Epilogue Two #2
“Oh, Reed. There is no way I will ever make that promise.”
ZANE
Blair’s quiet on our way home, but there’s an energy buzzing around her that wasn’t present earlier in the night, and I’m dying to know what it is.
“Did you have a good night?” she asks, trying to keep her cool.
“I did. I know I give them all a hard time, but they’re a good group.”
“They are. We’re lucky to have them. They’re like family. The family you get to choose.”
“I assume you’re thinking about my shitty parents as you say that? Your parents are amazing.”
“They are. But they’re not here. It’s nice to have family close by.” She squeezes my arm as her smile widens.
“I’m surprised your dad hasn’t moved here. He always talks about wanting to retire and play golf with D’Angelo.”
“I’m ninety-nine percent sure that’s why he’s coming over in March. Mom’s coming to spend more time with Jade while he spends time with Sal.”
I turn to look at our daughter in the backseat, and my chest fills with warmth.
“You told him Sal doesn’t golf, right?”
“Yep. But his response was ‘all rich people play golf.’ Who knows, maybe he’ll convince him.”
“Maybe. Anyway, enough about my boss. I want to talk about you.”
“Me?”
“Yep. You were looking a little tired until you disappeared for thirty minutes and came back hiding a huge smile on your face.”
“You caught that, huh?”
“Oh, Little B. When are you going to believe me when I tell you I see everything when it comes to you? It’s been years.”
“In fairness, I didn’t know you were watching.”
“I’m always watching.”
“God, Jade is going to hate it if you take that approach with her when she’s older.”
“Nothing wrong with being a protective dad.”
“There’s protective and then there’s whatever the hell you are.” She waves her hand in front of me and I don’t even flinch. I’m happy to own it.
“You love it.”
“I do. I’m not so sure she will.”
“She’s not going to have a choice if she grows up around the Storm crew. They’re all just as bad as I am.”
“God, that’s true. Hayley is pretty badass.”
“Ha ha. In all seriousness. As long as she waits until she’s at least twenty to start dating, she’ll be fine.”
“Oh, like we did,” she says sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
“Technically you were twenty-five by the time we started dating.”
Blair’s jaw drops and I can’t help but chuckle. She’s always the one that says we were casual when we first started sneaking around as teenagers, and I’m the one that says there was more between us. Turns out, she doesn’t like it when the tables are turned. “Tell me I’m wrong?”
“Fine, you’re wrong. We started dating when we were teenagers. You were my first love.”
“Your only love. We don’t count the four-year error of judgment in between.”
“My forever love. How’s that?”
“I’ll take it. Now, tell me what made you so happy?”
“My agent called me. A publisher wants to acquire my book. Our story is going to be in bookstores all around the world.”
“No way! You did it? Pull over. We need to celebrate.”
“On the side of the road?”
“This is a big deal. I need to kiss my wife.”
“You always need to kiss me.”
“You bet your ass I do. And that’s never going to change.”
“I think I’m okay with that. But you can wait until we get home. It’s only around the corner.”
I smile, loving my strong wife telling me what to do. She lost herself for a while there, but now she’s back, and I never want her to change. Still, I love to tease her.
“Fine, I’ll wait.”
SALVATORE
My alarm goes off at eight, and Keeley groans in my arms. “Why do you have to get up so early? I was having a nice dream.”
“Oh, yeah? What were you dreaming about?”
“Our vacation last year. I think we need another one.” She tucks herself into me, running her fingers through the dusting of hair on my chest, making my muscles tense beneath my skin.
I agree with her, one hundred percent. I think about our vacation on a daily basis. I’ve never seen Keeley so relaxed and carefree, and hell, I’ve never felt that way either. It was one for the record books, that’s for sure.
“Maybe I should retire.”
“As if.”
“What does that mean?”
“You love it too much.”
“You’re right. I do. But I love you more. We could spend the rest of our lives traveling.”
“What about Isaac?”
“Dammit.”
“And Mom, Paige, Easton, Phil, and Marc.”
“Okay, plan B. Because I’m a resourceful man. I’ll retire them all and bring them with us. I’ll even arrange homeschooling for Isaac.”
Keeley laughs at my expense, and I pull her face toward mine, kissing her to stop it. “Plan C, we work for another ten years, taking the occasional breaks to have sex in different villas around the world?”
Keeley hums. “I like the sound of that. Where should we go next?”
“How about Greece? I’ll have the jet ready for the day after we win the Super Bowl.”
“That’ll be my busiest time. How about two weeks after, when all of the hype has died down?”
“Done. Prepare to be well and truly relaxed.” I lie back, tucking my arm behind my head as my mind starts whirling. Greece sounds perfect.
“Are you going to let me join the mile high club this time?”
“Absolutely not.” I shake my head, not even looking her way. “My reasons haven’t changed. No one but me gets to hear your screams when you come.”
“People hear that all the time. We’re not exactly quiet. Hotel rooms aren’t soundproof.”
“Maybe not. But those people aren’t my staff that see us regularly.”
