“Thanks for the advice, Dad,” I say quietly. “I think I’ll take it.”
I hang up and head back inside. Stephanie’s face lights up when she sees me. “I’ve got to get to the airport. I have team business to handle back in San Diego,” I explain, and take her hand. “Do you want to come back with me? I can get you a ticket.”
“I’m going to stay here,” she tells me, and my heart sinks. “I have stuff to do with Sebastian.”
I nod because I don’t want to get into this in front of everyone, but I’m suddenly nervous she may not come back to California if I leave her here. Seb said she might quit her job. I have a five-year contract with the Saints. I can’t break it. I mean, I could, but it would be a costly legal battle and I’d be someone who gives up, breaks promises and abandons his team and responsibilities. And that’s not just a slight to my image; it’s not who I am.
“Relax, Westwood,” Seb says with a wry smile, because clearly my expression is reflecting my thoughts. “I’m not keeping her.”
“What time is your flight?” Jessie asks.
“In an hour and a half,” I reply.
“Jordy and I can drive you,” she offers, and I nod. She looks at Stephanie. “You can come along and make out with him in the backseat on the way there.”
Jordan groans in protest and Steph laughs. “Let’s go upstairs and get your shoes and socks.”
She tugs me up the stairs and as soon as we’re in the bedroom again she’s got her lips on mine. I cradle the back of her head with my hand and deepen the kiss, using it to show her how desperately I need her. “You’re coming back, right? To California?”
“Yes. I promise.” She traces her fingertips along my hairline and down to the neck of my sweatshirt. “I’m starting a business with Seb. A house-flipping business. He’s going to invest the money and I’m going to oversee the renovations and design work.”
“Really?”
She nods. “It’s why I’ve been taking interior design courses. Seb became obsessed with renovating and real estate after he bought this place.”
“But you’ll be running it from California, right?” I need her to promise me. I can do long distance if I have to, but I really don’t want to. I want her with me, in my heart and in my bed every night.
“We’re trying to buy a place in San Diego to flip right now,” she explains, and grins deviously. “Our place.”
“What?”
She laughs. “Yeah, so if all goes well, we’ll be evicting you.”
I laugh and kiss her again. “Nice. Thanks for the warning.”
“Something tells me you’ll manage to find a place.” She giggles.
“Yeah, but a place where the neighbor sleeps with me?” I quip, and she laughs again. “That might be hard.”
I lean in and kiss her again, and I’m on the verge of kicking the door closed and missing my flight when Sebastian calls up from the bottom of the stairs. “Avery, get the hell off my sister and out of my house.”
I groan and let Stephanie pull me down the stairs.
Epilogue
Avery
I lean on the porch rail and watch the movers carrying the last of my boxes into the truck out front. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad to be leaving this place. It was single-handedly the most dilapidated place I had ever willingly lived, but if I had my way I would never leave. Well, as long as Stephanie was living beside me. Only she wasn’t anymore.
Maddie moved in with Ty last week and Steph moved into a two-bedroom condo in the same building. Sebastian was paying for it. He said he needed it for when he came to check on the renovations this summer, but I’m guessing he just wanted to make sure she had a nice place to live. I purchased the penthouse in the same building and I am hoping that by summer’s end when their first renovation job is complete and I am living back here full-time, I can convince her to move in with me. Even if I can’t, she will only be six floors away, and I can live with that.
She steps out onto the porch now, wearing overalls and a tank top, her hair piled up in a haphazard bun. Her eyes narrow as she jots something down on the clipboard she’s holding. My father steps out after her. “I really hope you’re right about the shiplap,” she says to him, and he smiles.
“Trust me, in a house this old, the walls will be full of it,” he says with a smile. Before my career became his career, my dad was a construction worker. He was in town to finalize the new deal for my clothing line and I thought this renovation project might be a good way for them to meet. Judging by the easy conversation they’re having, I think I was right.
My phone beeps in my pocket. It’s an alert from a sports news site. I open the article and read the headline aloud. “Beau Echolls has been placed on waivers by the San Diego Saints.”
My dad nods. Stephanie looks conflicted. “That should read ‘Beau Echolls was placed on waivers by Avery Westwood.’”
