Body Shop Repair (gxg)

Epilogue

               Three months later

               Life returned to normal for Izzy and I after our Vegas adventure, though it took a little time. We had money now from the movie and book deals, though we weren't rolling in it. If the movie did well then, we'd be in great shape because the deal included me getting a cut of the movie gross as well as the up front $1 million. That seemed like a lot until we paid taxes and looked at the cost of California real estate which is insane. But still, it was enough to cover most of a mortgage on a nice town home in a gated community near the beach, and with the money we were making from the photography and modelling, it was going well. Hell, that didn't even include the money from my channel, which had taken off in a way I'd never imagined.

               Much like Max had once hoped to capitalize on my death to boost his ratings, his attack boosted mine. But it wasn't just the views that changed. We still did the man on the street stuff, but we also branched out. We went back to Casey's shop, and did guest spots with her, showing self-defense products, the best way to use them, all kinds of things. Izzy and I started taking self-defense classes with a local martial artist named Yasmin and ended up learning enough to make us feel a little safer. We liked it so much that we included all the girls from the agency in the class. It became so popular, we even got Tia to hire Yasmin and let her hold the classes in the studio in the evenings, so the building was making a more consistent income.

               This may surprise you, but a bunch of girls in bikinis doing self-defense moves gets a lot of views. Did we also invite Lylah and the gang down to do some crossover videos? Damn right we did. I think that video almost broke the internet when Miki made everyone do it naked for a bit and I had to do a lot of blurring in the editing room. Well, Izzy did, because she was better and faster at it than I was. That episode also got us a ton of new class members, which was good. Sure, some of them just wanted to ogle, but the majority actually learned useful tips and tricks. Miki also interviewed us about our ordeal, which helped us out even more!

But now we have a regular feature where we try to go out on the street and teach people things to look out for. It was good, I felt like I was doing more than offering food and shopping advice. It also broadened our appeal, because while we were still based in California, the self-defense information was useful worldwide.

Tia also looked at what the agency up in San Fran was doing and started branching out a bit more too. We weren't super busy and running around all over, but she started getting little contracts from places in the San Diego area for our services. Sometimes it was a taco place with a new menu, or a radio station doing a live beach day, or a car show that needed bikini models. It was easy and fun, and who complains about working in a bathing suit? We weren't a full-fledged body shop like the one in San Fran, but we were getting there!

               Right after Christmas, while we were still trying to calm ourselves down, we flew to Ireland to ring in the New Year with her mom's family. That turned out to be an amazing trip. Her mom really is just like Izzy. I can see Izzy looking just like her in another twenty years, and I'll love her even more than I do right now. Of course, at that point she'll be my wife.

               How do I know that? Because I asked her mom for permission to marry her daughter. Not only was it granted, but she even gave me her great grandmother's ring to propose with. I was lucky that Izzy was playing with her brothers when I asked, because both Robyn and I were in tears for about five minutes after that little talk. It was still so raw discussing the Vegas incident that talking about my future with Izzy right after we'd both almost been killed was a very emotional time.

               Right now, that ring was buried in the sand like a little pirate treasure chest. Tia had a dozen new suit designs for the spring catalog, and I was currently rocking an orange bikini that would make Miki pull Liv into the bedroom because it was so tiny. The best part was watching Izzy try to maintain her composure as I repeatedly bent over to give her a good view of my ass, since I knew she loved it. You know how they always say, make love to the camera and all that? I didn't have to worry about that. Every picture I was imagining making love to the photographer, and I knew I would. If things went to plan, I'd be doing that tonight, because I was hoping to celebrate an engagement.