Epilogue
BAILEY
This time, when I’m in therapy, I talk instead of staying silent in defiance. The time zone difference between France and the United States makes it a little rough, but it’s important. I can’t ignore the past if I want to move forward.
With the birth of the twins and the backlash from the interview Kiera gave, the media was relentless. It didn’t matter Henry and Mirabelle were at their house and I was at my parents’; the opportunity for a paycheck from a single photo featuring any of us was too great.
JJ and Hunter had it easier since they were on the other side of the country, but all of us were on edge.
By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, the twins and Javi had their passports and everyone flew to France for a much needed break. Mirabelle and Henry had officially received legal guardianship of Javi until the adoption went through so there were thankfully no issues regarding him coming.
Thirteen flew into France at the beginning of the week, but by the end of it, only six went back.
I could breathe so much easier without feeling like I was jumping out of my skin every time I left the house.
Mirabelle was desperate to shelter her kids as much as she could, especially Javi, after it came out they were adopting him.
There are enough people out there who will find something within seconds once something is public record.
Henry had previously decided to go against league standards by taking FMLA to help with the babies, so there was no rush for him to get back.
The first reporter who asked him about it—and what his teammates thought about him abandoning them during the season—was also the last reporter to ask about it, when he asked her if he should abandon his kids.
He followed up with a question of his own, asking if the reporter knew any of the statistics surrounding postpartum depression.
The clip went viral, and Henry’s approval ratings skyrocketed higher than ever before with jersey sales at a record high—especially once all his new fans realized he bucked tradition by taking his wife’s name.
Kaitlyn stayed because she wanted to be near the kids, but also because she was still determined to find herself during the gap year. Where better than Europe where you can take a train and find yourself in another country the same day?
I don’t know how I’m ever supposed to want to go back, but maybe by the time Christmas is over in a couple of days, I’ll be ready to rejoin society and everything that comes with it.
JJ invited Marley’s parents to come stay with us, and I was a little surprised he would willingly put them in the same room as our parents, especially knowing how they get around the holidays. Actually, how they are all the time, but who knows? Maybe they’ll be on their best behavior.
I started to connect the dots after walking into the library yesterday looking for Mirabelle, only to find JJ on one knee with a little black box and Mirabelle helping him correct his posture.
Kaitlyn shifts in my arms, her soft hair tickling my neck. “What time is it?” she mumbles and I look at the window to see how much light is coming in.
“It’s early. Go back to sleep.” I comb a hand through her dark hair as she sighs, inhaling a deep breath.
“What if I don’t want to?”
“I guess you don’t have to go back to sleep. I’m just saying the demons aren’t screaming yet, so there’s still time for some peace and quiet.”
Kait lifts her head as I stifle a laugh, knowing exactly how she’ll react to my nickname for the twins. “You did not just refer to our adorable niece and nephew as demons.”
“I absolutely did because that’s what they are— demons .” I raise an eyebrow at her, daring her to argue with me on it.
“But they’re so cute,” she counters because it’s really the only argument there is to make. Kait isn’t wrong. They are extremely cute, but only when they’re asleep.
“They also never stop screaming unless Henry is holding them.”
I don’t know what fucking spell he put on them, but he is the only one of us who can pick them, and within seconds, they’re not screaming anymore. Clem and Theo also have opposing sleep schedules, and it’s rare for them to both be asleep at the same time. This seems to be one of those rare moments.
“Okay, yes, but it’ll get better soon. They won’t be demons for long.”
“Or we can close our eyes and go back to sleep,” I say, using the element of surprise to roll us to where Kaitlyn is lying flat on her back and I’m settled comfortably over her, tucking my face into the crook of her neck.
My nose is immediately flooded with the smell of her lavender bodywash, and I instantly relax.
“In case you didn’t realize it, you also referred to them as demons.
How dare you?” I mock, as she sighs again.
“Shut up, B.” Kaitlyn moves underneath me, attempting to slip out from acting as my pillow.
“Stop moving. You’ll wake everyone up.”
“I am not going to wake everyone up by moving around,” she argues, and I press my lips against the curve of her neck where I know Kaitlyn likes, slowly teasing and working my way up to the slope of her jaw. Instead of pushing me away, her nails are now digging into my skin as she holds me in place.
