Chapter 32 Jett - Epilogue
Jett - Epilogue
Six months later
“Uncle Je–ett!” Mason whines, his voice muffled from inside the tent. “Kitty won’t stay inside!”
I yell back from the kitchen, where I’m making popcorn for movie night. “Kitty is an animal, and remember, we can’t make her do stuff.” I snort at the memory of Mia suggesting we get one of those baby carriers so she could strap Kitty against her chest. I vetoed that.
“Ugh!” Mason groans. “Owie, now she scratched me.” I can tell my nephew is close to losing it, since his voice has a shrill edge to it.
“Wes?” I call out. Where the hell is he?
He’s been ages setting up his famous home movie theatre à la Uncle Wes.
We’re watching Paddington 2, Mia’s choice.
Janelle and Owen dropped the kids off earlier today before going to a romantic winery outside Eugene.
I’m already wiped out. Why did I agree to this when I could be balls deep in my hot boyfriend right now? Oh, right, uncle duties.
“What’s up?” Wes walks into the kitchen, smirking, and I can’t help laughing when I see the T-shirt he’s changed into.
“Cute.” I nod at the front that says I’m not gay, but my boyfriend is, then pull him in by the neck, kissing him slow and deep.
“Mmmmhhhh,” he hums against my lips, melting into me. “Movie’s all ready to go. Our arsenal of fluffy blankets is lined up and Pooh and Tigger have front row tickets.”
“My perfect boyfriend,” I swoon, then tweak his ass through his basketball shorts. We gave Mia and Mason the two stuffed animals for Christmas, and they bring them everywhere, especially for sleepovers at Uncle Jared and Uncle Wes’ place.
Yep, our place. In February, we decided I should give up my apartment and move upstairs with Wes.
I was there most of the time anyway, and to be honest, my apartment never felt like a real home.
It also allows us to use the money we saved to help Evie out with the medical bills.
Wes, of course, refused to accept it initially, claiming it wasn’t my weight to carry and that he was managing just fine.
Then I reminded him—using my mouth, my hands, and my dick—that we’re a team now and that Evie is my family too. He couldn’t argue against that.
Then came Kitty. Who would’ve thought that I not only have the most amazing live-in boyfriend but also a pet?
Some days, when I wake up, it still blows my mind that this is my life now.
Then the anxiety sets in, not like it used to, just a slight flutter.
It’s not connected to one specific thing, but more the sum of everything I have and can potentially lose.
It’s irrational, I know, but it usually happens when I’ve been working too much and not getting enough sleep.
Then Wes is right there to remind me that I deserve this amazing life.
All of it. And when I’m in his arms, I believe it. I believe him.
The microwave pings, and the smell of popcorn fills the kitchen. I empty the bag into a large bowl, and Wes snatches one right away and pops it into his mouth.
“Dork,” I chuckle, and he blows me a kiss. Grabbing the bowl from the counter, he nods at the fridge. “Get the strawberry lemonade, will you, babe?”
I grab it and then follow him into the living room.
Mia and Mason have emerged from their tent and are now sitting in the middle of the couch under a fluffy blanket, Tigger and Pooh clutched against their chests.
There’s no sign of Kitty, so she probably made her great escape, hiding away in our bedroom.
Mia and Mason giggle loudly when Wes pretends to sit on them. They wiggle away from him and make room between themselves. He sits with a loud groan, then hums, “King of the castle.” I snort at his antics, then pour us all a glass of the sugary sweet lemonade the kids are addicted to.
“Babe, c’mon,” Wes gestures at the space on the floor between his legs.
“The movie’s about to start.” I drop between his spread legs and lean against the couch, Wes’ legs on each side of me, cocooning me with their warmth and familiar pressure.
The hair on his legs is soft against my cheek as I lean against him.
His fingers find my head instantly, absentmindedly caressing my scalp while we watch the movie.
Occasionally, he leans down and presses a quick kiss against the top of my head.
I feel safe and cherished with my favorite people here, the kids squealing loudly whenever Paddington does something funny, then ooohing and aaahing when something cute happens.
When the movie’s over, Mia and Mason erupt into a simultaneous “One more, pleeease.” While I’m the good cop, suggesting we can start another movie, then watch the rest in the morning, Wes is always the bad cop, which I’m secretly grateful for.
“Nope!” he exclaims. “Time for bed. Let’s go brush those Dracula teeth.” The kids complain half-heartedly, then perk up when Wes tells them they get story time if they hurry.
