Epilogue
Cherise
Ichanged my outfit three times.
Well, four, if you counted the one I put on, stared at it in the mirror for exactly one millisecond, and immediately took off because it screamed “I slept with both brothers” instead of “Hi, nice to meet you, I'm emotionally stable now.”
“Babe,” Leo called from the bedroom, way too calm for the level of crisis happening in this bathroom. “You’ve been in there for forty-five minutes. Are you okay?”
“No,” I called back. “I’m freaking out.”
A beat.
“About what?”
I stared at my reflection.
“I’m meeting your whole family for Thanksgiving,” I said. “Your whole family, Leo. The people who raised you. Who love you. Who are going to take one look at me and go, “Wow, she dated the other one first? What a hoe.”
Leo appeared in the doorway, already dressed. Cool and completely relaxed.
He leaned against the doorframe. “First of all. You look beautiful, and no one is going to be thinking that.”
“They absolutely are going to be thinking that.”
“They’re not.”
“They are.”
“They’re not,” he repeated, walking over and gently taking my hands. “And even if they did…we don’t care. Right?”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the hussy. I need to make a good impression, Leo.”
His thumbs brushed over my knuckles, grounding, and steady. “You are not a hussy, and you don’t have to prove anything to them, baby. You don’t have to perform. Just be you.”
I huffed a laugh. “That’s the problem. Me tends to get me into trouble.”
He smiled. “Well, I happen to love you exactly the way you are, and I know my family will, too.”
My heart galloped a little at that. Two years later, and it still caught me off guard…How easy he made everything feel.
Moose barked from the hallway like he was adding his vote to the conversation.
“See, even Moose agrees,” Leo said.
I glanced down at my dress again. Then back at him.
“Okay,” I exhaled. “If this goes horribly, I’m blaming you.”
“Deal.”
He leaned down, pressed a quick kiss to my lips, and everything melted away.
“Come on,” he said, offering his hand. “Let’s go meet the chaos.”
***
The house was loud before we even walked in.
Voices overlapping, something clanging in the kitchen, and the unmistakable smell of food clung to the air.
“You ready?” Leo asked.
“No,” I whispered. “But there's no going back now.”
His hand tightened around mine as he opened the door.
“We’re here!” Leo called.
Every head turned.
I froze mid-step.
This was it. The moment his entire family collectively decided I was a walking bad decision.
“Oh—there she is!” someone shouted.
Before I could react, I was pulled into a hug.
“You’re gorgeous,” said a woman I assumed was Leo’s mom. She held me at arm’s length like she was inspecting me, then she looked over at Leo. “Leo, you did good.”
“I’ve been telling him that,” I muttered.
“Oooo. Confidence. I like her already,” she declared immediately, dragging me further inside.
Before I could process being claimed by his mother, a deeper voice cut through the room.
“So this is her.”
I turned and oh.
Okay.
That had to be Leo’s dad. He looked just like him.
He stood a few feet away, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Assessing.
I straightened a little. Smoothed my dress, which I am now realizing must be a nervous tic for me.
“Hi,” I said, trying for confident and landing somewhere closer to please don’t hate me.
He didn’t say anything right away.
Just looked at me. Then Leo. Then back at me.
And then…
He nodded once. “Yeah,” he said simply. “I see it.”
I pinched my brows, “You…see what?” I was almost afraid to ask.
His mouth twitched like he was holding back a smile.
“Why he wouldn’t shut up about you.”
Heat crept up my neck.
Leo groaned. “Dad—”
“What?” He shrugged. “Boy talks more about you than he used to talk about plumbing.”
That actually made me laugh.
Tension cracked right down the middle.
His dad stepped closer, holding out his hand.
I took it. His grip firm.
“Good to finally meet you, Cherise.”
“It’s good to meet you, too.”
…Okay. That was surprisingly easier than expected.
“Sit, sit!” said a little boy, grabbing my hand and leading me to the dinner table.
“Don’t sit there, that chair’s broken!” said a girl with braided hair full of rainbow beads.
“It is not broken,” the boy spat back.
“It fell under Uncle Mike!” she said, crossing her arms.
“That is because Uncle Mike is fat. It’s fixed now. Papa fixed it.”
The little girl snickered.
I studied both of the children, not sure who to trust. “Should I…stand?”
“You’ll be fine. If my dad fixed it…it’s not going anywhere,” Leo said, pulling out a chair for me anyway.
I’m still stuck on the word if.
