Epilogue #2
He kisses my lips tenderly as I sob against his, overcome with emotions. “Are you sure?”
He pulls back, looking me in the eyes. His deep browns swimming with so much love, it’s breathtaking. “I’m positive.”
I nod as he steps away and refocus on Gabe, who patiently waits kneeling on the ground in front of me. He holds out his hand for me to take, and I slip mine in his without an ounce of hesitation.
“Vixen, before you, my life was great. I won’t lie about that.” He chuckles when I frown. “It was easy and simple. I knew what I wanted out of it, but I wasn’t in any rush to get it. I thought I already had everything any man could want. The career, the money, the friends, and the ladies.”
“Gabriel, this isn’t how these speeches usually go,” I interrupt him with a raised brow.
“Well, if you’d stop interrupting me, I could get to the good part.” He laughs.
“Okay, okay. Go on.”
“I thought I had everything. But then one November afternoon, a little over a year ago, you walked into my life, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. You were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, a goddess. One of those celestial beings we crave to witness all our lives. And there you were, standing right in front of me. And as crazy as it sounds, I knew it, in that moment, I knew I needed you.”
I go to open my mouth, but he lifts his finger that holds the ring, shushing me.
“And before you say it, no, it wasn’t just about sleeping with you.
That was a major factor, I’ll admit to that, but it was always more.
I always wanted more of you. Wanted to uncover every little quirk you have, understand why you go left instead of right.
Why you smile, why you frown. I wanted to know it all, every single inch of you—I wanted it.
” I sniffle, letting out a shaky breath as he goes on.
“But you never gave me the time of day, no matter how hard I tried, no matter what I said or did, you always looked the other way. And at some point, I thought of stopping, of giving up. But then I realized it would be impossible to walk away from you, impossible to pretend you didn’t already own every aspect of my heart.
And what kind of idiot would I be to give up on such a beauty like you?
” He smiles wider, thumb caressing the top of my hand that he holds as tears pour from my eyes.
“And then finally, fucking finally, you looked my way and gave me a chance. You took my hand, and never let it go. You made me face my fears, you accepted me as I was, and have only made me a better man. One I hope will always be worthy of you.”
“You’ll always be, Gabriel. You always were,” I whisper through the thickness in my throat where my free hand lies.
He grins. “Now it’s my turn to take your hand and never let it go.” I nod enthusiastically. “Veronica Masters, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes! Yes, Gabriel, yes. A thousand times yes! Every day for the rest of our lives, yes!”
He slips the ring onto my newly tatted finger, making sure not to push it all the way down, and I throw myself into his arms as the few people around us clap and cheer.
I capture his lips, promising to love him forever, then let go and do the same to Noah.
Despite this engagement being between me and Gabriel, it wouldn’t be the same without my Casanova.
After a few minutes of receiving congratulations from Maze, Bear, and his client, who’s already forwarded us the video, we head outside and back into Gabe’s car.
“What do you want to do now, baby? We could get the gang together and tell them the good news,” Gabe offers, looking back from the driver’s seat.
I shake my head. “Not just yet.” I bite my lip, looking down at my rings.
“I wish I could tell my parents…” I lift my gaze to both men who watch me intensively.
“It’s crazy, right? That after they threw me out and pretended that I didn’t exist, I still miss them?
That I wish I could share this news with them… even knowing they would never approve.”
“Have you ever thought of going back?” Noah asks softly.
“I’ve wanted to... many times. But I was always afraid they’d just shut their door in my face…
They probably wouldn’t even recognize me.
” I shrug, the sadness creeping slowly into my heart.
Knowing my father will never be there to walk me down the aisle, or that my mother will never tell me how beautiful I look on my wedding day.
“Why don’t we go see them? It’s only like a five-hour flight to Arizona. We could leave tomorrow morning, be there before noon, and take a flight back at night. I don’t have practice or a game tomorrow,” Gabe tells me with a warm smile.
“You’d really do that for me?”
He twists in his seat, cupping my cheek. “I’d do anything for you, Vixen. Anything.”
When his hand drops and a new tear rolls down, Noah does the same, cupping my other side and swiping away my tear. “You’ve made us yours forever, Kitten. Facing your parents comes with that territory. We’ll forever do anything for you, Veronica.”
