Epilogue
EPILOGUE
ALEX
ONE YEAR LATER, UMbrIA
I loved this place.
Aiden had surprised Jared and me with a trip to his ancestral home in Umbria a month after we’d gotten engaged.
I’d fallen in love with the region, just like I had with my men.
And this past year had been one full of those kinds of memories. Full of laughter and love. Jared sold his place in L.A., and we’d moved to London eight months ago.
Not that there weren’t hardships.
There was an adjustment period for all of us.
The FBI offered Seuter that plea deal, and any other charges were thrown by the wayside.
It was doubtful he’d ever have to answer for his crimes but unfortunately, that was the reality of the justice system.
Seuter’s reputation was long gone, and he was in protective custody. His life as he knew it was over.
Jared had made peace with his past and was focused on helping others who’d been through a similar situation. He’d used part of the lawsuit money to help fund a sexual assault crisis center in L.A., and the rest went to starting up our tour company for veterans.
That was my man, always taking a negative situation and turning it into a positive.
Aiden had also struggled when he became his own boss.
He’d been overwhelmed at first, but with Lairin’s help and after a few months, he’d finally managed to find his footing. He worked less than he did when he was at the firm, preferring to spend evenings and weekends with me and Jared.
I’d had my share of battles too. Mostly internal. My depression had unexpectedly come roaring back, and it took more therapy and a different medication until I felt like myself again. But through it all, Jared and Aiden gave me unwavering support.
I was humbled by their love, and it gave me the confidence to keep going. I knew that there was no miracle cure. I could only try my best, day by day.
When I was feeling better, I prepared my business plan, sold the security company, and started Locklear Adventures.
The reception had been overwhelming.
So many veterans were longing for connection and healing, and if I could offer that in some small way through my group, then I was satisfied. I’d even toured with them three times this year and loved every minute of it.
I watched friendships take root and there was nothing better.
And now, a year later, here I was.
Getting ready for our commitment ceremony.
Our family and friends were gathered on the outdoor terrace of our country home, overlooking the nearby vineyards.
The sun was shining, the air filled with the sweet perfume of lemons and roses. And I was going to commit myself to the loves of my life.
La dolce vita was a real thing.
And it was only going to get sweeter.
We’d initiated the process of finding a surrogate to start our family.
Jared was taking a break from filmmaking and wanted to devote himself full time to our kids.
He’d been the most hesitant about having children prior to us getting together, but now it was all he could talk about.
He was already the exuberant heart of our trio, beloved by our respective families, and there was no doubt he would be the same with our kids.
I couldn’t wait until our next adventure together.
After the ceremony, we were headed to Amalfi to board Now, Voyager for a two-week honeymoon cruise around Sicily.
Just me and my husbands.
And I wanted out of this navy suit as soon as possible. It was way too confining, especially when I was used to walking around our house in my briefs and nothing else.
“Stop pulling at your tie, you’ll ruin all my hard work,” my sister sighed as she batted my hand away.
“It’s too tight. I told Aiden we should’ve just worn t-shirts.”
My sister’s ensuing glare made me laugh.
“I’m joking.”
“It’s nearly time, so I’m going to join the rest of the guests. Don’t run off,” she warned me as she walked away.
“What she said.”
Aiden’s sudden voice startled me.
I turned to find my love in a stylish gray suit, looking sophisticated and so handsome. My heart beat double time.
“You look stunning,” I whispered. “Where’s Jared?”
“He’s waiting for us outside.”
I took Aiden’s offered hand, and he pulled me in close, our mouths almost brushing.
“No kissing before the ceremony,” I warned with a smirk.
Aiden growled and stepped back.
“I can’t wait until our honeymoon. Two weeks of no interruptions, family or otherwise,” he growled and adjusted himself. “Fuck, give me a sec to calm down.”
I chuckled and took one last look in the mirror.
I’d let my hair grow out and both my partners loved it. I kept it shaved on the sides but longer on top. I swept styling crème through the wavy strands to keep it tamed today.
“You’re sexy as fuck, Alex. Now move it. We have a husband to claim.”
I laughed at his impatience and took his hand as we walked outside together.
Jared was standing at the bottom of the stairs. He was dressed in a white suit with sheer panels covered in hand stitched embroidery, his long hair loose. He was so beautiful and, like every time I saw him, my breath caught.
“Ready?” Jared asked us with a luminous smile.
“Ready for the honeymoon to start.” I motioned to Aiden, and he gave us a wicked grin.
All three of us walked down the makeshift aisle together.
Hand in hand in hand.
AIDEN
“Can we go already? We’ve taken a million pictures and talked to every single guest,” I whispered as I sat between Alex and Jared.
We’d had an Italian wedding feast like no other, each course more delicious than the last. But after two hours, I was ready to say arrivederci to our guests.
“I’m done socializing,” I grumbled. “I want to be alone with my husbands.”
I was still in awe that these two incredible men were mine.
But my inability to get a moment alone with them for the past twenty-four hours had my snark unleashing.
“Patience, sweetheart,” Jared quipped and took my hand. “We still need to cut the cake.”
“Let the guests eat the bloody cake,” I declared like Marie Antoinette. “I don’t need it. What I do need is for you, Alex, and myself to get out of these restrictive suits and into bed as soon as possible.”
Alex chuckled and ran a hand over my back, rubbing soothing circles. He was offering me comfort, but all it did was make my blood race faster, and hotter.
I wanted to claim my husbands without delay.
“Lower, Alex. Much, much lower,” I growled as I turned my head and tasted his lips.
“Behave,” Alex warned and pulled back, teasing me with soft kisses. “You’d think we hadn’t touched in ages.”
“We haven’t. And it’s Jared’s fault for insisting we not see each other the night before the ceremony.” I pouted and turned to Jared. “It’s been horrible. It felt like a whole week rather than one day.”
“Poor baby,” Jared chuckled.
“And I demand you make it up to me.”
“Anything you want, honey,” Jared replied, and I shivered at the look of heat in his eyes. “But not until after the cake.”
I responded by claiming Jared’s mouth in a kiss that was not suitable for our audience.
Then I felt Alex’s lips on my neck.
Suddenly a chorus of whistles and hollers rang out around us, and I couldn’t help but smile.
I reared back and stared at Jared’s flushed face, then Alex’s.
“You were saying?”
We never got around to tasting our cake, but I’m told it was spectacular.
Of that I had no doubt.
JARED
The next day, somewhere off the coast of Sicily
The intense heat of the summer sun.
A refreshing breeze off cool Mediterranean waters.
And a private yacht with my two husbands. Both of whom were currently lying beside me on a lounger made for three.
Life did not get better than this…
If you’d asked me a few years ago to create a film about my life, there was no way that I’d ever imagine a scenario such as this.
Finding love always seemed just out of reach, something that I read about in a script or that happened to other people.
I knew it existed, but I didn’t know if it would ever find me.
Or that I would find them.
I would never have guessed that Alex and Aiden and I would end up here.
There were plenty of people who didn’t understand our love. And I knew that our voyage together wouldn’t be all calm waters and sunny skies.
But I had faith that whatever lay ahead, we would weather that journey together.
They’d given me everything—their hearts, their trust, their pain, and their joys. And being their partner was the greatest gift I’d ever received in turn.
It was no secret why.
Our love was a story that had no end.
The End