Epilogue
OZ
The one thing he hadn’t expected from these therapy sessions was the feeling in his body almost like he had the flu. He walked away achy, exhausted, and sore. He knew the reality of the phrase “feels like I got hit by a bus” a little too intimately and realistically, but it was actually true.
It reminded him of the long recovery he’d made after the accident.
And just like after the accident, the pain in his body was because he was healing. His intake assessment had gone well, and the practice had two Deaf trauma therapists, which not only allowed Oz to express himself in the language that came most naturally to him, but it also dug deep and tore open the scabs hiding all of his tender wounds.
He knew it was going to get worse before it got better, and he was making progress. His first thoughts were no longer about what he’d done wrong or what he didn’t deserve. He was starting to believe that not only did he deserve Ridge but that Ridge was lucky to have him.
That had come with a startled feeling that followed him around all day. He eventually confessed it to his boyfriend, who simply smiled, then pinned Oz on his stomach and ate him out, toying with his cock and edging him into an almost literal oblivion. It had been the best orgasm of his life to date, though he knew there was so much more to come.
He had bad days too though. Days when the therapy pushed a little too hard and a little too far. Days when he couldn’t control his anger. He’d snap at Ridge. He’d snap at his friends. Then he’d lock himself in his condo and ignore his phone until the next morning when all the guilt would come rushing to the surface.
They fought a few times. Ridge was patient and understanding, but he was also sensitive. He did his best to not take things personally, but Oz had learned how to be cutting and cruel from the best. Sometimes he hurt Ridge. Badly.
But he was getting better at compartmentalizing. At asking for space. For trusting that Ridge would give it to him without some sort of consequence or punishment.
Warm, open arms and laughter were always waiting for him when he came through it, and that was the one thing that kept him going and fed that flicker of hope in his chest.
Today had been a hard day but not a particularly painful one. He’d cried from joy after realizing that he could and would be cherished. They’d had a long talk about the concept of unconditional love, and Serena had validated him when he said he didn’t believe in it.
‘There have to be conditions, right?’ he asked, frowning. ‘Without conditions, someone can treat you terribly, and you’re expected to just…take it. To love them anyway, no matter how much hurt they cause.’
She smiled at him and nodded as he worked through it.
‘Even with family. Blood shouldn’t mean we have to take abuse. Blood shouldn’t mean someone’s entitled to my love and support no matter how they treat me.’
‘The only person who can come close to unconditional love is yourself,’ she told him. ‘Because even if you’re a bad person, you know deep down what it’ll take to change that. But the spirit of that kind of love—the kind that says I am here to take you as you are and stay with you as you grow—that is what you want to take with you going forward in your relationships. Not just the romantic ones,’ she added.
He understood that better now that he’d let himself really get to know the guys. And the more he let them get to know him. Things were still a little strained between him and Frey, but he knew Frey was still working through everything.
It had been six months since the incident. Rex had been evaluated and given an ADHD diagnosis, and Oz knew damn well that Frey was beating himself up about not realizing sooner. But he was doing great with his new meds and his therapy.
He and Oz were back to their old routine, and Oz couldn’t be happier.
Well, he supposed he could be. But he knew that would come with time.
Turning the corner, Oz saw the café come into view. Frey was there, sitting in the window. He brightened when he saw Oz, half standing as he waved. Oz laughed as he slipped in through the door and skipped the ordering counter to meet his friend.
Frey grinned, winking the way he always did right before embracing him, then kissed Oz on the temple before pulling out of their hug. ‘How are you?’
‘Rough,’ Oz admitted. ‘Just got out of therapy.’
Frey looked startled. ‘Do you want to postpone?’
Oz waved him off. ‘It wasn’t a bad session. We talked a lot about friendship today, and I realized I owe you and everyone an apology.’
Frey looked entirely confused. ‘Why?’
‘Because it wasn’t fair of me to try and end friendships before they started because I was afraid.’
Frey rolled his eyes as he sat back in his chair. ‘You didn’t know we wouldn’t be like everyone else in your life. I don’t think anyone took it personally.’
‘Ridge,’ Oz couldn’t help but sign.
Bursting into laughter, Frey leaned forward, pressing his chest against the table. ‘That’s because he was in love with you, and he thought you were straight and that you hated him.’
It was the hated him part that bothered Oz. Almost everyone assumed he was straight, and he had no regrets about that. He hadn’t been ready to come out. He’d never begrudge himself the time it took to be ready for that.
But the fact that he made the people in his life think he didn’t want them around hurt.
‘I also want to clear the air about the car accident,’ Oz said, diving right into his list of amends he had decided to make.
