WHAT HAPPENED AFTER…
San Francisco Series Finale
Following up on the success of What Happened After: The Chicago Series, here’s a glimpse into the lives of the ladies of The San Francisco Series after their respective epilogues. Find out what’s been going on with Emma & Keira, Macon & Joanna, and Hillary & Amara after their stories ended.
Epilogues are nice, but they’re a snapshot in time. Maybe it’s a year after the end of the book or even just six months. Maybe there’s a proposal or a wedding. Maybe a character announces she’s pregnant. Maybe a character just got their dream job. This group of short stories will give you a glimpse into the future of the characters.
If you plan to read these, please read all the books in the series first. Because the lives of the characters in The San Francisco Series are so closely woven together, you won’t want to read the additional content for Macon and Joanna, for example, until you’ve read all three of the books in The San Francisco Series.
These shorts stories are presented in a different order than the main books in the series. It was done intentionally, based on the order of events in the characters’ future.
To contact the author or for any additional information visit: https://nicolepyland.com
Copyright © 2019 Nicole Pyland
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1-949308-18-1
AFTER… THIS ABOVE ALL
“I’m just glad that you two have finally done this,” her father said.
“It took years,” Greene added. “And we’re all glad.”
“So are we.” Amara looked over at Hillary and smiled at her new wife.
It had taken a long time for them to get here. Years after their engagement, they finally made their way to city hall, stood in front of their friends and remaining family, and said those two important words. They’d gone back and forth since the night they got engaged over the type of wedding they would want to have one day. Hillary wasn’t a religious person. Amara grew up with a minister for a father. She’d taken a step back from the church as she’d gotten older, but she still thought of herself as someone who believed in God and in her faith. Hillary would have given her any wedding she wanted; Amara knew that. If she wanted the big church wedding, Hillary would have stood up in front of the guests awaiting Amara’s arrival.
The more they talked about it, though, Amara began to understand that the wedding day wasn’t about one person getting their dream day while the other person dealt with that dream if it wasn’t their own. Hillary wasn’t the big church wedding kind, and that was one of the reasons Amara loved her so much. Hillary was herself, and she’d worked so hard to be just that. Now, they’d go home to their new house in the suburbs, have a small get-together with their friends and Amara’s father, and begin their life as a married couple.
As Keira and her wife, Emma, stood in the living room with Kellan and her wife, Reese, Amara realized that they were the last couple of their friend group to officially tie the knot. Macon and Joanna were also married. Joanna was outside, taking pictures of their new garden out back. It had been here when they’d moved in, but she and Hillary had already spent several Saturdays cleaning it up, and they enjoyed taking their Sunday morning coffee out there together whenever possible. Kellan and Reese still lived in South Lake Tahoe. They had come to town specifically for the wedding. Amara didn’t know either woman all that well. Kellan moved away before she and Hillary officially met. She’d seen Kellan in the café with Hillary, Greene, and Keira before that, but they didn’t actually speak until much later. She seemed nice, as did Reese, but now that it was after ten and her father had already left, Amara was ready to get everyone out of the house in order to have some alone time with her wife.
“We’ll see you tomorrow?” Kellan asked. “At the brunch?”
“If we’re not there, I think my dad might be pretty upset, since he’s hosting it in our honor,” Amara replied, giving the woman a hug.
“Congratulations,” Reese added, hugging her next.
“Thank you.”
“And I’ll let it go that you didn’t give me a wedding to plan,” Keira teased her with a wink. “At least let us throw you a huge reception or something.”
“We don’t want that,” Hillary said as she approached. “Everyone we wanted there is here right now.”
“Agreed,” Amara said, sliding her arm around Hillary’s waist.
“Fine. Fine.” Keira stood back and looked at them both. “I’m happy for you guys.” She smiled a wide smile.
“Thanks, Keira,” Hillary said.
“I’m taking her home now,” Emma said, coming up behind her wife and wrapping her arms around Keira’s waist. “You guys have a good night.”
It didn’t take long for all their friends to leave; likely, taking the hint that the newlyweds would want to be alone.
“You know what’s nice about skipping all the wedding festivities?” Hillary asked her after they’d closed the door on their friends for the night.
“What’s that?” Amara smiled at her.
“It was only a ten-minute ceremony, and our friends came to our place after for a low-key celebration.” Hillary wrapped her arms around Amara’s waist. “I’m not exhausted like most brides on their wedding night.” She smirked at her wife.
“Oh, really?” Amara asked as she wrapped her arms around Hillary’s shoulders and pulled her into her own body, pressing against her warmth and loving the feel of it.
“Yes, really.” Hillary kissed her neck.
“Upstairs?” Amara asked.
“Why wait?” Hillary asked back.
Amara was promptly lifted on top of their kitchen island. She laughed at the move, knowing her wife had been working out consistently for the past several years and loved showing off her strength. Hillary’s lips were still pressed to her neck, but her hands were sliding up and under Amara’s pure white sundress. Hillary had worn an off-white pantsuit for the occasion, but she’d changed into dark jeans when they’d returned home, leaving on the off-white jacket and shirt underneath. Swiftly, she removed Amara’s underwear, pulled back and threw off her own jacket, revealing the short-sleeved shirt and biceps that had gotten Amara into her sitting position.
