Epilogue
REY
THREE MONTHS LATER
My cape billows behind me as I sprint across the spacious living room towards my target.
My competition is close behind, but I have the advantage of less fabric and more experience (this isn’t my first time running in a costume).
Violet is cursing her choice of early Halloween (and my thirtieth birthday) costume.
“If I’d known we’d be playing Becktionary, I’d have chosen something other than a fucking ball gown.”
“Language, minus three points!” Kate yells from across the room, in classic Mum-style, and Fern groans, telling her sister off for costing their team.
I hit the button on the shelf, and it makes that shrill buzzing noise that I’ve come to love, and my teammate—my life mate, and everything mate—cheers from the other side.
I turn to bask in the praise and absorb the breath-taking grin of my Mark.
Or shall I say, Robin Hood? I am Alice again tonight.
It’s become our thing. Although I’ve found a more family-friendly version, so my arse cheeks aren’t on display at the Becker house.
His father, Dean, picks a question card from the box.
“Ready?”
“Ready,” I say.
I’ve spent multiple Sundays and Becktionary nights here since Mark and I made up on the night of James’ birthday. That night I fell in love with the entire family, and they welcomed me with open arms, despite the influence I’ve had on their son.
Or because of?
Aside from his billboard, Kate shared with me she’s so happy to see Mark laughing and smiling as much as he does. And taking part in the family. Living life.
It warms me, knowing I’m good for him.
We’re good for each other.
Xander and Dad were here earlier for dinner to celebrate my birthday, and they all get along so well. It makes me happy beyond belief.
The only stain on this colourful canvas that is my life now is Mum.
She still has some work to do, and didn’t feel comfortable being here with everyone, but we’ve had lunches and long walks in the past months.
Sometimes filled with charged silence, and other times I talk non-stop about everything I love that she might learn to like.
I sense there are things she wants to say, the way she twists her hands and clears her throat, but then seem to change her mind.
The way she looks at me softens with each meeting. She can take her time.
She doesn’t know it, but Dad told me she stood up for me when the aunties had started squealing about the gossip blog. Even if she didn’t believe me, even if she agreed with them, she told them what I’d shared about me and Mark.
Maybe she did it to protect herself, but she did it, anyway, and on some level it makes me feel better.
Mark’s billboard made her blush, but it’s clear that his stunt has taken the spotlight off the initial scandal and my exposed backside. His naked front side is a lot more interesting.
I still can’t believe he did that.
There must have been a way he could have saved his company that didn’t involve him being bare on a billboard.
That was all for me.
“Where can you find Nayara Springs?” Dean reads from the card.
“What is that?” I whisper to myself. Shit. I rack my brain. Am I supposed to know this? Mark looks at me. Is he smirking?
“Sorry, I don’t know,” I say, slumping.
“Mark, for one consolation point, you get a chance to respond.”
“Costa Rica,” he says immediately, and looks at me. “You should remember it, though.”
I cock my head at him.
“It’s where we’re going to celebrate your birthday once you’re finished at The Orion,” he says, coming towards me.
“Did you stage that?” I ask, and he shrugs. He totally did. “We’re going to Costa Rica?”
“Crickets and waterfalls,” he says, and wraps his arms around me.
“You are incredible,” I murmur against his lips before I let him kiss me.
Fern wolf-whistles, and we’re reminded of the audience we have.
“I’ll thank you properly later,” I whisper, as close to his ear as I can get, and he hums in response. It sends a vibration through me that leaves me feeling highly inappropriate things in this setting.
“When are you going?” Kate asks. “Will you be here for Christmas?”
“It’ll be after Christmas. Rey’s got a big job to complete first, and then I need to check with her boss.”
“Well, she’s very nice.”
“Indeed, she is,” he says. “I’ll need to put in a good word with her, though.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
An hour later, we’ve merged our party (except the parents, which is good, as much as I like them) with Halloween at The Orion, and I still can’t believe I’m a member here now.
Aiden has roped me in, and even hired me to paint the first floor.
The entire floor. I was flabbergasted when he asked me, but it’s an amazing opportunity.
He said he loves my forests, elves, and animals, and that I have free rein.
I adore The Orion style so much, and he admires mine, so it’s a perfect match.
