“You’re not cursed.” I took his hand, kissing the back of his knuckles.
“Sometimes it feels like we are.” He sighed. “Just when I think things are looking up… I feel like the wizard.”
“The wizard?”
“Of Oz.” He laughed at the puzzled look on my face. “It’s one of the movies I remember watching with my mom, when I was little.”
The thought of Leanne made me feel cold and I snuggled closer to him. I didn’t like to think what she was facing, with Arnie, right this very moment.
“The wizard?” I asked again.
“Yeah. Remember that hot air balloon he had?”
I nodded. “Uh-huh.”
“I feel like I’m always trying to get it off the ground, you know? And just when I do… just when it starts sailing through the air... wham! Something happens and I’m falling again…”
“It’s not a hot air balloon.” I tucked my head under his chin. “It’s a roller coaster.”
“Life?”
I nodded. “Our life. It’s a roller coaster. Up and down. Up and down. Curves here, curves there. Sometimes you see them coming—sometimes you don’t.”
“Huh.” His arms tightened around me. “Yeah… I guess it is more like a roller coaster.”
“Make sure we’re buckled in,” I said with a smile. “Then we can hang on and enjoy the ride.”
That made him laugh and he kissed my cheek. “I wouldn’t want to take this ride with anyone else.”
“Me either,” I agreed, clinging to him.
The glass patio door opened behind us and I glanced over, expecting Daisy to be there, asking if we wanted anything to eat. But it wasn’t Daisy.
It was Jay.
“Ty,” I whispered, shaking him so he would look, and he did, just as I scrambled off his lap.
“Jay!” I cried, and then she was running to me, putting her arms around me, sobbing and apologizing, all of nearly unintelligible.
“I didn’t know where else to go,” she gasped as we hugged and rocked on our feet. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!”
“I’m just glad you’re safe,” I told her. “We’re just glad you’re home safe.”
“We are.” Tyler was there, too, putting his arms around us both. “You’re safe, Jay. You’ll be safe with us, I promise you.”
His words made me cry, so then both me and Jay were crying and apologizing for crying, and then were laughing because of all the apologizing, and that’s when the back door opened again.
“Hey.” Rob called out to his brother. “They arrested him. Nick and Jon, too.”
“Not Kenny?” I asked, stunned by the news.
“No.” Rob shook his head, looking as incredulous as I felt. It was like we’d all been run over by a freight train today. “Kenny didn’t know anything about it. But Arnie implicated both Nick and Jon.”
“Where’s Mom?” Tyler asked, taking my hand and pulling me toward the house. Jay wouldn’t let go of my other hand, so she followed. “Is she all right?”
“She’s fine,” Wendy called from somewhere inside. I glanced in and saw her on the phone. “They’re bringing her here.”
“Thank God.” I breathed, and I felt Tyler relax, too.
Inside, everyone was talking at once. The news had come in—that Jay was safe, that Arnie’d been arrested—and the relief in the room was palpable. Jay took some cookies off a tray, sharing some with Lucy, and Sabrina smiled as she watched them. So that was over, too—thank goodness. Whatever ill-will that had formed there had dissipated.
When Leanne appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, I thought it would be Tyler or Sarah who went to her. But it wasn’t. The first person who went to her was Rob. He put his arms around her, giving her a long, hard hug. I don’t know what he said to her—his words were clearly only meant for her—but whatever he said caused long streaks of tears down the side of her face as she hugged him back.
I watched Tyler and Sarah hug their mother, too, feeling slightly misty, but it wasn’t until Jay walked over with Lucy in her arms and handed the little dark-haired girl to her grandmother that the waterworks really started.
“Here.” Celeste handed me a box of Kleenex and I took one, wiping the tears falling down my cheeks.
“This is crazy,” I gasped, laughing through my tears at the insanity of it all.
Trouble was dead, with two band members going to jail along with Arnie. But there was Leanne, finally fully reunited with her family, including her last, angry son and her two beautiful grandbabies. And Jay, who was smiling and happy and, hopefully, ours. And Tyler had a part in a new movie, along with the series.
We’d probably be making a baby in New Zealand this year.
How could I feel so sad and so happy all at the same time?
“This is life.” Tyler put an arm around my shoulder, leaning in to kiss my wet cheek. “You were right. It’s a goddamned roller coaster ride. Buckle up, baby.”
I laughed and put my arms around him, holding on tight. “As long as we’re in it together.”
Epilogue
“Mom!”
I sighed, and Tyler laughed, wrapping me in a hug as I headed toward our bedroom door.
“You wanted to be Mom,” he reminded me, nuzzling my ear and pinning me against a nearby wall.
“You better quit, or you’re gonna make me ‘Mom’ again,” I teased, sliding my thigh between his.
“Tempting.” His hands were already edging my skirt up.
“Mom!” Jay called again from her room down the hall. “Help!”
“Coming!” I called, straightening my skirt before knocking on her door. “Jay?”
“I’m stuck,” she called. “Open the door!”
I did, laughing when I saw her half-in and half-out of her graduation gown.
“My hair’s stuck,” she complained from underneath. “In the zipper.”
