Epilogue
Eli
February
“You ready?” Falcon asked against my ear.
I didn’t think anything could top the Demolishers playing in the Super Bowl again this year, but my home being ready did. I’d been dropping in when I could and keeping up with the progress, but once things started coming together fully, I stopped taking peeks so I’d be surprised.
“Yes! Take this blindfold off me.”
As Falcon laughed, he pulled the blindfold off. My eyes watered as I stood at the foyer in awe. As excited as I was to see my home, I couldn’t move. It had just hit me that this man really bought me land and had my home built.
My own home.
“Come on,” he said softly, grabbing my hand and tugging for me forward gently.
He took his time showing me around the ten thousand square foot mansion.
It was bigger and better than I imagined it would be.
Ten bedrooms, each with their own bathroom.
The upstairs and downstairs each had living rooms, sitting rooms, and flex rooms. The dining room and kitchen downstairs were huge, and I couldn’t wait to cook my first meal here.
When we headed outside, I thought my heart would explode. Not only was the pool huge, but several yards back was my tree house. A literal tree house. It was huge and what dreams were made of. Sniffling and fighting back my tears, I looked up at this wonderful man of mine.
“My tree house?”
“Your tree house. Go look inside.”
We walked to the tree house, and I couldn’t help but release excited giggles as we climbed the ladder on the tree.
I opened the door, and the fact that it was sturdy and big enough for us both to stand up when we stepped inside was perfect.
The walls were lined with shelves for my books.
There was a bird’s nest seat for me covered with pillows and blankets.
A small table was already set up for my drinks, phone, and whatever else I brought up while I was here.
“I installed an intercom, so you won’t have to leave when you need anything,” Falcon said as I looked around in awe. “You’ll have a full staff—laundry, cleaning, cooking. All that. Of course you can cook for yourself, but when you don’t want to, you’ll have two private chefs.”
My tears poured as I turned to face him. “Is this real? This is really mine?”
“It’s yours, bae. The deed is in your name. It’s all yours.”
Jumping into his arms, I saturated his face with kisses, thanking him in between. The last six months had been amazing. I loved every day that we’d gotten to spend together, and I was glad I no longer had to hide it from my brother.
We were talking more, but I was still being careful with him.
I trusted him to a certain extent. Just as long as Senior stayed out of his head, I felt like we’d be okay.
Senior and I weren’t talking, and the crazy thing was, I knew he couldn’t care less.
That was all the motivation I needed to stay the fuck away from him.
Even when we saw each other at hotels for the away games or after parties, I ignored his existence.
I always prayed I’d have a better relationship with my father, and not talking to him at all was what gave me the most peace.
Though I was still recording music, I wasn’t releasing it anywhere beyond my social media.
I also announced that I wouldn’t be performing anymore.
While I wouldn’t say I’d retired from music, I’d given it its proper place in my life as the hobby that allowed me to creatively express myself.
My focus this summer was going to be opening my bookstore, and I loved that for me.
Since I was traveling with Falcon for games, I didn’t plan on looking at buildings and getting started until after the Super Bowl.
“This place is huge, and it’s perfect, baby. Thank you so much. I love you, and I love it—in that order.”
Falcon smiled before giving me another kiss. “I’m glad you love it. I know you’re gonna have a time decorating it. I got the contact information for Cordova if you want help. She’s the interior designer that did Sugar Baby and Cash’s house in Memphis.”
“Ooh, I saw her work online. She did a phenomenal job. Um, are you staying here with me?”
His brows wrinkled as he sat in the bird’s nest with me on his lap. “This is your house, bae,” he said with amusement in his tone.
“Well yes, but . . . I want you here with me. Not just because it’s huge but because I love you. I’ve gotten used to sleeping next to you, and I don’t want that to change.”
His hand cupped my cheek, and I kissed his palm.
“Of course I’ll be here if you want me to be. I didn’t want to impose on your space, but I also had planned to still sleep with your ass some kind of way.”
I laughed as I rested against his chest with his arms wrapped around me.
It was so quiet outside. So peaceful. So perfect.
Had I known getting cheated on a year ago would have led to this, I wouldn’t have shed a tear over Justin and Natasha’s betrayal.
It was fine, though, because I’d spend the rest of my days loving Falcon and thanking God for our union.
Super Bowl Parade
I was filled with total and complete pride watching Isaac give his MVP speech. The Demolishers had won the 2026 Super Bowl, after dominating all season. They demolished every opponent they met in the wrecking zone, and people were finally starting to acknowledge the team was nothing to fuck with.
“Last, I wanna give a special shout out to my baby love Eli.” His words completely caught me off guard.
I tightened my grip on the stem of my champagne glass as I tried not to lose my shit.
All eyes shifted in my direction as he and the camera crew turned to face me.
“You’ve had a lot of ups and downs and lost more than any one woman should, but in the last year, you had major gains.
You gained clarity over your purpose and chose to live for yourself, you gained peace by removing the people in your life that didn’t mean you well, you allowed me to evolve our relationship and restore your faith in me, and you gained a fiancé who happens to be my best friend. ”
“Huh?” I asked, unsure what the hell he was talking about. “Me and Falcon aren’t engaged.”
“You sure about that?” he asked just as I felt my man’s hand on my arm.
I turned, and at the sight of him on one knee holding a ring, I jumped and gasped.
“Eli Iyesha Tate,” Falcon called, taking my left hand into his.
“Getting with you a year ago was the best decision of my life. Not only did it become something deep and real, but letting you open my heart to romantic love also gave me the courage to open my heart to love from my family and new friends as well. It led me to therapy to release the trauma and hurt from my past. For the first time in my life, I’m not surrounded by darkness, and I have God and you to thank for that.
I want to spend the rest of my days loving and being loved by you. Will you marry me, bae?”
I didn’t realize I was just standing there staring at him with tears pouring from my eyes until Isaac said, “Eli! Answer the man. I know his knee done started to hurt on that hard ass concrete.”
A sputtered laugh escaped me as everyone else laughed. Nodding rapidly, I wiggled my fingers for Falcon to put the ring on my finger.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!” I chanted.
“Yes?” Falcon repeated, as if he was surprised.
“Yes!” I confirmed, hopping. “Put my ring on me and give me a kiss!”
Falcon laughed as he slipped the ring on, and of course, it was a perfect fit.
He stood, picking me up and taking me into his arms. As our lips connected, everyone around us cheered.
The best year of my life had come after the worst year of my life, and if that taught me nothing else, it taught me that there really truly was a rainbow after every storm, and that sometimes God had to remove the things that were bad for you in painful ways just to make room for the better He had in store.
The Beginning, Because True Love Has No End
I know, I know, you may want to see more from these two. The Demolishers (and Justine) will return, and as you get to know more players, you’ll get updates on these two as well.