward our forever after.
Dances were danced. Cake was cut. Pictures were taken. It was the greatest way to celebrate what had happened and what was yet to come.
Specifically, our honeymoon. Camilla and I would be heading for the same secluded island Jack and Leila had honeymooned on. Seven days, alone, on a beach, naked.
I couldn’t fucking wait.
The party was winding down. The kids were in bed, except for Shane and Alivia. Being the oldest meant they were allowed to stay up a bit later than the younger ones. They looked so grown compared to the others. Shane was now ten, Alivia nine, and they were both going on twenty.
Too mature for their own good… or mine.
They were best friends. Hey, I loved the kid… as long as he kept my daughter in the friend zone. While watching them sitting on the side of the pool, chatting about something, Jack and I sipped our beers with our wives on our laps.
I’d come a long way, being able to have a drink now and again without it causing the avalanche that accompanied addiction.
Laughter came from the beach, where Evan, Scott, Hunter, and their better halves relaxed with their own cocktails now that their kids were in bed. Even Debbie and Carson sat comfortably among my band. That first time Debbie and Hunter came face-to-face was comical, as they both avoided discussing the night they’d met backstage and what had transpired between them. Camilla and I knew those unfortunate details, though.
Lori and Cannon, the only married couple without children, changed into their swimwear to take advantage of the hot tub.
The entire married-off, family-oriented, love-conquered-all lot of us had sure come a long way since our early days. But at least we were still sexy-as-fuck, cool-as-shit rock stars… with the exception of Hunter.
Alivia’s giggling loudly at something Shane had said drew my attention. Our wives exchanged wide smiles while watching enthralled. Meanwhile, Jack and I looked panicked. With each year that went by, his son and my daughter grew closer and closer.
In a flash, visions of their teenage versions kissing in the back of a car, or sneaking off down the beach to do worse, knocked around my brain like a bullet in a barrel.
And then, as if my subconscious willed it to happen, I watched in slow motion as Shane leaned closer and planted a big wet kiss on my daughter’s lips.
What in the serious fuck?
“Lair!” I jumped up so fast Camilla had to stumble to gain her balance. “Get your kid away from my daughter!”
The End
Thank you so much for taking this amazing journey with these characters. I wish so badly they were all real. They have become a part of me, and I thank all of you who have fallen in love with them as well.
Would you like to read more about Jack, Leila, and the band?
You can in The Back-Up Series.
Available here
Would you like to purchase the exclusive Back-Up Series song, “Reason I Am”?
Available here
TREY is dedicated to two of my biggest Trey Taylor fans.
Sue Whiting and Janett Gomez, this man evolved in the way he has because of your love for him. It saddens me deeply you didn’t get to read his happily ever after. I miss you both. RIP, xo A.M.
TREY Playlist
Listen on Spotify
“Reason I Am” ~ A. M. Madden / Mike Martone
“Picking Up the Pieces” ~ Every Avenue
“Angel” ~ Aerosmith
“Lose My Cool” ~ Brennin Hunt
“Shape of You” ~ Ed Sheeran
“Señorita” ~ Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
“Closer” ~ The Chainsmokers (featuring Halsey)
“I Can’t Not Love You” ~ Every Avenue
“Tie Me Down” ~ Every Avenue
“The Story Left Untold” ~ Every Avenue
“Walls” ~ Trevor Holmes
“You’re My Person” ~ Kerry Degman
“This Feeling” ~ The Chainsmokers (featuring Kelsea Ballerini)
“Just Give Me a Reason” ~ Tiffany Alvord & Trevor Holmes
“Breaking the Habit” ~ Linkin Park
“Watch Me Burn” ~ Michele Morrone
Acknowledgements
I say this at the end of each book. Thank you to my family for always putting up with my “one more paragraph” excuses. I love you guys, and you’ve supported me through this crazy journey since day one. J~A~R, you are my lifeline.
To my soul sister, Joanne Schwehm, I love you. With each book I write, you’re right there helping, advising, critiquing, and supporting me unconditionally. Thank you for coming into my life. You are the rare jewel in my author crown.
Thank you to all the bloggers who have supported me since my first book, and all the new bloggers who discover me with each release. You guys make it possible for all the wonderful, faithful, passionate readers to find us. Your commitment to our romance world is amazing, and I appreciate all you do to get our books and names out there.
Thank you to my editor, James Gallagher. You are so easy to work with, so accommodating, and so good at what you do. I’m so glad I found you. And to Tami Norman at Integrity Formatting, thank you for always making my books look so pretty.
Sommer Stein, you never fail to blow me away with your talent. Thank you for another kick-ass cover. I truly love it.
To Jennifer Mirabelli, Danielle Sanchez, and the team at Wildfire Marketing Solutions, thank you for handling my blog tour. Your organizational skills made it a pleasure to work with you when an author is usually running ragged to get it all done.
Finally, my biggest thank-you goes out to my readers. My appreciation is immeasurable, and it often causes me to fumble with my words. “Thank you” is simply not enough. You all continue to rock. I hope I can continue to rock your worlds with my stories. Love you all so very much!
One last thing: After you’ve read a book, please take a few moments and post a review. It’s the single best way to thank your authors.
xoxo
A.M.
More by A. M. Madden
The Back-Up Series
Back-Up
Front & Center
Encore
Backstage
The Devil’s Lair
Backstage Pass
Sold Out
A Lair Novel
Shock Jock
Liner Notes
TREY
True Heroes Series
Stone Walls
Glass Ceilings
Dark Corners
Breaking the Rules
LOVE on the Horizon
Hostile Workplace
Stand-Alone Novels
Vanishing Act
The Shortstop
Cowritten with Joanne Schwehm
Finding Mr. Wrong
Taming Mr. Flirt
Scoring Mr. Rome
Craving Mr. Kinky
Loving Miss Sassy
Entangled Publishing
Not According to Plan
You can purchase any of the above here: www.ammadden.com/books/
About A. M. Madden
A USA Today bestselling, award-winning author, A. M. Madden is also a Jersey girl whose addiction to romance started at twelve after reading J
udy Blume’s Forever. As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, she truly believes that true love knows no bounds.
In her books, she aspires to write fun, sexy, realistic love stories that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. She creates realistic characters and believes there’s no better compliment than when readers feel they know the characters personally.
When not writing, she’s busy being a wife to her soul mate, and a mother to two boys who she believes are the most handsome men on earth. She loves to cook, hates to bake, and dreams about living at the beach someday.
You can contact A. M. Madden at
www.ammadden.com
Follow A. M. Madden
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorammadden
Twitter: @ammadden1
Instagram: ammadden1
Email: [email protected]
Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/authors/a-m-madden
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