I helped her get unstuck, putting her gown on the bed, along with her cap, while Jay wiggled into her the dress she’d picked for her graduation party.
“Did you see the card?” I asked, biting my lip as I sat on the edge of her bed. “Dad said he left it for you.”
“Yeah.” Jay sat in front of her vanity, reapplying her make-up. “I called her. She said congrats.”
“We would have flown her out…”
“She didn’t want to come.” Jay shrugged. “It’s okay, Mom. I’m okay.”
“Yes, you are.” I went over to her, putting my arms around her neck and kissing the top of her head. “I’m so proud of you. We couldn’t be prouder.”
“Thanks.” Her smile was bright and beautiful, just like she was.
I couldn’t believe it had been three years already. Jay had spent the first half of her sophomore year with a tutor while we filmed in New Zealand and the lawyers hammered out agreements.
Jay’s mother hadn’t put up much of a fight—which was awful for Jay, on the one hand, but great for her, on the other. Because she was happy with us, and we couldn’t have been happier having her.
When we’d come home, she asked if she could go to school, so we’d found a private one, something co-ed, per her request. Although to my surprise, boys hadn’t been that much of an issue. She’d dated a few, but she hadn’t settled on any one guy.
“Jayyyyy!” Lucy’s footsteps came pounding up the stairs.
“Coming!” Jay called, laughing and twirling in her dress. “What do you think? Good enough?”
“You’re beautiful,” I told her, and then Lucy was bursting in, hugging Jay around the waist.
“I guess this means your mom and dad are he
re?” I asked Lucy, getting up off the bed.
“Yup.” Lucy nodded, giving me a gap-toothed smile. She was in kindergarten this year and growing like a weed. She looked more like Sabrina every day. “But Henry’s home. He’s got a rash. Mom says it might be chicken pox.”
“Oh great,” I said, heading toward the door. “Let’s hope you’re not all contagious.”
“Did I hear Lucy?” Tyler looked up at me when I opened our bedroom door. He was sitting on the bed, barefoot, a guitar in his lap, strumming idly.
“Rob and Sabrina are here. I can smell Daisy’s food.” I sniffed the air, smiling. “I’m so glad Sabrina let me borrow her today.”
“Guess we better head downstairs before everyone else arrives.” Ty smiled at me, changing chords. “Hm. I’m a little rusty.”
“You’ll do fine.” I leaned over his guitar and kissed him. “Jay will love it—you and Rob and Sabrina playing for her graduation.”
“Just a few songs,” he reminded me with a little snort. “We all know everyone wants to see the big stars.”
“Ha.” I wrinkled my nose at him. “You’re a bigger star than both of them, these days. Mr. Oscar-winner.”
“Double platinum,” he countered, setting his acoustic aside. “Sold out in every single city on tour.”
“Katie!” I heard Sabrina calling up the stairs. “Daisy can’t find the food processor!”
“Coming!” I called, reaching out for Tyler’s hand. “You ready?”
He took it, standing and pulling me into his arms. “Remember when I said life was like a hot air balloon? Every time we started gaining altitude, something would shoot us down?”
“Yeah.” I put my arms around his neck.
“But you said it was like a roller coaster. With all these ups and downs…”
“Uh-huh.” I cocked my head at him, puzzled. “And…?”
“These past couple years… we’ve just been going up and up…” He slid his hands down to my lower back. “I’m afraid we’re due for a crash.”
“Shhh.” I kissed him quiet, still amazed that every time we touched felt electric. “I’m buckled in. We all are. We’ll be fine, no matter what.”
“Mamamama!” The sound came from the room next to ours. Followed by, “Dadadada!”
“You or me?” I smiled, hearing our impatient son standing and rattling the side of his crib, calling for me, then for his father. Oliver was a towhead like his dad, but he had my little snub nose and, Tyler liked to say, “He inherited Katie’s sass.” Leanne often countered that with, “And his father’s temper!”
“Both of us.” Tyler gave me one more long, lingering kiss. “I love you, Katie. Up or down, it doesn’t matter. As long as I’ve got you.”
“Damn straight.” I grinned, taking his hand as we headed toward the nursery. “I’m on the best ride of my life.”
Continue the TROUBLE saga
Read Rob and Sabrina’s story
Trouble Series: (Rob & Sabrina) Boxed Set
GET SIX FREE READS!
Selena loves hearing from readers!
~| Books | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Blog |~
Get ALL SIX of Selena Kitt’s FREE READS
+ a BONUS READ unavailable anywhere else
by joining her mailing list!
ABOUT SELENA KITT
Selena Kitt is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling and award-winning author of erotic and romance fiction. She is one of the highest selling erotic writers in the business with over two million sexy books sold!
Her writing embodies everything from the spicy to the scandalous but watch out-this kitty also has sharp claws and her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she’s not pawing away at her keyboard, Selena runs an innovative publishing company (excessica.com) and bookstore (excitica.com), as well as two erotica and erotic romance promotion companies (excitesteam.com and excitespice.com) and she also now runs the Erotica Readers and Writers Association (erotica-readers.com).
