Page 31 of Happily Ever After

He put his arm around her, and they watched as the sun sank below the horizon. A moment later, the sky came alive in a brand-new way, the final rays of sun painting the clouds in fiery hues.

At last, she said, “I’m doing the right thing, aren’t I? With this gig in Miami?”

Brick nodded. “Yes. And you’re going to be great at it. Just like before. Maybe better.”

He was right. She was going to be great. She’d only doubted herself because of Evan. She slipped the phone into her pocket and leaned into Brick, the sky deepening toward blue. The boat rocked gently beneath them. Somewhere behind them, Beau snored.

The first bright star appeared. She stayed right there, letting the night wash over her, and made a wish that all would be well.

Chapter Thirteen

Cece checked her phone.

She knew better. She’d already checked it twice that morning since she’d stepped out of the shower, and again while drying her hair. Nothing dramatic was going to happen in the next few minutes. Probably.

No, it wasn’t. She knew that. Just like she knew downloads didn’t work that way. And engagement didn’t spike just because she wanted it to. Unfortunately.

Still.

She set the phone on the bathroom counter and reached for her new coral-pink lipstick that Paige had turned her on to. She applied it carefully, then blotted once.

She was really looking forward to brunch with Joe. And not just because it was his treat. She enjoyed time with him. She enjoyed him in general. Even the way he’d called last night to ask if she’d be interested in brunch with him. So casual about it, like it was no big thing.

Like she might actually say no. Now that was laughable. A chance to go out with Joe? Yeah, she was not passing that up.

Cece smoothed the front of her dress and took one last look in the mirror. The dress was new, well, new to her. She’d picked it up at a thrift shop in town that benefited a local pet rescue.

She was pretty sure it was the same rescue where Essie had found Maple. Cece paused in front of the mirror. Maybe the rescue would make a great article for The Buzz. Imagine if something like that could help find homes for a few more animals. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

As if on cue, Peanut sauntered in and hopped up onto the closed toilet lid, giving Cece a look she knew very well. The look was followed by a plaintive meow.

Cece scratched Peanut’s head. “I know, you want your treats. But some of us have a date to get to, okay? Joe will be here any minute.”

She took one more look at herself. She looked good. Maybe even a little cute. Phone in hand, she left the bathroom, grabbed her purse off the bed, and went out to the kitchen to get Peanut’s treats.

Peanut came running after her, meowing all the way.

Cece took a little handful of chicken treats and dropped them into Peanut’s cat tower, which she climbed immediately to get them.

“Hmm. You know, if there was a nice slice of chocolate cake waiting for me at the end of my treadmill sessions, I might be more enthusiastic about it, too.”

She went back to the kitchen and picked up her phone. Just for a quick peek. The numbers had moved again.

Not dramatically, but enough to show there was interest. Her phone buzzed while she was holding it, a text coming from Paige.

Just posted about the episode on TikTok. That should get you some listens.

Thank you so much. It’s already picking up. I hope today is an easy day for you. This is a lot to share.

It’s going to be just fine. Thanks for giving me a place to do that sharing.

Happy to do it.

Cece meant that, too. She’d never imagined that her brand-new podcast might provide one of her friends with such a platform. Especially one who already had a platform on TikTok.

Paige must have felt that sharing her story on a podcast gave it a certain amount of gravitas that TikTok didn’t. Cece wasn’t sure, but she was grateful that Paige had trusted her with such an important bit of information.

She slipped the phone into her purse and zipped it closed before she could be tempted to check again. She got a small glass of water and took a few sips. She’d skipped coffee this morning, figuring she’d have her fill at brunch.