“You’re not going to let me go back to sleep, are you?”
I adjust to support more of myself as she hooks a leg up around my thigh, intentionally dragging her body against mine. I take it back. The twins aren’t demons, Kaitlyn is. Two can play at this game, though.
Instead of giving Kaitlyn what she’s telling me she wants, I brush my mouth teasingly over hers. “Bailey,” she complains, and I avoid her lips entirely this time, planting a kiss on the corner of them.
“Yes?”
“Just kiss me.”
I swallow back a laugh at the impatience of her tone. “You’ll have to ask nicer than that.”
If looks could kill, I’d be burning in hell. Kaitlyn’s dark eyes narrow at me, and I’m honestly surprised she says it, despite gritting her teeth in the process. “Walker, will you please kiss me?”
Honestly, she makes it too easy to poke fun at her. My lips land on her cheek, avoiding her mouth still. “Are you kidding? I even asked nice,” she complains, her voice a threatening whisper.
“You didn’t specify where.” Kaitlyn opens her mouth and I finally press my lips to hers. I take my time, relishing in the moment because there was a long time where I didn’t think I’d ever end up in this situation with her.
Her teeth nip at my lower lip until I comply, surrendering to her. A groan escapes from the back of my throat as she shifts her hips against my erection.
It feels right to be here with her. I can be myself and it doesn’t matter what the other has done in the past. We’ve both made mistakes. Kait’s was being in a relationship with my twin and mine was a little bit darker than that.
“I don’t know if you can be quiet,” I tease, slipping my hand underneath the fabric to cup the soft skin of her breast, kissing her to capture the sound about to leave her mouth as I pinch the hardening peak of her nipple.
“Guess you’ll have to put something in my mouth to keep me quiet,” she says, and I plan to fully take advantage of the moment while we have it.
Mom swats JJ’s hand with the spatula as he tries to sneak a piece of bacon from around her. “Ouch!” He glares at her.
“I don’t care if your birthday is tomorrow. You can wait just like everyone else,” she points out as Javi starts dropping in blueberries and chocolate into the pancake batter from the chair he’s perched in next to her.
Right on cue, like every morning, one of the demons starts to shriek, followed shortly after by the other.
I do my best not to laugh as Henry comes in, triumphantly presenting a quiet Clementine as Mirabelle tries to soothe Theo.
Mira zooms in on my face, seeing right through me. “It’s not funny, Bailey.”
I put my hands up in defense as Kait turns to look at me with a raised brow. “I didn’t say it was.”
“I can switch with you,” Henry offers, trying to cut everyone else in the room a break.
“You touch this baby, and I swear we’ll never have another,” Mirabelle threatens, bouncing in a way I’m now very familiar with, which is how I know it kills your back and knees after more than a couple of minutes.
“Can I try?” JJ asks, reaching out for the baby before Mirabelle turns her murderous glare on him. He shrinks back, opting to wrap his arms around Marley’s waist instead.
Oh god, if this is how every day of having everyone here is going to go, it’s going to be a long week.
I mean I’m used to Mirabelle being frustrated Henry is the gentle giant with a knack for calming the babies, but it’s different with everyone else here piping in their two cents.
She told me a couple of days ago, in a sleep deprived state, she’s worried everyone will think she’s a bad mom, which is so far from the case.
Within a couple of minutes, all the real adults are seated at the table with their respective cups of coffee—by real, I mean my parents, Kaitlyn’s and Henry’s parents, and Marley’s.
Theo finally quiets in Mirabelle’s arms as she takes a seat at the table, instantly grabbing a cup of coffee that Henry made for her. He sits next to her, careful to support Clem’s head as he leans to press a short, endearing kiss to Mira’s cheek.
“ Le petit . . . déjeuner est servi, ”? 1 Javi says hesitantly in French, carrying over two plates stacked high with his favorite creation of blueberry and chocolate pancakes.
He’s been trying to learn French, but he’s second-guessing his feminine and masculine nouns which I understand all too well.
Instinctively, I hold my breath, waiting for someone to comment on how they don’t want these pancakes, but everyone, including Marley’s parents, digs right in.
Marley slides another plate to where Kaitlyn and I are seated at the island, which, at this moment, feels like it’s been designated the kids’ table.
“Thanks, Mar,” I say, smiling at her.