EPILOGUE
Three Months Later
KALEN
Life changed fast when I quit working for the government.
They had me in their New York offices for over three hours with questions about what I was going to do with my time and making sure I knew anything I’d learned during my time was under an ironclad NDA, but honestly, none of that even mattered.
My mom’s life had changed a lot too. Her lungs were getting worse, and she had mild cognitive impairment.
It meant she needed more people around her.
It meant she needed friends, and Rocco suggested introducing his mom to my mom, and honestly, I was scared when he said it.
My mom had no filter sometimes, and Rocco’s mom had that scary mob wife vibe—but they got along, to the point that it strengthened my relationship with Rocco.
The LGBTQIA center officially opened last week.
I had a job there working in information distribution.
I knew Rocco was doing his business there too, but I was staying out of it, like a good little boy.
In fact, Isaiah was the same with Santo.
We didn’t ever talk about their stuff, but we both knew they were capable of dangerous things.
At the center, Isaiah had taken on the role of manager. He joked about it being gifted to him by Santo, but he actually had a degree for the stuff. In his office, there was a wall of collectable Sublime teddies in their original boxes, all on show.
I knocked on the door before entering.
He sat in the large leather office chair with an oversized teddy bear on his lap. “Hey,” he said softly. “You texted me, what’s your idea?”
“I’m thinking we should hold a little’s gathering,” I said, the tip of my tongue pressed against my teeth in anticipation of the answer.
“Shut the front door!” Isiah let out in a squeal. “I was thinking the same thing. We’ve only just opened, so I wasn’t sure if we should do it right away, or if—”
I pulled out the chair opposite his desk. “It’s for the community. we should see if there are more people like us.”
“There has to be,” he said. “In their bedrooms, wishing for Daddies. We could totally help them find their Daddies.”
“I told Rocco about it, and he said he didn’t know if there would be interest,” I said. “But I’ve been on the forums, and I’ve seen people crying out for something in Boston. We’re all just bedroom littles. We should have something out in the world too.”
Isaiah extended his hand and I reached out with a high five. “We could host the world’s biggest tea party ever,” he said.
The idea of it stirred an excitement in me that made my toes curl inside the fancy black office boots I had on. “We’ll just have to keep our Daddies away,” I said.
“And Tomaso,” he added. “He’s been sniffing around here, trying to help, get in his brother’s good graces again through us.”
I had noticed that. Tomaso had undergone whatever happened in the family basement, followed by rehab—which I think was also done in-house.
I didn’t ask questions about it, but Tomaso seemed regulated now, with the exception of getting new tattoos weekly, and the appearance of some glittery dermal piercings.
“I also came in because I heard some news,” I said, nodding at Isaiah’s hand. There was a fancy silver band with little rainbow gems embedded within it. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Isaiah giggled. “I can’t believe he asked me. I always heard of the Bianchi reputation for never being in long-term relationships, but now he’s like, committing himself to me.”
“Because he loves you,” I said in a sing-song tease. “Because he wants you.”
Isaiah joined me in the singing. I was so happy to have made a friend, a real friend who played in little space and knew what í was going through.
I supposed all we needed now was a community hall filled with littles, and I was going to make sure that happened.
I was an analyst after all, I knew there was a demand for little’s in this space—even if it was a big space, we could always make it little.
Rocco came to the office door, here to collect me for lunch.
He knocked, taking up the entire width of the door.
Those deep lines in his forehead from frowning had softened since we’d started dating, and he’d also been going to the gym a lot more, which meant he was getting bigger—and I could be a true pillow princess, and by pillows, I meant his chest.
“Our moms are making us lunch,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“Together?” I turned in the chair, and even Isaiah gasped.
“Yes, together, in the kitchen,” he said.
“Okay, let’s—”
“Here,” he added.
“What? They’re here?”
“Just arrived,” he said, moving out of the doorway.
There was a view down the hallway, and my mom was dressed in a kaftan.
She waved at me in the office and blew a kiss.
It was nice to see her in a fun, playful mood.
“Also, congrats, Isaiah. I think they’re here because they heard about Santo and you. They’re gonna want me to propose now.”
“No,” I blurted. “I mean—” I’d thought about what it would mean to marry him, but I didn’t know if it was too soon.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I don’t plan on asking you yet.” He winked at me, holding out his hand all the way out the door.
As I left, Isaiah wished me luck.
There was one thing worse than my mom conspiring against me, and that was both of our moms conspiring. Butterflies returned, and I prepared for the best—and the worst. This was my life now, and I’d made peace with it.
And then there was one Bianchi brother left.