“You’re all kinds of turned on right now, aren’t you?” Amara asked seriously as she stared into Hillary’s darkening eyes.
“Someone had to invite our friends over after the ceremony. I’ve been turned on since this morning,” Hillary returned, reaching for the hem of Amara’s dress. She flipped it up, revealing Amara’s center, licked her lips, and gave Amara’s shoulders a soft shove. “Lie back.”
“Hill, we have a very nice bedroom up–”
“We’re not starting off our marriage with typical bedroom sex, Amara,” Hillary replied, leaning down to kiss and suck at Amara’s inner thigh. “We can continue it up there, though.” She then sucked particularly hard, earning a gasp from her wife.
Amara laid back on the counter; lucky there wasn’t anything on it in her way. It was cold, solid marble, but Hillary’s mouth was soft and warm, heating her entire body up as it moved to her core and took her clit between two demanding lips. Amara wasted no time. Her hand moved to the back of Hillary’s head, encouraging her to continue; at the same time, her other hand moved to the zipper at the side of her dress. She slid her shoulder out of one strap and grabbed at her own breast, lifting the cup of her bra away as much as possible. She met her nipple with her thumb and forefinger and lightly twisted it as Hillary took her on their kitchen counter. Amara had a random thought in that moment that they’d only just had these countertops installed. She smiled at that and then stopped smiling as Hillary slid two fingers inside her. Amara’s face made an O‑shape at the sensation of Hillary’s fingers. Then, she had another thought. This was the first time she was being touched like this by her wife. Amara’s smile returned.
Hillary’s tongue stroked her in just the way she liked as the fingers did the same ins
ide. Amara came; her hips lifting off the counter and Hillary holding her down so as not to fall off the cold marble. When she finally caught her breath, she opened her eyes to see Hillary standing there, wiping her mouth before she smirked.
“I like marriage,” Amara said softly.
“Me too.” Hillary’s eyes followed as Amara sat up; still with her legs spread. “Where are you going?” she asked.
Amara’s hands went to Hillary’s belt buckle. She released it, unbuttoned the jeans, and slid down the zipper; her eyes never leaving Hillary’s.
“I was planning on tearing off these jeans and making you come. Is that a bad idea?” she asked with a smirk of her own on her face. “I want you naked and pressed against me.”
“On the counter?” Hillary asked.
“Everywhere,” Amara replied.
◆◆◆
“Do you need any help?” Hillary asked her new father-in-law.
“No, it’s almost ready,” he replied jovially as he flipped one of the black bean burgers he’d put on the grill just for Hillary. “Can you let Amara know she can start putting everything on the table?”
“Sure,” she offered, making her way back inside the main house.
Amara had lived here the entirety of her life up until meeting Hillary. The guest house in the backyard hadn’t been touched since Amara had moved into her now old studio apartment. Later, she lived with Hillary in their own place. Now, they had their dream house outside of San Francisco. The main house had been shared between father and daughter until Amara had moved into the guest house as an adult. As Hillary looked back at it before she opened the door inside, she wondered how Amara had lived in such a small space given they now had this large three-bedroom home together with a front and backyard of their very own.
“Is he ready?” Amara asked the moment she entered.
“Almost. He said we can start putting things on the table outside,” Hillary answered, walking up to her wife and kissing her on her cheek. “Can I just say that I can’t wait to leave for our honeymoon? I love our friends and your dad, but I want to be alone with you for two weeks on a beach.”
“And in the hotel also, I assume?” she checked.
“Yes, there too,” Hillary replied, kissing Amara’s cheek again.
“How can we help?” Keira asked as she entered the kitchen.
“Can you take the potato salad outside?” Amara asked her.
“Got it,” she answered, picking up the giant bowl.
“I’ve got the drinks,” Emma said, coming inside from the backyard where she’d had to take a quick call from one of her employees.
“I have the plates to take to your dad,” Joanna said to Amara.
“And I plan on following my wife,” Greene said, pointing to Joanna.
“You’re useless,” Hillary joked with her.
“That’s not what she tells me.” Greene winked at her.
“Macon, come on,” Joanna beckoned.
Greene followed her wife outside. Amara looked over at Hillary and smiled at her.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Amara said. “I’m taking the guacamole outside, with the chips. Can you get the plates and cutlery?”
“I’ll help,” Kellan said, coming in with Reese. “Reese, can you grab the extra glasses?”
“Got it.”
It was like their friend group was a team. Most of them had known one another for a decade or more. But even as the newer members of the group joined, they just kind of fit right in; and that included her new wife. She helped Reese and Kellan carry everything outside and met Amara at the extra-long picnic table her father had purchased just for the occasion.
“A toast,” the man said, lifting his water glass high in the air as he stood next to the two of them.
“Dad, really?” Amara turned to Hillary with blushing cheeks that Hillary found utterly adorable.
“Let him have his moment. You’re his only daughter, babe,” she said, kissing Amara’s lips sweetly.