Frey went pale. ‘Right. Yeah. I figured you’d be working through that?—’
‘I need you to please accept my responsibility in not watching Rex as close as I should have. I knew he was wound up that day. I should not have let him go. I shouldn’t have looked down at my phone for even a second. That text could have waited. And while none of us knew he had ADHD, we knew how he could get. But I was distracted, and I’m sorry.’
Frey swallowed heavily, glancing off to the side for a beat. When he looked back at Oz, his face was…different. More accepting, maybe, than it had been when they’d tried to talk about this before. ‘Do you think I’m a terrible father?’
Oz blinked. ‘What?’
‘There were so many signs, Oz. So many signs. I missed all of them.’ Frey’s hands were shaking. ‘I’m a nurse. My husband is a doctor. But we missed everything. We thought he was kind of a wild kid. We thought his hyperfixation was him being passionate. Now they want to evaluate him for autism too, and the moment his therapist said that, I realized I could see all the signs.’
Oz reached out and took both of Frey’s hands into his, holding them gently for a long beat. When he saw Frey’s shoulders relax a fraction, he pulled back. ‘I think you are one of the best dads I have ever met. And not only because you’re my friend,’ he added before Frey could try and justify that. ‘I haven’t been teaching long, but I have seen parents who are like my own. Parents who are in willing denial about their children. I was raised in that kind of home. You didn’t see those signs because you loved and accepted Rex for who he is.’
Frey swallowed thickly. “Oh,” Oz read off his lips.
He smiled. ‘It’s good to know now. Now he can get whatever help he needs to make his daily life easy, but you’re not going into this to fix him because you never thought he was broken.’
Frey’s eyes went red and shiny. ‘No. He’s not broken. No one is broken. Well, maybe your parents.’
Oz laughed, his throat a little thick. ‘Maybe them. But I’m unlearning to think that about myself, and it makes me happy that Rex will never have to do that. I don’t think you’re a bad father. And I’m sorry if I made that harder.’
‘You’ve made everything so much easier. You gave him a connection to his community that I couldn’t. You’re family.’
Oz watched his hands, both shaped into an F, starting together, then circling around to meet again. It was one of the most fitting signs there was. A complete circle. And he had one now. ‘I should get some coffee.’
‘Yeah. Give me a minute to process all these feelings. I did not come here today for this,’ Frey accused.
Oz laughed. ‘Sorry. But I have no regrets.’
Frey grinned at him as he stood. ‘Don’t worry. Me either.’
Oz was late getting home. Home meaning Ridge’s place. They hadn’t yet decided what they wanted to do when it came to their living situation. Both of them had enough room for Ina if they decided to make the move-in official, but neither of them was in a hurry either.
They spent most nights together in one place or another. His own had started to collect toys and clothes that didn’t belong to him, and Ridge’s had half a closet and a few drawers full of Oz’s work and weekend stuff. He had a pair of house shoes at each door and running shoes at Ridge’s so they could go on evening walks with Ina to let her burn off some of her energy.
It felt good. It felt like he belonged anywhere he went.
Ina was going with Adele and Gage that night though. They were hosting a sleepover at Lane’s for all the little ones, which meant that Oz and Ridge would have time for themselves. Of course, they weren’t lacking in the sex department.
Ina slept like the dead, and being that she was totally Deaf, she was never woken up by whatever sounds they wanted to make. But sometimes it was nice not watching the door handle twist in case of an emergency or constantly being hyperalert in case she needed them.
And he had plans—big plans—to show Ridge how grateful he was to have met him.
He walked in through the front door, thrilled when a tiny body slammed into him. He picked Ina up and kissed her forehead before hitching her on his hip. ‘Daddy where?’
She pointed at the kitchen, so he headed through the little alcove and found Ridge bending over in front of the fridge. His ass was round and tight, and it was only not wanting to traumatize his daughter for life that he refrained from groping him.
Ridge turned after a second, grinning as he slowly rose. ‘Hey, baby. You just get in?’
Oz nodded and bounced Ina until she laughed. ‘Someone met me at the door. I was hoping she’d still be here when I got in.’
‘I see Gage tonight!’ she signed excitedly.
‘Yep. And you’ll be a very good girl, yes?’
‘No!’
Ridge growled and lunged, tickling her until she was squirming. ‘Yes?’
She gave him a look, then signed, ‘No!’ before wriggling out of Oz’s arms and taking off down the hallway.
Oz grinned as Ridge rolled his eyes, then yanked him close by his belt loops. ‘Hi,’ he mouthed, then dove in for a kiss. Oz let it linger for a bit before pulling away.
‘What time is Adele here?’
As if on cue, the lights flickered to let them know someone was at the door. Ridge kissed him again. ‘He’ll let himself in.’
