Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
I wasn’t really about to say marry me, right?
Because that would be preposterous.
Totally. Bonkers.
We’re just easing into the reality of us with all its quirks and kisses and little spats over where to go for dinner. I should not be imagining myself in a white dress right now.
I should definitely not be imagining Shepherd in a tux, casting his eyes down like he’ll spend the rest of his natural life devouring me.
Oh, God.
He looks good enough to eat even in this goofy fantasy.
My phone chimes with an alert. I pull it out and see a link from Meghan with her latest video.
The therapy is helping her a ton, I think, and sharing her journey banishes the pain faster.
I wait until after dinner with the fam to play it while we're on the way back to Shepherd’s place.
“Hey, guys, sorry for the radio silence,” Meghan says. She’s abandoned her usual sassy, bold look for soft pastel sweaters and a fresh face not plastered with makeup. Honestly, it makes her look younger and infinitely more real.
I smile at the screen.
We’ve kept trading messages over the past couple months. I think we’re moving past that phase where she keeps apologizing while I insist she doesn’t need to.
We’re slowly becoming real friends.
Shepherd scrubbed the drone pics from the web as much as he could, though they occasionally resurface. When they do, they’re no longer a scandal worth circulating.
Just half-dead rumors drained of their dark energy.
While I watch Meghan’s latest video, I wonder if this might be the thing that ends them once and for all. I know she’s been building up to this for a while, and she’s decided that today is the day.
“As some of you know, I’ve had a mountain of family drama,” Meghan says calmly. “I don’t want to rehash the deets—watch my other videos for that—but as bad as my mom was... I have some things to own up to.”
She pauses and clears her throat just as we pull into the driveway.
Shepherd stops the car and watches with me.
“First, I want to reiterate that all of the allegations I made against Destiny Lancaster and Shepherd Foster were completely false. Mom wrote the scripts and coached me on lines with her brand consultant, but I was the mouthpiece. I made them viral. I took the videos down the instant I came to my senses so I wouldn’t perpetuate those hurtful lies any longer, but you’ve probably heard of them and wondered. Maybe you read the news and put two and two together, but that isn’t enough. I told the whole world Destiny slept with Shepherd Foster, CEO of Home Shepherd, purely to get her Young Influencers position. That was toxic and inexcusable.”
My throat tightens at the way her eyes fill with tears.
She really means this, making amends.
All her apologies, her regrets, feel so sincere it makes my heart bleed.
Meghan stares at the camera. “I was manipulated into saying it, yes, but I never should have. My courage came too late, and the lies my mother made me spread hurt people. I’m deeply ashamed, and I won’t ever let it happen again.”
“Brave girl,” Shepherd growls sincerely, glancing at me with his usual intensity.
I nod.
“Have you reached out yet?” he asks.
“I will in a second. She just posted a few hours ago. I’ll comment on the video, too, when I can think of something to say. Just so everyone knows there are no hard feelings.”
As Meghan continues talking about her struggle, we head inside. Molly jumps up from a nap and licks my hand, and I walk over to the back door to let her out.
Outside, it’s blue as far as you can see, sky and water and crisp fall air mingling together.
One day, I’ll get back on Shepherd’s yacht and enjoy a closer look—this time without any worries about an untimely date with the crabs. He’s just had the ship repaired.
But not today.
Not yet.
“I also wanted to let you guys know something important...” Meghan continues. “After I finish sharing my Journey with Tea, I’ve made the hard decision to retire. The content will stay up.”
I actually gasp.
“I know, I know,” she goes on. “Maybe you think this is a huge mistake, but... I’ve realized it’s time to step back and reassess what’s really important to me. Destiny taught me that.” Her smile, despite the tear tracks down her face, is huge. “I’m going to take some time off and find myself outside the public eye. Maybe I’ll volunteer for a bird rescue or something since Mom never let me have a parrot. It’s something I’ve always wanted, and I know I still have a ton of work to do, but... this is my moment. My life. And I’d like to thank you for sharing so many moments with me, and I hope my final videos over the next few months will help bring everybody out there some peace. I owe you one, Dessy, for helping me give myself a second chance.”