Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“What are we going to do now?” she asked me.
“I was thinking we’d spend a few more days at the resort. Then we can go tell your family the news, and then go tell mine.”
She nodded, still glowing. “That sounds perfect.”
“First we have to go get my shoes, though,” I said.
“You left your shoes at security?”
“I had something important to do. I screwed it up the first time, and I wasn’t going to let anything get in my way this time.”
She leaned up to kiss me. I could feel my grandpa’s presence so strongly that I knew he was looking down on us and smiling. As usual, he had been right. Lauren was a keeper.
EPILOGUE
Lauren
One Year Later
“Get a room, you two,” Andrea said, grinning as she approached the table where we were eating breakfast, rolling her carry-on bag behind her.
“No, you’re leaving already?” I gave her a mournful look.
“Unfortunately, I have to. And three’s a crowd on a honeymoon anyway, girl.”
Since winning Exiled with Rod, Andrea had been doing lots of publicity. The show had aired around six months ago, and they’d been in high demand since. She’d taken a break from her travels to be a bridesmaid in our wedding, though, and Rod had been a groomsman.
“This place brings back memories,” she said, looking around the outdoor seating area of the resort we’d returned to for our wedding.
It was fitting that Archer and I got married in Fiji, where we found each other again. I’d planned our wedding at the resort, not knowing that in the background, he was working on an elaborate alternate plan. Yesterday we’d exchanged vows on the same beach our camp had been on. Boats had transported us and thirty-eight guests to the beach, which was decorated with an archway adorned with tropical flowers and an aisle bedecked in flower petals.
The best surprise of all, though, was when I saw the people gathered on the island waiting for us. Linda, who was walking again, was standing with Nutter, Josh, Sal, and several of the other couples who had been on the show with us. We’d kept our guest list small, but I hadn’t realized how incomplete our wedding would have been without them until I saw them all waving at us as the boat neared the shore. Archer had wisely not invited Neil, Shayla, Maksim, and Irina.
Walking toward him on my father’s arm on the same beach we’d made so many memories on had been a dream come true. We planned to spend the next week here, and then we were spending two weeks in Europe.
“Good memories,” I said in response to Andrea, squeezing Archer’s hand.
Andrea hugged us both and we said our goodbyes. Our family and friends had told us we wouldn’t be seeing much of them today, because they wanted to give us privacy. My family was on a sailboat tour of the islands Archer had set up for them.
“What should we do today, Mrs. Holt?” Archer asked me, giving me the sexy, lazy smile he reserved just for me.
“Maybe some pool time? And massages if you want?”
“I want anything you want.”
We were prioritizing relaxation on our honeymoon, because our first year back together had been a whirlwind. I’d found a new teaching job in Minneapolis, but between our work schedules, we didn’t see as much of each other as we would have liked. The suburban Minneapolis home we’d bought two months ago was closer to my job, though, and things were starting to settle.
“Massages and pool time it is,” I said. “And definitely an afternoon nap.”
Our first night as husband and wife had been passionate. It had been a long time coming, and after the elaborate surprise ceremony Archer had planned, I was more in love with him than ever. At the wedding, I’d told him that, but last night, I’d shown him.
“How about a walk on the beach before we schedule massages?” I asked.
“Sure, a walk sounds good.”
We finished our breakfast and walked to the sandy beach, where we both took off our shoes and carried them as we walked.
“You want to go in the water?” Archer asked. “I know how you like to squish your toes in the sand.”
“Yes, let’s do it.”
We stood in the shallow turquoise water together, looking out at the horizon. I was filled with excitement about what was to come. Not just today, but every day.
Archer was part of me. He had been since we fell in love as teenagers. And while most young love isn’t forever, ours was. Without Exiled, we never would have gotten back together, though, so I’d always have a special place in my heart for reality TV.
“You know how much I loved the surprise yesterday, right?” I asked Archer, even though I’d told him many times.
“Which one?” He grinned.
“All of them. Sometimes you know me better than I know myself, and even though I say I don’t like surprises, I’ve never disliked one of yours.”