Pulling me even tighter to his chest, Jenner placed kisses to the top of my head. “She’s never going to get the opportunity to hurt you again. I promise you; I’ll make sure of it. Do you trust me?”
I could only nod in response as I tried to choke down all the emotions bubbling up inside of me. I was overwhelmed with my love for both Jenner and Paul, the terror of what almost happened, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins and now crashing.
I pulled back to look up at him with blurry eyes. “It was her.”
His voice was soft as he asked, “What was her, baby girl?”
“She admitted the whole thing. She was trying to get you back, and it didn’t matter how many times I told her you’d never take her back.”
“Never in a million years, honey. You’re the only woman I want.” He leaned down until we were eye to eye. Using his thumbs, he wiped the tears from underneath my eyes and smiled. “Now tell me, what did she do?”
“Poppy . . . she was the one who drugged us in Vegas. You gave me your drink, and when that didn’t work, she drugged your next drink and tried to get rid of me. I don’t know how she had planned to get you back after that, but we foiled whatever else she was scheming. It was her who ran me off the road. Who knows what else she would have done once she got me out of the picture?”
Crushing me to his chest with his mouth brushing against the shell of my ear, Jenner spoke with conviction. “We’ll never have to find out.”
I only hoped he was right.
“Is she okay?” a deep voice asked from behind me.
Throwing myself at my brother, I engulfed him in the biggest hug I’d ever given him. The moment I collided with him, I started to sob. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Are you sure she’s okay?” Paul asked. One hand rubbed down my back as the other cradled my head.
“She’s just upset. She thought there was a possibility you might get hurt.”
Sliding his hands to my shoulders, Paul pulled me away and looked down at me. “I can’t believe you have such little faith in me.”
“It’s only because I love you so much and couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”
His entire face softened at my words. “I love you too, kiddo. I couldn’t let that crazy bitch hurt you.”
“I’ll never be able to repay you for keeping her safe,” Jenner said from behind me. He placed a warm hand to the small of my back and started to rub soothing circles with his thumb.
“Just make my sister happy. That’s all the payment I need.” He reached a hand over me, and I heard some clapping noise.
I’m sure the money Jenner had been paying him since I got out of the hospital didn’t hurt either. I was shocked to learn Paul’s price to be a bodyguard. Jenner wouldn’t hear of taking the family discount Paul had offered either. I was sure Paul would end up finding a hefty amount deposited in his account when he next checked.
“What do you say we get out of here?”
Both Paul and Jenner started to head to their respective cars, and I stood there frozen, not knowing who to ride with. I wanted to be with them both and didn’t know how to decide.
They both stopped in their tracks when they saw me standing in the same place where they’d left me.
“Abbi, are you ready to go?” Paul asked, his mouth turned down.
“Yes, but I’m scared something else might happen to you guys. I want to be in both cars.” Even to my own ears, it sounded a little crazy. I was sure I was going to lose it in the not too distant future.
“Nothing’s going to happen now. You’re safe, and we’re safe.” Jenner moved to my side once again and took my hands in his.
Paul eyed our joined hands. “How about I leave my car here, and Jenner can bring me back to it later?”
“We can do whatever makes you feel better.” Jenner squeezed one hand, letting me know he was with me.
They were both here and safe, and no one would ever take them away from me.
Epilogue
Abbi
2 Years Later
“Jenner’s going to die when he sees you.” Alex beamed through the mirror from behind me. She looked beautiful in her black off the shoulder dress.
“He really is,” Catherine agreed. “I have to say I never thought I’d find myself here after our encounter in Vegas.”
My hands glided over my veil as I let it fall down my back before I turned away from the mirror and looked at Alex and Catherine. “I didn’t see myself here either. At the time, I wasn’t sure who was going to beat who to file divorce papers. Never did I think I’d fall in love with my celebrity crush. Hell, I never thought I’d have the chance to meet him, let alone drunkenly marry him after only knowing him a few hours.”
Catherine tilted her head to the side and frowned. “We all know you weren’t drunk but drugged. I’m not sure what Poppy had planned, but I’m glad it was you who intercepted that first drink. Otherwise, I have a feeling Jenner wouldn’t be where he is today.”
If Jenner hadn’t gotten the part in the Hans Schroeber movie, he would have continued with his reckless playboy ways until the only parts he would have gotten were bad made-for-TV movies. If that.
I liked to think that I had something to do with his turnaround, but he wasn’t as far gone as most thought. The good friend who always listened and cared about the people close to him was just underneath the surface, begging to come out. If I hadn’t come along, I was sure Alex would have set him straight, eventually.
“I’m glad Poppy’ll be in prison for the next twenty years, and we don’t have to worry about her anymore. I can’t believe she admitted everything.” Alex shook her head.
“She only did it because she somehow thought she would get away with killing me.”
“That’s what drugs will do to you. Now let’s not speak of such things on your happy day. We’re in a beautiful location, you’re renewing your vows to the man of your dreams, and you’re going to spend the next month island hopping. You’ll come back looking beautiful as ever just in time to walk the red carpet and make everyone jealous of your glow.”
“Glow?” Catherine perked up. “What glow? Are you . . . ?”
“Shh,” I glared at Alex for spilling the beans. If she hadn’t found the positive pregnancy test in the trash as she helped me get ready, I wouldn’t have let on until Jenner knew. “I haven’t told Jenner yet. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“I hope you plan to tell him tonight because he’s going to find it suspicious when you’re toasting with water instead of champagne.” Catherine gave me a knowing look.
She was right. Jenner wouldn’t miss that I was toasting with something non-alcoholic.
“I’m waiting until after the ceremony, but I plan to tell him before the reception. I hope he’s happy about the news,” I mumbled quietly, letting them know my fear.
Alex pulled me into a side hug. “He’s going to be ecstatic, and I know he’s going to be the best dad. You have nothing to be worried about. You’ve seen how great he is with Mason.”