Epilogue – Eight months later
As the last of the crowd walked out the door at closing time, I stood in the middle of the space, staring at what remained of my art. The show at the gallery had been an absolute success. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I could ever be a true artist.
While things were still a little strained with Hugh’s parents, it was surprisingly Mr. Hanley Cross who encouraged me to be bold and to take initiative.
He explained that success didn’t just drop into your lap.
You had to make your own success. He told me to get out of my head and let galleries be the judge of my work, not myself.
He was incredibly successful, so of course, I’d listen. I was grateful to him.
What started as a couple of paintings of Hugh and Linden turned into an entire series.
Some galleries showed no interest, but I finally found one that wanted to showcase my work.
Mr. Cross was the first to buy paintings from me, the very ones that started it all: Hugh and Linden.
I had no idea where his support came from or why, other than he seemed to like me.
I yawned as Hugh thrust a glass of champagne into my face, just when Linden stood next to me and wrapped his arm around the small of my back.
I took a sip of the bubbly, feeling exhausted and wired at the same time.
The past two days had been a whirlwind between getting married at the justice of the peace the day before and getting ready for my show.
“I’m proud of you, Mr. Cross,” Hugh said to me.
“I’m not sure I’ll get used to being called that, darling husband. But thank you. I’m still in damn awe.” We debated whether I would take his name, but I chose to for legal purposes.
His parents came to be witnesses at the justice of the peace, but they wouldn’t be coming with us to the ceremony in Greece.
While Hugh’s family accepted him being with a man, they’d never accept Linden as Hugh’s lover and partner.
We didn’t want to push them when Hugh and Linden were making such great headway with them.
So, for now, they just believed we were going on a honeymoon to Greece.
It was only last year that Greece allowed same-sex marriage. Chloe, Hugh’s bestest and most fantastic sister, got ordained, so she could wed the three of us in a small ceremony. She was a damn saint.
“You’re so talented, baby,” Linden said, kissing my cheek. “Here’s to more art shows and success.”
We raised our champagne glasses and took a sip of our bubbly drink.
Hugh plucked my drink from my fingers, set the glass down on a table, and walked toward me like a panther.
“Don’t you dare!” I said, holding out my hand. “I have gone all out with my outfit tonight. I look gorge, so don’t you mess up my clothes, Hugh Cross, by tossing me over your shoulder.”
He raised his hands in defense. “Fine, I’ll behave.”
“Psh.”
I’d been branching out to be more femme. Tonight I wore a black pantsuit with a tapered waist and red heels just for Hugh.
“I can’t wait to get you naked tonight,” Hugh whispered in my ear.
“No time. We have to pack up and fly out early in the morning,” Linden explained. “There will be plenty of time for sexy games when we reach Greece.”
“Have it your way, but those shoes better be coming on the trip with us.”
“No worries, darling. They are definitely coming with.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to wear a shirt underneath your jacket?” Mom asked, straightening the white choker with a dangling pearl in the center.
“I’m sure, Mama. We’re getting married on a beach, plus this jacket is fancy enough.”
“I suppose.”
I wore a cream-colored suit, but the jacket had a 3D floral pattern made of pearls. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it. It was stunning. I didn’t need a button-up for it. I wanted to be sexy, and I felt that way.
She fussed over my curls as I applied some lipstick.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’ve found love, Atlas, my son. I never expected it to be two men, not in my wildest dreams, but you’re happy, and they’re happy. That’s what matters most.”
I bopped her nose. “And that you’re happy.”
She cupped my face and looked deeply into my eyes. “You’re so handsome.”
I looked down at my feet and shrugged. “I didn’t use to think so. My nose is too big. My lips are too thin.”
“Stop. It’s your face. It’s a beautiful face.”
“I’ve come to believe that. Hugh and Linden tell me all the time. I guess I’ve always been kind of hard on myself, from my appearance to my art. They’ve lifted me up and made me realize that I’m good enough.”
“Of course you are.”
Mom dropped her hands and started fussing around my room, picking up the clothes strewn about and putting away my makeup.
“Thank you for choosing Mykonos. I’ve been to Thessaloniki when I was young, as you know.
