Epilogue One
T he clang of the penitentiary doors shutting behind us echoes off the peeling white walls, each sound slamming into me like a punch. The air reeks of bleach and despair, every step I take feeling heavier, like I’m walking through quicksand.
Xed’s hand tightens in mine, his support keeping me from unraveling. It’s been a week now since the accident, and we’re both sleep-deprived and on edge. We’ve spent every night with Hannah between us, calming her from the nightmares she’s started having. We’ve got an appointment with her therapist next week, but the sight of my baby girl struggling and not being able to do a damn thing about it is breaking my heart, which is why we’re here.
I can’t let her go through something like this again. I won’t.
As we follow the correctional officer down the hallway, I focus on Xed’s warmth beside me, giving me strength.
Ahead of us, the officer pushes open a heavy door.
“She’s waiting for you inside,” he says flatly, motioning us forward before stepping away.
I pause momentarily, staring into the sterile meeting room where Valerie sits on the other side of a square table, dressed in a prison uniform. Honestly, she looks like shit. Sallow skin, hair dull and greasy. Detox must be rough .
Her face twists when she sees us holding hands, her nose wrinkling in disgust, and Xed’s fingers twitch against my palm.
“Never thought I’d compliment Val, but she looks good in orange,” he hisses beneath his breath. If it weren’t for the anxious nausea roiling in my gut, I probably would have cracked a smile.
When we draw closer, she leans back in her metal chair, eyeing us both coldly. “What the fuck do you two want?”
My jaw clenches, but I don’t let her get under my skin. Steeling myself, I take a deep breath and pull out a chair for Xed before sliding into the one next to him, causing Val to scoff.
“Well, isn’t that just cute?” She spits at Xed, saliva landing on the table between us. “Disgustingly adorable. Looks like you finally got him, after all.”
Stiffening defensively, I scoot closer to him, feeling protective. “We won’t be here long, just need you to sign a few things.”
Her smirk falters for a fraction of a second before she leans forward, cuffs clanking. “Sign what, exactly?”
Xed speaks before I can, grabbing my trembling hands beneath the table as he gets straight to the point. “Full custody of Hannah. We want you to sign over your parental rights.”
The smug look on her face vanishes as she gapes at us. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
“Dead serious.” I look her in the eye, letting every ounce of my anger show. “You put our daughter in danger, Valerie. Got behind the wheel high. Do you understand what could have happened? How much fucking worse it could have been besides a broken arm?”
Her gaze drops for a split second before she recovers. “Don’t act like you’re such a fucking saint. I’m not the one who gets violent and hits people. ”
I go rigid in my seat, fury making my blood boil because she’s talking about the night I hurt Xed while aiming for Devon. “That was an accident, and you know it—"
Xed cuts me off by squeezing my fingers gently. “We aren’t here to fight. Honestly, this is a no-brainer, which should be easy for you, Val. Hannah isn’t safe in your care.”
Valerie glares at him. “And she’s safe in yours ?”
“Yes,” he responds without hesitation. “I’ve been there for her every single day, and you haven’t. You’re the woman who almost got her killed. Twice, if you count the day she was born.”
“You think you’re better than me?” she snarls at him, lips curling back. “You’re just the rebound he needed to fuck when he couldn’t get it with me—"
“Look at where you are,” I grit out through clenched teeth, throwing my arms wide. “You’re in prison for child endangerment, Val. You almost killed our daughter, and this is what you want to fight about? Do you even care how she’s healing?”
Her eyes widen with outrage. “How dare you—"
With a frustrated growl, I slam my fist on the table. “I’m done being your punching bag. You’re the same selfish, manipulative woman who’s spent years tearing everyone around her apart. But this time, you didn’t just hurt me. You hurt Hannah. And you’re sitting here acting like you’re the victim. You’re not. You’re the problem! ”
Her lips thin, cracks starting to form in her armor. For once, she doesn’t have some vicious comeback locked and loaded, and I take advantage of it.
“You think you can control me from here? Keep holding Hannah and my career over my head like a weapon? No. You don’t get to call the shots. Not after what you’ve done. ”
Xed leans forward, his voice ice-cold as he hits her with a grim smile. “You lost, Valerie. You know it. No judge in the world will side with you after this shit.”
“You’re going to sign those papers,” I say, my voice dropping into a dangerous calm. “Not because I’m asking, but because you know you have no choice. Do the right thing for once in your goddamn life. Sign them.”
The room falls into heavy silence, tension thick enough to choke on.
Finally, she exhales sharply and slaps her palms on the table, glaring at me with pure hatred. “Fine. I’ll sign your damn papers. But don’t think for a second that this is over.”
“It is for you.” Getting to my feet, I stride toward the door, knocking for the guard. “You’re not part of our lives anymore, Val. Not mine. Not Hannah’s. You can keep your threats. They don’t scare me anymore.”
The correctional officer returns with the paperwork, and Xed places it on the table, pushing a pen toward her. She snatches it up, scribbling her name with enough force to tear the paper beneath it.
