Epilogue – Ryan
“For the record, I told you so.”
My words were whisper-shouted into Dom’s ear as he led us towards the barricade. Exactly as I’d predicted, Xander and Max hadn’t stopped sniping at each other since we’d arrived.
“Give them time,” was Dom’s only response. “It’s just the surprise.”
Surprise, because we’d ‘forgotten’ to inform each of them that the other would also be attending. In our defence, we’d known neither of them would come if they knew beforehand.
I didn’t think any amount of time would be enough for Max and Xander to learn how to be civil to one another. I could hear them now, still bickering even as they followed us through the crowd.
“You’re absolutely fucking ridiculous. Everyone knows that ‘Night’s Darkest Secrets’ is their best song.” I didn’t even know Max had listened to a Caffeine Daydreams song, let alone knew them well enough to have formed an opinion.
“Um, no. It’s blatantly ‘Tease.’”
Max gave a dismissive snort. “You just like that one because the guitarist and the bass player grind on each other when they perform it.”
I glanced back to see Xander smile at my twin tauntingly. “No. It’s because of how the lead singer gets on his knees like the good boy he is.”
Max flushed, opening his mouth to no doubt throw another retort at Xander. I cleared my throat loudly, but before I could tell them to behave, Dominic was there.
He rounded on them, hands on his hips. “Really? Today of all days?”
I expected them to argue back. To tell Dominic to fuck off like they usually did whenever he tried to intervene. But to my surprise, their shoulders drew inwards, eyes dropping to the floor.
“Sorry,” Max grunted.
“We’ll behave,” Xander added.
I stared at the three of them. What the fuck was happening?
“Good.” Dom nodded approvingly. “Come on. We’re almost at the barricade.”
“We don’t need to be at the front,” I protested feebly even as we continued to weave through the crowd. “Honestly, I don’t mind.”
“Shut up,” he said, kissing my cheek. “My Shadow wants the barricade, then we’re watching from the barricade.”
Now I was the one blushing, almost as brightly as my twin had a few moments ago. But really, who could blame me? Dominic had me falling for him a little more every day—something I hadn’t even realised was possible.
I eyed his big shoulders as they slid through a group. Beneath his shirt was my latest work of art. After going through hundreds of possible designs, I’d finally settled on one I was happy with.
It had taken Dominic a little while to find an artist whose work he loved enough, but yesterday, he’d had yet more of my work inked onto his skin.
This piece sat right between his shoulder blades.
It showed a small woodland cabin, and the focal point was a bench outside, two figures entangled on it.
I couldn’t love it more.
Dominic was the same. The only reason he was even wearing a shirt was because the venue had a strict dress code. Plus, the artist had read him the riot act about how to look after it. It was only his fear of it not healing properly that had had him donning a shirt.
He still groused about it the whole time he got dressed.
Mind you, I couldn’t blame him for wanting to be shirtless today. Summer was in full swing, evoking memories of the first and only other time I’d seen this particular band live.
Once again, I was here with Dominic. We were in the same place—right at the front, mere feet from the stage—but everything else was different.
Max was with us, instead of being off somewhere else with his girlfriend.
I had a friend there too, Xander settling as far away from my twin as possible.
Best of all though, Dominic and I didn’t have to hide.
He was free to box me in with his arms, kissing my neck as he did so.
I could lean back into him without needing to keep our love hidden.
There was also no fear that Dominic would rather be off with Max instead. No worries about what the future would hold. I knew that already.
It would be spent with the man at my back.
Luca Weston and the other members of Caffeine Daydreams strolled onstage to thunderous applause.
I whooped and hollered, Dominic almost deafening me as he joined in.
The bass player and guitarist, Kai and Silas, exchanged a brief kiss before picking up their instruments.
Their coming out last year had dominated the headlines for months.
Their love story wasn’t the only one the paparazzi had had a field day with. I smiled as Luca blew a kiss to a man in the pit, on the other side of the barricade from where we were standing.
“Who’s that?” Dom shouted in my ear over the opening guitar riff.
