Epilogue Noah
Epilogue
Noah
IT’S BEEN A FEW DAYS since my husband and his stupid friend kidnapped Rachel.
I am sitting in her living room with Ripley, her adorable new puppy, on my lap reading my book while my husband is cooking us dinner.
We have been staying here for the last few days since Kai decided Rachel needs a vacation until Friday.
Which is tomorrow. I have a full day at the salon, and I won’t see her until later in the evening for our book club night.
However, staying here for a few days has helped me and Leo settle into a routine that makes this marriage feel so real it hurts.
It’s hard to admit that this is not fake anymore, but was it ever?
Things sure happened fast, and maybe a sane person would be a little worried about marrying a guy he’d known barely for a week.
But when you know, you know. And I do. I truly do. I think Leo knows, too.
I have my phone next to me with the feed from Kai’s house open.
I check from time to time like a little stalker to make sure he hasn’t killed my best friend.
However, they seem to be having a honeymoon of their own, playing house.
They settled into a nice routine a day after he kidnapped her and since then I have only needed to check a few times.
It’s funny how life happens sometimes. You meet people whom you would never expect to meet.
They enter your routine by force, and even though they disrupt your nice little life, you know in your gut that they were always meant to be there.
That’s how it’s been with the guys. From the moment Rachel kidnapped Kai, we all got tangled in a web so complicated we’re never going to be free from.
Do we really want to be free from it? Probably not.
“How’s the book?” My husband asks as he carries two plates with our food in one hand and a bowl for Ripley. Perks of dating someone who owns a bar, this man is my personal waiter.
“It’s decent. What are we eating?” I place my book on the living room table, and Ripley hops off the couch, rushing to his food. He is kind of adorable, and I will miss his little paws pushing against me in my sleep when tomorrow his mom takes over taking care of him.
“Shrimp pasta.” I smile. He didn’t even have to ask if I like it. This man somehow has a natural sense of knowing what I need. It’s weird and comforting all at once.
He hands me the plate and I balance it on my knee as I swirl my fork into the creamy pasta. I bring a forkful to my mouth, the smell alone making me drool. Once the taste hits my mouth, I almost moan while chewing. “This is amazing, Leo.”
He chuckles. “I know. It’s my best dish.”
“Calm down, chef.” I joke, and he laughs again.
He settles into Rachel’s armchair and hits play on the remote control for the TV, switching from the camera feed to the streaming service Rachel uses.
The movie we have already set up starts playing, and just like that we stay silent, eating our food and watching a movie as if this is our normal.
And it is. It’s a normal we quickly found.
As if we jumped right in the middle of a five-year-long relationship that feels right on every level.
I look at him smiling. He is everything I’ve ever wanted, and more.
He is everything I could have asked the universe for, but I didn’t have to ask.
He landed at my friend’s doorstep all on his own.
And if you told me that a year from now, or two years, or even a lifetime after today, I will still be with this man, I will believe you in a heartbeat.
Because I know I will be. He is here to stay.