Epilogue
We check out of the wedding resort with the rest of the group, load up our bags, and say our goodbyes. It’s been a hell of a few days celebrating Elliot and Ziggy’s big day, but now it’s time to shift gears. Rachel, Lily, and I aren’t heading back to the real world yet. We have the rest of the week to ourselves to vacation together in paradise. I couldn’t have planned it better if I tried.
Hawaii is the perfect backdrop for our first real family vacation. We can let loose and find out what we’re like on our own, on vacation. The beachfront roads leading to the new hotel give us time to let the excitement of the wedding fade into the background and introduce the promise of what's next to take over. Lily babbles in the backseat. She’s started to really find her voice recently. The melody of her babbles fills the car, and Rachel turns around to make silly faces at her, earning an eruption of giggles. Watching them in the rearview mirror makes me smile, hoping that this is our new rhythm permanently.
The hotel we booked for the rest of our trip isn't far from the resort. It’s nestled right on the ocean and surrounded by palm trees and everything we could possibly need. We get checked in, and I lug our bags up to the suite. Because, why use a luggage cart when I can strong arm it all? Rachel and Lily wander ahead of me. Rachel changes into her bikini within ten minutes of getting settled. And for that, the pain and suffering of carrying all the luggage was worth it. The ultimate goal is to get Lily down to the water for as much fun as possible, and I can’t blame her.
Since I’m smarter than the average hockey player, I wore my bathing suit as shorts today. Once the girls are ready, all we have to do is make our way to the beach. Lily’s eyes widen in wonder as Rachel holds her on the sand, letting her tiny toes touch the softness. Lily enjoys the beach just as much this time as she did last time with me and the guys. Which is really the best case scenario for everyone.
After playing in the shallow waves and wearing herself down, Lily starts to get tired, so we head up to the room for her to nap. Once Lily’s soft snores fill the room, I walk back into the living room area of the suite. Rachel’s standing in front of the sliding glass doors, her body on display in nothing but that tiny bikini. While exhibitionism might’ve been Rachel’s fantasy, it’s become my vacation obsession. Finding ways to make her fall apart, with the hint of the danger of being caught, has become a little game between us. Ever since that first night on the beach, I’ve been wanting more. And based on how she responds to me, she isn’t about to say no.
“You thinking what I’m thinking?” I ask, stepping behind her and slipping the tips of my fingers into the bottoms of her bikini. I lean my hips further into her, pressing us both against the cold glass.
“Maybe…” Rachel nibbles at her lower lip, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks.
I chuckle, nipping lightly at her ear, pressing her harder into my grip. I love watching how she responds to my words and my touch. Everything about her makes me want her even more. “Don’t play coy with me, Rachel. Tell me exactly what you want.”
She turns her head back, eyes locking with mine. “Fuck me against the glass, Oren.”
The next day, Lily and I stumble back up from the beach after some father and daughter bonding to find Rachel lounging on the beach recliner, a book in her hand. She looks up as we walk up, her eyes immediately lighting up as she takes in the sight of us. We both look a mess.
“Looks like you two had fun,” she says, grinning. “Everyone’s covered head to toe in sand.”
I glance down at myself. Well, she might be right… My suit is still damp, and an alarmingly thick layer of sand still clings to me from the waist down. Lily isn’t any better. It's the price we had to pay to build our masterpiece.
I flash Rachel a guilty smile. “I think I just got out-engineered while building our sandcastle. She’s definitely got your brains.”
Rachel throws her head back, laughing because she knows I’m dramatic at best. Playing along, she says, “Well, she’s got your competitive streak, that’s for sure.”
I lift her up and hold her in front of me. “What do you have to say for yourself, Lily Goose? Were you using some sort of secret advantage to best me?” I ask her, tossing her up lightly before catching her and spinning us around.
Lily just laughs, reaching up and pressing her palms to my cheeks. I quickly give her a peck on the cheek, making her squeal, before turning back to Rachel and deadpanning, “See? No remorse. Not even a little.”
