Epilogue
Brandon
Ten Years Later
Adecade later, and it feels like nothing has changed. Robbie and Chad are smack talking, and Bailey is stuck to Chad’s side.
The reunion is full of familiar faces and some not-so-familiar ones, and being back here on campus makes me grateful for everything I went through in college … and thankful we never have to go through that again.
Even if Robbie will never outgrow his Master of Mayhem title. But now, instead of frat brothers to wreak havoc with, he’s got our five- and two-year-olds for backup. I’ll never tell him, but seeing the three of them plot against me might be the most adorable thing I’ve ever witnessed.
But trying to convince the three of them that we need to eat actual people-sized food is a losing battle.
“Hey, sexy butt.”
I yelp as my feet leave the floor and Robbie lifts me for a kiss. “You could have just bent down, idiot. You’ll throw your back out again.”
“I didn’t throw it out the other time. I just … pulled something.”
“Which is why you made me rub Icy Hot into your ass for a week.”
His evil grin gives him away.
“You were faking it?”
“No. Well, not at first. But what did you expect me to do?” He pouts. “You were taking care of me.”
I roll my eyes, and he sets me back on my feet. “Is Chad coming?”
“As soon as he sneaks away from Bailey.”
We turn to look at where the two of them are dancing. And sure, it’s sweet and whatever, but we’re planning to TP the Kappa house for old times, and I’m sure as hell not missing out on that.
It’s not until an hour later that Chad sneaks away, and Robbie waves Zeke over.
“Ready, fuckers?” Robbie asks.
I whack his head, and he knocks me into Chad.
“Come on,” Chad says. “Before I get into trouble.”
We rib him the whole way to our car to grab the stashed rolls of toilet paper, Zeke watching us like the proud dad he’s always been.
“Admit it,” I say, nudging him. “You love us.”
He slings an arm around my shoulders. “I do. Sometimes I wonder if I should have taken it easier in college. Had more fun like you idiots.”
Chad snorts. “No one has fun like we do.”
“I dunno,” Robbie says, rubbing his chin. “Brando and I definitely get our fair share of fun in.”
Of course he went there.
“Even with the kids?” Zeke asks.
“Early bedtime.”
He hums, and something in it catches my attention. Out of all of us, he’s the only one not married.
“You thinking of kids?”
“Maybe one. My career is starting to slow down. Seems like a good next step.”
“Wow. Happy for you.” And apparently, now Chad is the only one out of us not interested in kids. Selfishly, I’m glad. He and Bailey are amazing uncles to our two. Well, except for the time Bailey introduced Chad to the term guncle and Chad tried to make us call him buncle.
I shudder at the memory.
“So you guys are settling down, then?” I ask Zeke.
“We’ll see.” He smirks. “Not like you two, but definitely less travel.”
I’d pretend to be offended, but I’m living the life I always planned to.
Robbie falls back into step with me, and I let go of Zeke to snuggle into his side.
He had an amazing career starting as a political advisor, and he gave it all up to stay home with our kids.
We have our little property in Kilborough, I’m running my own business through Hartford and spend half the week in the office and the other half at home, and I can honestly say I’ve never been happier.
I used to worry Robbie would get bored of the quiet life, but while he might not be employed, he’s always busy.
Either updating the house, or learning about irrigation systems, or tending to the vegetable garden, he’s always got some project on the go.
Plus, he has his own little dad group on the street, and seeing them together throws me back to our frat days in a way that’s scary.
Zeke and Chad pull ahead of us, and I grin up at my husband. “Love you.”
“I mean, you say that.” He waves a hand as we turn onto Greek Row. “But yet you still haven’t done a musical number for me.”
“And I never will,” I promise him.
“Well, you’re lucky I love you too, faults and all.”
And when we reach Kappa house and look down to where Sigma house is sitting at the opposite corner, he squeezes me tighter.
“You miss it?” I ask.
“Yeah. And no.”
“No?”
“Well, I lived for those days, for the brotherhood, but … that isn’t a home.” He nods to Zeke and Chad. “It’s us. Right here. And we’ve never lost that.”
He’s right. No matter how busy we’ve gotten or where in the world we are, the four of us have never lost touch. Instead, our friendship circles have grown. Robbie and I have thrived. And all of us are living our best lives.
“With any luck,” I say, “we never will.”