Epilogue
Two Months Later
“Thayer, we’re going to be late.”
Inwardly, I rolled my eyes at Qwill’s observation. Outwardly, I knew he was right. I’d taken way too fucking long getting ready for the dinner party, but I’d wanted to look nice. This gathering was a big deal and I wanted to make sure my outfit reflected the amount of respect I felt for the party.
“I know,” I sighed, glancing up to the front seat where Troian sat in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. “Troy, come on, do something.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault you couldn’t get your shit together.” Troian’s words might’ve held barbs if I hadn’t seen the smirk darkening his lips. “I’m going as fast as I can without drawing attention to any potential cops.”
I tried to settle down, leaning into Qwill as he draped an arm over my shoulders, pulling me closer to him as I shifted toward his chiseled body.
Despite my outcries, I was really excited for this dinner party.
It felt like our little community of friendship was growing, or at least expanding because I hadn’t properly met everyone that would be in attendance tonight.
Bas and Kroven were hosting, the former delighted to have people over now that he’d had enough time to make his mark on the shared space he had with Kroven now.
Also in attendance tonight was Bas’ boss, Babs, and her sangamar boyfriend, Exo.
Bas had run into them the day that I’d had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting the Rhodes twins.
No one had heard from Cheyenne and Casper since that day at the warehouse.
Troian kept me in the loop on what Madison told him.
Madison herself was in the process of moving down to Piper in an effort to be closer to her late son’s husband as well as to be further away from the chaos of her family.
Given my small experience with her family, I’d say she was making the best decision.
Exo wasn’t the only one from out of town attending the party either.
Even though he was currently living and working in D.C.
as a part of the ORBIT board, his boss Wallace Watson was also in town.
He was bringing his Orb boyfriend, Wrex.
The fact that all of the humans at this party had significant others that happened to be Orbs was fascinating to me.
Obviously I knew that Bas and Kroven were together, and I’d heard Bas talk about how he thought Babs was being hush hush about her relationship with Exo, but it warmed my heart to know that it was, at least in my little world, becoming less and less of a negative thing to be romantically involved with an Orb.
Troian was the only one without a date. I’d told him to bring Madison, but he’d declined to have her on his arm for the evening.
He said going stag suited him just fine, but I could tell that my brother longed to have a partner by his side again.
He just wasn’t ready after Alec. But I hoped for him that the day would come that he was able to find love again.
Taking an available spot from the street parking outside of Bas and Kroven’s house, Troian parked the car with haste.
I smoothed my hands over the lime green shirt I had underneath the dark green blazer and matching slacks I donned before stepping out of the car.
Qwill followed me, stepping out onto the sidewalk.
I was glad I was able to convince him to wear something a little outside his comfort zone.
I swore, if it was up to that man, he’d only wear a black t-shirt and one of the many cutoff black shorts he’d sheared himself.
At least tonight he was wearing a black button up paired with a pair of black slacks he’d borrowed from Troian.
At least he had the virces jewel as an accessory, but he needed more options than that.
I was determined to shower my boyfriend with a shopping spree, assuming he wouldn’t just reach for more black shirts and shorts.
I didn’t realize how nervous I was until the three of us strode up the steps that proceeded the little cobblestone house that my best friend and his boyfriend called home.
It must have been pretty obvious, because as Troian knocked on the door lightly, I felt Qwill’s hand slither into mine, our fingers intertwining without question.
Staring into his golden eyes, I matched the smile he wore.
Even though I wasn’t known for being out of sorts very often, he had a tendency to calm me.
The door opened before I could thank him, visions of Bas and Kroven filling my field of view.
“It’s about time,” Bas scoffed, looking beyond Troian and staring daggers right at me. “What took you so long?”
“I wanted to look nice.” I shrugged, looking down at my outfit. I thought I’d done pretty well, considering how many times I had changed clothes before settling on my current attire.
“Well, we’re happy to have you.” Kroven grinned, eyes bright red from his recent consumption, breaking from Bas so that we could peer inside. “You’re the last to arrive.”
Stepping inside their house felt like a true glimpse into what it was like to experience Bas and Kroven as a couple.
I knew that Kroven had lived here alone before meeting him, but you could feel Bas’ influence throughout the house.
He’d told me Kroven’s proclivity for red and white, so seeing the splashes of color in the cushions laying on the couch and the artwork of various animals and landscapes and fandom memorabilia made it easy to decipher how Bas had put himself into the joint living space.
Refreshments in the form of pizza and various beverages were set out on the kitchen bar that separated the kitchen and the living space, where a gorgeous black woman wearing white, knowing she was the infamous Babs, stood next to a beefed up sangamar that I knew had to be Exo.
Looking at Kroven, it was kind of hard to believe that they were of the same species.
Where Kroven was tall and lean, Exo was all muscle and tailored joints.
He was completely shirtless, showing off his muscular prowess while also wearing a pair of really nice pants.
I guess I worried about the dress code for nothing, but I had to wonder how Bas felt about Exo’s no shirt policy.
Sitting on the couch, laughing together innocently was the politically inclined Wallace Watson that I’d heard more about on the news than from personal entanglements.
He was doing amazing things by giving a voice to the voiceless Orbs by the creation of the ORBIT board in D.C.
Next to him was a handsome Orb with grey skin that looked like it was carved out of marble or something.
His piercing blue eyes were beautiful and striking.
He was wearing a gorgeous pale pink suit that played well off of the navy one Wallace was wearing.
After laughing, he leaned over and kissed Wallace with ease.
