Epilogue
Koa
Six Months Later
Twigs crunched under our feet as we walked through the brush. It was a warm day in mid-June, the sun mercilessly beating down when exposed. Luckily, the path to the river was heavily covered, which made the hike more bearable.
Riot walked quietly next to me when the trail was big enough for us to be side by side, like it was now.
He was happy, humming to himself and enjoying the rare time with just the two of us.
Cara had come over and was watching the kids with Knox and Wynter.
She was doing much better but still had her struggles.
I’d told her she didn’t have to, but she’d insisted.
“I’m tired of feeling like an invalid, and I miss my babies.
We’ll be fine.” Knox and Wynter had both promised to keep an eye on things too, so I felt better about it.
Riot had had questions, obviously, when Cara had shown up and I’d dragged him out of the house, but he’d kept them to himself.
Every once in a while, I noticed him sending me curious looks, but that was it.
He wasn’t usually one for surprises, but he seemed to sense how much I wanted this to be one.
Besides, by now at least, he knew where we were going. He had as soon as I’d pulled my truck off the side of the road, near the path he’d always taken to meet me at the river as kids.
“Are we having a romantic picnic, Ko?” he asked, giving me a saucy smile as we finally cleared the brush and found ourselves at the bank.
“That’s part of it,” I confirmed.
“You’re so sweet. Did you bring a blanket?” he joked, since I always brought it.
I rolled my eyes. “Obviously.” I dug in my backpack and pulled out the same blanket I had used all those years ago.
When my aunt had kicked me out, I hadn’t taken much with me.
They had given me ten minutes to pack everything I could, and I’d had to leave behind anything they’d bought for me besides clothes, like my computer.
But I’d managed to sneak this. It meant too much to me.
It had been the starting point of my relationship with Riot. No way was I letting her keep that.
Riot’s eyes widened as he saw the faded, worn thing. “Holy shit, is that . . . ?”
“Yup.” I hadn’t used it since we’d moved in together, leaving it folded in a bin in our closet. But I knew there had to be a reason I’d saved it, and today was it.
I spread it out before taking the cooler and my backpack and placing them in the corner and out of the way. I took a seat in the center and patted next to it.
“Come sit, sweetheart.”
Riot looked like he was going to cry, and I understood.
It was nothing, really, but it was everything to us.
He flopped down, his head immediately falling into my lap.
“At least it’s not as hot over here.” Echoing my sentiments from earlier, he complained, “It’s fucking brutal already and it’s barely summer. ”
I hummed my agreement as I ran my fingers through his hair.
“Yeah, if this keeps up, I am not looking forward to camp this year.” Light, voluntary practices always started in July, and the second week of August was the beginning of mandatory camp.
I tried my best to keep practices early or later in the evening, but even then it could become intolerable.
“You would think I’d be more used to the humidity by now.”
“I’ve still yet to experience this dry heat you’ve been talking about for twelve years.”
I ran my other hand over his shoulder and down his chest. Riot was wearing a white tank with blue shorts that came to mid-thigh and were insanely sexy. “One day we’ll take the kids to the West Coast, where I grew up. Maybe even Hawaii.”
Riot tilted his head up to look at me. “You never talk about Hawaii.”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t even born there. I’ve never been. And for some reason my aunt got really fucking weird when it was brought up. But I knew Dad always wanted to take me back, show me Mom’s home and her culture. He just never got the chance.”
Riot grabbed my arm and squeezed. “We’ll go there one day. I swear it.”
I smiled softly at him, tears forming in my eyes. “I’d really like that.”
Riot pursed his lips, asking for a kiss that I was happy to oblige.
When we broke apart, it hit me that it was time. I’d decided to wait till after we ate, but I didn’t want to anymore. Now was perfect.
I gently pulled myself out of Riot’s hold so I could reach my backpack. He frowned, wondering why I was moving, but I ignored him, unzipping the front pocket before pulling out a small black box.
“The first time we did this, it was a formality more than anything. I’ve taken it seriously every single day and I know you have too, but our reasons and the way we handled it was a business transaction, and I’ve always fucking hated that.
“I love you, Riot. I love you in every conceivable way a person could love someone. I love your laugh, your horrible taste in music, your beautiful sculptures and art. I love the way you care for me and fiercely protect everyone who is important to you. I love the way you give 100% to everything. I love how you always forget to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer and complain about how I load the dishwasher. I love your brilliant mind, your caring, compassionate soul. The way you insist on wearing socks to bed like a fucking psychopath. I love you, Riot, and I want our marriage to mean something. Really fucking mean something.” I opened the box.
“So, will you marry me again? For real this time?”
At some point during my speech, Riot had sat up and turned so that he was facing me. He was kneeling in between my legs, which was the opposite of how this was supposed to go, but he didn’t seem to care. Tears rolled down his eyes as he stared in the box.
The rose-gold band was thick, like a traditional male wedding band, but instead of one solid color, this one had three rows of different stones.
The middle was diamond and was sandwiched by two rows of galaxy opals in blue and purple.
It was already on a brand-new gold chain so he could wear it around his neck.
“I also got you a custom-made silicone band that matches this,” I added quickly.
Riot grinned before launching himself at me. I barely kept my balance as his mouth attacked mine.
“Fuck, Koa. It’s so beautiful, and yes, yes, I’ll marry you for real. I love you. Wait, I want to get you a new band too. Something that represents this stage of our lives.”
Great, now I was crying too. “Yeah, yeah, okay, baby. I’d really like that.”
Riot shoved at me lightly, and I willingly fell back down on the blanket, letting him lie on top of me and kiss me again.
“Fuck, Koa. I love it, and I love you. Put it on me?”
“Of course. You gotta get up for me to put the chain on.”
“Don’t wanna.”
I laughed. “Okay. We’ll figure it out.”
Just like we’d managed everything over the years. Because no matter what happened, no matter how our relationship grew and developed, one thing was certain. Riot and I would do it together.
The End