Epilogue Part Two
Wren
“Sorry we’re late,” I say, entering Brandy and Mia’s home without knocking. “Theo couldn’t find his hoodie.”
Theo nudges my arm and whispers, “Because someone was wearing it.”
With a snicker, I wrap my arm around his and rest my head on his shoulder. “I didn’t hear you complaining.”
With a short, frustrated groan, Theo leans in to kiss me, stirring butterflies in my core.
“Couldn’t find his hoodie?” Theo takes a step back, clearing his throat as Mia smirks at us. “Uh-huh, sure. I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“Sorry, Mia.” Theo smiles softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “She wouldn’t listen to me. I tried to tell her?—”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I brush him off. “He’s the troublemaker here. Not me.”
Mia arches her neatly trimmed brows and darts her attention between the two of us. “Trouble always finds trouble. Doesn’t it, Theo?”
He parts his mouth but is cut off.
“Wren?” Mia adds.
“I—”
She shakes her head, her turquoise hair bouncing as she grabs her coat. “Brandy, they’re here!”
“Finally, I’m starving!” The stairs creak, and not a moment later, she grabs her keys. “Let’s go before any of us. . . cough, cough, Wren, gets hangry.”
“Hey!” I say, trying to hold back my laugh. “I would never.”
“You called me the ‘penis guy’ the last time dinner wasn’t delivered on time. And it wasn’t a compliment.”
I purse my lips and huff at Theo. “I thought you were on my side.”
“I am, but that doesn’t mean you don’t scare me sometimes.” Theo drapes his arm over my shoulder as we walk back outside.
“Remember that one time you snapped at a kid for taking too long to order a burger?” Mia asks while opening the car door.
“That was a dark day.” Brandy shudders as she starts the car.
“I didn’t know this was pick-on-Wren day. . .” I grumble.
Theo rests his hand on the small of my back and ushers me into the back seat. The slight yet firm pressure is enough to relax my tense shoulders.
“In Wren’s defense,” Theo starts, pressing his thigh against mine while adjusting his seat belt. “The kid took five minutes to pick out his cheese.”
“Okay, okay,” Brandy chuckles. “Let’s get going before traffic piles up.”
The drive is relatively smooth, and we manage to beat most of the evening traffic into the city. Theo took it upon himself to make up for the pizza incident, even though it wasn’t his fault. Originally, I offered to cook his favorite meal, my signature cheesy lasagna, but after he showed me the modern taco joint with raving reviews, the decision was easy.
Theo, Brandy, and Mia are talking excitedly about something I’m not paying attention to. With a sigh, I rest my head on Theo’s shoulder and admire how passing streetlights highlight his features. I used to fantasize about kissing that jawline, and now I can do it whenever I please.
I would recall his scent when I needed his comfort, especially when I lived with my parents. He’s steady and unyielding—proving time and time again that he’ll do anything for me. I was never worried about what would happen after the video, but getting over that hump wasn’t easy.
In the end, Amanda never posted the video, and we both agreed we could rely on one another for complete support. We had to work through our own issues, and that meant going back to therapy. It was easier than I thought it would be. We both returned to our old practices, and it just snapped into place. We saved our relationship before it needed saving, and I’m going to remember that when I need it the most.
The hum of the engine turns off as the conversation continues, and everyone steps out of the car. I cling onto Theo and smile when he wraps his hand around mine. The cool evening air is replaced by the warmth of The Three Llamas, and the smell—I never had the pleasure of smelling anything so delicious in my life. I inhale the savory aromas with citrusy undertones of lime mixed with garlic and peppers.
“The pictures don’t do this place justice,” Theo whispers in my ear.
I shake my head, noting how his voice awakens chills down my spine. It’s not packed, but voices can be heard from the dining room. A woman with a bright smile greets us, and somehow, it grows wider when Theo takes the lead.
“Theodore Torres, I called ahead for four.”
“Please, follow me.”
Theo steps back so Brandy and Mia can go ahead of us. He places his hand in mine again, kissing my temple. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“Every day.” I smile shyly.
“But have I told you today?”
“You said I was ‘fucking perfect.’ Does that count?”
He cocks his head to the side and presses his lips together. “Close enough.”
Brandy and Mia get comfortable beside one another, and as our hostess distributes our menus, Theo pulls out a chair and says, “Do you have a separate gluten-free menu, or does this one state all allergens?”
Brandy meets my gaze with wide, impressed eyes, and I can’t help but blush. I always hate asking these questions, but Theo doesn’t give two shits.