I smiled. It was so nice to see another interspecies couple showing affection so readily.
Bas walked us over to the couch first, gesturing toward Wallace and his boyfriend.
“This is Wallace Watson and his boyfriend Wrex,” Bas explained as the pair on the couch stood upon my best friend’s decree. “They live in D.C. and work at the Capitol on the ORBIT board.”
“Well, Wallace does.” Wrex explained, extending a hand for us to shake, one I reciprocated after my brother and Qwill did their respective greetings. “I’m just the boyfriend. But my brother works on the board with him.”
Bas just nodded. “And this is my best friend Thayer, his twin brother Troian, and Qwill, one of Kroven and Exo’s close friends, who’s dating Thayer.”
“Ooh, another human Orb pairing.” Wallace grinned. “I love to see it.”
“Congratulations.” Wrex smiled in agreement.
Troian excused himself after uttering a few more pleasantries. I followed his trek toward the adorable grey cat that was bounding all over the opposite furniture from where Wallace and Wrex had sat. I inwardly giggled when I saw the cat immediately rub their body against Troian’s outstretched arm.
We all told Wallace and Wrex how nice it was to meet them as Kroven sat down to join them on the couch. Bas directed us to the last pair we needed to be introduced to.
“And this is my boss, Babs Jillian, and her boyfriend, Exo. He works on the ORBIT board with Wallace.” He paused to turn toward us, pointing at each of us as he differentiated who was who. “This is my bestie Thayer, his twin Troian, and Thayer’s boyfriend Qwill.”
Recognition blared throughout my nervous system, realizing that this couple was the same pair that Bas had seen on the street right before I’d been taken by the Rhodes twins.
He’d been so giddy to see them together, so I did my best to mirror the smile he’d been wearing that day at their attendance here.
“Nice to meet you.” Exo did a half nod, half bow gesture that was really endearing.
“I recognize you from coming around the blood center,” Babs said to me cheerfully.
“It’s nice to put a name to the face. Bas has talked about you a lot.
” Babs’ knowing eyes glanced over me and then Qwill and back again, and I had a feeling I knew what was about to come barreling out of her lips.
“I could have sworn he mentioned you were straight though.”
Feeling confirmed.
“I thought I was,” I told her, stealing a glance at my handsome as fuck boyfriend, squeezing his hand tight and relishing in the smile spreading across his face as he squeezed back. “But I didn’t know what I’d been missing until I met Qwill.”
“Aww.” Babs titled her head, regarding us with sincere eyes. She placed a hand on Exo’s pec. “That’s so beautiful.”
“He is beautiful, isn’t he?” Qwill interjected and I felt heat flood to my cheeks. Not stopping there, he leaned forward and kissed my cheek like the adorable little love ball he was.
“You two are so cute.” Bas said. “Not as cute as Kroven and I, but pretty damn close.”
When Bas turned back to Babs and Exo to speak again, I turned to start conversing with Qwill but before I could initiate the conversation, the entire room went on high alert as a shrill shriek left my best friend’s mouth.
All eyes flew to him, and Kroven was up and off the couch and standing next to his love in seconds, red eyes shining with concern.
“What is it, blomsjett?”
Bas stared open mouthed, pointing to where Babs’ left hand rested on Exo’s pec still. Now that my attention was diverted there, I noticed with wide eyes what he must have been squealing about. Babs was sporting a sizable diamond ring, one that had gone unnoticed until now.
“Holy shit!” Bas said with utter joy. “Are you guys…”
“I told you not to wear it.” Exo leaned over to her, but his voice was above a whisper, an unmistakable smile unwavering on his handsome face. “Tonight isn’t about us, it’s about getting everyone together for the first time.”
“Oh, fuck the party!” Bas said excitedly, jumping up and down before he eliminated the space holding him and Babs apart, asking if he could see the ring up close. When she obliged, Bas was breathing heavy. “Wow, Exo, you did an amazing job.”
“Don’t get it twisted, baby. I picked this out. Exo just paid for it.” Babs laughed. “You think I’m gonna let a man pick out my dream ring? I don’t think so.”
“Well this is amazing! We have to celebrate!” Turning toward Kroven, Bas gave him a pierced look paired with a pointed index finger. “I told you the champagne would come in handy.”
“Right as usual, blomsjett.” Kroven smiled, taking his boyfriend’s jabs in stride. “I’ll get the glasses.”
Bas broke away from the group to help Kroven acquire and serve the newly discovered libations.
I steeled myself, putting on a genuine smile to Babs.
I didn’t know her very well, only having heard stories involving her through Bas, but I wanted the best for anyone that could see the beauty in romantically pursuing an Orb.
“Congrats.” I said to her, smiling wide.
“Thank you.” She accepted my smile as praise enough, Wallace and Wrex joining us by the bar in preparation for the aforementioned champagne. “Who knows, maybe you and Qwill will be next.”
I hadn’t even thought about marriage. Really ever.
Before when I’d been dating women, it’d never crossed my mind because I had never stayed in a relationship long enough to even remotely consider that as an option.
But as I stared into Qwill’s eyes, loving how handsome he looked as he too mulled over Babs’ loose inquiry, I could see the bright future we could have together bubbling up to the surface.
Qwill pulled me closer to him, melding against his chest in the effortless way I always did, seemingly to fit perfectly within his arms.
“Who knows,” Qwill echoed, shrugging as he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss along my jaw before staring into my dark eyes. Emotion welled within me as I stared into his golden eyes that spoke of the forever we could have together. “Maybe we will be.”