EPILOGUE
Three months later…
Buzz
"You realize there's no point in going to all this trouble,"
Courts says, watching me with an amused expression as I tape the last of the paper bat cutouts onto our living room wall.
I know exactly what he's trying to say, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of being right.
"That's what this is for,"
I reply, picking up my cell phone off the coffee table and waving it at him.
"I want Brock's first everything to be amazing. Starting with his first Halloween."
"Does that mean I need to start saving for Christmas?"
I cut across the room in three giant strides, grabbing a handful of candies from the coffee table along the way, until I'm just a few inches away from Court's face.
"You should have started saving six months ago."
"Six months ago, I was an idiot who didn't have the balls to tell the only man I've ever loved how I felt."
I cup his balls and smirk.
"Good thing you got over that."
"You know…"
That look I know so well simmers in his eyes.
"Brock's asleep, and I haven't come in about?—"
"Two hours,"
I finish for him.
"Seriously, most new parents have less sex once their kid is born. Somehow we're having more."
"You've turned me into a sex maniac. I swear I wasn't like this before I married you."
"Hey, I'm not complaining,"
I say, tossing a candy corn into my mouth and chewing.
"I'm emotionally needy. You're sexually needy. We balance each other out."
"We sure do,"
he says, stealing candy from my hand and plopping it into his mouth.
"And for the record, you're not as needy as you think you are."
He has a point. I'm not.
Not anymore anyway.
"That's only because I feel safe with you."
"That's because you are safe with me."
"And you're not just saying that because I give great head?"
"Of course not,"
he replies, a slight furrow in his brow.
"I would never neglect to mention your super-tight ass."
His palms land on said super-tight ass cheeks, and we start making out. Unfortunately, I'm deprived of the chance to drop to my knees and let the man I love with all my heart throat fuck the cock-hungry husband he's turned me into by the doorbell.
"Damn,"
Court hisses.
"I'm going to walk around with a hard-on all night now."
I pull back slightly.
"I told you I invited Zane, right?"
Court peers down his body.
"Would you look at that, my cock's deflated."
I chuckle as I walk to the door.
They're actually well on the road to becoming good friends, which I'm really happy about. Zane has apologized about a million times to me about the convo I walked in on, saying he never meant to hurt me or do anything to make me mad at Court. When he said that, it confirmed what I already knew—he's one of the good ones.
It's all water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned. Court and I are together and happy, and Zane is embarking on an exciting new career. I can't wait to hear all about it.
In fact, I can't wait to see all my friends. Cy and Scooter are back in town, too. I knew throwing a baby shower might not be enough to get them to visit—especially Scooter, who's been making the same tired joke about being allergic to baby smell forever—so I went for throwing a Halloween party instead.
I swing the door open, and my face drops.
"Oh. It's you."
"Well, fuck you, too."
Howie grins, greeting me with a bear hug.
"Where's that gorgeous little nephew-slash-half brother of mine?"
"Still asleep,"
I say as Howie greets Court with a hug before helping himself to the mountain of candy laid out on the coffee table.
"I saw that hit you took in the third quarter last week,"
I say to him.
"That looked painful."
"Nah, it was nothing,"
Howie says, plopping a Milk Dud into his mouth and chewing noisily.
"But it warms my heart to know my bro was watching."
"I've always watched all your games."
"I know. But I thought you'd be busy now you have a baby."
He grins at Court.
"And little Brock."
Court rolls his eyes, but he's smiling.
He's mellowing out a lot these days, reverting back to a version of himself I haven't seen since high school. These two even have their own private WhatsApp chat now where Court shares daily updates and photos of Brock. Being a proud dad totally suits him.
I grab us three non-alcoholic beers and listen as Court nerds out about the startle reflex, which is apparently one of several reflexes that doctors check to ensure a baby’s nervous system is developing properly. Howie listens, rapt. Normally, the only thing he pays this much attention to is football. I love that the two closest men in my life are big ol' softies when it comes to our son.
The doorbell rings again. I get up to answer since Court is too busy boasting.
"It's probably lingering because little Brock is so advanced."
I swing the door open and am greeted by my work husband.
"Hey, Ramzi."
"Buzzy-Buzz!"
We hug, and he steps inside, letting out a low whistle.
"Holy shit. You've gone all out."
"I want Brock's first Halloween to be memorable."
"It sure will be. The place looks great."
"Thanks, man."
We enter the living room. Court gets up and hugs Ramzi, but when it comes to saying hi to Howie, Ramzi only manages a half-hearted wave, barely even acknowledging him.
