Epilogue
Rico – One Month Later
This community is amazing.
It feels like we only just had the big fundraiser at Christmas for the fire station’s new helicopter, which we’re still working toward. But after word got out that the fire at my building was the result of a crazed stalker, people were tripping over themselves to do something to help.
Because, yes. Emerson really was so deranged after Jesse rejected him that instead of finding himself an AA meeting, he spent the next couple of hours getting supplies so he could syphon gas from cars in the parking garage, tampered with the software that operated the sprinkler system, and bought even more bottles of whiskey just so he could set them on fire to light up the fuel he’d trailed through the apartment building.
Padilla said he folded like a napkin almost immediately. What’s more, they were able to tie him to several more fires in the area, including the office building call the One-Thirteen attended with the OD victims in the basement.
All the blazes were started with Molotov cocktails.
I just hope where Emerson is going, the state ensures he gets the help he needs. He clearly has a lot of serious issues.
Thank god Jesse was able to get away from him unscathed.
In fact, by some miracle, everybody made it out of the apartment building that night without serious injury.
There was so much damage that the building had to be condemned, which still absolutely sucks.
And Jesse and I lost pretty much everything from our home.
But him putting all of Daria’s most prized possessions inside her ottoman bed actually did protect them from the fire and even most of the water damage, which felt more important to both of us.
As much as we appreciated Trixie putting us up in one of her rooms that first night, it wasn’t really our style, so we prioritized finding a place to rent elsewhere.
I know Adam felt guilty that he couldn’t drop everything to come support us.
But he’s been really awesome helping as much as he can with our logistics and he absolutely refused to take no for an answer when he told us he was going to pay our first three months’ rent.
I think he still wishes he could have used his insurance to help Jesse with his recovery a second time.
But as we all know, if we had, I wouldn’t have reconnected with the love of my life.
So it all worked out pretty good in the end.
To everyone’s surprise, Jesse’s parents have also been back in touch and are determined to help us out.
Apparently, Adam has really drilled into them how far Jesse has come, and I think they’re feeling a little sheepish about throwing their hands up at him for so many years.
It warms my heart to see them reconnecting so genuinely.
My parents are still being prickly, but at least they messaged to say they were glad we were both okay, although the judgement from them was clear for the fact this was ‘Jesse’s fault in the first place’.
I chose to ignore that implication. Like I discussed with Anton before, if they want to change their attitudes, I’ll be willing to give them another chance.
Until then, Jesse and I are getting on just fine.
We don’t plan on staying in the new apartment long. Not because it’s too pink. But because Jesse and I have been looking at houses. With Klaus, of course. Even if we rent to start with, the three of us need the space to start our new life together from scratch.
However, the pink cowgirl aesthetic turned out to absolutely delight Katerina, and she and Noski have moved in for the foreseeable future. Being around dancers again has revitalized my former neighbor remarkably.
The fact that they’re all gorgeous young men has nothing to do with it, I’m sure.
But a lot of other people were left without a place to live, even the ones who could salvage the majority of their possessions.
Some have family nearby who could help, and others, insurance companies who were already able to pay out.
But some of my neighbors, including the single mom and her family next door, were very unsure what they were going to do for the next several months.
That’s when Trixie and the One-Thirteen got involved, and how we ended up here tonight.
Which makes sense, because there really is no other logical explanation.
“Are y’all having a good time?” Trixie cries into the microphone, and the packed audience at the Tavern goes wild, whooping, cheering and clapping. Trixie blows a raspberry. “Now I know y’all can do better than that. I said ARE YOU HAVING A GOOD TIME?”
Somehow, the noise gets even louder.
“I don’t know how you do this every night,” I say to Jesse in the holding area just off the stage.
“Aww,” he coos, kissing my cheek. “Has my baby got butterflies in his tummy?”
“More like a stampede of angry elephants,” I mutter, making him laugh harder.
“You’ll be fine,” he promises. “Everyone out there is having an amazing time and they’re here to support a great cause. They want you to have fun, and if you mess up a bit, they’ll only cheer louder. Trust me. So what’s the worst that could happen?”
