36. Epilogue
36
EPILOGUE
SIENNA
I still don’t believe in heaven or hell, but I do believe in love.
I am not a crazy person… at least I don’t think I am. It’s just that sometimes, despite all odds, despite all the terrible things that happen in this cruel world of ours, you meet someone who makes you question everything you thought to be true.
They are the plot twist you didn’t see coming, the unexpected punchline in some kind of cosmic joke, the thing you didn’t know you needed until you couldn’t do without it anymore.
Of course, none of this is to say that I don’t still like my vengeful streak. I do. And, luckily, I found someone who does as well.
“So, you both quit your jobs to start your own…” Olivia looks at me with questioning eyes.
“We’ve been over this. Keep up. It's an NGO focused on harnessing the skills of seniors and partnering them with the energy of the younger generation to collaboratively develop practical projects that benefit both groups at a local level.”
“You know damn well that isn’t the part I was talking about.”
“Aaand we also use it as a front to run secret missions that… serve the needs of the people.”
Olivia nods. “Yes, that’s the part I am not quite clear on.”
“I am not sure what’s so hard to understand,” I say, and shrug my shoulders. “We deal in justice and revenge. Revenge and justice. It was Ryker’s idea. He was looking for something to do that he doesn’t hate, where he can be useful, and I needed something to channel my righteousness in a more productive way, according to him, that is. So that’s what we do.” I shrug again. “You know how they say revenge is a dish best served cold? Well, what they don’t tell you is how much work goes into preparing a cold cuisine. There are so many things you need to consider. For example, three years ago, a senator voted to allow for a fracking site to be installed right next to a big school. Now they don’t have clean water on tap anymore. You know how much work it is to rig a Senator’s water supply to only dispense mud?”
“Haven’t you guys only been up and running a couple of weeks?”
“We hit the ground running… or in this case, digging. We got lots of ideas.”
“Next we’re going to shut down an illegal alpaca farm. The owner is not going to see the cage coming that we’re going to put him in,” Robyn says while opening the door and interrupting our conversation.
“Robyn! Did you bug my office again? I told you to stop doing that.”
“Relax! I didn’t. I stole Guy’s hearing aid.” She brushes her hair over one ear, revealing the small device. “It’s amazing what these things can do nowadays. Anyway, you two can’t stay. I got a date coming over. Don’t want him to think I’m not the boss around here, so scram.”
Olivia laughs and gets out of the chair she is sitting in. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll be out of your hair in no time.”
“I appreciate that.” Robyn pushes the door open all the way and impatiently waits for us to leave.
“Am I being thrown out of my own office?” I ask as Olivia grabs my arm and pulls me up.
“You work too much anyway.” She carefully shoves me out the door. “Let’s go enjoy happy hour down at the docks while our men are out doing whatever it is our men do.”
Robyn is about to chime in on the topic, but before she can, I drape her scarf over her mouth and shake my head. “I’d prefer not to imagine whatever picture you are about to conjure up.”
“Very well,” she mumbles under the fabric and waits for the elevator door to close. “Have a good evening at the docks.”
We pass Paul down at reception who bids us good night, and then we head straight for a cab that takes us to our favorite bar, where we order a round of beers and plenty of fried food.
“So how is Ryker doing with the change so far?” Olivia eventually brings the conversation back around.
“Good!” I say. “He seems much lighter with all the responsibilities lifted. I mean he still has responsibilities running our NGO, and he does still worry about Bruce, but that’s to be expected, I suppose.”
“Did Roman accept the job?”
“No, Roman declined. Said running conglomerates is for schmucks. Bruce and Barb are in charge of things. They are working on turning the whole thing into worker-run businesses, which seems to be going great.”
“And how about your new offices?”
“They’re good. Right where we need them to be. I mean, it’s a little weird to get out of bed in the morning, go up two floors and start working, but not in a bad way. Plus, guess who gets laid on their lunch break all the time?”
“Is it Robyn?” Olivia asks and neither of us can hold back the laughter.
She might be right about that. Half the time, I don’t have a clue where Robyn is or what she is actually doing.
It takes another three glasses of wine, two guys hitting on us, and a shot of something called Kiss and Tellquila before our men finally join us. All four of us have a nice night out and time to catch up.