“When I met Amara’s mother, I knew I’d love her for the rest of my life. It took me a very long time before I even considered dating. When I finally did, it lasted for a while. But, here I am – still a single man. I think there’s a reason for that. I think I had my soulmate, and, in my opinion, you only get one. I think you can love others – and you should, but I think you get one person that somehow sits above all the rest.” He paused as he looked at his daughter. “I didn’t understand it when you first told me. But I do now, sweetheart. Hillary is your soulmate.” He smiled at Hillary, who swallowed. “Just like all of you have found your soulmates, too,” he said, motioning with his glass to the women at the table. “And I am genuinely happy for all of you. You’ve shown this old dog that even I can learn some new tricks.” He looked back at Amara again. “And I know your mom would be so happy for you and proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Amara leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek.
Everyone applauded. They sat around and ate their meal that had turned from brunch to more of a late lunch. When the dishes had been done, and the friends had departed, Hillary hugged her wife and watched the woman follow her father into his den, per his request. Hillary wondered what exactly they’d be talking about, but she decided to sit on the sofa and grade some of the papers she’d brought with her on the off chance she got some alone time to get them done. She’d just finished reading through the fourth essay and marking it with a B– when a door upstairs opened, and Amara came rushing into the living room.
“Let’s go,” she said.
“What’s wrong?” Hillary asked as she simultaneously stuffed papers into her bag.
“Later. We need to go.”
“Babe, what–”
“Hill, please.”
It was only then that Hillary noticed her wife was crying.
◆◆◆
When Amara had entered her father’s den, she’d expected him to go into minister mode and give her tips on what it meant to be a good wife or to have a successful marriage. He counseled many of his churchgoers before and after they married. She’d known he’d been chomping at the bit to give her some of his wisdom as well.
“Honey, I was hoping I could talk to you.”
“Sure, Dad.”
Amara sat in front of his desk. Instead of him taking his chair behind it, he sat in the other chair in front of it, which was odd.
“I didn’t want to say anything in front of the others, but something strange happened while you guys were outside and I was in the house cleaning up.”
“What?” she asked.
“I got a call from a woman named Caroline.” He placed his hand on top of her own, which rested on her leg. “She told me some things.”
“Caroline?” Amara thought for a moment. “Hill’s ex‑girlfriend?”
“I only know what she told me.” He shook his head.
“What? She called you? Why?”
“I answered your phone, honey. It wasn’t the right thing to do. I know that. But you were outside having fun, and the phone rang. I thought I’d pick it up, tell the person you were busy, and give you the message.”
“Dad, that’s what voicemail and texting are for.”
“Well, I’m old school,” he replied. “Anyway, she didn’t sound – I don’t know… She didn’t sound well. She said some things about Hillary.”
“Hillary?”
“That she still loved her and wanted her back. And before she even heard my voice to know I wasn’t you, she said she wanted her back and that she’d already…” He looked down.
“Dad, what did she say?”
“That they’ve…”
“She said she and Hillary had slept together?” Amara guessed.
“Yes, she did. When I told her I was your father, she hung up.”
“Dad, Caroline’s a drunk. Hillary hasn’t spoken to her in years. I mean, every so often, Caroline calls or texts. But Hill doesn’t answer or return her messages. The
woman has a drinking problem.”
“But she said that she and Hillary had been together, Amara.”
“And I don’t believe her.” She shrugged. “Dad, trust me. Hillary loves me. She can’t stand Caroline. They dated for a long time, but that was forever ago; long before Hillary and I started dating.”
“Are you sure?” he asked with kind and concerned eyes.
“Am I sure that the woman I just married yesterday didn’t sleep with her ex-girlfriend? Yes, Dad. I am absolutely certain about that. You should be, too. You just said I found my soulmate and that you’re so happy for us in your speech downstairs. Did you not believe that?”
“I believed it. But I’m your father, Amara. I got a phone call that–”
“No, I got a phone call. You answered it. Caroline was probably drunk, and she got my number somehow. I’m listed because of my counseling job. She had probably convinced someone at the office to pass along my cell number. It doesn’t matter.” Amara shook her head at her own rambling. “Hill and Caroline have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
“I wouldn’t be a good father if I didn’t bring it up.”
“But you still don’t trust me about this, do you?” she asked, noting his awkward posture. She pulled her hand away. “Dad?”
“Honey, I loved your mother with my whole heart. I say that because even I had moments where I was tempted.”
“You didn’t–”
“Never,” he stated firmly. “Never, Amara. I never followed through on any of those temptations. I swore to uphold the vows I made to her in front of God.”
“Hillary made those same vows to me, Dad.”
“Yesterday,” he said.
“Are you kidding me?” Amara stood. “Dad, she’s your daughter-in-law now. You can’t just accuse her of something this horrible after you gave a big speech about how much you love her as a daughter.”
“I do love her as a daughter. I just wanted to advise you, sweetheart. Marriage is long, and it is difficult at times. You two were together for a long time before you got married. Just talk to her about–”
San Francisco Series- Complete Edition Page 94