“The menu has special icons that will show you what’s gluten-free. Don’t worry, your waitress will take good care of you,” the woman answers with no sign of annoyance.
“Thank you.” I smile, and she returns the gesture.
“Enjoy your evening.”
As I flip through the menu, my heart soars at all the prospects. I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere like this, certainly not with twenty-plus options at my disposal.
“See anything you like?” Theo asks.
“I don’t know where to start,” I say in awe.
“Get whatever you want.” My chair screeches against the hardwood as he brings me closer, allowing our thighs to touch. The subtle gesture makes me smile.
“All right, I can’t take it any longer,” Mia says out of nowhere, earning my attention. “You said you had something to tell us?”
“Your patience never ceases to astound me.” Brandy continues to flip through the menu.
“My stomach has been in knots all day!”
“Okay, okay,” I chuckle, placing the menu down. “Do you want to go first, or shall I?”
“It’s nothing grand,” Theo starts with a small shrug. “I decided to stop recording.”
All at once, the chatter in the room dies down, almost as if we gained everyone’s attention.
“Seriously?” Brandy asks, finally looking at us.
“I’ve wanted to for a while, and now that I have Wren?—”
“I think I’m gonna cry.” Mia sniffles. “This is the definition of grand. A true testament to your love.”
“We need to cut you off from rom-coms,” I laugh.
“I’m sorry. Please, continue.”
“Theo is going to start streaming video games, and. . . I quit my job.”
“What!?” Brandy and Mia all but shout.
“Relax. I’m going back to school to become a dietitian. Finally make a true difference and help people—the way I needed help.”
“She didn’t want to quit,” Theo adds. “But I convinced her it was the best option.”
No one says anything at first, and now my own stomach twists into a nervous knot. These decisions didn’t come lightly. Theo and I talked out each detail to the smallest what-if. While I’m not by any means financially secure, Theo strong-armed me and paid off my debts so I could start new.
We both have new paths, and while we don’t know where they’ll take us, we have each other, and that’s all that matters.
“I’m really happy for you two.” Brandy breaks the silence.
Her expression is genuine, soft and gleaming. I can catch Brandy in a lie from a mile away. So when her lips tilt into a grin, I nearly sigh in relief.
“I was happy first.” Mia cuts in.
“It’s not a competition.” Brandy sighs while massaging her temples.
“So, when’s the wedding?”
I almost choke on my water in response.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Theo chuckles, squeezing my knee. “Wren wants to finish school first.”
Yes, thank you.
“But I have my own plan brewing.”
“What?” It comes out in a higher pitch than I intended. “You said nothing?—”
“Ms. Wren?” a familiar voice calls, and when I glance over Mia’s shoulder, I grin widely.
“Robbie?”
“I swear he has a tracking device on me,” Theo murmurs, but I can hear his amusement.
“There’s my two favorite people.” Robbie scoops me in his arms, wrapping me in a firm embrace.
“Okay.” I pat his back. “Kinda tight.”
“Please don’t suffocate my girlfriend,” Theo groans.
“Aw, is someone jealous?”
He drops me back onto my chair before aiming his sights on Theo. “Don’t.” He raises his finger using a stern voice. “How did you know we were here?”
“Mia invited me,” Robbie responds nonchalantly.
“You two met?” My brows arch.
“Oh, yeah. I ran into him the last time we hung out. He was going on and on about you two, and I couldn’t help myself.”
“Plus, he has nice arms.” Brandy speaks up.
“What is happening?” I try my best to hold back my laugh, but it doesn’t work too well.
“Anyway—” Robbie positions a chair at the head of the table and sits back.
“You’re going to drain my wallet, aren’t you?” Theo asks.
“Me?” Robbie points at himself in feigned insult. “Never.”
Theo’s arm brushes against mine as he leans in to whisper in my ear, “We might need to record another video to cover his cost.”
My laugh finally boils over, and heat rises to my cheeks as he kisses me.
“In your dreams, Torres,” I manage to say.
“Oh, darling. Don’t you know? I’m living my dream.”
I lived in my dreams for so long. I used them to escape from reality—to hide from my pain—my mother. Now, as I look at the man I dared to dream about, with nothing but love and adoration in his gaze, I want nothing more than to be present and memorize each waking moment I spend with him.
“Eres mi mundo,” I whisper so only he can hear me.
Those eyes I used to fantasize about widen, and my heart just about bursts.
“Pasado la eternidad, mi amor,” he murmurs.
“What does that mean?”
“Past eternity, my love.”
His words echo in my head, and it takes everything I have not to grab onto him and hold him against me.
“Past eternity,” I repeat.
“Pasado la eternidad.”