Her books EcoErotica (2009), The Real Mother Goose (2010) and Heidi and the Kaiser (2011) were all Epic Award Finalists. Her only gay male romance, Second Chance, won the Epic Award in Erotica in 2011. Her story, Connections, was one of the runners-up for the 2006 Rauxa Prize, given annually to an erotic short story of “exceptional literary quality.”
Her books, Babysitting the Baumgartners, Adventures with the Baumgartners, Heidi and the Kaiser and Unfolding are now adult films by Adam & Eve, directed by Kay Brandt.
She can be reached on her website at www.selenakitt.com
SELENA KITT’S OTHER WORKS
MOVIES
Adventures with the Baumgartners
Babysitting the Baumgartners
Heidi and the Kaiser
NOVELS
BAUMGARTNER SERIES NOVELS
A Baumgartner Reunion
Adventures with the Baumgartners
Babysitting the Baumgartners
Baumgartner Generations: Henry
Baumgartner Generations: Janie
Baumgartners Empty Nest
Crazy About the Baumgartners
Letters to the Baumgartners
The Baumgartners Plus One
DIVINE VAMPIRES SERIES
The Blood of Angels
The Kiss of Angels
HIGHLAND WOLF PACT TRILOGY
Highland Wolf Pact
Highland Wolf Pact: Compromising Positions
Highland Wolf Pact: Blood Reign
NEW ADULT
Dear Rockstar
Lucky Girl
PARANORMAL/FANTASY NOVELS
Bear Necessities
Blind Date
Buried Secrets
The Real Mother Goose
The Song of Orpheus
The Surrender of Persephone
TABOO/FORBIDDEN NOVELS
Heidi and the Kaiser
Hussy
Forbidden Fruit
Naughty Bits (Revised)
Naughty Bits (Original)
Step Beast
Yank
THREESOME/MENAGE NOVELS
Bluebeard’s Wife
Taken (FREEBIE)
The Sybian Club
Under Mr. Nolan’s Bed (Revised)
Under Mr. Nolans Bed (Original)
Unfolding
TROUBLE SERIES
Trouble Series: (Rob & Sabrina) Here Comes Trouble
Trouble Series: (Rob & Sabrina) Asking for Trouble
Trouble Series: (Rob & Sabrina) Double Trouble
Trouble Series: (Tyler & Katie) Troubled Times
Trouble Series: (Tyler & Katie) Trouble Brewing
Trouble Series: (Tyler & Katie) Worth the Trouble
UNDER MR. NOLAN’S BED TRILOGY
Temptation
Confession
Grace
SELENA KITT BOX SETS
Baumgartner Box Set 1
Baumgartner Box Set 2
First Time with My Stepbrother – Volume 1
Girls Only: The Complete Collection
Highland Wolf Pact Boxed Set
Nolan Trilogy Box Set
Little Brats: Taboo A-Z – Volume 1
Little Brats: Taboo A-Z - Volume 2
Little Brats: Taboo A-Z – Volume 3
Little Brats: Taboo A-Z – Volume 4
Little Brats: Taboo A-Z – Volume 5
Myths Behaving Badly Box Set
Menage Box Set
Modern Wicked Fairy Tales: Complete #1
Power Play: The Complete Collection
Stepbrother Studs: Taboo A-Z - Volume 1
Stepbrother Studs: Taboo A-Z – Volume 2
Stepbrother Studs: Taboo A-Z – Volume 3
Stepbrother Studs: Taboo A-Z – Volume 4
Stepbrother Studs: Taboo A-Z – Volume 5
Taboo: The Collection Box Set
ANTHOLOGIES
Back to the Garden (Revised)
Back to the Garden (Origin
al)
Baumgartner Hot Shorts
Confessions
EcoErotica
Quickies
Tickled Pink
STORIES
BAUMGARTNER SERIES STORIES
A Baumgartner Anniversary
A Baumgartner Christmas
A Baumgartner Valentine
Baumgartner Dirty Show
Meet the Baumgartners (FREE)
EROTICA
A Twisted Bard’s Tale (FREE)
A Different Angle
Hush Little Baby
I’ll Be Your Superman
Connections (FREE)
Shorn
Sacred Spots
Second Chance
Starving Artist
The Flintstone Experiment
Unbreakable Bonds
GIRLS ONLY
Girls Only: College Days
Girls Only: Girl Scout Trip
Girls Only: First Time
Girls Only: Moms’ Night Out
Girls Only: New Year’s Resolution
Girls Only: Pajama Party
Girls Only: Pool Party
Girls Only: Stay
Girls Only: Sybian Sorority
Girls Only: The Hairdresser
MODERN WICKED FAIRY TALES
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Alice
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Beauty
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Bluebeard
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Briar Rose
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: The Frog Prince
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Goldilocks
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Gretel
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Peter and the Wolf
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Pinocchio
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Rapunzel
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Red
A Modern Wicked Fairy Tale: Wendy
POWER PLAY
Power Play: Bailey and the Professor
Power Play: Donnie and the Maid
Power Play: Emily and the Priest
Power Play: Ivy and the Cop
Power Play: Jodie and the Billionaire
Power Play: Katie and the Dom