“I think asking a bunch of firefighters that is a risky notion,” Drayton Hendrix says from my side before flashing a grin at us both.
I can’t quite believe he’s here, but I love it.
“However, in this case, I’m with Jesse. All we have to do is go out there and look hot.
Luckily, we’re all baddies, so that’ll be too easy. ”
“You’re all fired,” Captain Valentine grumbles from behind me. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
“Aww, it’ll be fun,” says Gene, who I genuinely can’t believe we talked into this. But somehow, he’s ended up at the front of the choreography Sawyer put together for us.
In fact I think he pushed his way there.
“Are you ready for the One-Thirteen?” Trixie asks the rabid crowd, making my stomach drop as another roar tears through the heaving bar.
Several of the regular dancers from the Tavern have already graced their home stage, but now we’re kicking off the special guest star section of this charity event.
A dozen or more actually talented people from Sawyer’s LGBT dance group have traveled up from San Diego to delight us with dance, song, lip syncs, and stand-up comedy.
But what I’m really looking forward to is seeing Katerina herself get up on stage with Trixie to perform a ballet duet.
But before all that, it seems we’re up.
“Good luck!” Jesse tells me. “I’ll be in the front row!” And with that, he disappears, leaving me with my nerves.
“Let’s do this!” Sawyer yells, slapping at many butts as he can reach. Then we’re jogging onto a stage that’s barely big enough to hold us all, waving and blowing kisses to everyone who’s come out tonight to support us.
Suddenly, I don’t know what I was so worried about. Jesse was right. The town has shown up because some of us have fallen on hard times. They haven’t paid for a Broadway show. They’re donating to a good cause and all I have to do in return is have a bit of fun.
And get a little naked. Only a little, though.
The music starts and I basically spend the whole time copying the moves from Sawyer who’s at the front with Gene.
Trixie made us a mix with songs that all have something to do with turning up the heat, which would make sense, as she’s got us dressed up in a version of our turnouts, complete with helmets.
That’s not how it’s going to stay, though.
We didn’t bother with the coats, but we are wearing suspender belts over our regulation T-shirts.
When we start pulling the first one off our right shoulders, the crowd becomes frenzied.
I catch Mrs. Bloom in the front row with Miss Margot Fontayn in her lap, waving hundred-dollar bills around gleefully.
Next to her is Jesse on one side and Yara on the other, who’s jaw has dropped as she watches all her colleagues start to strip.
And I do mean all as Lili wasn’t going to let the boys have all the fun.
As we get rid of the second suspender belt and place our helmets down in front of us, the next thing to go is our T-shirts.
Amid the sea of male bodies, Lili Kwon blesses the crowd with her own pretty impressive six pack.
She’s taped her chest up to look like pecs and seems to be having the absolute time of her life as both men and women start showering her with money from every angle.
I catch more than a couple of ladies who are clearly questioning their sexuality in that moment. Captain Padilla is one of them. I try not to laugh too hard in delight. We’re supposed to be acting sexy right now, after all.
From the dollar bills piling up in all our helmets, I’d say us guys aren’t doing a bad job either.
Gene’s is already overflowing, mostly from his wife and her friends, assisted no doubt by the several bottles of white wine they’ve got on their table.
I see Beast’s boyfriend, Dario, sitting with Del’s husband, Colt, and Teddy’s boyfriend, former NFL quarterback Cassius Garda.
I know he’s already donated a substantial amount of money to the cause.
In fact, I have it on good authority that Teddy has to be quite firm with him not to give more of his money away all the time to everyone.
But he’s definitely the one passing out hundreds to everyone around him to throw at us.
The number finally ends to raucous applause. We kept our pants on, but being naked from the waist up feels like enough to me. So much so that I scoop up my T-shirt and slip it back on before the cheering dies down.
Because I’m not quite done on stage yet.
Trixie knows this, and comes strutting back on stage with the microphone. She looks absolutely stunning tonight as always in a combination of pink, denim, and rhinestones.
