Epilogue
Brooke
“I think I’m coming around to this whole dating rich thing,” I tell Marcus, linking my fingers with his and leaning into his side as I take in the interior of the private plane. It’s insane to see the difference between people who spend their money just to prove they have it versus spending it to help dreams come true for those they love.
“Is that so?” he looks down at me with a smirk before kissing the top of my head. “Wait until you see the bedroom.”
My eyes go wide. “There’s a bed? On a plane?” I’ve seen it in movies, but that’s totally different than experiencing it in real life. “I guess we should probably let Maci and Dean have it since it’s their wedding, huh?”
He gives me a pointed look. “I’m a giving man. I chartered this plane for them. But, I know for a fact those two have already joined the mile high club. So, this room is ours for the next seventeen hours.”
I slap his chest. “We can’t stay in there for a whole day.”
“Says who?”
“What are you going to do? Handcuff me to the bed?”
He raises a suggestive brow at me. “If you want me to. ”
I grin. I love this man and everything in life we’ve explored over the past six months together. It’s been mostly work, but Marcus has been so much better about taking time to enjoy other things. True to his word, we’ve taken a monthly off-the-grid camping trip, and he has a few resorts booked for the start of the year when it’ll be too cold. Plus, whenever he can afford a full night off work, he pays a driver to take us to Portland or Vancouver. We’ve been slowly making our way through the list of breweries, wineries and local restaurants. He’s only half the workaholic he was before. And some of his work includes helping me since my business has been killing it the past few months. Once we get back from Australia, Maci and Dean are moving out, and we’re turning their room into my office.
As we walk through the aisle of the plane, everyone else is getting situated. We were the last to board as Marcus chatted with the pilot. Dean is hanging everyone’s wedding clothes in the closet at the front of the plane. Maci and Avery are sitting next to each other in two massive tan leather seats with their book club book on their lap as they look out the window. Lexy is straddling Troy in a seat across the aisle, whispering what I’m sure are sweet nothings in his ear. Typical. I chuckle, squeezing Marcus’ hand, and he kisses my head again. Troy’s best friend, Cooper, sits at the window seat in the next row back with Dean’s sister, Sophie, lying in his lap, her Kindle held above her face as he runs his fingers through her hair.
Maci and Dean’s parents, Marcus’ family, along with Avery’s husband, their kid, and a few other friends are flying down in a couple of days. The rest of us are going early to celebrate like a joint bachelor and bachelorette .
I do not envy those two planning their guest list. I know Dean’s dilemma with whether or not to invite his dad would be similar to one I’d have with my mom. She called about two months after we got home from New York to tell me that Beau was under investigation for disbarment. Of course I already knew that. Marcus’ lawyer felt obligated to file a grievance once they found hard proof that he was illegally winning cases. My mom attempted to disguise her holier-than-thou attitude as love and care for me, but I see right through it. She went on about how it’s a good thing I didn’t end up with him, and that if I was happy without money and felt safe, that’s what matters. I chose to keep a few facts about Marcus to myself because she doesn’t deserve to know. And she proved me right by dropping all communication with me since–assuming there’s no point in her maintaining a relationship that doesn’t benefit her. I’ve felt plenty of love from Marcus’ family, though, and Dad has visited twice already. It’s more than enough for me now, and I’m so thankful I’ve let go of my need for my mom’s approval.
Marcus leads me to the bedroom in the back, opens the door and guides me through with his hand on my lower back. Looking behind me, I catch Lexy shooting me a wink before we disappear into the room. Marcus closes the door, then backs me up against the queen bed covered in a fluffy white comforter. I fall backward on it, letting it consume me like a cloud. Glancing back to Marcus, I eye him, standing at the end of the bed, staring down at me.
“What?” I grin.
“A glimmer,” he says, his elbow propped on his hand across his chest as he runs his thumb across his bottom lip.
