“And a motorcycle!” Cameron adds, very excited by the possibility.
I toss my head back. And I just laugh.
EPILOGUE
JULES
Three and a half months later…
“You ready, Babe?” Lincoln looks at me with the biggest grin as his hand settles at the small of my back.
I shake out my clammy hands. “Ready.”
He pulls open the door and the room erupts into cheers and loud applause. I burst into instant tears, laughing.
“What do you think?” He leans down whispering by my ear and looking damn proud of himself.
I laugh some more. “I’ve never seen so much pink in my life.”
From the balloons to the light fixtures to the massive pillows arranged on the floors. There are baby pinks. Hot pinks. Mauve pinks. Bubble gum pinks.
And the best part? Everyone in here is wearing designs from my T-shirt collection.
With the help of my friends, Lincoln is throwing a big pop up shop to celebrate the official re-branding of TroublemakerT-shirts online store. He rented out an empty storefront on Sunflower Boulevard for the special occasion.
It’s a slumber party vibe going on, and everyone I love has turned up to celebrate me with loud music and free appetizers.
My tears won’t stop falling. Because all my life, I walked around with armor on, feeling like I had to defend myself against the world. But these days? These days, I truly know what it feels like to be safe, to be loved.
Laney and Tammy are helping customers as they dig through the clothing racks, searching for the right size. Monica and Patty are handling the food table. There’s a bouncy house across the room and Cameron is jumping around with some of the kids from his school.
I move through the crowd, greeting everyone, shocked that all these people showed up.
…For me.
It truly feels like all of Fairy Bush is here.
I see my mom and Alba operating the cash registers. With an arm around my shoulder, Lincoln leads me in that direction.
“Isn’t this amazing?!” Alba shrieks as she comes and throws herself at me.
“Amazing!” I say, wiping at my tears with my fingertips.
I see Cynthia walking up to where my mom is standing behind the cash register. Her arms are full of merchandise.
“You’re buying all these?” My mom asks Cynthia, her eyes wide with shock.
The woman shrugs. “I can’t pick just one, so I’m taking them all.”
“Well, set them down right here and let me ring you up.” Mom grins at me, making an excited face. She’s proud of me. I can see it. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. “Come on, Julissa. Don’t just stand there. Let’s get down to work.”
Chuckling, Lincoln presses a kiss to the side of my head. Then we go around behind the counter.
I take over one cash register. My mother handles the other. Alba and Lincoln take over folding and bagging the purchases of all my customers.
About a half an hour or so into the event, I hear a huge commotion happening at the door. I see Oliver and Rocco flanking both sides of the entrance like nightclub bouncers, denying entry to the two blondes who seem hellbent on getting inside.
“She is mysister!” Hilary shouts with a stomp of her foot. “I deserve to get inside. Let me in!”