Now that I think about it, they were acting kind of weird around each other the day they helped me move. Ramzi declined free food for Chrissakes. I'm starting to wonder if these two might have some sort of beef.
"The place looks great,"
Ramzi says to break the awkward silence that's emerged, even though he already said that to me not less than thirty seconds ago.
"Thanks. It's all Buzz's creation,"
Court says.
Awkward silence settles over the four of us once again.
A few looong seconds later, we hear Brock starting to wake up through the baby monitor.
"I'll get him!"
Court and I cry in unison, springing to our feet, equally grateful for the out.
The doorbell rings.
"You go get Brock. I'll answer the door,"
I say, then we get the hell out of there as fast as we can.
Hopefully the arrival of more people will get the party back on track and smooth over whatever is going on with Howie and Ramzi.
"Hey, Scooter. Hey, Cyrus."
It's only as I'm hugging the guys that I notice someone else walking up toward the house.
"Holy shit!"
"Shhh."
Zane presses his finger against his lips.
"Don't say anything. I want to surprise Court."
"He will be very surprised,"
I say, taking him in before giving him a hug.
"He's just getting Brock, and I have to warn you guys, we have two straight guys in the living room who are acting very weird."
"You should have told me earlier,"
Scooter says with a wry smile.
"I would have brought anxiolytics."
Cy chuckles.
"Or we could oil them up and get them to wrestle. That's how straight guys communicate, right?"
But when we join them in the living room, there's no trace of the previous awkwardness. Both Howie and Ramzi are going gaga over little Brock.
"I've been working on my sounding-impressed noises,"
Scooter tells me, hanging back with me as Cy and Zane rush over to join the gaga-ing.
"Because apparently parents take great offense if you don't fawn over their newborn like it's the best thing since sliced bread."
I hook my arm over his shoulder.
"Good thing we've known each other forever, and you can be yourself around us, and we won't judge you."
"Really?"
"No. Of course not. I'm the normal one, but unless you get your ass over there and start oohing and aaahing like you've never seen a cuter baby in your life, Court will never forgive you."
"Wow. I totally had Court pegged as the normal one."
I quirk a brow.
"You still here? Go!"
"Shit. Okay. I'm going."
He makes a beeline for the Brock circle of love and joins in the cooing. Five years on a hit reality TV show has done wonders for his acting ability.
"So…you haven't said anything about the hair?"
I hear Zane say to Court when I approach the group with drinks for the new arrivals.
Zane, Cy, and Scooter take one couch. Court, Brock, and I take another. And Ramzi and Howie sit as close as they can to the respective edges of the couch they're forced to share, both looking stiff and majorly uncomfortable.
"I love it,"
Court tells him as I clutch Brock carefully against my chest.
"It looks great."
"Well, you did tell me to get a haircut,"
Zane says, running his hand through his newly shaved locks.
Court glances down.
"I didn't really mean it. I was being a dick."
Zane lifts his head and smiles.
"I know. I just wanted to hear you say that."
"How's the new career going?" I ask.
I checked with Zane a few days ago to make sure he was comfortable talking about it. He said he was, so I filled Howie and Ramzi in beforehand to save Zane having to explain anything on the spot.
"It's going great. My first scene with Bruce got released five days ago, and apparently, it's his most watched scene ever."
"Wow. You must have real talent,"
Ramzi says, fishing out his phone.
"What's the name of the website?"
That triggers a tidal wave of movement. Howie grunts and disappears into the kitchen. Zane joins Ramzi on the couch, as does Court, which brings Scooter and Cy over to me… well, to Brock—though let’s be real, Cy’s the one who really wants to see him.
"Can I hold him?"
Cyrus asks.
"Of course."
I carefully pass him over as Scooter's gaze remains fixed on Zane, Court, and Ramzi chatting and laughing away.
"Never thought I'd see the day,"
he observes.
With Cy good with Brock, I glance over to the three of them.
"You and me both. I think Zane kind of looks up to Court, in a big brother way."
"Which Court will be eating up since he loves being worshipped,"
Scooter quips.
My cheeks flame because he has no idea how right he is.
Scooter side-eyes me and lets out a pained groan.
"I did not need to know that."
I chuckle.
"Be more careful with your words then. How are things on set?"
"I'm officially done."
"What?"
Cy and I say at the same time.
"The network called me in last week and told me what I already suspected—my contract won't be getting renewed."
"Oh, Scooter. I'm so sorry," I say.
"What are you going to do?"
He shrugs and looks around the room.
"Don't know yet. Might come home to Clovelly for a while to lick my wounds and lay low."