A few moments later, Adele and Gage appeared in the doorway, Gage holding Ina. She had her little backpack on and her sunglasses pushing her hair haphazardly back away from her forehead. Oz’s heart twisted in his chest. She was starting to feel a little bit like his.
Adele gave Ridge a fist bump, but he dragged Oz in for a hug, which wasn’t entirely surprising, but it felt different this time. When Adele pulled back, he swallowed heavily. ‘Frey called me after you left the café. He told me what you said.’
Sappy bastard , Oz thought. But he understood. He couldn’t imagine what Frey had been going through the last few months, and he knew how validating it was to hear someone soothe all those ugly, dark thoughts that rarely let up.
‘I meant it.’
‘I know.’ Adele hugged him again. ‘I’m glad we all met you.’
Oz hugged back, then stepped close to Ridge as he and Gage finished talking about anything Ina needed. There was another round of hugs and kisses, and then Gage followed Adele out the door with Ina still in his arms.
After a beat, Ridge pulled Oz close again. ‘Gage looks a little better, don’t you think?’
Oz hadn’t been paying attention, but he had noticed a few days back that he didn’t look so full of grief. But he didn’t want to talk about Gage. Or Adele. Or anyone else. So he nodded, but then he spun Ridge and pinned him to the counter.
“Oh,” Ridge said aloud.
Behind him, Oz’s CIs were in their case. He had been struggling to wear them ever since his sister had tried to force them on, but right then, he wanted to hear all of Ridge’s noises. He snagged them and watched Ridge’s eyes go wide as he put them on.
He was sensitive to sound after keeping them off for so long. He hummed in the back of his throat, then said, “Bedroom?”
Ridge nodded his fist. ‘Yeah. Let’s go.’
Their fingers tangled together, and he led Ridge lead the way. The room was dark and quiet. The fan was off, and the window was only open a small crack. It was lit only with the hazy glow of the late afternoon, but somehow, it was perfect.
Tugging on Ridge’s hand, Oz led him to the bed, then spun him and pushed down on his shoulders. He sat with a little laugh, then spread his thighs, making enough room for Oz to kneel between them. And when Oz did, Ridge let out a soft groan and cupped his cheek.
“What’s happening right now?”
“Appreciation,” Oz said.
Ridge’s face went blank. “You don’t need to do this.”
Oz chuckled under his breath and shook his head. He pressed his hands to the tops of Ridge’s thighs and looked him in the eye. “I know. But I want to. I need you to know that I’m yours, Ridge. All of me. You are my forever person. Whatever that looks like in the future—we can figure that out together. But I need to know you understand that and believe me.”
Ridge swallowed thickly. “Therapy went well?”
Oz snorted and moved his hands up so they were cupped around Ridge’s hips. “Therapy made me realize how far I was holding people away from me. How high I’d built the wall when all I really wanted was for someone to send it crashing down. And you did that. And I love you.”
Ridge stared, then lifted his hand in the three-fingered sign that made Oz shiver every time he saw it. ‘I love you.’
“Kiss me.”
Ridge did. He shoved his fingers in the back of Oz’s hair, holding him in a firm grip as he devoured his mouth. He tasted like coffee and chocolate. Oz’s toes curled, and his cock thickened.
“I want you in my mouth,” Oz said when he pulled back. He hadn’t done that yet. He hadn’t felt brave enough. But tonight, that was how he needed it. “I want you to guide me. Show me how to be good for you.”
Ridge groaned softly, then spread his legs wider. “Unzip me.”
Oz did. His fingers fumbled a little, but it didn’t take long before he had the button and zipper undone. He had a lot of practice at that, at least. Ridge lifted his ass, and Oz shimmied his jeans down until they were pooled at his feet, and then Ridge kicked them away. His boxers were loose and tented with his hard dick.
“Take me out and hold me.”
Oz held his breath as he pulled Ridge’s cock out from the slit, then curled his palm around it. He was so thick and so warm.
“Kiss it. Kiss the tip. Be gentle and use your tongue.”
Closing his eyes, Oz leaned in. He took in a deep breath of Ridge’s scent—the musk, the heat, the hint of soap left from his shower. Parting his lips a little, he fixed them over the slit, then touched it with his tongue. He’d never been able to pick up the sound of kissing, but it must have made noise because Ridge groaned when Oz sucked gently.
“Like that. Fuck, baby. You are so good. I’m not going to be able to last.” Ridge tugged on Oz’s hair lightly until Oz pulled back. He traced his lips with his thumb, then pushed it inside and rested it against his tongue. “Where do you want me to come?”
Oz wasn’t sure he was ready to have it in his mouth, but he had another idea. He pulled back, dislodging Ridge’s grip on him, but only so he could remove his shirt. He took his finger and traced a line from his throat to his sternum.
