EPILOGUE
Tessa
FIVE YEARS LATER.
“Okay, so wait. He did what?!” Bria gawked through a bite of her sandwich. “No, no, and no, that position couldn’t have been comfortable.”
“Says the cheerleader who can fuck in a standing split.” I teased, my lips curling at both ends.
“Guilty as charged, and probably one of the easier positions if I’m being honest.” Bria casually winked as our bubbly laughter filled the small corner of the cafe.
We had made a small pit stop on our way to her Isla Day Spa, still needing to get our hair and makeup done before the day was through for tonight’s MUR gala.
The years had flown by since my first gala, and since then, we had become thick as thieves. It was refreshing to have a woman’s perspective for a change, and with her, I never had to worry about saying too much.
The secret of the MUR was a challenging one to hold under wraps, and having a friend like Bria around to confide in made life that much easier. While Lucas and Levi were more than enough, she was the best friend I never knew I needed.
Before heading out, our husbands had informed us that a new wife was joining the fray, but she hadn’t been initiated yet. Similar to the circumstances in which we were brought in. So, Bria and I could relate.
“Did Dallas give you her name?” I asked, taking a long sip from my caramel iced coffee as she cleared her mouth to speak.
“No, not yet, but he said she had the same rug pulled out from under her. Surprise marriage and all that nonsense...” Her lips twisted and nose wrinkled at the thought. “What is it with these men and their obsession with marrying us behind our backs?”
“Oh, don’t act like you don’t love what that drunk decision landed you. Most women would sell their souls for what we have, and hey, now we have another woman joining the sisterwives of the MU—”
“Tess!” Bria shrieked, dropping her food and slapping a hand across my mouth. “Girl, you really need to get yourself a filter.”
No matter how long it’s been, I still couldn’t break my old habits from Hollywood. “That’s why I have you, Bri. Besties for life!” I pursed my lips and blew her a kiss after she had removed her hand and resumed finishing her meal.
“Mhm. Don’t tell Ash that when you see her next. She’ll cut you for stealing her ride or die.”
“Yeah… hard pass, you know she intimidates me.” I whimpered into the lid of my cup, and Bria chuckled while finishing her last bite, checking the time on her phone.
“Oh shit, we’re going to be late.” She wiped her mouth with a napkin before slipping out of the booth and gesturing for me to hurry the fuck up. “Come on, Malibu Barbie.”
“Hey! We talked about that!”
“Then get that ass in gear and let’s go. If I can’t get these roots touched up before tonight, there will be hell to pay, and you’ll be the one footing the bill.”
“Your husband owns the fucking spa, Bri. You haven’t had to pay for a service in the last five years…” I sarcastically said to myself as Bria dragged my ass out of the cafe and around the corner toward Isla.
When I returned home after almost six hours with Bria at the day spa, I found both of my husbands relaxing in the living room—one taking a nap and the other watching a movie.
As I reached the edge of the couch, I gently lowered my bags to the floor and crawled along the chaise over to Levi, who wrapped an arm around me as I settled myself between his legs.
“Hey, babygirl. How was your day with Bria?” He softly spoke, while Lucas snored at the far end of the sectional.
“Good... Long.” I yawned, nuzzling my head just under his chin, not caring if it messed up my fresh curls as my body molded onto his.
“Your hair smells good. Aren’t you worried about ruining it?”
“Not in the least. I’d rather lie here for a few more hours and fix it later.” The hair could always be fixed, but moments like this were ones that I refused to pass up. The thought of never knowing when it could all be taken away…
Levi hummed his approval, sinking further into the couch as he held me close, and I shut my eyes, listening to his heartbeat with my ear pressed firmly against his chest—the slow rhythm soothing me like a lullaby.
Reaching for the remote, he turned off the TV, the penthouse now completely quiet as his hand rubbed along my side before pausing to rest on my hip.
“Kids…” Levi uttered with a gravelly tone, breaking the silence, and I tilted my head upward to meet his gaze.
“Hm? What about them?” I knew what he was referring to, and I also knew my response.
“Have you thought about having them? With us?” He was hesitant with his question, nervous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Levi nervous before. Always so confident, never unsure about his motives or reasoning.
“I have…” I cleared my throat, eyes drifting to his chest. “But every time I consider them, I fall back into the memories of my childhood. The life I never asked for… And then there’s the MUR, what we do…
I’m not sure if I want to bring a child into this world.
At least… not yet.” I felt bad for my answer, because looking into Levi’s eyes, I saw the glimmer of hope that I would say yes.
While Lucas didn’t care, he did, and there was guilt that followed in admitting that I wasn’t ready, and I didn’t know if I ever would be. “I’m sorry, Levi, I—”
“Babygirl, how many times do I have to tell you never to be sorry? Especially to us.” His hand cupped the side of my face, thumb caressing my cheek with a tender, loving touch. “I understand. I just thought I’d ask in case I was wrong in my assumption.”
“You’re not wrong, Levi.” I could always change my mind… “My decision on the possibility isn’t final and never will be—not unless a Doctor tells me otherwise. But for now… I just want you and Lucas. You’re all I need to feel whole and complete.”
“And you are all I need, Tessa. So don’t think for a second that my question changes anything.
” I needed to hear his warm and reassuring words.
I never wanted to disappoint my husband, and knowing that he wanted to raise a family and I was denying him of that privilege tore me apart.
“I will continue to love you with the same all-consuming passion with or without kids.”
“I don’t know what I ever did in this life to deserve a man like you, Levi…” There was a crack in my voice as I met his softened gaze with watery eyes.
“Likewise, babygirl…” Levi murmured with a charming smile, lowering his lips to meet mine as he wiped away a stray tear before relaxing against the cushions. “Likewise.”
When his eyes drifted shut, mine did the same, the three of us napping peacefully together.
Moments like this were what I’d dreamed of since I was a little girl. A life where I had nothing to worry about, and where I was loved unconditionally.
My world was perfect, in every flawless facet.
The End.