Epilogue
EVE
Four Years Later
“How’s your mom been doing?” Amber Conway asks. She’s sipping on a pink cocktail that has a name so profoundly stupid, I’ve forgotten it already. “She was a total train wreck during the divorce, last year.”
“Jesus, Amber. Don’t say it like that,” Talita Fuller scolds her.
“No, no, she’s right,” I reply. “Momma didn’t take the divorce well. Not after finding Tony was getting busy with one of his coworkers.”
Their marriage was always destined to die.
Leo said it himself. Tony wouldn’t ever love her.
The marriage was for show, and to prove to Austin that they were a loving couple.
Happily united against the world. Eventually, all facades crumble.
Sadly for my mother, her relationship with Tony came crashing down over someone close to my age.
“The way I see it,” Amber brushes a few strands of her fiery red hair from her face. “Your momma got off lucky. The divorce netted her a pretty penny in the settlement.”
The girls snicker among themselves.
“You’re not wrong there,” I say, leaning back in my chair.
It’s a vibrant Saturday afternoon. An orange sun hangs low in the sky, radiating the last warmth before evening comes.
We’re sitting in a quaint little bistro, overlooking a long street in Austin.
The second story deck has a good view of the street.
We’re sitting off in the corner closest to the edge, with people circling all around us.
A white umbrella with blue stripes has been our shield from the sun all afternoon, but a waiter’s busy packing it away with the setting sun.
Amber and Talita have been drinking since noon. They’re both on their last legs, and grasping at straws for something to talk about. We’re all married here. But, whereas they want to cling to this last little bit of glory away from their husbands, I’m eager to return home to mine.
“Speaking of blasts from the past, where’s that hunky husband of yours been lately?” Amber sits up straight, but instantly falls into another slouch. “I haven’t seen him since the wedding.”
“Oh, you know. He gets around,” I reply.
Talita’s fiddling with two strings hanging from the neck of her baby-blue sweater. “You know, it’s the funniest thing. Barry likes to host these boys’ nights, while the girls are away. He sends Leo an invite every time, and gives me a sad earful when I get home.”
Talita laughs and I join in. Barry Fuller isn’t Leo’s kind of guy. He’s bland, boring, and works a desk job at some accounting firm. He’s a step above boring and easily embarrasses himself without realizing it. I’d never say that to Talita, of course. She’s in love with the guy.
“Leo likes to keep himself to himself,” I watch Talita spin her empty wine glass between her fingers.
She looks up at me through her thick brown mane of hair, while I speak.
“He’s taken on a more relaxed schedule at his father’s company with everything we’ve got going on.
My guess is he catches up on work, while I’m not home, because I’d scold him for doing it if I caught him. ”
I stick my tongue out at the girls.
“I’m just going to miss you so much when you leave us next year,” Amber jumps back into the conversation. She skips over the part about Leo, and I’m glad about it. He doesn’t like me talking about him when I’m out.
If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s following Leo’s orders.
“Miss me? We’re still going to have girls’ day after I graduate,” I reply with a chuckle.
“Yeah, but how often?” Amber groans. “You’ll be out, fixing the minds of Austin’s elite and spending weekends with your family. When are you going to squeeze in time for your bestest pal?”
“Hey, what about me?” Talita moves between Amber and me, almost annoyed.
“You know I don’t choose favorites,” I stick my tongue out at her.
“But if you did, it’d be me,” Amber turns to Talita, who’s more than a little upset.
Talita’s chubby cheeks are turned up in a scowl.
Her nostrils are flaring. Amber’s always had a way of getting under Talita’s skin.
I’ve always wondered why they’ve stuck around one another.
Deep down I know it’s because friendships don’t exist out of perfection.
There needs to be good with the bad. A kind word in a time of need and a playful knock back when you’re riding too high.
The girls go on squabbling for a bit. Neither Amber nor Talita is really upset, at least I hope not. But, these bickering sessions happen at least once during a girl’s day out. It keeps things fresh, I suppose.
While they’re talking among themselves, and having a grand old time, an overwhelmingly familiar sensation washes over me.
