Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
The moving truck would be here any minute.
I’d successfully purchased a home in Vegas.
With inspections and a slight delay with the seller, I’d finally been able to close on a Thursday and was moving in.
I didn’t have much to move seeing how this house was one hundred and twenty percent bigger than my KC condo.
But it was nice to have a place of my own and to finally get away from the curtain of smoke and wall of patrons at the casino I’d called home all season.
“ETA?” I asked, entering the kitchen.
“Twenty minutes,” Nori said. She was helping Danessa plate pastries and brew coffee for the moving crew.
“You do know that’s the third time you’ve asked that question?” Nessa smirked.
“He’s like a kid on a road trip.”
“Don’t you two start teaming up on me.” Danessa and Nori became fast friends. I never had a doubt, knowing they’d vibe instantly upon meeting. “What can I do to help?”
“Can you hand me the box of forks over there?” Danessa pointed to a plastic bag on the counter.
I did as instructed. “You don’t have to feed movers you know.”
“It’s just a nice touch. Plus, this is how I cultivate relationships. You never know when you’ll need to call in a favor at the last minute.” She placed mini bottles of OJ in a silver bucket filled with ice.
“Are Dante and Anika coming?”
“Anika doesn’t move boxes. But she did say they’d stop by with pizza later.”
Anika and Dante had been married for one month, which was longer than I’d have placed a bet on.
But I could officially add matchmaker to my list of talents because I was responsible for them hooking up.
Anika was like a sister to me, and while I wouldn’t have picked a playboy like Dante for her to settle down with, he seemed to be reformed, only having eyes for Anika.
“The movers are at the gate. I’ll head out front to make sure they don’t get lost.” Nori set off in the direction of the front door.
“Are you excited?” Danessa asked.
“Yeah., I just want everything to go smoothly.”
“It will. These movers are fast and efficient, and you have Nori who will make sure no box is left behind.”
“You know we could have the movers swing by your place and box your shit up while we have them for the day.”
“I already told you. We are not moving in together.”
“Yet. You forgot to add yet.” I pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tight.
“Yet.” Danessa conceded with a smile.
“Don’t act like you’re not gonna be here all day every day anyway.”
“That may be true but when you get on my nerves, I need to have a place to go. Even Anika kept her condo and she and Dante are inseparable.”
“I don’t think we need to base living together around some arbitrary metric.”
“Not arbitrary. It hasn’t even been a year.”
“It’s been a year since I’ve moved to Vegas.”
“I’m talking about dating.”
“I feel you, but at some point paying two mortgages becomes silly.”
“We’ll discuss that when the time comes.”
“You should know by now I can’t get enough of you.”
“Well let’s see how you feel in a few months.”
“Months, years, decades, my answer will always be the same. I love you, Nessa and we have a lot of time to make up for.”
She cupped my cheek, her fingers fondling my ears. “I love you too. And this year is all about new beginnings. New house, new semester, new season.”
“New beginnings I like that.” Moving to Vegas came with the unexpected.
I certainly didn’t anticipate finding love and for it to be with the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about.
I’d built new friendships and lost some old ties.
Lamonte and I still weren’t talking. My mother and I were coolish, no matter what or how many times she took up for him, I’d still always have her back.
One of the things I’d learned was if you’re not willing to walk away, then you have to meet people where they are.
Vegas also provided new clarity about my sobriety.
Change can cause people to stumble and relapse.
But I’d pushed through with weekly NA meetings and the support of my friends.
I was proud to say I’d now been sober for almost two and a half years, and I didn’t take that accomplishment lightly because I fought for this every day.
There was so much to look forward to, the start of a new season, the chance to defend our crown, and my future with this fine woman wrapped in my arms.
Heartbreak taught me there’s always love to be had.
It might not always be romantic love. It could be love of self, or passion in a hobby, perhaps deep friendships that enrich you and build you up.
A broken heart shouldn’t stop you from loving and eventually when you’re ready, you just might find your soulmate.
And if you’re really lucky, like me, it will be your first love, the woman who taught you this kind of love was even possible.
Danessa was that for me. My first love, my last love, my forever love.