I sat cautiously.
Very cautiously.
“Cherise, these are my cousin Erica’s kids, Brandon and Jaleah. Brandon and Jaleah, this is my girlfriend, Cherise.”
“Nice to meet you,” they said in unison.
“It’s so nice to meet you, too.”
They ran off giggling to each other, and before I could get comfortable, a voice cut through the room.
“Well damn.”
I turned.
An older man with a cane—white hair, sharp eyes, apparently zero filter—was staring at me as if he had just discovered buried treasure.
He whistled. “That boy Derrick really is a dumb ass,” he said, loud as hell. “Cause you? You fine, girl.”
I choked on absolutely nothing.
“Robert!” Leo’s mom snapped.
“What?” He shrugged, unapologetic. “I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”
“I was not thinking that,” someone thankfully muttered.
“Well, I was,” he shot back. “And if Leo drops the ball. I got dibs next,” he said, wiggling his brows at me.
Leo dropped his head, already embarrassed. “Pops!”
“Oh, don’t Pops me,” Robert said, pointing his cane at him. “You better not mess this one up because I’ma be ready.” His eyes landed back on me. “I got a hefty pension and 401k just waiting for you, beautiful.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
…Okay, I liked him.
A few minutes passed in a blur of introductions, overlapping conversations, and me slowly realizing…
No one was looking at me like I was a problem.
They talked to me like it wasn’t a big deal. Like I belonged here.
I had to fight back the tears that were trying to fall, because growing up in foster care without a true family to spend holidays with made this moment even more special.
It was everything.
“Who cooked the turkey?” a woman with a textured fro asked, eyes already darting to Leo.
“That was one time, Erica!” Leo said.
“IT WAS RAW!”
“See if I cook for your ungrateful ass again.” Leo laughed.
“Well, thank God for that,” she said with a wink. “I’d like to make it to my next birthday, please.” She looked over at me. “Cherise, heed my words. Keep Leo out of the kitchen.”
I laughed. I could now see how Leo took my insults without flinching. He was used to it. Just as I was about to respond, the front door opened, and everything slowed just a second.
Derrick walked in.
But he wasn’t alone.
He stepped aside, letting someone else come in with him…Evan. Tall. Easy smile. Hand brushing Derrick’s.
My eyes flicked between them. Then across the table to catch everyone else’s reaction.
Over the last two years, Leo and Derrick's relationship had slowly stitched itself back together. The tension was gone now. No resentment or competition. Just two brothers finally learning how to show up for each other.
Derrick and I were in a better space as well. We all did holidays together. Double dates. Game nights.
Somehow, the awkwardness that once felt impossible to overcome had faded into something easy.
Something normal.
Derrick had warned us ahead of time that he was bringing Evan tonight.
And honestly? I prayed that they would take it well tonight. Because everyone deserves to be loved as themselves.
My gaze found Derrick again, and I mouthed, "You got this."
He nodded, then took a deep breath. “Hey,” Derrick said, carefully. “This is Evan. My boyfriend.”
Silence.
Not long, but long enough.
Someone coughed.
A fork clinked a little too loudly against a plate.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Robert said, leaning forward on his cane. “That explains a lot.”
“Robert!” Three people said at once.
“What?” He looked around. “It does!”
Derrick closed his eyes briefly. “Jesus Christ, Pops. Don’t start.”
“I mean, it makes sense,” Robert continued, undeterred. “The man gave up all of this,” he said, pointing at me. “And then he walks in with him? Boy, you've been confused.”
I lost it.
A laugh burst out of me before I could push it back down.
Derrick shot me a look.
“Sorry.” I winced.
Evan was even trying not to laugh.
Leo leaned closer to me. “I told you he had no filter.”
“No, this is…this is entertaining,” I whispered back.
Leo’s dad finally spoke, setting his fork down. “Sit,” he said simply. Nodding toward the table.
That was it. There wasn't an argument. No judgement in his tone. He simply just offered them a seat at the table. Damn, he was taking this better than I thought. By the look on Derrick’s face, he was just as shocked as I was.
Derrick nodded, guiding Evan to a chair.
And with that…the moment passed.
Conversation picked back up. Plates moved. Someone asked Evan what he did for a living.
Robert asked if he could fight.
It was chaos, and I loved every second of it.
Leo’s dad glanced at him. “I got a project in the basement that I need your help with. Unless you’re too good now that you’re making big money at that fancy tech company.”
