32. Chapter 32
Jinx - Epilogue
Six Months Later
I absently twist the simple gold wedding band around my ring finger, sitting in Mason’s living room, staring at all the boxes tucked to the side.
We’re leaving for Italy in two days, and I’m a fucking mess of emotions.
I’ve lived in Colorado for three years with the best family anyone could have.
I know I’ll see them again, but I’m going to miss my brothers, Sugar-Sweet Ranch, my apartment, and all the stupid animals.
I’m going to miss riding Waffle through the snow along the mountainside, next to the rushing river, and my place to unwind.
But there will be other places in Italy to unwind.
I’m sure I’ll find my special spot to get away.
Waffle and Black Beauty are in quarantine before they leave the States. They’ve been there for a while. Mason set it up so that once we reach Italy, they’ll be on their way. They won’t need to be quarantined again. They’ll just get another check-up and come to their final home.
I’m going to miss Mason’s home, too. I thrived here thanks to him.
At the same time, I’m excited to start a new chapter in my life with Mason. My husband. It still sounds weird in my head.
Mason kisses the top of my neck from behind. “They’re pulling up the drive, Precious.”
I swallow the huge lump in my throat and stand.
This is goodbye. At least for now. Mason wanted to celebrate at his former restaurant, but after he sold it to that corporation, I never set foot in it again. I couldn’t. The guilt was too much. He always understood. So, we decided to have a nice dinner at his place for the last time.
He lets me open the door, standing back, giving me space. I don’t know how he always knows what I need, but I’m grateful for it. As soon as my brothers knock, I open it.
When they step in, I can’t hold back the tears anymore. We circle each other in a group hug, sniffing, and one of us whimpers. Probably me.
“I’m going to fucking miss you guys,” I say.
“Fuck, Jinx. We’re so going to miss you, too,” Aleks says, crying the hardest.
Julien, who’s more stoic than all of us, nods in agreement, but even he’s cracking. “You’re going to have an amazing life, Jinx. I just know it. And we’ll come to visit often. That’s a promise.”
“We love you,” Tink says.
Foxy pats my back and is the first to pull away. “Thanks for protecting us all those years.”
Maybe it shouldn’t surprise me, but when we all separate, they gather Mason in a family hug, too.
It’s easy to forget Mason had been alone for a long time until me.
No family, barely any friends. I love how my family finally accepted him and made him theirs, too.
It wasn’t easy for guys like us, who’d been hurt by older men for so long.
Mason coughs to hide his emotions and steps back.
“Smells so good in here,” Tink gushes.
“Well, gentlemen, tonight we’re having the ultimate comfort food. I’ve made my mother’s famous marinara with meatballs. Even the pasta is homemade. There’s also garlic bread and a salad.”
“Ugh, we’re going to miss your cooking, Mason,” Aleks says, and everyone nods in agreement. While we’ve gotten pretty good at cooking, Mason has made us a ton of meals over the past few months. He’s taught me a lot, too.
Dinner is lively. We talk about everything under the sun except for our pasts. We don’t even acknowledge it anymore. It’s better to look forward or talk about happy stuff.
It’s pretty late when my brothers get ready to leave. Tink and Foxy head to the truck, but Aleks and Julien hang back to talk to me. Julien pulls me into a hug. “Take care of yourself, Jinx. I’m so glad you’ve finally found your happiness. You deserve it. Stay in touch, please.”
“I will,” I sniff, holding him back. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for my brothers and me. You’re… a special person. A good soul, Julien.”
“So are you.” He smiles, pats my back, and walks away, leaving me alone with Aleks.
“I’m going to miss you the most,” I tell him.
He sobs again and pulls me against him, holding me so tight. “I’m going to fucking miss you. You’re my closest and best friend. Never forget that. And like Julien said, I’m so glad you found your person and found love. You deserve it, no matter what you think.”
I nod against him. “I’m starting to believe that.”
“Good.”
“Send pics often. Text a lot. I want to know everything that’s going on and how your new house is coming along.”
“I will.”
We pull away with a fuck ton of tears. It doesn’t matter that I’ll see them again. Nothing will be the same again.
“I love you, Aleks.”
He covers his mouth as he cries again and nods. “I love you, too.”
He gets into the truck, and I watch them drive away, doing everything possible not to sob, but failing miserably. Mason stands behind me, takes my hand, and kisses my ring finger. “It’s not too late to change your mind,” he whispers.
I turn around in his arms and look up at him. “Nope, we’re doing this. While I’m going to fucking miss them, I’m ready to start my new life with you, my Dom, my husband, my best friend.”
He wipes away the tears with his thumbs and pulls me up for a kiss. “You’ve changed my life, Jinx, in the best way possible. Fate threw us together and broke your phone in the process, but I’ve never regretted a moment of it, even when things looked dire.”
I rub his chest, not looking at him. “Do you miss it? The restaurant?”
“I do. All the time.” Mason won’t let me look away, so he lifts my face to meet his eyes.
“As I said, I don’t have a moment of regret, because I would’ve missed you a lot more.
You’re such a special person, my pet. Precious isn’t just an endearment.
It’s what you are. Who you are. No matter how hard you fought it. ”
I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his chest. “I’m going to miss it here so much.”
“We’ll be back.”
“I know.”
“As often as you like.”
I smile and hold him tighter. “I know.”
“Remind me why we’re flying again?”
Mason chuckles and holds my clammy hand as we touch down in Florence.
“Get used to it, my love. We’re going to have to fly back and forth often.”
“Ugh.”
When we disembark the plane, a driver is waiting for us. Mason has already purchased a couple of cars for us, which are waiting at our new home.
Orange Crush is more lucid now with her calming meds wearing off, screaming in the car to get out of her carrier.
“Shhh, we’re almost home, sweetie.”
“The horses will be with us in a couple of weeks.”
I nod as I stare out the window. Tuscany is gorgeous in August. Everything is so green and alive.
“I’m going to miss the snow.”
“It snows sometimes, though not every year.”
“Bummer.” I sigh and smile at Mason. “I’m really excited. Truly. I can’t wait to start fixing up our home.”
“We’re going to make it a special place.
While Italy doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages or, hell, let people have children through surrogacy, strangely, they allow us to foster children.
With that said, laws can always change. It’s a risk if we want to help children without homes.
We could foster some kids, then have them snatched away if there’s a push for more conservatism. ”
“Do we need kids?” I ask, playing with his fingers.
“No, we don’t. But I know you wanted to help them.”
“I can probably still do that down the road, working for a governmental program or something. But I wouldn’t mind turning the farm into a haven for less fortunate kids, teaching them to survive on their own.”
The driver pulls in front of the house, and we get out. I lift the cat carrier while Mason grabs our luggage.
“I only got the chance to learn how to survive because of Julien. I want to do that, too, you know? Give back somehow.”
“I do know, Precious. Let’s play it by ear. First, we need to get this house shipshape.”
I stare out at the land, hardly a building to be seen anywhere. It’s so private and quiet. And it’s all ours.
Mason dangles the key in front of my face. “Ready?”
I smile and snatch it from him. “More than ready.”
I step up to the old wooden door, carved so beautifully, but it needs to be restored. I put the key into the lock and open it, making the hinges protest.
When we step inside, Mason kisses my head. “Welcome home, Precious.”