But I don’t care.
It doesn’t matter that she tosses the pen across the room or that she tries to shoulder-check me on her way out, a hateful slur leaving her lips. None of that fucking matters. A weight lifts from my shoulders when she walks away for good this time, replaced by something I haven’t felt in years—control. I’m finally in control.
“You okay, big guy?” he asks as we make our way out, and I turn to him with a smile, feeling lighter than I ever have.
“Yeah. I’m good.” Pulling him into my arms, I kiss him deeply, feeling his body melt into mine. “I’m great, Ducky. It’s finally here. ”
“What is?” He laughs, tapping my arms when I squeeze too tight. “Val’s untimely exit?”
“Not that. Well, yes, but that’s not what I meant.” I never want to think about her again. Pulling back, I cup his jaw, running my thumbs under those gold-flecked eyes. “Our wedding, Ducky. It’s time to plan our wedding.”
The sun dips low in the Arizona sky, casting everything in warm, golden hues.
My backyard looks fantastic, like something out of a desert fairy tale. Rows of chairs sit nestled among blooming succulents, the ground beneath them decorated with smooth river stones and sand. Twinkle lights strung between mesquite trees sparkle like stars, and a simple wooden altar stands at the center, draped in sunflowers. A yellow Lane Merging road sign is tied to the front of it, signifying our union—which we may or may not have stolen last night while everyone was asleep.
It’s small and intimate, just our closest family and friends.
Exactly how we wanted it. Jenna and Mom did a phenomenal job.
Standing near the altar, I shift my weight from foot to foot as I take it all in. Hannah’s off to the side, clutching her basket of petals, the little sunflower crown on her head slightly askew. Her arm is still in a cast, but it’s healing nicely. The doctor said it could come off next week, but she’s already decorated it with stickers and glitter for the wedding.
Salem is snapping pictures on her camera like a madwoman, her fiery hair bright against the yellow sundress all the ladies chose to wear. She offered to be our photographer as a wedding gift, and of course, I wasn’t going to say no.
Then there’s Chicken—Hannah named him—waddling between the chairs and nipping at people’s ankles with the rings secured around his neck. I choke out a watery laugh at where my life is right now.
So much has happened in just a few short weeks.
Xed quit his job and moved in with Hannah and me, which I couldn’t be more thrilled for. I missed him so much over the last two years, missed waking up to his warmth beside me and falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat. I never want to be without him again, and I don’t plan to.
Valerie finally got what she deserved—a five-year prison sentence and all parental rights stripped. It hasn’t been easy picking up the pieces of what she put us through, but I’m trying. For my daughter and for my soon-to-be husband, I’m trying.
Xed is, too. He’s still continuing his therapy sessions with Doctor Hart and still attends NA meetings once a week just to keep himself in check. I’m so proud of him. My own sessions continue as well, and we’ve even been attending couples counseling. Anything we can to ensure our future.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but that’s not how it should be. We fought to get where we are, and we’ll fight to keep it. Tooth and nail this time.
Taylor nudges me in the ribs, drawing me out of my thoughts. “Dude, you cool? You look as green as that saguaro over there. ”
With a grin, I elbow him back, making him wince when I hit his bad shoulder too hard. “Oops, sorry.” Running a hand down the front of my suit, I loosen my necktie. “It’s a hundred degrees out here. Who’s idea was it to get married outside?”
Christian pops his head over Taylor’s shoulder. “Yours, fool.”
Oh, yeah.
Next to them, Huck wipes his brow, curls sticking to his forehead with sweat. He’s dressed the same as all three of us. “Seriously, let’s start this thing, I’m dying.”
“For real,” Christian grunts, his long hair tied up in a bun. “I’m getting swamp ass out here.”
Taylor gags at that, shoving his best friend as Salem captures the moment on film. She seems tense, but only because her ex-boyfriend—uh, husband —has been ignoring her all day. I’m not sure why he was invited, but Xed and Huck agreed on it, so I won’t complain. It’s not just my wedding, after all.
It’s ours.
Mine and his, Matty and Xed.
The other half of my soul.
Someone starts music on a speaker, and the backyard falls quiet as Death Cab for Cutie softly sings about following love into the afterlife.
Everyone rises, turning to look as Hannah skips down the aisle with Arya, who’s now sporting a flower crown and giggling.
And then I see him, and my heart stutters.
Xed steps out of the sliding glass door, looking every bit as breathtaking as the desert sunset in his suit. His mohawk is spiked, yellow today to match our ties, and his piercings gleam in the twinkling light .
For a moment, he frowns, scowling like usual. But then he spots me, and I catch the way his lips twitch, a slight shift in his step. His hands fidget with his cuffs, the vulnerability flickering in his eyes making my chest ache.
Our gazes meet, and everything stills.
The world could fall apart, go up in flames, and I wouldn’t care right now. Because today, in this beautiful backyard, surrounded by the people we love most, I get to marry my best friend.
Forever.