I swallow, my eyes soaking up and spilling over once more. “Anything,” I whisper, looking at Gabe, then turn my gaze to Noah. “Forever.”
By ten-thirty the next morning, we’re standing outside my childhood home, and nerves eat at me from the inside. I could have texted or called in advance, since I still have their number and am sure they haven’t changed it. But I was too afraid to face their rejection through a phone.
I needed to see them face-to-face. To tell them how much it hurt me when they banished me. How much I’ve been through since the last time they saw me. That I know I’m not the daughter they wanted, but I’m proud of who I am today.
“Whenever you’re ready, Kitten.” Noah rubs down the back of my coat.
“Or we can turn back around if that’s what you want. Whatever you choose, we’re here for you.” Gabe squeezes my hand in his.
I take a deep breath and slowly let it out, working through my anxiety. “I’m ready.” I nod, capturing both their hands in mine and taking a step forward toward the front door.
But before I can make it any closer, it flies open, and my mother stands in the doorway. “Oh, my lord! Stephan! She’s home! Our baby’s home!” She comes running down the steps in slippers and a robe and throws her arms around me, sobbing against my winter coat.
I’m frozen in shock as I stand there with my arms glued to my sides. Out of all the reactions I imagined coming from them, this one wasn’t one of them, and I have no idea how to deal with it.
She finally unwraps her arms from around me and grabs my face, looking me over. “Oh, look at you. My beautiful baby girl. You’ve grown so much,” she cries, touching every inch of me, from my hair to my piercings to my hands that are still being held by Noah and Gabe.
She gasps when she sees my ring. “Oh, sweet baby Jesus! She’s engaged, Stephan! Hurry up and come out here!”
My father suddenly emerges as well, wearing slippers and pulling on his winter jacket. He’s wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans underneath, and I’m extremely confused by the look. My father’s a pastor; I’ve never seen him dressed like this.
He comes in as well and takes me in his arms, similar to what my mother just did. “Oh, sweetheart, we’ve missed you immensely.” He then takes a step back and holds my mother as they both look at me with such joy radiating from their features.
Noah and Gabe squeeze my hands simultaneously, jolting me back to the moment. I clear my throat and force a smile onto my face. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.”
“Oh, where are our manners? Please, come in. Come in before someone catches a cold.” My father waves us in as he turns with my mother and heads back into the house.
I’m so baffled by what is going on that I don’t move from my spot, not until Noah releases my hand and places it on my back, guiding me forward. We shrug out of our coats and boots then head into the living room, where my mother tells us to sit down while she prepares coffee for us all.
I look around the room, noticing all the changes. There used to be religious artifacts all over the mantel and walls, but now every space is filled with random decorations and pictures of me. There’s even a Griffins’ jersey hanging up on the wall, and all I can do is stare at it, blinking.
What in the hell is going on?
“So, which one of you proposed to my daughter?” my dad asks from his spot in his favorite recliner. It’s still the same one he had before I left, only now it’s much more worn out and covered in patches.
“That would be me, sir.” Gabe grins at my father and reaches forward, shaking my dad’s hand. “Gabriel Ellis. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I know who you are.” Dad smiles back at him. “Stephan Masters.” He lets go of Gabe’s hand and offers his to Noah next. “And you must be Noah.”
Noah nods. “That’s right. Pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“Wait,” I lift my hands. “Just… wait a minute.” I shake my head and close my eyes, needing this to make sense for a minute. “You know who they are?”
My mother comes back carrying a tray with five coffee mugs. “Of course, we do. We’ve been watching all their games.” She hands out a coffee to each and introduces herself as Lucia to my boys.
“You and Dad? Hockey fans? And of the New York Griffins, instead of Arizona’s own team?” I blink, entirely perplexed.
“It was our only way of feeling close to you,” my mother says with a saddened smile.
“You’ve…” My eyes well up. Noah places his hand on my thigh while Gabe takes my hand in his, both encouraging me to go on. “You’ve known where I was all along?”
“When you left Arizona, we had no idea where you’d disappeared to. We feared the worst, that maybe… maybe Victor had done something to you…” My mother begins to tear up, grabbing a tissue from the coffee table and wiping her eyes and nose.
“But then we just happened to be at a friend’s house while one of your games was playing a year ago, and we saw you in the front row with the wives,” my father continues for her.