Chapter 57
Three months later
To say life has been easy wouldn’t necessarily be a lie, but it’d be downplaying the feeling of anxiety we’ve had over the course of the last couple months.
As Levi and Evelyn alluded to, everything—and I mean everything—worked itself out. It felt too simple, which explains Keoni taking a few weeks’ vacation, and us ordering anything we needed straight to the cabin. I’m pretty sure there was a two-week period we didn’t step but ten feet from Wildhart.
Michael went ‘missing’. All evidence of him being in Colorado had been wiped. The flight. The rental car. All of it changed to a completely different name, according to Levi who came by from time to time to check on us and let us know what was happening.
The two officers ‘moved’, and any family they had were given enough information that they hadn’t questioned it. Apparently, Michael had promised a good word in with the SFPD for them both, which is what had them helping him in the first place.
I’m not entirely sure if he would’ve given them what they wanted, but suppose it doesn’t matter now.
I don’t know what was told to Keoni’s squad and Dom, but they did come by and see us. We told them that we were working on our mental health, which wasn’t a lie per se, and needed the time to work on us.
Britt spent several weekends with us, which distracted us from fear someone would show up to cart off Keo for killing two people.
This isn’t normal. Neither I, nor the man I love, know how to cope with everything that’s happened. We haven’t been able to explain it to our therapists, so we’ve only had each other to get through the hardest nights.
I’m struggling with nightmares, haunted by the thought that Michael might somehow still be alive. Keo is battling his own demons, living with the weight of murder, even if we both agree they deserved it.
But despite all of that, he doesn’t run, and I don’t shut down. We hold each other close and figure it out, together.
He’s still carrying the guilt associated with our parents’ deaths, but we’re working through it. There’s no magic pill that takes the pain away, but we’re determined to share the burden—every ache, every moment of grief, together.
We’ve found comfort in the little things around the cabin, slowly returning to something that resembles a normal life—well, as normal as life can be for us right now. He’s back at work, and I’m getting close to landing a job at the hospital in Maple Falls.
Today, I should know if I’m able to go for it.
The sound of tires drags my gaze up from the dirt both Keo and I are patting down. It’s the first day of spring, and with that, came us planting the sunflowers he gave me for Christmas. It’s been a day I’ve looked forward to for more than just one reason.
Keo stands, and I do after dusting off my jeans.
The white car comes to a stop, and stepping out of it, is Dr. Yadav—Markus.
I take a deep breath and smile as he sees us. He shuts the car door and locks it, before heading in our direction.
“Ayden, it’s so good to see you.”
Tucking my gloves under my arm, I reach out and take his hand in a shake. “You too, Markus. You didn’t have to come all the way out here.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t be silly, it’s not like I can’t afford it.” His laugh blends in as he continues, “Just kidding. I also wanted to see you, and…” He looks over my shoulder. “Meet your boyfriend. Keoni, right?”
“Yes, sir. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Markus.”
They shake hands. “Pleasure is all mine.” His smile doesn’t falter as he looks up at the cabin, our home, then back to us. “All charges have been dropped.”
The loud exhale of breath doesn’t only come from me, but also Keo. His arm comes around my neck, pulling me tight to his side.
“With Michael’s sudden disappearance, and no follow up on the charges against you from him, the case was dismissed.”
Levi and Evelyn said that would happen, but it still didn’t lessen my anxiety.
“I also wanted to apologize. My PI wasn’t able to find out more information on your accident.”
I can feel Keo’s biceps flex. I’d told him what Michael had said about that night. He wasn’t happy, and that’s putting it lightly. I’m sure if my ex hadn’t been dead, he would’ve killed a third man.
“I’ve asked that they look further—”
“Don’t worry about it,” I cut in. “I just… want to move on with my life. If he ever shows back up, then we can worry about it.”
The concern in his expression has me giving him a nod of reassurance. “I’ll keep the charges here in Colorado against him for the next nine months. I’ll do all the follow ups, but if he doesn’t show up… I’m going to officially let it all fall off.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” I wrap my arm around Keo. “I’m sure.”
Markus lets out a sigh. “I’d be worried he’d come do something crazy. I’m sure if he had a psych evaluation, he’d be admitted.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Keoni grits through his teeth. “But don’t worry, I’ve got him, and we’ve got some incredible neighbors that have our backs.”
Markus smiles, looking between us. “Alright.”
“We’ve made—actually…” Keo laughs. “Ayden laid out stuff for lunch. Let’s head inside. You aren’t allergic to cats, right?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “I love them.”
“Perfect. Her name is Clover, and she’s pretty friendly,” I chime in.
As he turns toward the cabin, Keo halts me from following. I lift my chin, catching his gaze on me. There’s a smile playing on his lips, one I’ve seen appearing more frequently over the last three months.
It screams of freedom, longing, and happiness.
He turns to face me and cradles my jaw with his palm. “Congratulations, my love.”
It does feel like a win, even if it was inevitable and came at a high price.
“Thank you.”
His kiss isn’t rushed, or hesitant. It’s patient and filled with love.
In this moment, the hollowness I’ve carried since I was seventeen is finally gone. For the first time, I truly know what it feels like to be safe in the arms of a man who would do anything for me.
That puts my life before his.
My needs before anyone else’s.
My pleasure before his own.
Keo embodies the type of possessiveness and obsessiveness I yearn for and will crave for the rest of our days.
I fucking love this man with every fiber of my being, and I’m excited to see where the rest of our lives take us, together.