“There?”
Oz nodded.
Ridge gripped his hair again. “This still okay?”
‘Yes,’ Oz signed.
Ridge’s swallow got caught in his throat, and he cleared it. “Open your mouth and stick your tongue out. When I push inside, block your teeth with your lips. Can you do that?”
Oz nodded. It was easy to obey. It was easy to lose himself in the cadence of Ridge’s voice. It was such a rich, low rumble that Oz could pick up better than anyone he’d met before. It was like Ridge was made for him.
And the taste when the head of his cock touched his tongue was even better than he imagined. It was heavy and spongey and strange, and yet, he couldn’t seem to get enough. He let Ridge guide him, a gentle thrusting at first, and then he began to pick up speed.
He moved his hand from Oz’s hair to his jaw, holding it with both hands, and he guided Oz’s head in a slow, steady rhythm. Oz kept his eyes shut to prevent himself from getting dizzy, and he got lost in the sensation of taking that cock right toward the back of his tongue.
Ridge never went too far, never made him gag. But Oz thought maybe he’d like to try that next. There were so many things on his list. And now, he had forever to check them all off.
“Good, good boy,” Ridge grunted. “Fuck me. You’re so fucking hot, baby. I’m so in love with you.”
Oz hummed his agreement, and Ridge’s cock swelled. He was close. Oz could sense it. He sucked a little harder, and Ridge began to shake.
“I’m gonna pull out now, okay. Take out your cock and stroke it for me, baby. Come with me.”
Oz’s hands fumbled almost frantically to pull his dick out. He began stroking so hard, so fast, that his elbow instantly started aching.
“Fuck, fuck. I love watching you.” Ridge pulled out, then gripped his dick in one hand, and with his other, he guided Oz’s head to the side. His thighs spread even more, and then he tugged on Oz’s hair. “Lick my balls, baby. Lick them while I get off.”
Oz shivered at the command, and he lowered his head, running his tongue over rough skin and coarse hair. They were heavy and fat, and he wanted to take them in his mouth, but before he could try, Ridge yanked him back and thrust his cock against Oz’s throat.
His hand flew over his dick, and right as Oz inhaled, come splattered over his neck and chest. It was the hot, wet sensation that sent him over the edge. His vision whited out, and his hips spasmed into his fist. His cock throbbed and spilled, dribbling over his knuckles as he eased himself through the aftershocks.
He came to with his face plastered against Ridge’s thigh and tender fingers running through his hair.
“Holy shit,” Ridge said, his voice thready.
Oz couldn’t help a laugh as he turned his face to get some air. “Mmm.” He couldn’t speak.
“You are so fucking perfect. Jesus. Come up here, baby. Get on the bed. Let me clean us up.”
Oz had no idea how Ridge was always so composed after, but he had a feeling it had something to do with his caregiving nature. He was never happier than when he was spoiling the people he loved most, and Oz felt particularly adored as Ridge peeled the rest of his clothes off and spread him on top of the sheets.
He walked off for a beat, returning with a warm cloth that smelled like basil hand soap, and he cleared away the mess as best he could. When he was done, he crawled up on the bed and curled his body around Oz’s, kissing the back of his neck.
“Did you mean what you said?”
“Mm?” Oz hummed.
“Forever. That I’m your forever. Because you’re mine. I think I knew it even when you were pretending not to like me.”
Oz flushed, but he was done apologizing for that. It was time to move on. He knew the teasing didn’t mean Ridge hadn’t forgiven him. In fact, it was the opposite. Ridge felt comfortable enough, he knew deep down in his soul that Oz wasn’t going anywhere.
He was safe.
They both were.
This was the start, and someday, if he ever found his faith again, he’d know there was no ending. This was destined.
Fated.
“Kiss me,” Oz said.
Ridge gently turned him and did as he asked. When he pulled back, he cradled Oz’s jaw one more time. “I want to marry you. I want to have another baby.”
Oz felt his eyes go hot. “Yeah?”
“If you want. Only if you want.”
Oz couldn’t give an answer then, but the way Ridge held him tighter told him that he’d read it off Oz’s face. He didn’t need to say the words. Deep down, he knew everything Ridge wanted was right.
The End
The Single Dads will be back late summer of 2025 with Luca’s happily ever after.
What happens when a grumpy health inspector who has no filter and no life decides that his neighbor—who also happens to run his favorite food truck—is his newest fixation?
For Lucas, he’s on his journey to both learn how to trust and to finally lose his virginity. For Frankie, it means allowing himself to be vulnerable for the first time ever, even if that means risking everything he holds dear.
Winning You: Words We Never Said Book Seven- Preorder coming soon.