Epilogue
EPILOGUE
J ax
Staring up at the night sky, I wrap my arm around Harley’s shoulders. We’re sitting at our spot, on an open sleeping bag, waiting for the fireworks to start. As she sits in front of me, I bury my face into her hair and inhale her intoxicating scent. These past several months with her have been everything I could’ve ever dreamed of.
After the semester ended, Harley moved into the mini mansion with me. Watching her go all out in decorating for Christmas made me fall in love with her all over again. She insisted that despite us spending the holiday with my parents, the home should still feel festive.
The best part about all of it? The guys treat her like one of their own. Her and Jace are practically attached at the hip. Ross and Quinton would rather go home and hang out with her than party anymore. Justin will spend time with her when Alicia isn’t around. But the biggest surprise is her and Declan’s relationship.
Harley has brought him out of his shell since moving in. He’s probably more protective over her than any of the guys. I honestly think she knows more about him than any of the pack does. They regularly have long, uninterrupted talks. I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve found them both asleep on the couch in the living room with hockey playing on the TV.
Her and Quinton have had many movie marathons and are actively binge watching The Vampire Diaries —for the second time since her birthday. I didn’t realize how much he loves dramatic paranormal series until now. I knew he enjoyed watching things like that, but not to this extent.
The best part about these last few months is the dramatic change in Harley’s confidence in herself. Ever since the night she killed her parents, she’s been a better version of who she was before. She eats a more well-rounded diet and doesn’t spend an excessive amount of time running the calories off like she used to. She even started lifting weights with me and packing on more muscle than anything.
Her finger lightly taps my forearm, drawing my attention to her. A cool winter breeze rustles the trees around us, making her hair shift too. She tilts her head to the side, her focus somewhere off in the distance.
Brushing her hair over her shoulder, I bring my lips to her ear and whisper, “What’s on your mind, pretty girl?”
She shakes her head as she attempts to articulate her thoughts. “Just thinking back to the first night you brought me here,” she admits, her fingers playing with the sleeve of my coat.
“What about it?” I murmur against the skin beneath her ear.
“There were so many firsts for me that night. First time I called a guy for help. First time I rode on the back of a motorcycle. First time I ate a burger that made me contemplate all my life choices.” We both laugh at the burger statement before she adds quietly, “First orgasm. It really was a night to remember.”
Tightening my arms around her, I say, “We still have other firsts to add to the list.”
“Yeah? Like what?” she asks, shifting to look at me over her shoulder.
“First dance, first anniversary…” I trail off with a smile.
“Both very important things,” she says, shifting around until she’s on her knees between my spread legs.
“Very important,” I agree, placing my hands on her hips and lifting her to straddle my lap.
She runs her fingers through my hair, a smile lifting the corners of her lips. “I cannot believe you still have pink hair.”
“Yeah, well, losing that first game once the pink finally faded was a bad time. You’ve created a new superstition for the entire team. Now every captain for the KRU Wolves hockey team will have to agree to keep their hair pink for the entire season,” I tell her.
“Luckily for you, I think your pink hair is sexy as fuck,” she says, her smile growing.
Grinning back at her, I lean in until our lips brush. “You’re so cute when you say ‘fuck’, I almost don’t know what to do with myself,” I tease.
“It’s your fault. You wanted to corrupt me. Remember?” she whispers, her eyes dancing with mirth.
“Oh, I am well aware of how well I corrupted you. I believe I heard you lay into Justin about leaving his hockey gear in the laundry room the other day. I’ve burned it into my memory,” I admit shamelessly.
Harley’s phone starts to vibrate in her coat pocket. She pulls it out, her brows pinching together when she looks at the name on the screen. She slides her thumb across the screen and lifts the phone to her ear.
“Hey, what’s up?” There’s a pause, and all I can hear is a panicked and upset Alicia. “What do you mean he proposed? I thought you told him—” Harley’s eyes go wide. “Justin?”
“What about Justin?” I ask quietly.
“Hold on, Cia,” Harley says. She presses the speakerphone button and adds, “Start from the beginning.”
“We were at the restaurant,” Alicia explains, her words shaking. “And next thing you know, he’s down on one knee…”
“Ryan?” Harley clarifies.
“No. Justin. Justin was on one knee.”
“Why were you at dinner with Justin?” I ask, confused.
“I wasn’t. I was at dinner with Ryan. Justin was across the restaurant with Bailey. He…” Alicia’s words trail off and a sob comes through the phone. “He proposed to Bailey.”
Harley gives me a look and all I do is shake my head. I had no idea he was planning to propose. Him and Bailey haven’t even been together for very long. A couple months at most.
“Harley, I think…I think Ryan took it as a challenge.”
“What do you mean?” Harley asks sharply.
“I’m…” Alicia stops and takes a deep breath. “I’m pretty sure he just made a call to his driver to take us to a jewelry store after this.”
“Are you going to marry him?” Harley shrieks.
There’s a brief silence, and then Alicia mumbles, “Why not? If Justin can do it, so can I.”