Epilogue
VIOLET
In spite of my short conversation with Jagger the morning after his fight, I gave him a week of recovery before twisting his arm into telling me some of the finer details about what he’s been up to in The Drift.
At first, he didn’t want to give them to me.
He wanted to keep me safe, as he put it.
I told him he’d always keep me safe. He didn’t deny that part.
Instead, he opened the can of worms and filled me in.
Not going to lie, it was pretty eye-opening, and I have a feeling they’re in for a bumpy ride.
No, we’re in for a bumpy ride. Never thought I’d say those words.
That I’d lump myself in with the Harden brothers.
I always figured The Drift was my home. In a way, it still is, but it feels more like a distant memory with bittersweet moments I look back on than a tangible place I want to visit.
Nope. It’s like what I told Jagger during his fight with Ethan.
He’s my home now.
And if it wasn’t for Lexie or the future Harden events I know will take place in Drift territory, I’d be happy to stay on Harden grounds with Jagger, his family, and June for the rest of my life.
Speaking of June, our girl met someone. They aren’t official or anything, but he’s a schmexy fireman from a good family, and it’s been nice knowing I can stay at Jagger’s without feeling like I’m completely failing as a roommate.
Which brings me back to now. Kissing the tip of my nose, Jagger murmurs, “I have something for you.”
“Oh?”
“Stay here.” Climbing out of his bed, he rummages through his underwear drawer with his back muscles on full display and a pair of sweats hanging low on his hips. A bruise takes up part of his side. It matches the fading marks on his face.
Still sexy as hell.
I sit up a little more on his bed, letting the sheets pool at my waist while trying to sneak a peek at whatever he’s searching for. “What are you doing?” I ask.
“Patience.”
My lips bunch on one side, but I stay quiet.
Slipping something behind his back, Jagger faces me again but doesn’t move closer. Why does he look…guilty?
“Is there a problem, Mr. Harden?”
He rocks back on his heels while his hand stays firmly behind him. “Promise you’ll accept it.”
“Accept what?”
“The thing I’m about to give you.”
Talk about an ominous turn of events. Hell, I can feel his nervous energy all the way from here. What in the world would this man have to give me? Let alone make me promise to accept? Yeah, something feels fishy.
My brows pull as I watch him from across the room. “Are you serious?”
“Promise me,” he pushes.
He wouldn’t…he wouldn’t ask me to marry him, right?
Not that I would even necessarily say no.
Long engagements are a thing, and I know he’s my forever, but still.
He wouldn’t. Would he? It’s not my birthday.
It’s not Christmas. It’s not even close to our anniversary.
So…why is this man acting so strange? Twisting the sheets in my lap, I blurt out, “Okay, you’re officially freaking me out—”
His dry laugh cuts me off. “It’s not a ring,” he promises, moving toward me.
Dammit. The man knows me too well.
The mattress dips as he sits down and kisses my forehead. “Although, with the look on your face, I’m not sure if I should be offended.”
“Trust me, you have nothing to worry about,” I reply, but I don’t miss the way he’s still very much keeping something behind his back. Seriously, what is he hiding from me?
“Good, because one day, that’ll come, too. Just not yet.” The promise leaves a swell of butterflies in my stomach. “Right now, we’re talking about a different surprise, which I’d love to give you, but only if you promise you’ll accept it.”
Rubbing my lips together, I peek up at him. The slight wrinkle of his brow from a minute before is missing, and the crinkles around his eyes have deepened. He isn’t nervous anymore. He’s…excited? Or amused. That’s definitely a possibility. Hmm.
“We don’t have all night, Vi.”
I mean, technically, we do, but…
“Fiiiine,” I cave. “I’ll accept whatever you’re about to give me.”
“No questions asked?”
“No questions asked,” I grumble.
With a sly smile, he shows me what he’s hiding.
“Here.” In his hand is a wad of cash. And not just any wad of cash.
My wad of cash. As in, the cash my dad stole from me and handed over to Jagger.
God, it feels like a lifetime ago, but I’d recognize those bills anywhere.
My lips part as I stare at the money before my attention flickers to his handsome face.
It’s been a couple of weeks since he fought Ethan.
And even though the bruises are turning from black and purple to yellow and green, he looks handsome as ever.
“How did you…? Why did you…?” I fight the urge to cry. “Jag…”
“It’s yours,” he counters.
“Jagger—”
“You promised you’d accept it,” he reminds me.
“Well, yeah, but—”
“No take-backs, Vi.”
I want to. Boy, do I want to.
I run my thumb along the outer bill, my eyes welling with tears.
He knows me too well. Knows I would’ve backtracked.
Would’ve told him he earned it after everything I’ve put him through and everything he’s done for me.
Yet here it is. The thing that brought us together.
The thing I thought would literally make or break my future.
My teeth dig into the edge of my bottom lip as I peek up at him.
“What about your rules? All bets are final, remember?”
“Made an exception.” He sits next to me on the bed and wraps his arm around me. Like that’s that, and he didn’t just rock my world.
“I thought you didn’t make exceptions,” I whisper, unable to tear my attention from the money and the future it promised until my father stole it from me.
“You’ll always be the exception, Little Thief.” Tugging me into him, Jagger kisses me gently, and I melt.
Man, do I melt.
I never thought karma liked me. Never thought I’d experience good luck or kismet.
Nope. I thought I was destined to a life filled with heartache and despair.
But if I had to go through everything in this life, all in order to end up here.
In Jagger’s bed. With someone who loves me so fully.
I’d do it in a heartbeat. Over and over again.
Looking down at the worn bills in my hands once more, I whisper, “I thought this money ruined me. But it was you.”
“Me?”
“You’ve ruined me, Jagger Harden.” I kiss him again, unable to help myself. Hell, I’m brimming with happiness and gratitude and absolute awe that Jagger Harden is mine to kiss in the first place.
When he pulls away, I don’t miss the gentle tilt of his lips as he tosses my words back at me. “I’ve ruined you, huh?”
“Mm-hmm.” I give him a watery smile of my own. “But only in the best way possible.”
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.