“Luca’s husband,” I yelled back. “They got married a while back. He’s a journalist, I think.”
“And he comes to the shows? That’s so cute.”
It was cute. The band members’ romances had played out on the world stage, giving queer joy to many. Of course, there were haters, but their supporters outnumbered them a hundred to one.
Mine and Dominic’s relationship might not be the stuff of headlines, but it was just as special, nonetheless.
“Not as cute as you.” I twisted to give Dominic a peck. “Love you.”
“Pass me the sick bucket,” Max groused, leaning on the railing beside me.
I rolled my eyes, not even slightly bothered. If anything, I secretly loved the comment. Max and I were still finding our groove, but this sibling teasing felt almost…normal.
I’d give anything to have normal with Max.
Unfortunately, Xander didn’t seem to have got the memo. With us in between them, he resorted to leaning over the railing to glare at Max. “You better shut your fucking mouth before I do it for you.”
Now Max was hanging over it too, glowering at Xander with murderous intent. “I fucking dare you, trumpet boy.”
I groaned. Really? Today?
“Potassium pinecone,” Dominic barked.
I sighed in relief as both men settled down. How such simple words had them immediately falling in line, I’d never fully understand. But I didn’t need to. I was just grateful it had worked.
“Sorry,” Dom said, kissing just below my ear. “Didn’t realise they’d misbehave this badly.”
“At least no one’s punched anyone yet. The day is young though.”
“Don’t worry about them.” He gave me another kiss, drawing a shiver from me. “Let’s just enjoy this.”
“I am,” I promised, settling back against his chest. “Can you believe it’s been eleven years to the day since we last saw them?”
“I know. So much is different now.”
I twisted to kiss his lips. “The important things are still the same.”
“True. I never stopped loving you.”
I squeezed his forearm, right where his name for me was etched on his skin. “Same.”
The music caught our attention. Over the next hour, we sang until our voices were hoarse. We screamed when Luca went to his knees for his husband during “Tease,” joining the tens of thousands of others who were doing the same.
Finally, there was just one song left. I hadn’t been able to stop myself checking the set list. If this one had been missed off, I would’ve been devastated.
Luca spoke into the mic, his voice like silk even after performing. “For our last song, we want you to remember that feeling of wanting something desperately. Of yearning for someone until nothing else exists except for them. Let’s give it up for ‘Something.’”
Tears unexpectedly pricked my eyes as the lyrics washed over me.
All because you do something to me
Something that stops me being lonely
Something that makes me need you
For the love of all that’s holy
Say there’s something
That makes you need me too
I’d always secretly thought of it as mine and Dom’s song. It had captured what I’d felt for him back then. The desperate need for him to return my feelings.
And how I’d felt when he’d returned. I hadn’t been able to admit it, not even to myself, but it was true. I needed Dom to need me. To want me. To love me.
For the rest of our days.
Suddenly, I had to tell him that. But before I could, his hold on me dropped. I frowned as both Max and Xander stepped backwards too, like there’d been some secret signal I’d missed.
Oh god, was someone causing trouble? If some fucking drunk muppet was about to ruin the special moment I wanted to have with my boyfriend, I was going to—
I didn’t finish that thought.
Because, when I turned, there was no trouble.
Just Dominic on one knee.
A ring box in his hand.
“Shadow, I love you,” he said, raising his voice to be heard over the final notes of “Something.” Max and Xander, I realised, were using their arms to keep people back, giving Dom enough space to do this. “I’ve known you were the one for me since you yelled at me in an alley before kissing me.”
I snorted, swiping a tear away. “Not exactly how I remember it.”
Dom smirked. “I’m talking now, Shadow. Zip it.”
I mimed zipping my lips shut and gestured for him to continue.
“I wanted you before that,” he said, his green eyes shimmering as he stared up at me. “Before I even threw out that stupid challenge. I still can’t believe you fucking did that.”
“You loved it.”