The feeling that somebody’s watching me.
It comes and goes, every once in a while.
It’s a niggling feeling at the back of my skull, as if someone’s eyes are burning a hole straight into my head.
Today, in particular, the feeling strikes harder than usual.
I’m a little deer in a lion’s sight. I know he’s watching, stalking me through the thick savanna brush.
A tremendous predator is slinking through the tallest grass, prowling for his prey.
It’s just so fitting that my Leo fits his namesake.
Amber and Talita’s conversation has already shifted off the topic of who’s whose bestest friend, onto a fat guy in an oversized Hawaiian shirt at the bar. These two can be cruel and catty, but maybe that’s where some of their charm comes from.
While they’re talking away, I’m focused on a more serious task.
Without making it look obvious, I start studying the crowd around me.
I scan the room, studying every table and every face one by one.
After what feels like an eternity of searching, I finally see him.
Leo, sitting cross-legged, alone and hidden in plain sight.
He’s sipping an espresso from a tiny cup, a wicked grin on his lips.
He’s not even all that far from us. With every girl’s day, Leo’s only getting ballsier. Getting closer and closer, and waiting for me to catch him. But, even my gentle giant manages to mingle with the normal folks.
And as soon as I catch his eye, Leo turns away. The big guy in his Hawaiian shirt moves between the tables. After he eventually passes in front of Leo, my lion’s gone. Disappeared into the crowd, moved to a new hiding spot.
I could’ve done without him giving me that naughty little smile, though. The same one that melts my heart and leaves my body craving his touch. The rest of my afternoon out is agonizing. My protector is watching over me, for sure.
All I can do is think about all of the wicked things we’ll do after I get home.
***
LEO
Eve returns home from her afternoon out just after the sun’s set over the horizon. I’m lying on the sofa, flicking through channels, eagerly awaiting her. Not that I left her alone very long. I never do. Ever since she accepted my proposal, my vigilance has only increased.
She enters whistling softly to herself, chipper and cheery. I love seeing her in a good mood.
“Honey, I’m home,” she calls through the house. I’m already on my feet, rushing to the kitchen. When I enter, she’s leaning flat-palmed against the counter, the top buttons of her blouse undone, exposing her lacy blue bra beneath.
“How was your day out?” I step towards her, wrapping my arms around her waist. Eve gives in, letting me pull her into a kiss. She gets up on her tiptoes, snaking her arms around my neck, and returns the kiss.
I can’t stop myself, kissing along her cheek, licking and nibbling all the way down to her chest.
“Oh, you know, the usual. Gossip about Mom. Just general gossip, really,” Eve laughs. “You know it is just the darndest thing, though. I saw the most handsome man while I was out this afternoon. One look into his eyes and my panties were soaked.”
Eve continues giggling, but her laughter ends abruptly when I bury my face in her cleavage. One of her hands moves through my hair. She’s more than a little sad to see me pull away, even if it’s only for a second.
“Is that right?” I cock a brow. “He had to be something remarkable to catch your eye.”
“Remarkable’s an understatement,” Eve says. “He was a picture-perfect man.” She leans in, kissing me again. When she pulls away this time, she tugs on my lower lip. The sensation makes me weak in the knees.
“Well, he’s probably just looking out for you,” I reply, stroking Eve’s head. Her soft hair is entangled in my fingers. “The world’s a dangerous place.”
“Is it now?” Eve replies, crossing her arms.
“You’re a tough nut to crack, Eve Gardener,” I say, dropping down to my haunches. I grab Eve by the hips, gently resting my ear against her belly. The restless thumping of the life we created fights and kicks against my head. “But I’m looking out for two, now.”
Eve runs a hand under my chin, forcing my head up to meet her eyes. She’s looking at me with a wholesome smile.
“You’re amazing, you know that?”
“Amazing? Nah, I’m just madly in love,” I reply, rising to my feet.
“I love you too, you sexy giant,” she replies.
My hand finds Eve’s, and I know, she’s who I want to spend my days with, locked in a wild embrace.
THE END.