Rachel shakes her head, standing up and crossing the sand. “You poor thing,” she teases. “Your ego must be crushed.”
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” I say, letting out an exaggerated sigh. “But I’ll survive. I think I’ll need some help recovering, though.”
Rachel rolls her eyes, but the smile never leaves her face. “Is that so?”
“Yeah,” I nod. “I think we should put her down for a nap, and you kiss me and make me feel better,” I say, waggling my eyebrows at her.
Rachel fails to hold back her laughter but decides to pacify me by standing and leading us back to our suite. She rinses Lily off and puts her down for a nap while I also rinse off the lingering sand. I toss on some gym shorts and head back out into the open part of the suite to find her. She’s back to reading her book on the couch but decides to put her bookmark in when I enter. Her eyes darken as her gaze moves over me. She stands up, leaning up onto her toes, and kisses me sweetly. There is something about her that I just can’t resist.
The very last night of our vacation is bittersweet. This vacation was amazing and everything that all of us needed. It’s safe to say that this will be the first of many family trips. Tomorrow, we head back home. Back to reality. I’m ready to get back to our everyday lives, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to enjoy every last bit of our vacation. After dinner, we tuck Lily into her crib. Between hiking, building sandcastles, and playing in the waves, she’s exhausted. Her eyelids flutter closed as soon as her body registers that she’s in bed. I watch as her small chest rises and falls in the steady rhythm of sleep, her face peaceful as she grips the edge of her blanket.
I wrap my arm around Rachel, pulling her to me as we both stand over Lily, watching her sleep. There’s something about this moment that makes me want more of this. To think there was a time in my life that I wasn’t looking for this or even a period of time that the two of them were not in my life. I love everything about this life that Rachel has given me, and I want more of her, every aspect of what the future with her can offer.
“She’s amazing, Rachel,” I whisper, my voice barely a breath. “I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
Rachel leans her head against my chest, sighing softly into me. “I think we’re the lucky ones, Oren. You and me…I had no idea life could be this good.”
I can’t argue with that. I’d spent so many years chasing something, driven by the next goal, the next challenge. But standing here, in the quiet of this room, it's clear as day that this is what I was meant to find. The sense of home, family, and belonging.
“I mean,” I start, my voice full of emotion, “Let’s buy a house together. I know we’ve been doing everything backward, but for me, that’s perfect,” I ask, my voice full of emotion.
“Yes, absolutely,” Rachel says, her voice watery. “It isn’t even a question.”
“I love you, Rachel,” I whisper, pressing my lips to hers.
She gently kisses me back before replying, “I love you too, Oren. Always.”
“What if…” I start, my voice so low, almost a whisper, more tentative and uncertain. “What if we fill this new house with another kid, or at least start trying?”
Rachel looks up at me in surprise. In such a shock that, for a moment, I think I really fucked it up. Maybe I rushed it or am pushing too hard. But then, her lips stretch into the brightest, most beaming smile, her eyes shining up at me.
“How about we practice trying for another six months or so?” she teases, her voice soft and playful. She wraps her hand around my neck, pressing against my lips more, her tongue pulling me into a lingering kiss before she pulls back and says, “But after that, you’re on.”
The fear in my chest loosens, replaced by a quick wave of relief and then a rush of desire. I let out the breath I was holding and put my hands on her hips.
“Six months of practice?” I murmur before kissing her again, deeper this time, my body already reacting to the thought. “I can work with that.”
Rachel laughs softly, the sound vibrating against my chest. I slide my fingertips beneath her shirt, pulling her even closer. Her breath catches in her throat as I slide my hands down her backside, squeezing a firm handful of her ass. Rachel lets out a quiet moan that only encourages me.
“God, Oren,” she whispers, her voice already breathless. “Aren’t you tired?”
I grin, grinding my growing erection into her hip as I walk her backward toward our room. “Of feeling your pussy? Never.”