It’ll probably take another two months, but I’m loving every minute of it.
My art. Permanently displayed across The Orion, one of my favourite places.
Mark said he’s going to rent the place for some insane luxury augmented reality event he’s doing for the new game next year, and I’m thrilled I get to be part of it again.
It’s all coming together. I’m a freelancer.
I get to create, following my own rules.
Paint or draw what I pick and choose. It turns out the scandal had one good outcome on top of Infinio’s rapid transformation; my name and my art plastered on the internet along with my photos.
And people have responded with incredible, heart-warming positivity.
Even before Aiden, I was approached by a variety of companies, including Infinio’s top competitor, and the animation studio I applied for, both of which I turned down because I wouldn’t be able to do what I wanted.
After years of feeling stuck, I need to spread my wings. No boundaries. Just me.
Find my path.
With my passion for interior design and fantasy worlds, Aiden’s request has been a dream. And working with his highly accomplished team is everything.
I spot the head of the design team at the bar. With her extraordinary eye for colour, and the maximalist style her employees have, I’d expect her to be … louder, kind of. Like her work. But she’s a slightly uptight and reserved Norwegian woman, although she’s perfectly nice.
I wave at her, but she can’t see me. There’s a man talking to her now.
“Who are you waving at?” Aiden asks, following my gaze from our plush booth in the Pink Room.
“Linnea,” I say, pointing discreetly.
“Oh, that one.”
I recognise his tone. They don’t get along. He simply tolerates her when she comes by to check in, to keep the good work her company does for his clubs.
Aiden wrinkles his nose as he looks towards the bar. His costume, if you can call it that, is just him in his regular black shirt, but with vampire teeth and a touch of eyeliner. Which suits him strangely well, but he’s such a playful man, I thought he’d be something bolder.
I look back at Linnea and notice the man who has been talking to her has his hand on her upper arm, but the vibe is off. His fingers are squeezing her skin.
“Hey,” I yell, and get up, but before I can move, Aiden storms past me, thundering towards whatever scene was unfolding, which I’m sure now will get an abrupt and different ending.
Aiden is the most protective man in the group.
And I know he stood up for me, telling Mark off from the start, so he’s got a special place in my heart.
“Alright,” Mark says, standing up next to me. “While Aiden’s off doing his thing, shall we dance?” He wraps his arm around my waist, and I look up at him. “Or a private drink in the bookshelf room?” He wiggles his eyebrows under the hood.
“Both?”
As he leads me through the plush pink booths, I absorb it all. The melody of the music working its way through me, the smile spreading across his face when he turns back to me, the colours surrounding us in this marvellous room, and this tickle in my stomach. Pure happiness.
This is my birthday.
I turned thirty not still living in my brother’s guest room; albeit not in my own place with flatmates as I initially wanted, but with my boyfriend in his Mayfair flat, which I’d say beats my original plan.
And now we’re here, at my favourite place.
The love of my life has my hand in his, and he’s now twirling me onto the dance floor.
I throw my head back, laughing hard, and he pulls me back into his tight embrace.
I lean back in his arms, holding on around his neck and tilting my face up as he leads us around the dance floor.
The oversized chandelier sparkles above us in the same way it did when he found me here in May.
The light dances across the costumed crowd and my Robin’s face.
My very own fairy tale man.
Except my fairy tale came true.
ONE YEAR AFTER BILLBOARD
“I can feel your eyes on me,” I say while struggling to fasten the belt on my forest elf costume. Mark chuckles, and I hear the thud of his footsteps on the parquet, then his hands cover mine.
“Here, let me help.”
His capable hands deftly pull the brown leather strap through the brass buckle. As he threads the end of the belt through the hoop, he brushes his fingers along the exposed skin below the leaf and gold bodice, leaving trails of fire on my hip.
“You look spectacular,” he says, eyes glinting.
I have to agree. This tailor-made two-piece bodice looks like it’s sculpted on me, as if the leaves are growing on my skin, except for the leather belt I’ve added to avoid a gap.
I’ve had my fair share of costumes designed by someone who’s never needed to pee, so when I get to design my own, I get clever.
This is an all-night costume, and I know I’ll need it. It’s the event of the year.