Anything But Love (20 page)

E
PILOGUE

D
o you remember when the three of us met for the first time?” Jessica asked.

She and Kate and Simone were on beach chairs waiting for Zach and Ben to return with their rum swizzles. Ian and his nephew Jacob were snorkeling in the ocean.

Simone nodded. “Freshman year of college, move-in day.” She grinned suddenly. “If you’d told me then that we’d end up friends—and that we’d still be friends ten years later—I would’ve said you were nuts.”

“I honestly don’t know why the two of you stayed friends with me,” Jessica said, tilting her face toward the sun. “I was a bitch ninety percent of the time.”

Kate smiled at her. “You weren’t that bad. Seventy percent tops.” Her eyes grew misty. “Do you remember when my grandmother passed away the summer after junior year? I was devastated. You were in Monte Carlo with your family, but you dropped everything and flew back to be with me.”

Jessica felt embarrassed. “You would have done the same for me. In a heartbeat.” She looked out at the ocean to where Ian and Jacob were floating. “How is the TV show coming?” Kate and Jacob had collaborated on a project last year, and it was scheduled to premiere in a few months.

“It’s going great,” Kate said, smiling to herself. “Jacob is so excited.”

Simone smacked her on the arm. “What’s up with the smirk? What aren’t you telling us?”

“Nothing. Well . . . nothing official. I just think there’s a chance that Ian might—”

Jessica squealed. “He’s going to propose!”

“I don’t know for sure. But Jacob is terrible at keeping secrets, and he’s been making veiled hints since we got here. You guys did say you’d keep him company tonight, right? Ian made a dinner reservation for the two of us.”

“Yeah, he’s definitely going to propose.” Simone looked around at the gorgeous vista. “He couldn’t have picked a more romantic spot. It’s given me a million ideas for the new production Zach and I are planning. Did you know
T
he Tempest
was inspired by a British shipwreck right here in Bermuda?” She leaned back in her chair. “It’s no wonder you and Ben fell in love here, Jess. If I weren’t already in love with Zach, this place would have done the trick.”

Kate agreed. “It is pretty spectacular. I’m so glad you invited us here to celebrate with you—although I’m still a little disappointed that you guys eloped.”

“Are you kidding?” Simone asked. “After the way her last wedding went, Jessica was entitled to do whatever she wanted this time around. And eloping is romantic.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you were the first one of us to get married, though. I was sure it would be Kate.”

Zach and Ben came walking across the sand. As always, the sight of her husband made Jessica’s heart beat a little faster.

“I’ve known Ben most of my life,” she said. “Once I finally figured out that I loved him, there was nothing else to wait for.”

Ben set down their drinks and leaned over to kiss her.

“Happy?” he asked.

Tears came into her eyes as she kissed him back.

“So happy.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to the amazing team at Montlake, especially Maria Gomez. Thanks also to Nicci Jordan Hubert for her hard work and insight. And as always, my deepest gratitude to Mikel Strom, Tara Gorvine, and Melissa Chalmers for their help and encouragement, and to my son Owen for his patience. You guys are the best.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo © 2014 Target Portrait Studio

Abigail Strom started writing stories at the age of seven and has never been able to stop. On her way to becoming a full-time writer, she earned a BA in English from Cornell University as well as an MFA in dance from the University of Hawaii. Abigail has held a wide variety of jobs from dance teacher and choreographer to human resource manager. Now she works in her pajamas and lives in New England with her family, who are incredibly supportive of the hours she spends hunched over her computer.