Epilogue
FLYNN
Easter Weekend
I stretch out on the lawn behind the main house at Wildflower Ridge and enjoy the last of the summer sun warming my skin.
New Zealand Easter is excellent. It’s the last chance to soak up all the best bits of summer: sunshine, barbecues, long hot days, beach trips and Abigail Fletcher in frilly sundresses that show off more cleavage and leg than my poor dick knows what to do with.
I close my eyes, listening to the sound of Abi, Olivia and Katie chatting from the picnic table.
This truly couldn’t get better.
I could melt into this grass right now, I’m so utterly relaxed. Mostly because Abi woke me up with her mouth so I’m still rocking a post orgasm glow.
“Oof,” I moan as a small fluffy bundle lands on me. Not so relaxed now. I pry open my eyes, right as my puppy, Jett, drags his tongue across my face. “Ew, gross,” I grumble, pushing him away.
Sadie’s giggles are the only warning I get before she lands on me too.
I push myself to sitting and grab her before she has a chance to wriggle away from me. Jett bounces around us, his tiny, playful barks utterly adorable.
“I’ve got you now, sprout,” I say, skittering my fingers across her stomach. She shrieks and giggles harder. I’m not sure if she’s actually ticklish or just pretends to be, but either way, this is one of our favourite games.
After a few minutes of us struggling back and forth, both trying to out-tickle the other, Sadie cries out stop and I immediately settle my hands on her back, tugging her in for a quick hug where I drop a kiss to her blonde curls before releasing her.
She leans into me, staying put even when I drop my arms back to prop myself up on my elbows. Jett scrambles onto us, draping himself over Sadie’s lap and she pats him with gentle hands.
“Is it time for egg hunting yet?” Sadie asks.
“Pretty soon, poppet. We’re just waiting for Uncle Hunter,” Abi says, lowering herself to sit beside us. I lift my chin and she immediately leans in and presses a kiss to my mouth.
We’ve only been together a short time, barely a few months, but I know: this is never going to get old.
Abi grounds me in a way I didn’t know I needed, giving me the security I’ve always craved and dissolving the aching loneliness I’ve felt for so many years .
Her anxiety is more stable now, though she still has bouts where she spirals about things, but I’ve learned how to allow space for her fears, and gently guide her back to herself.
She hasn’t had a panic attack since Sadie got sick, even though she’s had Sadie in her care more times than I can count, and while sometimes I’m with them, other times I leave my girls to bond. They’re still building their relationship and that’s still Abi’s number one priority, but I think she’s got it pretty well in hand by now.
Tyres crunch on gravel, a car door slams and a moment later, Hunter appears around the side of the house.
“Uncle Hunter!” Sadie cries and leaps off my lap, poor Jett ejected from his cozy spot. It takes him barely a second to recover before they both race towards Hunter.
Sadie grabs his hand, tugging fiercely. “You’re here! We can start hunting now!”
Hunter stares down at her, his face as impassive as ever.
Sadie doesn’t seem to notice his lack of enthusiasm before she drops his hand and races to Katie and Olivia, trying to usher them inside to get the first clue for her Easter egg hunt.
Jett races along behind her, his stubby puppy legs stumbling and tripping.
“Oh, come on, Hunt,” a voice says from the porch. Olivia’s older sister Willow leans against the railing, a mug of coffee in her hand and a smirk on her lips. “It’s the world’s cutest kid and a puppy. A teensy tiny smile won’t break your face.”
I flick my gaze towards my brother, just long enough to see him scowl at Willow, but as she turns and follows everyone else inside, Abi gasps, her fingers digging into my forearm.
“Holy shit,” she whispers, staring at my brother. “He does smile.”
I glance up and watch Hunter’s face soften, his mouth curving up as he watches Willow disappear into the house.
“Only for Willow,” I say, leaning in to brush a kiss along Abi’s temple.
She hums, sliding her arm around my waist and leaning into my touch. I grasp her chin and tilt her mouth up, tracing her lips with the tip of my tongue.
“Muuuum,” Sadie calls from the porch. “Stop kissing Flynn and come get your clues!” She heads back inside, but not before I catch her muttering, “Why’s everyone always kissing around here?”
“You’ve been told,” I murmur, pressing a final kiss to Abi’s lips before standing. I hold out my hands and she lets me pull her to her feet.
“So I have. Good thing I’m good at doing what I’m told,” she says, shooting me a smirk over her shoulder as she hurries up the porch steps.
And now I’m spending Easter morning hunting for eggs with my family sporting a boner.
Fucking awesome.