The Girl Next Door

She’s right, I smell terrible. That’s what a couple hours of practice will get you. Man sweat, baby.

But now that she’s mentioned it…

“That can be part of the making up you owe me. What do you think about that?”

“Only that I love you, Beckett Hollingsworth.”

I squeeze her ass as we walk through the tunnel. “Right back at you, babe.”

Epilogue

Beck

Three and a half years later…

“Mia Hollingsworth,” the Dean of the Law School announces as she walks across the stage in her cap and gown.

I jump to my feet and stick my fingers between my lips, whistling like crazy. Mia grins as her gaze seeks mine out in the thick crowd of observers. “Way to go, Mia!” I holler at the top of my lungs. I don’t give a rat’s ass if she’s embarrassed. She worked damned hard for this moment, and I want everyone and their mother to know how proud I am of her.

Speaking of mothers…

I wrap my arm around Julia and give her a squeeze as we share a grin. My parents occupy the seats next to her. On my left is Mia’s father, Dan, and his wife, Mandi.

When Mia told me that she planned on inviting both of her parents to the graduation ceremony, I thought she was nuts. Or maybe drunk. She insisted everyone was in a better place now. Considering that a fight has yet to break out, she might be right. Three years seems to have mellowed Julia’s bitterness toward her ex-husband.

And his home-wrecking new wife.

I won’t lie, the first year was a rough one. Dan ended up paying through the nose in order to expedite the divorce proceedings. It turns out Mandi was preggers.

Yeah…

That news went over like a lead balloon with his daughter. And who can blame her for that? There was a long stretch of time where they didn’t talk. It’s only been within the last year that Mia reached out and rekindled their relationship. It’s been slow going. We’re talking baby steps. But they seem to be on the right path.

I glance at my mother-in-law. I’m happy to report that she’s doing much better. With the settlement from Dan, she went back to school for interior design and is working full-time at a design house. Once the divorce proceedings were underway, she began therapy and is now in a more Zen place.

Believe it or not, Julia has even dipped her toe in the dating pond.

And the guy she’s seeing?

Has absolutely nothing to do with finance.

For today, everyone has put their differences aside and we’re all getting along like one big dysfunctional family. If we’re lucky, all these good vibes will last throughout lunch. No one wants to ruin this day for Mia.

Dad is working on opening another law office in San Francisco since that’s where I was drafted as their backup quarterback. First round, baby. Don’t worry, I worked my way up to starting QB after my rookie season.

As soon as the commencement ceremony ends and the auditorium empties, we all head outside to wait for my wife.

Yup, you heard that right.

After a year of dating, I proposed and put a ring on it. Then, before Mia’s third year of law school, we got hitched. And it’s been wedded bliss ever since.

Just kidding. Nothing is perfect, but it’s pretty damn close. I can’t imagine my life without this woman filling it.

I search through the sea of faces until I find my wife. The moment she sees me, a huge grin breaks out across her face and she runs, hurtling herself into my arms. When I swing her around, she giggles before pressing her lips against mine.

“Congrats, babe, you’re officially a lawyer!”

Her face lights up with joy. It’s the best damn look. One I’ll never tire of.

Sure, maybe it took us a while to get our shit together, but it happened. And what I mean by that is—I chased her until I wore her down and she finally had no other choice but to give in and marry me.

That’s a joke. The Grinders R Us visit aside, we all know I didn’t stalk her…right?

Right?

Moving on. No matter how it worked out, Mia Stanbury—AKA Mia Hollingsworth—is officially mine and I don’t have any plans on letting her go. If I’m doing my job right as a husband, she’ll have me locked in for the long haul as well.

“I love you, Beck,” she whispers before pressing her lips against mine.

I squeeze her body to me and hold her close. “Right back at you, babe.”

~The End~