It’s already somewhat late when the cab drops Ryker and myself off at Haven. When we enter the lobby, even Paul is nowhere to be seen, so we take the elevator up to my floor. I fumble through my pockets in search of my keys.
“Looking for these?” Ryker says and dangles them before my eyes.
“Oh, thanks, babe.” I grab the keys and (on the third try) slide them into the lock. “Wait, when did you steal those?” I ask as the door swings open. I step in, and if I had anything in my hands, I’d probably drop it. “What the fuck?” is the first thing that escapes my lips as I stare into an empty apartment. “Did I get robbed?” I rush inside and check every corner. “Someone robbed me! Am I not too poor to get robbed? Oh, no! They took all my grandma’s belongings.” I turn to check the nook where my bed used to be. “Man, they even took my Gordon Ramsey! Babe, we have to call—” I swivel around and discover Ryker down on one knee. “What the fuck?” I repeat.
“Sienna de la Vega, I know you’re kind of drunk right now which is why I am absolutely going to ask again tomorrow to make sure, but…” he opens the tiny box he is holding in his hands, “do you want to move in with me?”
I take a step towards him and look at the key that’s attached to a knitted keychain that spells ‘Babe’ . It’s incredibly cheesy and I love it. My cheeks are glowing as I let myself fall down on my knees in front of Ryker. Then I wrap my arms around his neck and try really hard to keep my chest from bursting.
“Did you steal all my belongings, babe?” I ask as my eyes water.
Ryker laughs. “You didn’t think you could steal my pants, and I’d let you get away like that, did you?”
My heart is banging against my chest like a sledgehammer and the smile on my face is so big that it makes it hard to kiss my boyfriend (and apparently new roommate). But I try anyway.
“Because,” he adds, his lips still on mine, “I’m not planning on letting you get away anytime soon ever again.”
I kiss him even harder, hug him even tighter, and cause us both to fall over.
“So is that a ‘Yes’ ?” Ryker asks.
“I’ll think about it,” I tease, and start attacking him with more kisses.
Apparently, Miles is waiting in the car for us, so, after a little more making out, we go outside and are escorted to undoubtedly the cutest house in the entire city. When we get there, we bid Miles good night and Ryker puts a blindfold over my eyes.
“You know I’ve already seen your house, right?” I ask and am swiftly swung over his shoulder.
“Our house, babe. Ours.”
He carries me inside, takes a corner or two and eventually lets me back down to my feet. When I remove the blindfold, I glance around and wonder where we are. I thought I had been to every room in his house, but I have never seen this one.
We are standing in a room that’s filled to the brim with pillows. Giant pillows, tiny pillows, pretty pillows, ugly pillows. It takes a second, but then I recognize a bunch of those immediately. They’re the ones my grandma made. Even the floor and walls are cushioned.
“I figured this would be a good idea for my kill room,” Ryker explains.
“A giant pillow fort?” My eyes start watering even more. “I love it.”
“Oh, it’s more than that.” He spins me around and points up to the sign that’s glowing over the secret entrance.
In big pink letters it says: Pillow Fight Club.
Underneath, written in Ryker’s handwriting, is the first rule of our own little club: You do not talk during Pillow Fight Club.
“Any additional rules need to be passed unanimously,” he whispers.
I take a few steps in, grab a pillow, and throw it against my boyfriend, who doesn’t move an inch. I smile at him and jump into his arms. “This is going to be so much fun. I already love living with you. You’re going to get your butt kicked so much.”
Ryker just chuckles as if he doesn’t believe me, which is when I discover my Gordon Ramsey cutout hanging on the wall.
“Hey, what is he doing here? He should be up in the bedroom!”
Ryker laughs again, presses a kiss on my mouth and whispers into my ear, “Over my dead body, princess.”
“You should be careful what you wish for, babe,” I reply, kiss him back, slide down his (perfectly alive (for now)) body, and grab a pillow to ready myself.
He does the same and stares me down. When he takes a step forward, I take a step back and inevitably bump into the hidden door behind me. A strange feeling makes its way through my body, something between exhilaration and anticipation of what lies before us.
I take a deep breath and begin to swing my weapon.
I still don’t believe in heaven or hell, I think as our pillows smash against each other, but I do believe in love.
What do you mean the book is already over?
How dare you?!
I know the problem and I’m sorry!
Luckily there is a solution.