Page 86 of His Fake Fiancé

As they got in line to have their boarding passes scanned, she couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in just a few short weeks. And while it wasn’t necessarily the easiest road, she wasn’t sure she’d change any of it. Because in the end, she got her happily ever after, after all.

Epilogue

A few months later….

Jake heaved the last plastic bin into the back of the truck and slammed the tailgate closed. That was the last of it. The couple of bags of stuff they’d need for the trip were balanced next to the passenger door, along with his camera equipment and Claire’s guitar, but the rest of the big stuff was all loaded and ready to go.

Pulling the tarp over the last of the items, he anchored it to the side of the truck bed. The trip wasn’t long, but there was no telling what the weather would be like. Even though it was August, the weather along the Pacific coast could be a bit wet. Better to make sure everything didn’t get sogged up in case they ran into some rain.

He took a deep breath and glanced around. A bittersweet ache crawled up his throat. He was going to miss this place. His parents had the house built just after they were married, so it had been the only home Jake and his brothers had ever known.

The back of his eyes burned, and he blinked hard, refusing to bawl like a baby. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t ever be back. The ranch would always be here. Besides, he was doing what he needed to do for his family.

Gina had gotten a really great job in Portland, and she and Josh and Olivia had moved up there last month. Instead of dragging everyone back into court, he and Claire had decided to move to Oregon too, so they could be closer to Olivia. A fresh start was a good thing for all of them.

Claire was also set to start school in a few weeks. She’d applied to the University of Oregon music program last winter, back when all the custody stuff had been going on, and she’d been accepted into their music composition program. He was so fucking proud of her. She’d finally shared some of her songs with him, and they were amazing. She was so ridiculously talented he could hardly stand it. No doubt she was going to be super famous someday.

The front door opened and Mama marched out, carrying a huge picnic basket. He wanted to roll his eyes, but it was such a Mama thing. Mason and Grace were right behind her, their hands clasped together. Owen filed out behind them, his hat pulled low, but Jake was sure there was a scowl on his face. It was still his go to expression.

Declan was working today, so he’d come by earlier this morning to wish Jake and Claire well. What had started as a good-natured punch in the arm, devolved into a wrestling match on the kitchen floor. Mama and the threat of her wooden spoon had finally broken it up.

A couple of seconds later, Simon came out, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of the hoodie he wore. Something was up with him, although Jake didn’t know what. He’d been withdrawn and untalkative—even more than usual because Simon wasn’t overly chatty to begin with—for the last few weeks. There were dark circles under his eyes, which was nothing new, since he was always being called to one veterinary emergency or another at all hours of the day and night, and he had clearly lost some weight. And there was no way, under normal circumstances, that he’d be wearing a hoodie and jeans in this weather. It was like ninety degrees out.

Worry sliced through Jake, the idea that maybe he shouldn’t be moving so far away slithering through his brain. He shook his head to shake it loose. He loved his brother, but Olivia was the most important thing in his life, and he was doing this for her and for Claire.

Mama stopped in front of him and held out the basket. He took it, and nearly dropped the damn thing. It weighed more than a heifer.

“You do know it’s only a seven hour drive, right?” He tried to keep his voice light, teasing, but it still sounded like he’d swallowed a bucket of nails. “And if we need to, we can stop and grab something.”

Mama planted her hands on her hips and pursed her lips, but he could see through her. She was trying just as hard as he was to not cry. “This is much better for you than anything you’d find at a gas station. Besides, this will mean you’ll have some food to put in your fridge when you get there. You won’t have to go out and get groceries right away.”

He nodded and opened the truck door, wedging the basket into the space behind the seats. Mostly because he needed a moment. Man, he hadn’t expected this to be so hard.

The screen door banged shut and he turned to see Claire walking down the steps toward them. She looked good enough to eat in her cutoffs, her long, tanned legs a mile long. She wore a pink t-shirt with a picture of a pickup and the phrase “Cowgirl Up and Get in The Truck” splashed across it. Her hair was twisted up on the top of her head, a few bits escaping and to dance around her neck.

