“Please.Please.”
I examined my nails.
“What do you have to offer me, to get me to overlook your little incident?”
His big hands around my waist gripped me so tight, digging into my flesh.
“Everything. I’m going to offer youeverything.Take my bank account.”
“I didn’t mean anything monetary, you imbecile. I meant what are you going to offer meemotionally?”
“How about mydamn life’s work, Birdie? How about that? This role for you is going to be the best thing I’ve ever written and you and I are just getting started.”
My lips were already giving him my answer as he pulled my chin down, and I kissed him back, his tongue predatory, possessive, desperate.
“I love you so much, Birdie. You’re the best damn thing that ever happened to me.”
“What about your children?”
“Yeah, like I said, you’re the best damn thing that ever happened to me.”
I laughed, because we wereusagain, but this time it was better than before.
“I love you too. But good luck getting me to agree to another wedding.”
Forrest stood up, gathering me in his arms, his kiss hungry, eager, his hand buried in my hair, tearing out the hairpins to send my curls flying about my face.
“Just you wait. I have a few ideas up my sleeve. . . “
Epilogue (Birdie)
“I’m so glad we decided to invite your family on our ski vacation,” I said, stepping outside our luxury cabin into that fresh white snow with theperfectwintry crunch. “Even Mortimer! What a great reward for how amazing their album did. Maybe it needs a sequel.”
Forrest snorted.
“I dragged that album kicking and screaming into the Billboard Top 50 and I have no desire to do it again. I’m too focused onyoursequel.”
“I’m glad you invited them anyway. I think even Mortimer is warming to you.”
“Yes, well, I had a particular reason for doing so.”
“And what was that?”
Forrest knelt down in the snow and raised a box in the air, icy mountain wind whirling around his silvery hair.
“You idiot, I’ve already got the ring on,” I said, flashing the massive pink diamond at him.
“I know,” he said. “Open it up anyway.”
“My fingers can only fit so many rings,” I protested.
But I took the little black velvet box in my hands anyway and opened it. Inside, there was a piece of paper.
Unwrapping it, I scanned the words, then looked around in confusion.
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“It’s no joke.”