“Now, wasn’t THAT a treat, folks?” she asks as her dancers move like lighting around us, expertly sweeping up all the money we’ve collected for the fundraiser.
“Well, we’ve got plenty more fun to come.
But right now, I’m going to hand the mic over to Lieutenant Rico Flores for a sec.
Some of you might know he’s one of the fellas we’re helping out tonight.
Him and his husband, Jesse, who’s one of my very own boys. Let’s give them a big hand, everyone.”
I cringe a little just standing there while everyone applauds for me. But the One-Thirteen gather round behind me, and I look down to see Jesse beaming up at me, so I suck it up and accept that it’s okay if people want to celebrate us.
That’s kind of what I’m aiming for, after all.
Trixie hands me the microphone. “Hi, everyone,” I say, then immediately flinch when I get hit with feedback. People laugh kindly and cheer again as Trixie shows me the best way to hold it, and I try again. “Um, hi.”
I get a chorus of greetings back.
Before I speak again, I take a breath and remember the few words I planned out. Just keep it simple and speak from the heart.
“Thank you so much everyone for coming out tonight to support such a worthy cause. You’re helping so many people start their lives over again, for that we’ll be forever grateful.”
“Someone has to watch boys shake bottoms!” Katerina shouts back at me. She’s on the same table as Mrs. Bloom, which I still believe is an absolutely terrifying idea, but it’s probably too late to stop them from becoming diabolical friends now. “We are truly suffering!”
That gets a huge laugh from the crowd, and I grin back at her. “Yes, you are the real heroes here. Well done.” I wait for the mirth to calm down again as my heart starts to race. I’m not sure why because the deal is kind of already done. But this moment is important to me.
It’s important for Jesse.
“Um, so as Trixie mentioned before, my husband is here tonight. In fact, you’ll see him performing later tonight.
And, um, it’s clear who has all the talent in this relationship.
” I point at myself and get another round of cheering.
“No, no. I’m kidding, of course. Jesse is insanely talented.
He’s also incredibly kind, funny, handsome…
the list goes on. I don’t know why he agreed to marry me, but I know I’m one hell of a lucky guy. ”
The applause has a lot more ‘aww’s in it this time, which just makes my hands shake more and my throat tighten so much I’m worried I’ll be able to keep talking.
“Um, what most of you don’t know is that Jesse never got a proper proposal.
The circumstances were a bit unusual, and he never got that special moment.
We never had a proper wedding with our loved ones.
But he deserves that. He deserves everything, because he’s my world.
So, Jesse.” Damn, I’m barely holding it together as I sink down to one knee.
The room seems to gasp collectively as one.
“Jesse Silverman. Will you do me the honor of marrying me…again…and staying my husband for the rest of our lives.”
Tears are blurring my eyes, but I can see that Jesse has risen from his chair and is clutching his hands to his chest. He looks too shocked to speak.
Mrs. Bloom pokes his side, making him jump. “You’re supposed to say yes!” she hisses at him, snapping him out of his trance.
“YES!” he yells, and relief rushes through me. You’d think the fact that we were already married would have made it less scary, but I think I’d run into all the burning buildings than do anything like that ever again. “YES! YES! YES!”
The crowd is already losing their minds before he scrambles onto the stage, and then the decibel level goes up again. It’s a good thing the Tavern doesn’t have any neighbors, because we’ve got half the night still left to go and I think things are only going to get crazier from here on out.
Not that it can get any better for me. I have my husband in my arms as the One-Thirteen hugs us in one big cuddle pile.
Then Trixie and her boys get involved, and I’m not sure if Jesse and I will make it out alive.
But eventually, they let us up for air and I can’t help but stop and kiss Jesse right there in the middle of the stage.
The odds were so against us. Really, we never should have arrived at this point. But the universe saw fit to bring us to the right place at the right time and we healed each other enough to promise our mended hearts to one another forevermore.
The road was hard and long, but it was worth it.
Jesse was worth it. And he always will be.
Thank you so much for reading Jesse and Rico’s very special story!