Your grandparents came to the US from there.
But the island is beautiful. I’ve already thanked Hugh and Linden for covering the cost of flying and staying here. They are too kind.”
“They love you, too.”
“Next, Andreas will be married, then Athan. Soon, I’ll have little babies running around again.”
I smiled at her and kissed both her cheeks. “You’ll be an amazing grandmother.”
“I love you, son.”
“I love you, too.”
She pulled me into a hug, and we held onto each other long enough to bring tears to my eyes. I was so glad my family could come and that they loved my men. Their support was fucking everything. Everything.
“Are you ready?” she finally asked when we pulled away.
“Yeah, I’m so ready.”
“I want lots of kids, you hear?”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “I’ll get right on it.”
She held my hand as we left the hotel room and headed down to the beach. I had no flowers or shoes. I didn’t bother with the bouquet because I wanted to hold both of their hands. And why bother with shoes in the sand?
As soon as we stepped outside, I covered my eyes with my hands from the glaring sun.
The day was perfect, in the mid-70s. Don’t even get me started on the view.
The water was crystalline, and all the surrounding white of the buildings made it absolutely stunning.
Yes, this was the best day to marry my two favorite men.
Everyone knew it wasn’t recognized as a valid wedding, but we didn’t give a shit. It was valid to us.
Mom and I made our way down to the beach, which was set up with only a few chairs and a little pergola close to the water. But my eyes were instantly on two gorgeous men, dressed in cream linen suits with pale olive-green linen shirts.
I hadn’t been nervous before, but I was then, seeing them and filled with infinite love. My stomach twisted in the best possible way.
My mom rushed off to sit next to my dad and brothers, then everyone suddenly turned their heads. I wiggled my fingers at Ryder, Knox, Finn, Luna, and Emma. Knox helped chip in for my friends’ flights and lodging. God, he was so nice.
Hugh and Linden turned to face me, flanking each side of the pergola, with Chloe in the middle to marry us. She was lovely in her matching green sundress.
When I reached them, I took each of their hands in mine.
“Ready to be ours, baby?” Linden asked.
“We love you, Princess.”
I nodded and looked at both of them. “I can’t wait. I love you both so much.”
“Shall we get started?” Chloe asked.
The three of us stood straight and got married.
The ceremony had been short, but beautiful. We left off the vows because it would’ve been too much, but we didn’t need them. Linden, Hugh, and I were dedicated to each other.
We had a reception full of delicious Greek food and a lot of liquor. There was music and dancing. I couldn’t have asked for a better celebration.
Hugh and Linden were talking to my parents, so I grabbed a glass of champagne and snuck off toward the water.
I set my glass in the sand and rolled up my pants, then I picked it up and waded into the calm ocean.
The moon and stars were out, and the light from the town reflected like glitter over the water.
Someone snuck up behind me, wrapped his arms around my front, and kissed my neck. “Sneaking off so soon, baby?” Linden asked.
“No, I just wanted to sit here for a moment and reflect on the day. It was beautiful, wasn’t it?”
“It was perfect,” Hugh said, coming to stand in front of us. “But now I’m ready to take this party into the bedroom. Who wants to fuck me first?”
Linden gasped, and I might have squealed. “You want us to fuck you?”
“I do.”
He’d talked about us doing just that before, but it’d never happened. Hugh had always been dominating, mostly because he’d felt out of control for so long. This was his way of telling us he was happy and ready to relinquish some of his tightly held control.
“Who wants to go first?”
“You should do it, Lind,” I said. “Definitely.”
“You sure, baby?”
“Yep, one hundred percent. You deserve this moment.”
He gave me a quick kiss before standing next to Hugh and taking his hands. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to. I want to give you and Atlas all of me.”
Linden leaned forward and kissed Hugh full of tongue, putting their entire bodies into it. When they pulled away, they tugged me into them and kissed me, too.
“Let’s go consummate this marriage,” Hugh said. “And when we get back to the States, we’ll talk about those babies.”
Linden and I followed him back to our room, and toward what I hoped to be an amazing future.
No, not hoped.
It would be.
The End