They huddle inside the tent with their stuffed animals and blankets.
It was Wes’ idea with the tent, and the kids love it.
It’s kind of like a tipi, made from navy-blue fabric with yellow and white stars and moons on it.
Inside, Wes has strung small lights to make it nice and cozy.
There are two mattresses on the floor, not the inflatable ones, but two actual mattresses.
When I told him he was amazing for doing this, he claimed it was for his own selfish reasons and that he just wanted our bed to be a kid-free zone.
The truth is, he spends just as much time inside the tent as Mia and Mason do when they’re here.
“I’ll go clean up,” I whisper against his lips. “Don’t let them talk you into a read-a-thon.”
He smiles. “I won’t. I’ll be right out.”
I pick up the living room, listening to Wes’ low hum as he reads, his voice lowering into a low rumble at times when he mimics a troll, then an ear-piercing squeal when he’s the princess in distress.
The kids laugh, then beg Wes for another story, and I groan internally when he relents and reads one more.
I find Kitty under our bed and manage to coax her out.
She’s white and fluffy with piercing yellow eyes.
I cradle her against my chest and bury my face in her soft fur.
I never thought I’d be a pet person, but I guess there are a lot of things I didn’t think I’d be.
Happy, content, in love. Living with my boyfriend.
Having a job I love. I don’t know if I’ll ever be completely at peace with my past, but at this point, I’m okay with that.
Wes has become my rock. He pulls me out of my head with his easy smiles and generous touches.
He drags me out of bed for a run on the days when I don’t feel like facing the world.
He reminds me that there’s a whole world out there and that it’s wonderful for the most part.
I put Kitty on the bed, then get ready to turn in. I lie down, and as I wait for Wes, I check my phone and notice I’ve got a text from Mike.
Mike: Look what Dennis and I caught!
There’s a picture of a beaming Dennis, holding up two large halibuts.
Mike: We’re saving them for when you guys come down, and then we’ll grill them.
Mike and I have become pretty good friends.
His personality is similar to mine, and in many ways, he gets me.
He lost his dad when he was thirteen, and although it’s not the same, I’ve lost my dad too.
I haven’t heard from him since that day at my sister’s place when I finally stood up to him.
My mom has called a couple of times, trying to smooth things over with her ‘boys will be boys’ approach, but I’m done.
I’m not saying I wouldn’t forgive my dad if he were truly genuine and wanted to change, but at this point, I’m not holding my breath.
I shoot back a text.
Me: Looks good! Can’t wait.
Mike: How’s the sleepover going?
Me: Wes is in his true element.
Mike: Of course he is.
Me: Any news from the agency?
Mike: Not yet, but I have a good feeling about this summer.
I smile. I can’t wait to see Mike and Dennis as parents, and I hope it’ll happen soon.
Me: Me too. Say hi to Dennis for me.
Mike: Will do. Talk soon.
I yawn, stretching in bed, and Kitty jumps at my feet. I wiggle my toes, and she digs her claws into my socks. I play with her for a little while, then I go look for my man.
The living room is quiet. Too quiet. I crouch in front of the tent, then climb inside. Wes is in the middle, Mia on one side, her arm slung over his chest, Mason is glued to his other side, Tigger in his arms. They’re all snoring softly, the book resting on Wes’ chest.
A slow smile spreads across my face as I take them in.
Wes’ face is relaxed, his lips curled into a cute pout.
He’s so beautiful. My heart tightens at how grateful I am for this man who turned my life upside down.
I fought him so hard in the beginning, but every morning I wake up so fucking grateful he didn’t give up on me.
That he persisted and insisted that we belong together, because we do.
He makes me wish for things I didn’t think I could have, like marriage and a family of my own one day.
I hope that together we’ll be the kind of fathers that neither of us had growing up. Present, caring, selfless.
I grab a blanket and place it over Wes and the kids, tucking them in.
Then I lie down next to Mia. I reach over her sleeping form and find Wes’ hand on top of his chest, still holding the book.
I carefully take it from his hold, and he mumbles something unintelligible in his sleep.
I place the book behind me, then link my fingers with his.
He’s so warm and soft. His fingers squeeze around mine, but he doesn’t wake.
“I love you,” I whisper, then close my eyes. My body grows heavy, and the stillness surrounds me, the occasional snore breaking through the quiet. Then I drift off to sleep, everything I need, love, and could ever want tucked safely inside a small tipi.