Epilogue #3
“I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong,” I said softly. “You just want different things. There are plenty of people who want what you want. I mean, what are the odds you’d be the only one?”
She laughed lightly, looking up again. “I suppose they’re slim.”
“Someone out there is waiting for her lawyer in a power suit to come along and whisk her off to balls in fancy dresses, spoil her and make her feel like a princess.”
She was quiet for a long time before she pushed off from the railing. “Part of me wants to say that’s silly,” she said. “But even if it were, what’s the harm in believing? You know… I’m glad you came here, Alyssa. And that you stayed. You and Jade are good for each other.”
“Ah.” I ducked my head, blushing a little. “She’s really wonderful… every day I’m still amazed this is happening.”
“She feels the exact same way about you, dear. Don’t ever question that.” She smiled warmly at me. “Or else we’ll all have to track you down and kidnap you back to Paxton Ridge again. And we can’t have that. Have you seen how expensive gas is these days?”
“Oh, tell me about it. Fair point. Can’t be putting that on all of us.”
She laughed. “Enjoy your break, Alyssa. I’ll see you at the market on Sunday?”
“Absolutely! I’ll be there as Jade’s little helper, obviously.” I beamed at her. “See you then.”
I let myself let go for the rest of the party, relaxing and having a good time, together with my friends, my people.
Sat next to Jade in the gatherings, my head on her shoulder, and everyone addressed everything to the two of us, a little unit squished up together in the corner of the big blue couch at the back of the room.
And Cat—who sobered back up and returned to her normal levels of weirdness instead—fit in like she’d never left the place, laughing along with everybody, leaning and craning her neck to catch people’s lips or their signs.
She also spent the whole evening about six inches at most from Daniela. They made snarky comments at one another and playful pushes, and I kept my mouth shut along with everyone else there.
It was while I was closing out my tab at the end of the night that I got to bring it up, because Daniela sidled up next to me while Cat and Jade were finishing up the game they were playing—Jade always put up such a valiant effort even though Cat always won in the end, and Daniela and I had been wiped out long ago now.
She gave me a playful push on the shoulder, her eyes sparkling.
“Told you Pride was unmissable here.”
“You did! And I almost missed it by running away.”
She laughed, shaking her head as she held up her card for Kevin, signaling to close her tab too once he was done with mine. “You ever hear back from her again? Your mom, I mean.”
I let out a noise somewhere between a sigh and an exasperated sputter. “Kinda? She was mad at me for the whole scene I pulled with showing up and then disappearing, but she eventually came around and apologized, said she was happy if I was happy with Jade.”
“I still think she’s a little bitch.”
“Yeah, I know. You’ve said,” I laughed. “But if it weren’t for her, I’d have gone straight back to Sawyer, so…
I can’t be all mad. I don’t think I want to be in regular close contact with her, but…
I want her to know who I am. That I’m living happily in Vermont and happily dating a woman.
Maybe she’ll come visit at some point.” I paused.
“I’m not visiting Indiana. That place was so depressing. ”
“No kidding. I felt like I lost a few years of my life just driving through it. It’s a good thing Cat brought her Switch. Spent most of the drive decorating her Animal Crossing island together.”
I cleared my throat as my card went through and I put it away, turning with a polite smile to Daniela. “And have you, pray tell, been, um… decorating her island more since then?”
She scowled. “Just say outright what you’re asking.”
“Have you kissed her?”
“Kissed her, no.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What does that mean?”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said, waving me off, and I worried about it.
“What do you mean?”
“Ah, you’re so pushy. Honestly.” Her card cleared too, and she put it away, pushing off from the bar. “Well, come have dinner with us on Friday. Bring your girlfriend.”
“And call it a double date?”
“Jeez, don’t put thoughts into my head like that. I’m not getting my hopes up with her.”
“What do you mean, you’re not getting your hopes up, you’ve already—” I gestured, not wanting to say dry-humped her in public. She grinned, hands on her hips.
“Friday? Are you coming or not?”
“Jesus, you’re so slippery. Fine! We’ll be there.” I shoved her shoulder. “But don’t blame me for being pushy! You dragged me into this place and wouldn’t let me leave, so you’re stuck with me and have no one to blame for it but yourself!”
She laughed again, shaking her head as she headed for the exit. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. Have a good night. See you on Friday.”
“See you on Friday, you weirdo,” I said, mostly to myself, laughing and rolling my eyes as I leaned back against the wall. Jade and Cat caught up with me, and Cat hugged me.
“Thanks for all your help with the Pride events,” she said.
“Sober now?”
She stuck her tongue out. “Perfectly. I wasn’t that drunk then either. I just love my friends!”
She really loved one of them in particular. “Whatever you say, Cat.”
“Jerk,” she laughed. “I can count on you to help next year, too, right?”
I didn’t miss the subtext of the question. I smiled softly. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I said, adding on in sign, “I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiled wider, and she nudged Jade’s side. “Am I ever glad this one dragged you back. Always did have a thing for blonde damsels in distress.”
I snorted, and I took too long to put on a straight face. Jade narrowed her eyes. “What’s the inside joke making fun of me that I’m missing?”
“Nothing,” I said too quickly. Cat grinned.
“I told her about your first love.”
“I—” Jade pinched the bridge of her nose with both hands, face red. “I was four.”
“Four and already in love.”
“Catherine Amelia Brandt,” Jade said, signing the letters out in rapid succession, and Cat recoiled like Jade had offered her a tarantula.
“Ew. God. Put the government name away.” She put her hands up. “I’m sorry! I’ll keep your love for Princess Peach a dark secret!”
“You will if I strangle you to death,” Jade said, and I laughed, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Let’s let Cat be Cat.”
Jade could never be annoyed when I was involved. I was spoiled like that. She pouted. “Shall we get home?”
“Mm.” I batted my eyelashes at her. “And for the record, I’m glad you have a thing for blonde damsels in distress.”
She reddened, going to say something else before stopping, taking a long breath, and turning back to the door. “Well, let’s get back to the castle, then, Princess,” she said. Cat tugged my sleeve.
“What? What’d she say?”
I started signing it, getting halfway through before Jade waved me off.
“Do not tell her,” she said, but Cat had already pieced it together, doubling over laughing.
Jade forgave me by the time we got out to the car, though, judging by the way she tugged me across the center console before I could even shut the door and pulled me into a long, lingering kiss.
“Had a good night?” she said softly, her fingertips caressing along my cheek. I nodded.
“A really good one.”
She smiled wider, her forehead resting against mine. “Only just started.”
“I know. Daniela invited us and Cat around for dinner at her place on Friday, and Charlie wants to make sure we see each other at the market on Sunday.”
“I love you and your friendships and how much you get excited to spend time with your friends, darling, but I was coming onto you.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ. Right. Of course you were.” I hung my head, face hot. “That too. Yeah. We didn’t get enough dancing in tonight.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” She kissed me one more time before she put the car in reverse, and we listened to the rest of the album on the way back.
She didn’t waste any time once we were home—put on the music inside, slid the coffee table aside in her living room to clear the floor, and she took my hand and led me in a slow dance across the floor in the soft glow of the lights outside the window over the valley.
Her hand on my hip guided me, her hand clasped in mine leading me after her, and we moved in time as I gazed into her eyes, and I’d never felt anything like it before—nothing ever quite like this feeling like everything was just the way it was supposed to be, alongside the woman I loved.
And it had only just started, too. Wasn’t that the best part of it all?