Leo huffed a laugh. “I’ll never be too good to help you, Dad.”
A small smile broke through. “I’m proud of you, son,” Leo’s dad said.
Leo stilled.
I reached and rested my hand on his leg. Grounding him because I knew how much that meant for Leo.
Leo nodded. “Thanks, Dad.”
“I’m proud of both my boys,” he said, looking over at Derrick.
Derrick grinned and reached for Evan’s hand under the table.
A beat of silence. Then—
“Alright, enough of all the emotional crap. Are we eating or are we crying?” Robert cut in.
Leo cupped a hand over his face, shaking his head.
I giggled and bit into my turkey.
I think I’m gonna like it here.
***
By the time we got back to the house, I was full, slightly overwhelmed, and one hundred percent convinced Leo’s family was either going to adopt me… or ruin me.
Possibly both.
I kicked off my heels the second we stepped inside, groaning as my bare feet hit the floor.
“I swear your mom tried to feed me like I was going into hibernation.”
Leo laughed behind me, locking the door. “That means she likes you.”
“She threatened to fight me if I didn’t take leftovers.”
“Oh yeah. She definitely likes you then.”
I turned to say something else and stopped short.
The living room.
The lights were dimmed.
There were candles. Like a lot of candles.
Red rose petals covered the floor.
My hand flew to my mouth. “Leo…”
“Before you say anything,” he said, “just let me have a second, okay?”
My heart started racing.
“Leo, what—”
A bark cut me off.
Moose came trotting in from the hallway, tail wagging like crazy.
“Hi, baby—” I started crouching down.
And then I saw it.
The small gift box tied gently to his collar.
My breath caught.
“Leo…”
“Yeah,” he said softly.
My hands trembled as I reached for it, fingers brushing against Moose’s fur. He just sat there proudly, as if he knew he was part of something big.
“Good boy,” Leo whispered.
I untied the ribbon slowly.
Opened the box.
And—
Oh my God.
My vision blurred instantly.
I looked up at Leo, blinking back tears. “Are you—”
He was already moving.
Dropping down to one knee and placing my hand in his.
“Cherise,” he said, voice steady but thick with emotion, “I spent most of my life in the shadows. Hiding who I was. What I felt. Convincing myself that loving you was something I had to bury. That it was wrong.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
“But you changed that,” he continued. “You made me want more. Made me brave enough to choose myself and to choose you.”
I squeezed his hand tighter.
“I am a better man because of you, Cherise, and I don’t want to go another day without you in my life.”
He let out a small breath, eyes locked on mine.
“You’re chaotic. You're loud. You’re a pain in my ass sometimes—”
I let out a watery laugh.
“—but you’re also the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
My heart was beating so hard.
“So,” he said, voice softening as he took the ring box from my hand and faced it toward me. The diamond ring sparkled in the candlelight. “Cherise Renee Monet…will you marry me? In sickness and in health. Through beer bellies and bald spots?”
I laughed and didn’t hesitate a second longer.
“Yes!”
It came out breathless.
“Also fuck you for saying my middle name,” I said, shoving his shoulder, “but yes, Leo! A thousand times, yes!”
He let out a laugh filled with relief as he slipped the ring onto my finger.
And before I could say anything else—
“Oh my God, she said yes!”
I jumped.
Grace and Chelsea came barreling out from the hallway like absolute maniacs.
“You knew?!” I yelled, pointing at them.
Chelsea clutched her chest. “First of all, rude. Of course, we knew. Do you think we’d miss this? Also, who do you think set all this shit up while Leo distracted your nosy ass?”
Grace was already crying. “I tried to stay quiet, but this was so beautiful.”
I looked back at Leo, narrowing my eyes. “You set me up.”
Leo grinned and stood. “Worth it.”
I shook my head, laughing through the tears. I hugged Grace and Chelsea, then threw my arms around Leo.
I pulled back just enough to look at him, really look at him.
“Hey, fiancé,” I whispered. Words I never in a million years would have thought that I would be able to say.
“Hey, fiancé,” he said, bending down to kiss me.
When we finally pulled apart, breathless and smiling, I held out my fist.
He looked down at it.
Then back at me.
“Oh,” he said, already laughing. “We’re doing this?”
“We are absolutely doing this.” I lifted my chin. “Because it’s not official until—”
He bumped his fist gently against mine.
“—we fist bump,” Leo answered.
I smiled.
Because I’ve finally made the right choice.
It was messy. Unethical. Unexpected.
And easily the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.