Epilogue
EPILOGUE
MAX
ONE YEAR LATER
“ H ow do I look?”
Dylan posed the question as he stood in front of the mirror in the hallway. Dressed in a stylish charcoal tuxedo and matching shirt, Dylan fidgeted with his collar. He hated suits of any kind, but this was a special occasion. And I was momentarily speechless.
He always had that effect on me.
“Like a movie star ready for the red carpet. Gorgeous. Sexy. Mine.”
“I like the last one best.” Dylan waggled his eyebrows at me, and I slipped my arms around his waist. Notching my chin in his shoulder, I met his evocative green eyes in the mirror. As always, I was mesmerized and unable to look anywhere else.
“I know you do,” I teased, and he nodded, angling his head away and offering me his neck.
I was only too happy to oblige and pressed fervent kisses along his freshly showered skin.
“Now, tell me again who’s going to be at the premiere tonight, so I don’t embarrass you by flubbing names,” I whispered against his jaw.
Field of Blood was launching tonight at an international film festival event in Toronto.
We’d flown up yesterday as Jared’s guests, and it was a whirlwind of photo ops, press junkets, and meet and greets.
He and Dylan had become good friends, and were set to film a new movie in Thailand in a few months.
“You could never do that, Doc. I’m always proud of you.” Dylan turned in my arms and leaned in to kiss me. I let the pleasure take over and my worries about the evening washed away.
“Same,” I replied.
It was true. Dylan and I had worked hard to merge our lives together over the past year.
When he came out and told the world about us, it was no holds barred.
And after many talks, and months of long-distance romance—calls, video chats, and flights back and forth—our path was confirmed.
But Dylan didn’t move to New York as originally planned.
Instead, I applied for and accepted a teaching offer from a university in San Diego, and Dylan was only too happy to move with me.
Still close enough to L.A. for his career, and in a smaller community that welcomed us.
After talking it over with Blake and Dante, we arranged to have Blake with me during the school year.
The move to California was her idea, so I wasn’t all that surprised she had adapted so well.
She’d started at her school a few weeks ago and was already making friends.
She’d spend one weekend every month—as well as the summer months—in New York with Dante.
I thought he would’ve fought to keep her full time, but he’d readily agreed to our plan.
His business was expanding again, with a new operation on the West Coast planned for the next year, so he’d be out visiting occasionally.
Dante and I were still contentious at times, and that would never change, but we tried harder to be respectful when communicating.
And Blake was never shy about giving us her teenage opinions as our family evolved.
The best part of this year, though, was watching her growing relationship with Dylan. They developed a bond that made my already full heart close to bursting.
In addition to the move, Dylan’s book launch was a success, and he’d spent time in the winter months traveling to promote it. We’d managed to visit Texas again and spend time with his family. They’d also flown out to visit us recently in California and welcomed Blake into their fold with open arms.
The past year wasn’t without stress, though.
With the length of the book tour and media attention, Dylan’s anxiety reared up.
And so did his urge to drink. He started attending his AA meetings more frequently.
One evening six months ago, after a rather nasty run-in with an aggressive reporter, he called me to pick him up, unable to drive because he was so panicked.
I found him sitting in the parking lot of a local bar, in tears.
He had gone inside but stopped short of ordering a drink.
It wasn’t the first time he’d come close to the edge of relapse, and it wouldn’t be the last. But with the help of his support group, his therapist, his sponsor Quinn, and his friends and family, he got through it.
And through it all, our love never wavered.
His strength and vulnerability touched me in a way I’d never believed possible.
Witnessing his courage gave me the impetus to share my own struggles.
And wasn’t that what a partnership was all about?
I watched his confidence and happiness evolve and grow, and I fell more in love with him with every passing day.
In fact, I’d been holding on to a platinum ring that was burning a hole in my pocket for the past two months. Every time I sensed it was the right moment to pop the question, something would stop me.
No, it wasn’t cold feet. I was all in with Dylan. He was my forever.
But I wanted the moment to be truly special, as spectacular as the man I loved.
I’d even asked my daughter for her suggestions.
In her teenage wisdom, she told me to ‘chill and just do it,’ to stop looking for a perfect moment because it didn’t exist. I’d taken to carrying the ring around with me everywhere, but I was tired of feeling the weight of it in my pocket. I wanted to see it on Dylan’s hand.
“You ready to go?” Dylan asked me with one final kiss.
“Do I look okay?” I asked and adjusted my glasses. I’d chosen a navy tuxedo in a similar style to Dylan’s but with a matching vest and white shirt.
His thorough once-over had my dick getting way too excited for a public premiere.
“Gorgeous. Sexy. Mine,” Dylan repeated, and his trademark grin and dimple appeared. “But I’m worried about this event. What if you run off with some hot actor?” he quipped.
“I plan to,” I grinned and took his hand, leading him out the door of our hotel room. “But only if he’s you.”
After a brief elevator ride, we sauntered through the lobby and were greeted by Jared’s assistant, Harriet.
“Good evening, Dylan. Max. You look wonderful! The limo is ready for you. Jared’s inside.” She led the way to a black SUV limo. When the driver spotted us, he quickly opened the back door.
Jared’s head popped out, or rather, his long hair did, as he pointed over his shoulder. “Hey, guys. Look who I picked up along the way.”
Rafe Carter’s familiar face appeared beside Jared, his grin as big as his wave.
Dylan and I slipped into the SUV and sat down beside them.
Jared was in head to toe black—suit, shirt, and, surprisingly, boots, not to mention his eyes rimmed with eyeliner.
Rafe was his opposite, looking light and bright in a white tailored pantsuit.
Dylan’s co-stars, Reed Larkin and Tate Aduma, were sitting on the opposite side with Alex in the middle.
