Now & Then (A Newland High School story)

Epilogue

Three years later:

"So what's next?" Lexi asks.

I swirl my glass of red wine on the table in front of me. "I don't know. I purposely didn't accept any job offers yet. I thought maybe coming home, staying with Mom and Dad, might help me figure it out."

"Well you know what I want you to do," Lexi smiles. "Come work with me at the hospital. I work with that girl Shelly, she was a year or two older than us in school, and she's great. I think you'd fit in perfectly."

"Yeah, maybe. But Lexi, I could literally go anywhere. I have no ties here. If the world is my oyster, should I really stay in the town I grew up in?"

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with that."

I feel my cheeks redden. "You're right. I'm sorry. But you have all your siblings, and nieces and nephews here."

"Speaking of that, did I tell you my brother got a job?"

"He did? That's great! You told me he'd been having trouble."

"Yeah, and his new boss is really great." She looks like she's trying to hide a smirk, but I could guess why. Maybe she likes this new boss? "Except he is a perpetual bachelor. Refuses to settle down."

"Oh? Okay." She's definitely hiding something.

"Just refuses to settle down, no matter how many people try to set him up. Kind of like someone else I know." She gives me a pointed look.

"Oh please. I've dated."

"Barely."

"There's just no one interesting out there."

"Right." She waves that off. "But the best part about this new boss is that sometimes, on Friday's, he'll take the whole crew out for drinks after work."

"Crew?" My mouth suddenly feels dry. "What does your bother do?"

"Construction," Lexi says simply.

In that moment, I hear voices and laughter shooting through the bar as a new group enters.

"Lexi..." I can hear the nervousness in my voice.

She grabs my hand. "He made mistakes, Lilly. No one hated him more than me for hurting you. But neither of you are happy...truly happy."

"Hey sis!" Lexi's brother yells, and I turn, very slowly, to see five or six men standing at the bar. Only one has my attention though.

And I have his.

*AN: Aaaaaand that's all folks! I told you it would be short! Already working on my next story, so stay tuned! And thank you thank you thank you for reading and voting! It means so much!