14. Epilogue - Colin
One Year Later
Koffee Kraze was still my go-to for coffee and it still felt like home. “Andy!” I called as the bell on the door rang behind me. I had to meet up with my mobile detailing crew soon, and then I had a marketing meeting at Rourke’s building, where he had offices for Laz-funds. It was a full day for me, so I needed caffeine and my friend.
“Hey, Turtle-Dove! Hit me, man.” He held out his fist across the counter, and I gave him a bump. Our relationship had changed somewhat in the past year as I found my footing, but it was all for the better. I had more than I could have ever imagined a year ago. My own company. And…Rourke.
“I need a large coffee with a double shot, man! It’s going to be a busy day.”
“I got you!” He started making my drink without ringing it up. He said it was the alumni program, and I did not argue. “You know, Turtle. I’m really proud of you. Last year at this time, you were a puddle of goo, begging for a sugar daddy, and now you got one!” He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “Sexy one at that.”
“Well, I may have a daddy, but I’m not a pampered boy.”
He handed me the to-go cup of goodness. “Yeah…seriously, I’m way prouder of you for your business than scoring daddy of the year. Just don’t forget who your friends are.”
“Oh, hell no. I wouldn’t dream of it.” I poured sugar into my coffee, doctoring it up.
“You know. We need a boys’ night out with you, Levi, and me. Right?”
“Right. And actually, I had ulterior motives for coming in.” I sipped my coffee. “But this is soooo good. Thanks.”
“Never a problem, man. So, motives?”
“I wanted to invite you to a party at our house.”
Andy did some kind of a funky dance and hooted. “I’ll be there!”
“Sweet. So, aren’t you graduating sometime soon? What’s your plan?” He’d been promoted to manager at Koffee Kraze, but I didn’t think he wanted to stay on.
He threw up his hands, holding a cleaning cloth in one of them like a surrender flag. “I’m feeling more like you did last year, dude. I do not even know what I want to do.”
“Welp. You can work for me any time. You can run a crew, help out with marketing or operations, or whatever you want.” I leaned over the counter. “I’ve got you.”
Andy looked at me funny. “What? Why?”
“Comes down to one thing. I trust you, Bro. If you’re working with me, I know people won’t be taking advantage of me. You know? I’m not a smart guy like you. Just lucky.”
Andy threw the cloth at me. “And super-cute, Turtle.”
The Christmas party.
Our party was amazing. Rourke hired a company to decorate the entire house, inside and out, and we had no less than six Christmas trees throughout. The only rooms not decorated were our bedroom and his office. Those we locked. Off-limits to partygoers. But we decorated and opened up the pool house. That place held great memories for me. I really came into my own when living there. But tonight, it looked like a Candy Land dreamscape.
People were dancing around everywhere to the Christmas pop and rock tunes that played through the sound system. We invited all our friends, plus a select list from Afterglow. And everyone was allowed to bring two friends, and from the looks of it, everyone showed up.
Braxton and Phillip were dancing by the pool. I didn’t know they were that close—and they were close! Levi was running around with his friend, Danny, acting like Little’s, while their daddies tried to keep an eye on them, but Danny had a mischievous streak. I didn’t think they’d get in any real trouble, though. I trusted Levi for that, even if he was in Little headspace. I hadn’t seen him like that a lot, but he was super cute.
All the guests were doing great, so I looked around for Andy. I hadn’t seen him in a while. “Daddy Rourke?”
“Yes, babe?” He handed me a mug of mulled wine. Yummy.
“I can’t find Andy.”
“Oh, he’s, uh…I saw him.” He looked around, then pointed. “In the pool house with my friend, Rock.” His full name was Stanley Rockford, but Rourke called him Rock. He said it was a nickname from when they were kids and had been firmly established before The Rock ever wrestled. I didn’t know if I believed that. Rock was very muscular and tall, and in my opinion, he loved the comparison. But how should I know?
“Oh, I don’t know Rock that well.” They were making out on the couch. Lips fused together and hands wandering everywhere. Andy’s shirt was rucked up, showing skin. “Oh shit.”
“Language, boy.”
“Sorry, Daddy. But I didn’t expect that.” I gestured, palm up, at our friends. “Do they even know each other?”
“I’d say they do now.”
“Should I be worried?”
“No. I don’t think so. Rock is a good guy. I’ve known him forever. And he lives in New York. So, I’m sure this is, you know, the normal hookup situation.”
I didn’t think hookups were good for Andy, but I couldn’t very well say anything. Not really. He was a grown-ass man. Didn’t stop me from being concerned, though. I loved my friend like a brother. Well, I would if I’d known what having a brother was like. I didn’t. As an only child, I had a lonely upbringing. Bobby had been the only cousin I knew, and I hadn’t known him well. His funeral was sad, and I had to keep checking in on my uncle. He was doing better lately, but he still hadn’t come to the party. I made a note to go see him the next day. He was family.
So was Andy. And Rourke. In fact, my daddy was the perfect man. I couldn’t be happier. I got my Christmas wish last year. I got my daddy, though not a sugar daddy. Not really. But I also got a career and my self-esteem.
My Christmas wish this year was that it would never end.
“We don’t need to interrupt this. Come on.” Rourke grabbed my arm and dragged me away from the open door of the pool house and into the main house. “Stand here.” He shoved me in the doorway to what I had dubbed the library room.
“Okay? What?”
“Look up.” He had stuck me under the mistletoe. “How about we show them how it’s done?”
I opened my arms wide. “Anytime, Daddy.”
“Damn, I love it when you call me that.” He stepped into my arms and nuzzled my neck, making me giggle.
“Kiss me already.”
Rourke made a growly noise, but he kissed me then. Soft pecks on the lips until I opened up for him. Then he kissed me like his tongue was determined to subdue mine. And I let him.
He pulled off and stared at me, his bedroom eyes filled with love. “This might not go over well, knowing my boy,” he huffed. “But I love you, Colin. More than I can say. I want you with me forever.”
I wanted that too.
Rourke dropped to his knee. “Will you marry me, Colin?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He didn’t need to open it. I knew it was a ring. Was that what I wanted? Hadn’t I just wished for forever?
I cupped his handsome face in my hands and bent to kiss him. “Daddy…Rourke…I love you. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
He stood and pulled the ring out, sliding the shiny gold on my finger. My heart beat hard in my chest, and I counted them. One. Two. Three.
Then I screamed. Daddy covered his ears, and I ran out the back door. “Andy! Andy! Levi! Guys!”
I didn’t stop until I jumped right on the couch where Andy was still making out with Rock and got between them. “Look, look, look. I’m getting married.”
“Fuckin’ A, bro!” Andy grabbed my hand. The next thing I knew, both Levi and Danny dog piled us, and we fell on the floor. Everyone cheered. “Turtle, you’re getting married? You’re getting married!”
“Guys. Colin.” Rourke interrupted. “Come out here.”
We scrambled up and went out to the pool area. The servers we’d hired circulated the room with trays of champagne in pretty glass flutes. I grabbed one and looked at it. “ Rourke Book 2 of BDSM Billionaire Boyfriends You do not need to read book 1 for this. It has some connected characters and Afterglow.