“A private jet bed? ”
“You.” Without giving me time to respond he kicks off his shoes and crawls until he’s hovering over me. “You spark joy every time I see you. Think about you. Remember that you exist.”
I smile as he brushes his thumb across my cheek, then rolls to his side, not taking advantage of me yet. I turn toward him, my hand landing on the hem of his jeans where his black tee rides up a bit.
He kisses me softly, pulling me closer. “These past six months with you make me angry that I didn’t find you sooner.”
“I know,” I tell him, running my hand up his back and down his side until it’s resting on his hip again. “But it’s better this way. Everything has fallen into place, you know? I don’t think that would have happened if we weren’t ready for it–if we hadn’t experienced life and lessons the way we did before we met.”
“You’re right. I’ll just have to appreciate all the time in the rest of our lives.”
I pause, not concerned about the conversation I’ve been wanting to have but not exactly jumping to have it. Though, a wedding seems like the perfect excuse to bring it up. “Do you remember what you said to my mom? That day you met her–at lunch.”
His thoughts drift back in time before he quickly snaps back to the present with recognition. “About marriage.”
I nod.
“What about it?” he asks slowly.
“Do you mean it? That you don’t want to get married. That you want to wake up next to someone because you want to, not because you’re supposed to. ”
He searches my face like he’s afraid to give the wrong answer. “I do. How do you feel about that?”
“I think that was part of the reason I left Beau. I’m not afraid to commit to someone. The right someone.” I pause, deciding to take a leap. “To you. It’s just . . . what you said really resonated with me.”
“I meant it. It’s something I’ve thought about a lot since I first heard it. I would reconsider if it’s something you wanted, though.”
I smile at the consideration and him holding true to no kids being his only non-negotiable when it comes to me. “I’m so happy Maci and Dean are taking this step. I think it was almost,” I search for the right word, “necessary? Because he didn’t commit to her for so long, you know?”
He nods in agreement.
“And Lexy and Troy. Marriage is everything they didn’t think they’d ever have. Now that they get to see it in a new light–that it can be something healthy–I think it means so much that they get to live happily ever after that way. But me? When I was supposed to marry Beau, it was a contract. I was signing up to act a certain way, be a certain way. I know it wouldn’t be like that with you. But I don’t feel pulled to try it any other way. I like how we are now.”
“I love how we are. I’d marry you in a heartbeat, love. But I don’t need to sign a piece of paper to stick around. I want to continue to grow with you, learn new things, try new things .” He wiggles his eyebrows at that. “Be whoever we want to be with trial and error until we find versions of ourselves we love in whatever season of life we’re in. We don’t need a couple of rings to walk that path.”
“Or a prenup.” I make a face.
“I would never make you sign a prenup.”
“I thought you were a smart businessman,” I tease. “I would make me sign one.”
“Well it’s a good thing we aren’t getting married then, isn’t it? Plus, you’re not doing too bad yourself.” He grins, proud.
Last month, I secured a deal with the cancer wing of the hospital. Through donations, family members can fill out the forms for their sick loved ones. One company downtown hired me to make boxes for over one hundred of their employees, loving the idea that they can show they aren’t just another corporation that treats all their workers as replaceable and the same. It’s better than I ever dreamed when I initially had the idea to make my first boxes for Emma and Charlotte.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Yes, you could have. But I’m so damn glad I get to do it with you. Best investment I’ve ever made.”
“Because your stake in my company is paid out in sex?” I ask, teasing him. Of course he’s a true shareholder.
He chuckles. “I hope you don’t give the bonus you give me to any of your other investors.”
“Lucky for me, my boyfriend is rich.” My playful grin widens. “I don’t need any other investors.”
He goes serious. “You know, even if I didn’t earn another penny, I’d still be rich. I’ll always be rich as long as I have you.”
I roll my eyes even though I love his cheesy lines. “I love you.”
He leans in, pressing his lips to mine, then only pulling back marginally. “I love you.”
“Good.” I grin. “Now let’s join that mile high club you were talking about.”