Epilogue
ALEXIS
Alicia and I were in the kitchen finishing up the cupcakes as Mum and Dad got Austin ready for bed.
Austin was hyperactive with excitement as we heard him yell from upstairs for the umpteenth time, “I’m turning five tomorrow! I’m a big boy!”
He wanted a Spiderman-themed birthday party, and since I now lived in a two-bedroom apartment, we decided to have it at Mercy Lake—his favourite spot.
It was nice having my sister pop in from her busy lifestyle, however, I also forgot how nosy she could be.
As I went to sit on the stool, I hissed, jolting upward, my ass stinging from the rough sex I had had the night before. The thought made a sly grin grace my lips, which of course was caught by Alicia.
“What was that?”
“What was what?” That sounded innocent, right?
“You haven’t sat all day. You’re acting like your ass has been slapped raw.”
I could feel my face flame red from her accurate assessment.
“Just tell me it was consensual. That you like it,” she rushed.
“More than like it.” I winked, and she fake-gagged.
It opened me up to the torture of all the sexual innuendos she could think of.
Alicia turned off the oven. “Do you call him Daddy Owen? Does he spank you when you’ve been a naughty girl?”
“Who spanks you, Mama?” Austin piped from the stairs, and Alicia chuckled while I gave her the evil eye.
“No one, Austin. Aunty is being naughty.”
“Oh… Does that mean you’re going to spank her?”
Alicia keeled over with all-out laughter as I ruffled my boy’s hair. “Yes, Austin, I just might.”
Austin’s party was a success. He was utterly spoilt, and all the kids were having a great time.
Birthday cake was smeared all over his face, right alongside his best friend, Cooper, as they stuffed themselves silly.
I couldn’t believe my boy had turned the big five. The moment was bittersweet for me, but I was overjoyed by the gigantic smile Austin had the whole day.
As long as my boy was happy, I was happy.
As that thought processed, the other male in my life settled beside me. Owen massaged a discreet palm over my tender ass cheek while he bent his head to whisper in my ear. “How are you feeling, baby?”
Heat razed a path beneath my skin, directly pooling between my legs. Owen knew exactly what he was doing, as told by his teeth that found a home in my earlobe, which I rewarded with a barely restrained whimper.
“Stop it,” I said half-heartedly, whacking him away. He held his hands up in surrender, a devilish smile coating his mouth.
“I’m innocent,” he said, his eyes twinkling. Mine narrowed, but I couldn’t help the subtle smirk that peeked through. “If I was too rough, my Lex, you must let me know. I’m sorry if I got carried away—”
I shushed him by giving him a chaste kiss. “Don’t apologise. I want to do it again… soon.”
His gaze tracked my tongue that wet my lips. And by his expression, I knew I was in for trouble as soon as we were alone.
It had nearly been a year since we decided to give us another go, and it had been amazing so far. We took our time, studied those new sides of each other, which also included exploring our latent sexual desires.
Of course, like every couple, we had our setbacks, especially when those dreaded past insecurities reappeared. Yet, we had grown from the people we were before. We openly communicated, and no matter how ridiculous the notion or feeling, Owen always made me feel heard and vice versa. We hashed everything out, moving forward as a team.
It also helped that he won over my family. My parents thought he was their saviour as under his tutelage, Dad had recovered back to his normal. Just looking at him, one wouldn’t have known he had experienced such a debilitating health scare not so long before.
Alicia was thankful for Owen’s input, and Austin followed him around like a shadow. Owen went above and beyond for my boy, and in return, Austin thought Owen was on par with his indestructible Spiderman—the biggest compliment ever received.
That’s when little voices infiltrated the bubble that Owen and I had found ourselves.
“I heard Daddy say that Uncle Owen wants to be your daddy, Austin. Then, Daddy called him a pussy, but I don’t get it, since he doesn’t look like a cat,” Cooper said so casually to my son. As if he didn’t drop a loaded fucking grenade between me and my man.
Austin didn’t even flinch, and pitched his attention our way. Owen and I stood completely frozen on the spot. “Is that true, Coach? You wanna be my daddy?”
Owen blushed and gave it to him straight. “Ah, yes. I would love to… But that’s something me and your mum would have to—”
“Owen can be my daddy. Right, Mum?”
Oh my god. What do I do?
The unintentional showdown had garnered the attention from everyone in the vicinity, all of them waiting for my answer.
Then, I glanced at Owen. He had become my courage, my support, my home. And that’s when I saw it. The blatant hope shining in his eyes. He truly wanted us—Austin and me. Together.
So I gave my unerring truth in return. “I would love for him to be your daddy.”
Owen beamed, his arm circling my shoulders as if to make sure the moment was indeed real. I could feel him trembling against me, the monumental change only taking a second but lasting a lifetime.
“Alright,” Austin called, unperturbed. “But you should stop spanking mummy. That’s not nice. Even if she is being naughty.”
OWEN
I stood on the outskirts of the party, taking a minute to soak everything in. With the initial shock, my gaze hooked on Liam, ready to go in for the kill for outing me—yet again. The smug bastard mouthed, “ You’re welcome. ”
I still wanted to wring his neck, but his response quickly put everything into perspective. Alexis and Austin had accepted me into their family. I was a partner, lover… and father.
I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I didn’t know what to do with myself. They were everything I’d ever wanted.
Phil made a beeline for me, landing at my side as we perused the group together.
Then, he cleared his throat. “I owe you an apology.”
My brows lifted at the random comment. “For what?” I asked, truly flabbergasted.
“For the time I punched you. It never should have happened.”
“Based on the limited information you had at the time, I think it was warranted.”
He didn’t reply to that. Instead, he chose to switch up on me.
“Owen, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us. I wouldn’t have recovered to what I am today without your help. And… you brought my baby girl home.”
“She came home for Austin. For you and Harriot.”
“It may have begun that way. But she stayed for you .”
A certain acceptance bloomed in my chest. Having that confirmation from Phil meant a lot.
“Thank you,” I said with full sincerity.
“No, thank you for taking care of my family, son.”
Son? I shifted to the side so he wouldn’t catch the water gathering in my eyes. I knew I failed when Phil squeezed my shoulder in reassurance, then left me to rejoin the party, giving me some reprieve.
I took the out and walked alongside the lake when the sun caught on a small trinket buried in the shallows. Dropping to one knee, I submerged my hand and came out with a ring—not just any ring.
Before I could react, a gasp sounded from behind.
My head spun to find Alexis staring down at me with awe, her wedding ring gleaming between my fingers.
Without a word, I opened her hand and placed the band in the middle of her palm. Her fingers closed over the treasure immediately.
“It always belonged to you,” I said, the insinuation so much deeper than the words.
Alexis dropped to her knees before me, getting on my level. She then ran a finger along my jawline, her touch light, like she was caught in a trance.
“I love you, Owen Ivans.”
“Thorne.”
“Thorne?”
“I love you. I love Austin. I love us. I want to create a family, with you and our boy. Let me take your name, baby.”
A single tear dripped down her cheek as she gave the one confirmation that ever mattered. “Yes.”
My hands cupped her precious face when I pressed my forehead to hers. “Be mine forever?”
“Forever, Owen Thorne.”
Then, I sealed that vow with a kiss.
Forever.