Epilogue
SIENNA
“How much longer do you have on this challenge, malyshka?”
Scoop ice cream. Make the waffle. Stack the items. Pour the salted caramel sauce.
Mary Margaret handed the order to the next customer, but her lack of small talk meant we lost points on customer service.
I scowled and upped Mary Margaret’s friendliness levels.
This was my problem—I prized efficiency, but the people in this town were yappers and customer satisfaction was a key metric in this challenge.
A hand ran down my back.
Holy shit. A news alert just popped up that Mayor Felix was visiting the ice cream shop. He was CozyScape’s most elusive character—rarely spotted, but the one everyone dreamed of encountering. If he approved of my shop, I would get a 20x bonus multiplier for the rest of the challenge.
Dimi’s lips brushed my cheek. “Lilya woke up early and she’s hungry.”
That drew my attention. My fingers paused their clicking, but my husband quickly continued.
“No, don’t stop. I just wanted to see how long you had left on this challenge. I’ll bring her in here to eat and you can keep playing.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, kotyonok. I’ll be right back.”
No, no, no. Mary Margaret scooped the wrong ice cream flavor and was now having a mental breakdown in the supply room.
This was the consequence of making her friendlier—it also increased her sensitivity score.
Why couldn’t I have super kind, personable robot employees who weren’t liable to burst into tears over one careless mistake?
Lilya’s soft cry fully pulled me from the game, and I spun around in my chair.
She was nestled against Dimi’s chest and Vovchyk nudged her tiny little foot.
The moment Lilya was born, Vovchyk stopped following me around.
His heart belonged completely to our little girl.
I would have been jealous, but it was impossible not to be obsessed with Lilya, so he got a free pass.
Besides, having him keep careful watch over her when she napped made it so I could actually leave her side for more than thirty seconds without panicking.
“Hi, cucciola. Did my girl wake up early?” I held my arms out to her but then a bell went off in the game, signaling the mayor’s arrival. Shit. Before I could panic, Dimi stepped forward and kissed the crown of my head.
“I’ve got it, malyshka. You claim your victory.”
“Ugh, I love you. I’ll give you a celebratory blow job if I win.” I turned back to the game and made sure Mary Margaret pulled her shit together before taking the mayor’s order.
The screen vanished for a brief second as Dimi tugged off my crop top.
His fingers were gentle on my skin as he undid the front clasp of my nursing bra.
He nudged me to stand up and when I sat back down again, I was on his lap.
He moved my breastfeeding pillow in place and then Lilya was there, latching like a champ.
I smiled and held her steady with my left hand, although there was no need. Dimi would never let her fall.
I stroked her perfect little cheek as I continued playing. Mary Margaret served up the most beautiful ice cream waffle the world had ever known, Mayor Felix gave his nod of approval, and the shop exploded with cheers.
My score flashed on the screen and I froze. “Oh my god, I think that’s…”
The CozyScape leaderboard danced across the screen with my name, Principessa_di_Cozy, in the number one spot.
“Baby, you did it! You fucking did it!” my husband whisper-screamed. I joined in, the two of us celebrating silently so we didn’t startle Lilya.
“I can’t believe this is real.” I picked up my phone and snapped a picture to send to the Mafia Girls Group Chat. “I hope C0zyBrODeezNuts is crying. This is my greatest accomplishment.”
Dimi snorted and gave Lilya a pointed look. “Whatever you say, baby.” He kissed the spot behind my ear and I shivered. “Also, you’re the best hacker in the world. Couldn’t you find out who the C0zyBrO guy is super easily?”
My heart fluttered at my husband calling me the best. “That’s right. I am the best. The best hacker, the best CozyScape player. But finding out their identity would ruin the fun. I love having a secret nemesis.”
His chest shook with laughter. “Fuck. I love you.”
I tipped my head back with a smile. “Ya tebya lyublyu.”