Epilogue
Jamal King
I wander out of our bedroom and find Theo standing in front of our floor-to-ceiling window with a cup of tea. I’ve converted him.
“Do you miss the Park Ave view?” I ask, resting my chin on his shoulder.
“Not for one second.” He angles his head so I can kiss him. It starts out innocent but quickly turns needy. “I’ll never get enough of you.”
“This works in my favor,” I tease, secretly loving it. Theo’s made me a cuddle whore with no regrets. He still sleeps wrapped around me, but not out of fear that I’ll leave. Progress. “How much time do we have before the bachelor party?”
Theo’s shoulders slump. “Why is it on our day off?”
“Hmmm, maybe because 90 percent of the people invited are on our hockey team? It’ll be fine.
We’ll go for an hour or two and then leave.
Trevor took over planning from Benzy, or should I say bullied him into giving up control?
Our friends will be there, lots of food and music.
Nothing outrageous. This isn’t about your aversion to marriage, is it? ”
“Not my fault our friends keep choosing a death sentence, I mean marriage.” He nibbles at my neck. “And you’ll only dance with me.”
Someday I hope he changes his mind, but I’d rather have him than a ring and a piece of paper.
“Promise?” He nibbles at my neck. “And you’ll only dance with me.”
“Kitten, you don’t dance, but if you want me to put my hands on your ass and sway to the beat, we can do that.” I laugh when he bites my shoulder. My man is obsessed with my shoulders, so I go shirtless at home.
Home.
He’s my home.
We found a new place to live thanks to Liska’s connections. It’s home because Theo’s here, knowing if I’m at my worst, he’ll take care of me. And I do the same for him.
“You’re thinking awfully hard, Maj.” He pulls back to take a sip of tea.
“I’m thinking my boyfriend should fuck me before we go tonight.” I pull his body flush against mine.
“Your wish is my command, Your Majesty.” He leans over to set his tea on a side table. “Where?”
We’ve made it our mission to desecrate every single surface in this apartment. The bed is so comfortable we try to avoid it if there’s even a small chance one of us is tired.
“Window?” I ask, feeling risky.
“Not today. Too many people are out or looking at the sky. No one sees you naked but me. We could do it against the guest room window.”
I’m shedding my sleep pants and walking away before he finishes the sentence.
“You have the best ass in all of hockey.” Theo whistles behind me.
“How does Liska have the connections for this kind of real estate?” Theo wonders out loud.
“Says the dude who used to live on Park Ave,” Mav jokes.
“Yeah, but that was old family money. He’s new money, and getting into this building requires magic or blackmail.” He looks out over the New York skyline and the river. It’s late afternoon but already getting dark.
“Rumor has it, he has mob connections,” Trevor, the groom-to-be, says conspiratorially.
“Be for real.” I accept Trevor’s hug because it’s polite. “Where’s your other half?”
“Calling on the food delivery. They’re late.
” He steps to the side. “Have you met my cousin Shane and his husband Cole? This is Jamal and Theo.” He waves to each of us as he says our names.
Shane and Trevor have a family resemblance, but Shane could be a runway model.
His husband is intense, with tons of tattoos.
If I remember correctly, he owns a tattoo shop.
“A while ago,” I reply.
“J-dog.” A guy I recognize but whose name I can’t remember comes in for a bro hug, and Theo growls. “Oh, I recognize you from social media. I’m Alec and this is my Von,” he says to Theo.
“Hey,” Theo says cooly, and I take his hand. He shoots me a grateful glance because his asshole possessive behavior is like foreplay.
Drake enters with Lucky, and to my surprise, he and Von start speaking in rapid Swedish.
“We’ve talked about this. If you’re going to speak Swedish and leave me out of the conversation, I’m going to unload a shit ton of animal facts.” Lucky drapes his arm around Drake.
“Not today. It’s my party, and all entertainment must be approved by my future husband,” Liska yells in his heavy Czech accent.
“I love it when you call me that.” Trevor pretends to swoon.
“Hey.” Ace saunters in with Gray. “What do you love? Do I say congrats? What’s the protocol for a bachelor party?” He hugs Trevor.
“Congratulations to Patrik and good luck to me,” Trevor deadpans. “I can’t wait to officially be a husband.” He grins at Liska.
“It’s pretty fucking amazing,” Ace agrees with eyes only for Grayson.
“I said officially.” Trevor raises an eyebrow.
“Oh, right.” Ace lets out a barking laugh.
“He loves to call me husband.” Grayson grabs his chin to kiss him.
“Better not run off and get married without us!” Benz bounds in. “Trevy, you look fabulous.”