“I can be quiet.”
I turn her way, leveling her with a stare. “No, you can’t. I had to cover your mouth with my hand the weekend we went away with Easton and Paige. Just in case they came back early from their walk.”
Keeley’s lips quirk, undoubtedly at the memory of that weekend. “You caught me by surprise that day. I wasn’t expecting it. It still makes me laugh.”
“Laugh? Keeley, I had your legs around your ears while I plowed into you; you were not laughing at the time.”
At my description, Keeley giggles. “I don’t mean that. I mean that we were worried about Paige coming home, when it would usually be the kid sneaking around and trying not to get caught by the parent.”
“Please don’t make me think about that.”
“Why? They have sex.”
“No, they don’t. Ever.”
“Yeah, okay. Anyway, back to the jet. Why have a private plane if you can’t join the mile high club?”
“So we can go where we want whenever we want. I thought that was obvious.”
“Fine. You win.” She smiles sweetly and I groan.
I may be a powerful man in the business world, but this woman right here has me wrapped around her finger, and she knows it.
Looks like I’m joining the mile high club on the next trip.
My alarm goes off for a second time and Keeley holds me tighter. “Don’t go.”
“It’s eight, Keeley, and you have to get up too.”
“It’s eight?” She jumps up so fast that I chuckle until her gloriously naked body brushes past me.
“Change of plans.” I curl my arms around her waist and pull her back onto the bed, settling on top of her when she spreads her legs. “I’m canceling the nine o’clock meeting. They don’t know we were at a party last night. I’ll say I double-booked myself.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s so important that you’d take off work?”
“You. Always you. And I’m going to need a full hour to get the job done.”
I grab my phone to email Tabitha just as a strange message comes through.
LUKE BENNETT ADDED YOU TO THE GROUP “STORM FOREVER”
What the fuck? “What’s this?” I show Keeley and she bursts out laughing, covering her face with her hands.
“I wondered how long it would take for them to initiate you.”
“Initiate?”
“Yep.”
LUKE BENNETT: I’m reviving the group chat. I thought I should add D’Angelo since he’s one of us now
SALVATORE: Hi. Thanks. I think? What does “one of us” mean exactly?
“I’m not going to have to do any crazy shit, am I?”
“I don’t think so.” Keeley suppresses her next laugh, but she’s practically bursting at the seams.
LUKE BENNETT: The HABS
ZANE FITZPATRICK: What the actual fuck is HABS?
EASTON WILDER: Whatever is it I want out
LUKE BENNETT: Aww don’t worry, East, we won’t talk about our sex lives on this chat. I imagine that would get awkward
ZANE FITZPATRICK: Sorry, East, but that was funny
REED COOMBS: You can’t invite Mr. D’Angelo into the group and then be a dick about it. Some of us are still his players. My apologies, sir
SALVATORE: You don’t have to call me sir, Reed. I was at your bachelor party, remember?
REED COOMBS: Right. We’ve moved past that. Sorry, I get into work mode during the season
UNKNOWN: I’m just catching up. Salvatore, it’s nice to have you here. But back to an earlier question, which I’m almost afraid to ask… What’s HABS?
“Who’s this?” I ask Keeley, showing her my phone.
“That’s probably Dylan. He’s on the chat too.”
“How do you know all of this? Do you know what HABS means?”
Keeley snorts and I frown.
LUKE BENNETT: I thought it was obvious. Husbands and boyfriends of strong women
What? Keeley’s soft laughter gets louder, and I shake my head with a chuckle. I’ll endure whatever this is if it makes her that happy.
ZANE FITZPATRICK: Wow
EASTON WILDER: How the fuck was that obvious? I’m out, guys
EASTON WILDER LEFT THE GROUP
LUKE BENNETT ADDED EASTON WILDER TO THE GROUP
LUKE BENNETT: After all these years, you’re still pulling that stunt and expecting us to just let it happen?
SALVATORE: I’m confused
“Do I really want to be a part of this?”
“Absolutely. You heard Luke. You’re one of them now.”
REED COOMBS: That feeling never goes away, Sal. When you open this chat, you never know what you’re going to get. Welcome
SALVATORE: Okay.
ZANE FITZPATRICK: HABS is growing on me
REED COOMBS: Me too
EASTON WILDER: Why are we friends?
LUKE BENNETT: Because you love us
LUKE BENNETT: It’s a new year. Here’s to all the new adventures together
REED COOMBS: To a year of fun
ZANE FITZPATRICK: To winning another Super Bowl
SALVATORE: Hear, Hear.
Maybe this won’t be so bad.
LUKE BENNETT: To a lifetime of happiness
EASTON WILDER: Fuck my life. When is this going to end?
THE END
Thank you for reading Salvatore and Keeley’s story. While the San Francisco End Game series is now complete, a couple of the side characters are getting their own stories—Beckett and Callum. Both their books are currently available for pre order. Beckett’s book. Callum’s book.
Keep reading for a sneak peek of Beckett’s story.