Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“In all the books I’ve read about weddings, it’s the beginning of the end.”
He shoots me a confused look.
“Everyone roots for the queen to fail, while hoping a princess will come and take her place,” I say. “We’ve read twenty books just like that, remember?”
“I think you should start writing your own books,” he says, amused. “I’d rather read those anyway.”
“Do you mean that?”
“I do.” He reaches for my hand. “And I also mean that it’s time for you to forget all the other stories you’ve read. I’ve told you time and time again, that it’s just you and me for the rest of my life. Besides, the quicker I introduce my queen to the kingdom, the quicker we can return to the library.”
“You’ve already bought new books?”
“I bought a new chair.” He smirks, leading me toward the crowd. “And I have a huge stack of other books with pages I’d like you to read aloud to me.”
“For just tonight?”
“No, Belle,” he says, kissing me one last time. “Forever.”
Happily Ever After
Epilogue
BELLE
* * *
One Year Later
Gabriel is sitting in his favorite chair in our library, holding our son in one hand and the pages of my first book in the other.
He swore to be finished reading it by this morning, but it’s nearly sun fall and he hasn’t said a word to me about it.
Two days is more than enough time…
“Well, Gabriel?” I ask, looking over at him. “What do you think of it so far?”
“Hmmm.” He taps his chin. “I’m honestly not sure what to say.”
“We should send for the doctor, then. Something must be wrong.”
“I have several thoughts, actually.” He smiles. “I’m just uncertain which one to say first.”
“I’ll listen to them all.”
“Okay.” He shuts the book and places it on a table, moving our son to his other hand. “I thought you wanted your first published book to be a fairytale romance.”
“It is,” I say. “Hence, the words ‘princes,’ ‘princesses,’ and ‘all the subjects lived happily ever after.’”
“In that case, I think the story could benefit from a few changes.”
“Like what?”
“You only need one princess and one beast,” he says. “You’ll have to cut the younger sister, even though she’s my favorite character.”
“That’s me.” I narrow my eyes. “You want me to cut myself from my own story?”
“This isn’t a biography, Belle.” He smiles. “It probably would help if you took yourself out of it anyway.”
“In that case, I’ll take out your character, too. Maybe I’ll make you the villain.”
“I would prefer that, honestly.” He stands and walks over to me. “Leaves more room for interpretation.”
“Why does Izzie get to stay as the main lead? How is that even fair?”
“Because it’s the only way she’ll ever become a real princess…between the pages of your book. And she still deserves every ounce of pettiness you have to serve.”
I can’t argue with that…“If I make all those changes, no one will ever know the truth about our love story.”
“It’s none of their business anyway.” He tilts my chin up with his fingers, kissing me. “But you don’t have to take any of my advice. It’s not like I’m your favorite book friend who devours books every day and knows what the hell he’s talking about.”
I immediately pull a scroll from a drawer and wet a fresh pen. “What else do you suggest I add?”
“Enchanted castle, talking objects, a different take on the rose.” He kisses me. “And a dedication page for your beloved husband.”
“Does my beloved husband want to help me retitle the book from The Other Belle, then?”
“He does.” He nods. “Call it Beauty & the Beast…”
* * *
THE END, AGAIN