Everyone’s attention is on Benz, but I notice the glance Ace and Grayson share. Grayson subtly shakes his head, and Ace goes pale.
Interesting.
The party progresses exactly how I predicted, and I cup Theo’s ass while he sways to the music. He gives zero fucks about the beat. It’s adorable.
“Benz, why are you and Leo rearranging my dining room?” Trevor hollers.
Leo’s mouth drops open, and he glares at Benz. “They don’t know?!”
“Surprise.” Benz does jazz hands. “Just a little fun for our soon-to-be married guys.”
“Caleb,” Leo scolds, and Benz gives him a sheepish look.
“It’ll be fun, you’ll love it,” Benz insists.
“It’s a stripper.” Liska crosses his arms over his chest.
“NO!” Benz says too quickly and loudly. “Not exactly.” His phone beeps. “Shoot he’s here. Everyone, be nice.” Benz hurries out of sight to their door.
He returns with the cutest, petite guy, and my brain freaks the fuck out. I have Theo in a death grip, and before I can say that I know him, all hell breaks loose.
Need more? Here's Theo and Jamal's perfect day three years in the future. FREE Bonus Epilogue when you sing up for my newsletter. I hope you enjoyed Enemy Zone and I'd be so grateful if you took the time to review it.
Mav earlier that day
“I’m serious.” Brant stomps his foot. “I’m going to stop pining for my mystery man, and you’re going to get over your ex. How many years has it been?”
“Three, four, five? I’m not counting,” I grumble, knowing exactly how long it’s been down to the day. Graduation day, to be exact.
“I get he was your first love, but he ghosted you, Mav. You’re not a hard person to find if he wanted to.” Brant’s hand on my shoulder as we ride the elevator up to Liska’s apartment is supposed to be comforting. It’s not.
“I hate the not knowing. I’ve searched social media, death records. He’s nowhere.” I roll my shoulders, accidentally knocking his hand away.
“Death records? You think he might be dead?” Brant says in horror.
“I don’t know what to think. One day, we were making plans for the future, and the next, he was gone.
His family says they don’t know anything.
They said they were fine with him being queer as long as he didn’t act on it.
Sometimes I wonder if they hurt him.” I watch the numbers light up as we pass floor after floor.
“Jesus, I’m sorry. I will never whine to you again about the guy I can’t have.” Brant slumps against the railing. “It’s the perfect night to drown our sorrows in alcohol and forget them.”
“Get drunk and sleep it off.” I hold my fist out, and he bumps it.
We’re the last to arrive and ask where the bar is. They have it in the dining room, out of sight, in deference to Lucky’s sobriety. I pour us generous shots and a drink to get us started. I don’t usually drink, but tonight is the goddamn exception.
We join everyone in the living room for the team dance party.
Brant jumps right into the middle, twerking.
King and O’Keefe are by the windows, swaying out of everyone’s way.
Lucky and Benz are in the middle, choreographing who dances between them.
Leo’s motioning for Benz to continue without him, and Griff looks relieved.
I lean against the wall next to Griff. “Not dancing?”
“Not when there’s a chance my dad will get pulled in.” Griff makes a disgusted face. “Don’t ever date your friend’s parent.” He clinks our cups together.
“Solid advice that I won’t have any trouble following.” The alcohol is already relaxing me.
“Yeah, I’m dreading my mom coming to a game.” He kicks the floor and shows me a picture on his phone.
“Dude, declare her off-limits before the older guys see her.” His mom is a hot blonde and does not look old enough to have a twenty-two-year-old son.
“I thought my dad was safe.” He motions toward the dance floor.
“Where are they going?” I notice Benz and Leo leaving the room.
“Hopefully the bar and not some dark corner.”
“Cheers to that,” I say stupidly.
More drinking, less talking. I down the rest of my drink and hold it up for Brant, asking if he needs another. He declines, and I find Leo and Benz in the dining room pushing the table to the side and lining up chairs.
“If you two get kinky, Griff will lose his shit.” I pour another drink. The shot and first drink have taken the edge off, but I want to be comfortably numb.
I’m not paying attention to the discussion, but Trevor and Liska sound mad, so I sit my ass down in one of the front chairs. Benz rushes out, and Leo uses his coach/dad voice to get everyone to sit.
I have a front-row seat to whatever this shitshow will be. Guys fill in the seats around me, but I save one for Brant. As two single bi guys, we need to stick together.
Benz reappears, biting his lip. I think someone’s behind him, but I can’t see. “Everyone,” Benz says, stepping to the side, and I drop my cup. My heart leaps out the window and splats on the pavement. “This is my friend, Lark, and he’s—”
“My boyfriend,” I shout, and lunge for Skylar.