She smiled at him and his chest felt like it was about to explode. He still couldn’t believe she’d picked him. Out of all the people on earth, she chose dumb, old Jake Callahan.

Her eyes were red and puffy because clearly, she’d been crying. The urge to pull her into his arms, protect her from all the bad in the world was so strong, he was barely able to hold back. But he did, because although he wanted to protect her with every cell in his body, he also knew she was not only more than capable of taking on the world, she’d absolutely win.

They’d already stopped by Stone Creek earlier this morning so she could pick up the last of her stuff, and to say goodbye. She’d cried so hard as she’d hugged her brothers, Jake thought her eyeballs were going to fall out. Each of them had hugged her so tightly, her ribs were probably bruised. Her hug with her dad had been a little less enthusiastic, a little more awkward, but then, he wasn’t one to judge complicated father relationships.

Brock had clapped him on the back—it had been like being hit by a truck—and wished him well, which was a step in a good direction. Jax and Linc were still only lukewarm when it came to his and Claire’s relationship, but it wasn’t something Jake was worried about. He didn’t need her brothers to love him. He only needed Claire to love him.

She stopped next to him, wrapping her arm around his waist. The feel of her against him set the world to rights. She leaned her head against his shoulder, and he bent his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“You okay?” He kept his voice low, the question just between the two of them.

“Yeah.”

“You ready for the next adventure?”

She tilted her face up to look at him, her smile almost blinding. “I am. Are you ready for your shoot?”

“I think so.” A few months back, Claire had convinced him to post some of his photos online. It had started as posts on social media and had eventually turned into hosting his own website. A website where people actually looked at and bought his photos. Which was still something he couldn’t quite wrap his head around. People actually liking and buying pictures he took.

According to Claire, the next logical step was in-person photo shoots, which he’d somehow let her convince him was a good idea. His first one was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. He was taking engagement photos for one of Gina’s new co-workers. He wasn’t sure taking pictures of other people’s celebrations was what he really wanted to do, but he was willing to give it a chance.

He gave Claire a squeeze. “Let’s do this.”

She nodded, and disentangled herself from him. Hugs and tears and slaps on the back followed, until Jake was all tangled up in emotions. He and Mason wedged the rest of their stuff into the cab, pushing bags and packages into any empty space they could find. It was going to be a nightmare unpacking it all at their new place.

And then it was time to head out.

The only thing that got Jake in the truck was the woman by his side and his daughter waiting for him at the other end.

He fired up the truck and slipped his sunglasses on, mostly so no one could see the tears in his eyes. Claire was strapped in and sniffling beside him. He reached over and squeezed her knee. She placed her hand over his, holding tight.

“Call me when you get there.” Mama had moved back a bit, and was standing next to Mason, who had one arm slung over her shoulders, and the other over Grace’s. Simon was behind them, off by himself. Another stab of worry hit Jake. He really hoped Simon was okay. Owen was already halfway to the workshop, which was typical. He did nothing but work these days.

Jake nodded and waved, not trusting himself to speak. He popped the truck into gear and they were off, heading down the driveway for what might be the last time in a long time.

Claire continued to sniffle next to him, wiping her cheeks every few seconds. While he understood her sadness, he didn’t want their new life to start off on such a negative note.

“I made something for you,” he said, pushing a button on his phone. He’d hooked it up to the truck’s stereo, so the playlist he’d created would play through the speakers. The first notes of “Ex’s and Oh’s” from that Pitch Perfect movie started to play.

Claire threw back he head and laughed, and then started to sing along. She really did have a great voice, even though she kept insisting she wasn’t interested in singing the songs she wrote. Every time he brought it up, she laughed and told him she was more Jersey from Coyote Ugly, less Ally from A Star Is Born.

Glancing over at her, he couldn’t stop from smiling. He wasn’t sure how he got so freaking lucky, but he was never taking it for granted. Spending the rest of his life making sure his girls were taken care of was more than enough for a happy, fulfilled life. He couldn’t wait to get started.