“I did,” he replied honestly. “I love that you challenge me, Ry. I love that you never take any of my shit. I love that you know when to push, and when to hold me. I love that you never judge me for showing my emotions. I love that you made me work to win you back after fucking it all up.”
My heart was so full that I could barely draw breath.
“Most of all, I love that you love me too.” Dom’s voice broke. “You’re my Shadow, Ryan Davies. You’re part of me. Nothing can change that. But will you do me the honour of marrying me and making it official?”
I nodded furiously, swiping at my cheeks. “Yes, Dominic. Of course I’ll marry you.”
He slid the gold band onto my ring finger carefully. Suddenly I felt…complete, the weight of it sitting as though my hand had always been waiting for it.
“Fuck,” I choked. “Dom, I love you.”
“I love you too, Shadow.”
He surged to his feet and we crashed into each other, our lips meeting as the world around us faded away.
I poured everything I had into that kiss. The years of missing him. Of loving him. Of needing him, this wonderful man who’d refused to give up on us.
I owed Dominic everything. I’d pay him back by loving him with everything I had. It was no less than he deserved.
No less than what he was giving me.
Two sets of arms suddenly encircled us. Our lips broke apart as we laughed, being crushed by both Max and Xander.
“I’m so happy for you both,” Max whispered in my ear fiercely. “Truly. You’re going to have the best life. I’m so glad you’re together.”
“Thank you,” I said to my twin, holding his gaze so he knew much I appreciated him saying so. “That means so much to me.”
Xander had just finished congratulating Dom, but before he could say anything else, there was an outbreak of applause. It was so loud that the ground shook beneath our feet. “Guess the show’s finished.”
“No, Shadow.” Dom grinned broadly, looking at something over my shoulder. “Look.”
I let him turn me to see both our faces blown up on the giant screen behind the band. A camera had caught Dominic down on one knee, and the silent proposal was replaying to the entire stadium. My face turned crimson. “Oh my god.”
Dom wound his arms around me. “Do you mind?”
“Nah.” I cupped his face. “You always do want everyone to know I’m just yours. What better way to do that than in front of almost a hundred thousand people?”
His laughter kindled the fire in my chest. The one that had been steadily burning since I’d let him back into my life.
“Damn right, Shadow.”
There was a tapping on my shoulder. “Guys? That bloke is trying to get your attention.”
Max’s voice had us turning back to the barricade. I jolted as I spotted Luca Weston’s husband smiling at us, a massive security guard lurking at his back. “Sorry to break up the moment, but do you mind if Luca gives you guys a shout-out?”
I looked up to see all four members of Caffeine Daydreams arranged along the edge of the stage, grinning down at us.
“Um, sure,” I said, shock starting to settle in.
“Thanks,” he said. “What are your names?”
“Dominic and Ryan,” Max supplied. The man nodded, stepping over to the stage. Luca bent down so he could hear his husband.
“Sorry. Didn’t think you’d want them to call him Shadow,” Max said, meeting Dom’s gaze. “I know that’s your name for him.”
I was the one to answer him. “Thanks, man. That’s really thoughtful of you.”
Luca straightened, bringing his mic up to his mouth. “What a spectacular end to our show! We enjoy nothing more than seeing love being recognised and appreciated. We hope you’ll all join us now in congratulating Dominic and Ryan on their engagement.”
The ground shook once more as the stadium let loose. All around us, our faces were shining from every screen. I stared at one for a moment, noting the utter happiness and serenity in my expression.
Then I turned to the man responsible for putting it there, smiling when I saw him grinning at me with the same expression. “Here’s to never quitting.”
“Damn right, Shadow,” he growled, wrapping his arm around my waist and drawing me close. “I’ll fight every day to protect this life with you.”
“You don’t need to fight now.” I cupped his face in my hands. “Just love me instead.”
Dominic’s smile was so beautiful that I could have wept. “Deal.”
Thank you for reading the Shadow Duet.
Will we see more of these characters?
Maybe.
If this was your first book by me, and you’re not sure where to go next, then turn the page…