Epilogue
Surry
“Wow, the weather is surprisingly nice today,” I say as I look out the window of our new apartment overlooking the city.
Brenden and I ended up picking the penthouse in his tallest building.
It’s massive, but I started making it feel like home the day we moved in.
I painted all the walls, black as you would expect.
The ceilings I kept bright white to give height to the walls.
Although they are already fifteen-foot walls, so it’s not like I needed to make them look any taller.
The living room is a mix of black, white, grey, and greens.
Deep greens, emerald one could say. Brenden swears that emerald green is his favorite color.
The kitchen and the rest of the main spaces follow the same color patterns.
But the guest rooms, we have three, each has its own theme.
I thought it would be fun, and it would satisfy our different decor ideas.
Brenden surprised me with his keen eye for design. I was shocked, actually.
In one room, it is themed all pink. I needed to have a girly room in the house.
I don’t wear pink, or decorate with it much.
But I wanted one room that was entirely pink.
I channeled Selene’s theme of cotton candy.
The walls are a warm blush color, the bedding and rug are a mix of soft pinks, hot pinks, and blacks.
The little desk meets vanity is black, with little cutesy decor from different craft stores.
The artwork is sweet and lighthearted. Bunnies, birds, a few skulls and random designs, but my favorite is the sign that is the largest. It has a white background, in a black wood frame and in a beautiful cursive that says “Live, Laugh, Lobotomy.” Just because it’s a girly room doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a touch of our dark humor.
The second room, Brenden was in charge of. It is very manly. Steel grey, deep blues, and dark greys. It is very cozy and warm feeling in there. Leather and other rough textures are strewn about. The bed is black with blue accent pillows, and the headboard is made of steel.
The final room, we decorated together. It is the perfect mix of us.
It is primarily just a deep blue. The walls are painted the dark blue, the headboard, doors, and casings all painted the same color.
The bedding is varying shades of dark blue, and the decor is all blue and blue glass.
The large floor to ceiling windows lighting up the room.
This one is my favorite, because we made all the decisions together.
Brenden came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle and placing his nose in my ear.
He has been so lovey since I said yes at the aquarium.
Yes to forever with the man who loves me more than anyone loves anything, I think.
Except for maybe how much I love him. I will always claim to be the winner of that.
Together, we are a formidable pair, and no one should cross us. Or they will see exactly what it is like to have the both of us as enemies.
“It is, I am excited to have everyone over for Thanksgiving today. Your food all looks delicious.” I turn my head and kiss his temple, one of the only times I am able to since he is so much taller than me.
He is dressed and ready for the day, looking so hot I think I should be burnt just by touching him.
He has on black dress shoes, black jeans, and a black long-sleeve silk button-up that is undone to his upper chest with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows.
His hair is down in a rare display, as he usually keeps it up in a low bun.
But I am sure I don’t look as I normally would either.
I've swept my hair into a low, messy ponytail, wisps of bright strands already escaping around my temples.
A single fishtail braid winds through it—a small touch of deliberate beauty amid the chaos.
My black pointed-toe booties click against the floor with each step, their worn leather creasing at the ankles above my black jeans, torn strategically at the knees and thighs.
The plain black silk tank top clings slightly to my skin, its subtle sheen catching the light when I move.
Brenden got me an emerald necklace that catches every hint of light in the room—the center stone must be three carats, deep green like forest shadows, flanked by four smaller stones that graduate down the gold chain like teardrops.
When I move, they shimmer against my skin, cool and heavy.
It pairs perfectly with my engagement ring—a two-carat emerald that seems to pulse with its own heartbeat, surrounded by black marquee stones sharp as obsidian blades.
Lighter green stones and diamonds encircle the center emerald like protective sentinels, all nestled in a gold band that gleams warm against my finger.
The weight of it anchors me, a constant reminder of what we've survived together. It is the only piece of jewelry I will never take off ever again. And I don’t wear jewelry much as a rule.