"Here. Take Brock,"
Cy suggests.
"He'll cheer you up."
Scooter looks at me.
"Do I have to?"
"No. Of course not. Holding a baby only makes people who have a heart feel better. It'd be lost on you."
He cracks a small grin.
"I'm sorry. I'm being a dick. Of course I'd love to hold him."
I watch the transfer with bated breath, but Scooter works with animals, so he knows what he's doing.
"He really is beautiful,"
he says, smiling down at our little boy.
I can't help but be filled with pride.
"Thank you. Who knows? Maybe you'll move back here and start a family of your own?"
"Nope. No way. I'm happy to be a guncle to this guy, but that's it. I need that here, you take him back option. Always."
"I'm going to get another drink," Cy says.
"You guys want anything?"
"Nah, I'm good," I say.
"Same."
Once he's gone, Scooter leans over.
"Oh, hey, listen, don't interrogate Cy about the thing with his manager, okay?"
"Why not?"
Scooter has a very expressive face. When he's happy, it lights up the whole room. When he's pissed, run for your life.
And right now, he looks so concerned that a knot forms in my stomach.
"I think some heavy shit is going down."
"What does that mean?"
"We took different flights to get here, but we landed at the same time. When I walked up to him at the airport, he was on the phone to the guy, I assume, and it sounded really intense."
"Intense how?"
"Like they were breaking up because the guy had done some really shady shit."
"Oh, man. That sucks."
I check to make sure Cy is still in the kitchen. He is.
"But he seems fine."
"It's Cyrus. When does he ever not put on a happy, everything's fine face?"
"True. That is his default. Okay. Thanks for the heads-up."
"I've already told the others, so I think we're good. If Cyrus wants to talk, he will. But I think we should just be cool so he knows he's got us, whenever he's ready."
"Fair enough."
Zane and Court come over, and Scooter does that freaky thing he can do of flicking some internal switch, and he flashes a smile like he doesn't have a care in the world. Must be a reality TV thing because he never used to be able to do that.
"Mind if I have a turn holding him?"
Zane asks.
"Not at all,"
Scooter says, sliding Brock into Zane's arms.
"I'm going to check on Howie,"
I say, planting a quick kiss on Court's lips before we swap positions.
He's not in the kitchen, but I spot him out in the backyard.
"Hey,"
I say, stepping out onto the lawn, two deck chairs in hand.
He spins around and smiles. "Hey."
"You okay? What are you doing out here?"
"Just wanted to get some fresh air."
I plant the chairs on the ground and motion for him to come over. Once we're both sitting down, I ask.
"So what's the deal with you and Ramzi? Did you guys have a fight or something?"
"What? No. It's nothing like that."
"Then what is it? Because you were acting weird the day you helped me move in, and you're acting weird today."
Howie closes his eyes and leans his neck back, the sun lighting up his features. He's not as good-looking as I am, but he gets by.
"We hooked up with the same chick."
"Oh, shit."
That's not good.
"Is he mad, or are you mad?"
"No one's mad."
"Okay. So it's just a casual thing then?"
"Yeah, yeah. You know me. After getting burned with Elsie, causal is all I do."
"So what's the problem? You slept with the same woman. Big deal. It happens from time to time."
"I don't think you're getting it, Buzz. We slept with her at the same time. Together."
"Like a threesome?"
"Yeah."
"When?"
"The night before we helped you move."
"Oh. That explains the weirdness. Wait. Why was it weird?"
"Because I liked it."
"Okay."
"I mean, I liked…him."
"Wait. You guys did stuff…to each other?"
"A little, yeah. And that is as much detail as I'm prepared to share."
"Wow. Okay. Good for you guys."
When I'm met with zero response, I hedge, "Right?"
"Ramzi and I went out for a drink two nights ago."
"To debrief?"
"Well…"
Howie shuffles uncomfortably.
"Briefs did come off."
"No way."
"Kind of don't know what to do now."
"Take it from me, brother. The best advice I have is this—talk. If you like him, tell him. If you want to do things to his body again, tell him. It's the best way. Scratch that, it's the only way to move forward."
"Yeah, I won't be doing any of that. I leave in a couple of weeks to start pre-training. Which means…"
His face goes red, and I know exactly what it means. My up-to-now exclusively straight twin brother is going to spend the next few weeks hankering for my second-best friend's dick.
"Never say never,"
I say, chuckling to myself, looking back into the house filled with all the people I love, my husband, and our son.
"Life has a funny way of turning out how you least expect it."
He makes a pained groaning noise, and I smile some more.
I, for one, cannot wait to see how this turns out.