Epilogue
Cooper
One Year Later
When I look back on my life, I can’t exactly say that I’m glad about the things that happened to me.
They were god-awful, and nobody should ever have to endure that type of treatment.
However, I can say that I love the person I managed to become as a result of surviving.
I love the strength that I gained. I love the way I have relearned to accept love.
As I stand here, looking at the man in the mirror, I realize that I love him. I love me.
This me has everything that six-year-old me hoped to have the day I crashed into Everett Davenport’s life.
That eighteen-year-old me felt he wasn’t worthy of.
That twenty-five-year-old me was too terrified to hope for.
Twenty-eight-year-old me has strength, courage, creativity, happiness, and a family.
Best of all, twenty-eight-year-old me has a man waiting at the end of an aisle.
The door behind me opens, and this time, the image in the mirror isn’t one of my past come to haunt me. Instead, my family stands there trying not to cry.
“Oh, look at you!” Mom gushes. “You’re just so handsome!”
Max beams at me, completely snark-free for once. “Ev is going to lose his mind.”
Lane gives me a nod as he steps up beside Max. “About time—I mean, the two of you were practically born married.”
I snort because he’s not wrong. The truth is that we’ve been operating as husbands since the day I inked my question into his skin—we just had to wait for the perfect date to make it official.
Once upon a July 10th, our lives changed for the better when two little boys met for the very first time.
It felt only right for that to be the date when our lives change once again, as those same two boys, now grown, stand together in front of their friends and family.
“Ready?” Max asks.
With one last glance at myself, I turn and walk into their embrace. “Ready.”
Everett
The sight of LB walking down the aisle is one I will never forget.
He looks stunning in the navy suit he picked for us to wear.
It fits him perfectly, clinging to each curve of his body.
Beyond the suit, though, the real showstopper is his smile.
It’s wide and lights up his entire face.
His eyes shine with unshed tears, and I feel my own begin to water.
When his hand slips into mine, the world around us quiets. It’s just the two of us here.
“Hey,” he breathes out.
“Hey, yourself.”
“You look amazing in that suit.”
“Thanks. My soon-to-be husband has great taste.”
LB blushes, and the officiant clears his throat, drawing our attention.
The ceremony begins, but I’m so distracted, staring at LB, enjoying the emotions that flicker across his handsome face, that I end up missing most of what is said.
It’s not until he turns to face me that the ceremony comes back into focus.
“Teddy. Can you believe we’re here? Twenty-one years ago exactly, you came into my life and completely changed everything.
You brought happiness, quiet strength, laughter, and comfort with you.
When I lost you”—his breath hitches—“I lost my heart. For a long time, my world was shades of grey. Then once again, you entered my life and saved me. Laughter became easier. I had a place to land when the world became too much. Color slowly began to seep back in. I knew at eleven years old that I loved you, that I wanted to spend my entire life with you. Now at twenty-eight, I get to stand here and make that a reality. So I just have one question for you.” He pauses before unleashing that same radiant smile that sealed my fate all those years ago.
“Can we be husbands? Because you’re the best person I’ve ever met, and it would sure be great if we could be nice to each other forever. ”
My restraint crumples, and tears begin streaming down my face.
I step towards LB, and he wraps his arms around me as I bury my face in my favorite spot.
He lets me hide until I’m able to gather my composure.
When I finally stop crying enough to string more than two words together at a time, I step back.
LB reaches up and wipes my face before he allows me to take a step back so the ceremony can continue.
A glance out into the audience shows that our family isn’t doing much better than I am.
I peel my eyes away before they set me off again.
Clearing my throat, I begin to recite my carefully prepared vows.
“LB. I gave you that nickname many lifetimes ago.
The truth is, though, that your size is the only “little” thing about you.
Your personality is larger than life. Your smile could blind the entire state with its brightness.
You love with your entire being. Your feelings are deeper than the Mariana Trench.
You experience the world in full technicolor, and my life was dull without you in it.
“You are the strongest person I know, and the fact that you chose me and continue to choose me leaves me in complete shock and awe. I just wish you could see yourself through my eyes.” Unable to resist, I brush my thumb across his cheekbone.
“If you could, you’d never again believe the voices in your head that sometimes try and bring you down.
But don’t worry, when we were ten years old, I promised to spend the rest of our lives loving you enough for the whole world, and I intend to do just that.
So yeah, Little Bit. We can be husbands.
I think being nice to each other forever sounds like a real good plan. ”