“Thank you, I’m excited to show everyone the apartment too.
They haven’t seen it since we moved in, and it was empty.
So this will be really fun. I need to check on the turkey though, make sure it’s cooking like it is supposed to.
Oh, I forgot to tell you, Richie is spending the day with Tommy, so he likely won’t make it. ”
I step out of his grasp, but he snags my hand and spins me around, placing a very intense kiss on my lips. Unfortunately for him, this black lipstick is not stay proof.
When we part, I laugh at his newly painted mouth and tell him to go wash up, as my parents should be here any moment, before walking away to check on my turkey.
“Well that’s too bad about Richie. Has he known the guy long? Are they like actually dating or are they just seeing each other casually?”
“Look at you being good at gossiping today,” I say with a wink.
“They started talking a while ago, I think Richie really likes him. But we will see, I suppose. I once found his boxers in our kitchen sink. Not Richie’s.
Tommy’s.” I give him an exasperated look, then I continue on my mission to check on the food.
With the turkey cooking nicely, I begin to set up the sides that I have prepared for snacking.
It is about four pm, and the football game is about to come up, so I ask my Alexa to turn on the television so that it's going when people arrive.
At that moment, two things happen almost simultaneously.
Brenden steps out of the hall and into the kitchen, and someone begins banging on the door.
We look at each other, wary from everything we just went through only two months ago.
Brenden reaches into his waistband and pulls out his 45.
Of course, he has that on him. I don’t think he has walked to the bathroom without it since we left the warehouse.
But I do almost the same thing. I have a 9mm I keep in the kitchen drawer.
We don’t have any kids around here or anything, so I don’t feel bad not locking it up.
We both approach the door, safeties off, and place ourselves strategically by the door.
Brenden peeks through the peephole, and sighs before putting his gun back on safe and placing it back into his waistband holster.
He winks at me, and I point my gun at the door, but put the safety back on before he opens the door.
Whoever it is isn’t a threat, but he wants to scare them, apparently.
I giggle as he opens the door and shove the barrel of my gun right into Josh’s face, who in turn screams like a little girl, causing myself, Brenden, and Juniper to double over laughing.
That’s what you get for surprising people who have just been through actual hell.
“What the fuck, guys. I almost pissed myself!” Josh screams at us, clutching his chest with one hand, and his crotch with the other.
“That would have been something I would have paid to see,” Brenden replies. Completely unfazed by his outburst.
I laugh as I apologize. Behind him, Corver and Natasha walk up. They aren’t holding hands or even smiling. So I am not sure what is going on between them. I know that Corver is especially happy that she is free and with him, but I know she has been through so much and adjusting can be difficult.
We greet all four of them and usher them inside, and I take them all to the island to start digging into the snacks I set out, as well as get the remaining food out. We will have a full apartment once everyone is here.
Before Brenden shut the door, Alisha and Sam show up.
Together. Brenden told me about how they were when I was gone, and I am desperately hoping I get that I LOVE YOUR brOTHER/I LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND speech today.
It’s really all I want for Thanksgiving.
Are there Thanksgiving wish lists? If not, there should be.
Brenden points them in my direction and they join the conversation.
Slowly, everyone else arrives. Selene shows up with my parents, and Gunnar arrives with Hazel and Arnie, which shocked me since I didn’t know they were hanging out after the compound.
But I think her and Arnie make the world’s most adorable couple. Finally, everyone has arrived and we are all mingling, Brenden and I in the kitchen making sure everyone has the booze and food they need as we wait on the turkey and sides.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a moment?”
Alisha came up and grabbed my elbow, and I looked over at Brenden, and he knows exactly where my head is at, as I am sure his eyes are as wide as mine. I turn back to her and grab her hand.
“Yeah, I wanted to show you the guest rooms anyway. I think you’ll love one of them in particular. Just don’t puke in it.” We giggle as we walk toward the hall.