Judging from the glares Reed and Tate were giving each other, Alex was playing referee.
Dylan had told me all about the tension on set with these two, and it appeared that nothing had changed since their arrest in France.
The former best friends were still at odds, but no one could parse out why.
“What are you doing here?” Dylan asked Rafe as he nudged his shoulder.
“He’s my date for the night. Or rather, he agreed to help a lonely guy out,” Reed replied with a quick grin.
“How did you two meet?” I asked, pointing between Rafe and Reed.
Reed smiled and I could see the attraction. “I met Rafe at a fashion show in Miami a few months ago. I was filming a promo and was invited backstage where I ran into him. Actually, I tripped and nearly knocked him over. We got to talking, and here we are.”
Tate scoffed. “We don’t need to hear about your meet-cute, Reed.”
“Like you’d know anything about dating, Tater . You just bang and run,” Reed replied.
“I told you not to call me that…”
“Gentleman,” Jared intervened. “Let’s play nice for a few hours. We have a film to promote, remember?”
Rafe gave a quick smile to Reed but said nothing more. Which was strange, since the Rafe I had met over the summer was chatty, sarcastic, and flirty to the max. A loud ringtone interrupted our conversation, and Rafe pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket.
“Sorry about this,” he replied and answered the phone. He began to whisper in angry tones, but my attention snagged on Dylan’s hand squeezing mine.
“Everything okay?” he whispered in my ear.
“Rafe seems quiet. It’s not like him.” I looked around, but Jared was in discussion with Reed and Tate. Rafe finished his phone call, but his expression remained troubled.
“I noticed that too. Maybe he’s tired.”
The SUV slowed to a stop and Alex exited the vehicle first. Reed, Tate, and Rafe followed, then me and Dylan, and finally Jared.
Stepping out onto a red carpet was a new experience, and no matter how much Dylan had prepared me, I was still overwhelmed by the volume of flashing cameras.
Dylan slid his arm around my waist and pulled me in tight as we began to make our way towards the entrance of the social club.
All seven of us quickly walked the carpet until we reached the entrance door. Several reporters yelled at Jared and Dylan to stop for a statement, but Alex gave us all a warning glare and motioned to keep moving.
Upon entering, we were greeted by the event host who guided our group down a narrow hallway to the main salon.
The historic building had soaring ceilings with ornate moldings and stained-glass windows of every imaginable color.
A jazz trio played in the background while over a hundred people circulated in the space.
Rafe headed off to the bar alone, while Reed and Tate went in separate directions and proceeded to tour the room.
A waitress passed by to offer us canapés and I gratefully accepted several, having skipped lunch since I was so nervous.
Alex stood near Jared as usual, scanning the room.
His presence now was comforting in a way that I’d never had to consider before.
It had taken time to get accustomed to Dylan’s celebrity status in our everyday life, and I didn’t take my security for granted.
Rafe rejoined us with a cocktail in hand, but he hardly said a word.
“Everything okay?” I whispered to him as he checked his phone. Dylan was deep in discussion with Jared about their upcoming project.
“I’m just tired. And nervous. I’ve got a lot on the go.
” He paused and looked at me. “I’ve scheduled my first shoot in Australia in two weeks, thanks to a sponsorship with a major swimwear brand.
It’s my first official gig as a photographer.
I’ve got my models booked, and I’ll be sailing on Now, Voyager for a few months, so it’s taking shape.
I’m just a bit scared, to be honest. I’ve only been on the other side of the lens. What if I fuck this up?”
“Come on, Rafe, you’re so talented. Everyone still raves about the pictures you took of Dylan for his book tour.”
“Thanks, Max.” He took a sip of his drink. “I just hope I don’t have any issues with you-know-who when I’m on board,” he bit out.
“The captain?” I asked even though I knew damn well who he was talking about. The animosity between those two was off the charts.
“Uptight prick.” Rafe sighed and ran a hand through his long hair. “Anyway, I’ll be so busy it’s hardly likely I’ll run into him. Right? Right.”
Before I could say anything else, my boyfriend wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in tight.
“What are you doing?” I laughed as people around us gave us amused glances.
“I’m making sure everyone here knows you’re taken,” he whispered in my ear.
“You know that’s ridiculous right? You’re the only one I see.”
It was like that the rest of the night. Dylan and Jared made the rounds, schmoozing with everyone in the room, but I was always by Dylan’s side. He’d yet to let go of me, and I was only too happy to hold on.
We finally begged off around midnight. We were invited to a few afterparties, but Dylan had done enough socializing to last him a while. He was talked out.
Back at the hotel, tired but wired, we snuggled into the plush, king-sized bed. There was nothing but us and the shimmer of moonlight that filtered into our penthouse suite.
“Thank you for coming with me tonight,” Dylan whispered as we lay on our sides, face to face, our bodies wrapped up tightly with one another. “And for the best year of my life. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, baby. It’s been my absolute pleasure.” I leaned in and gave him a thorough kiss.
“Would it also be your absolute pleasure to be my husband?” he asked quietly. I barely heard the words, but the shock of them reverberated through my body.
“Yes,” I managed to reply, the overwhelming joy suffusing me.
Until I remembered the ring.
“But wait. I was going to ask you. I bought a ring. I was waiting for the right moment.”
He smiled as he cupped my face and gently kissed me. “Every moment with you is right. And I want nothing more than to be your husband, as soon as possible. And to grow our family.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded, too overcome with emotion to say anything else.
“Kiss me,” Dylan insisted, tears spilling down his cheeks as his smile illuminated his whole face.
Moonlight had nothing on Dylan.
“You Hollywood stars are so demanding,” I teased as I leaned in.
“You love it. And you love me.”
“I do.”
The End