Page 78 of Please, Stay

Epilogue

“Shut up, or I’ll start crying.” Juliana hugged Becky again. “You can always come to visit me.”

Becky tightened her grip on her best friend. Juliana belonged with Grayson. She knew that but having to watch her pack nearly killed her. “I will. Maybe once you make it to England. I’ve always wanted to go meet one of those guards outside the palace. Try to make them laugh.”

Juliana chuckled, wiping her eyes. “I bet you can. I’m serious, I want to see you. I’ll fly back—”

“Just stop, Jules. Go enjoy Grayson and traveling the world. I’ll be fine here. I’m prepared to step up and make sure your sister and Carrie transition from big city living to small-town life. I’m in the process of working with Ms. Iris on purchasing the diner. I’m going to be busy, and so are you.” Becky glanced around Juliana’s bedroom. It was hard to remember the first time she ever stepped into the room. Or crawled, knowing how long they’d been friends.

Juliana sniffed and reached for a tissue. “Do you think some of your cookies can make it to Australia?”

“I don’t know, but I’m willing to try.” She took a deep breath and pushed off Juliana’s bed. “Okay. I think I’m going to leave you to your packing. I need to head to the diner.”

“Dinner tonight, right?”

Becky hugged her again. “Yes. My house.”

“Plan on me getting sloppy drunk, crying a lot, and crashing at your place.”

She laughed. “Alright. See you tonight.”

Walking out of Juliana’s room and her house felt sad. She’d be back there. She’d inevitably visit Eliza and Carrie, stop by and see Mr. Hugh, but it would never be the same again. Juliana didn’t live there any longer.

Becky opened her car door and paused as Cameron’s truck rattled down the driveway.

He stopped and climbed out. “You didn’t try to change her mind, did you?”

Becky set a hand on her hip. “No, you doofus. She needs to leave. Grayson is a great guy, and I’m really happy for her.”

“Liar. Your mascara is smeared.”

Becky narrowed her eyes. “If you want me to give you a black eye, we can be twinsies.”

“Just admit it. There’s a soft side to you.” Cameron smirked and crossed his arms. “Under all that hard sass, you are going to miss Juliana.”

“Of course, I’m going to miss her. I’m just glad Eliza’s back, so I have someone who agrees with me that you’re a pain in the ass most of the time.”

“Eliza loves me.”

He looked confused and disgruntled. Becky raised an eyebrow and didn’t elaborate. Bugging him had turned into a nice hobby. She climbed into her car and started the engine.

Juliana leaving was good. It was nearly perfect timing. Becky had one more night class to go before she received her degree in business. The classes late at night, on the sly, over the past several years, had been difficult to keep away from her best friend. No one else, in fact, even knew she’d enrolled in college about an hour away.

Once she finished and had the education to support her taking over the diner, she’d let Juliana know. This was the one thing Becky wanted to do on her own and without pressure. Too bad the last class on the list, Accounting, would be her hardest.

Becky chewed on her bottom lip a moment, considering the class. It scared her. The last time she had to do math like that, she had a tutor in high school. The jerk. She adjusted her hands on the wheel. Hudson Stokes left Statem right after high school and never returned. Fine by her. She’d never gotten one last chance to lay into him for the embarrassment he’d caused.

Men. They were the last creatures she needed in her life now.

The End