Epilogue
COOPER
Six months and four days later
“Why do you always have to do things in fours?” Evy whined and a smile exploded across my face.
My little superstitious numerophile was always at me about the number four being her life number.
And so, of course I always did things in and on fours to try and show her she could find luck with that number.
“It’s not in fours, it’s the fourth. What other fours have I done lately?” I added, knowing she probably had hundreds of examples where I had intentionally gone out of my way to ensure the number four was memorable on any given day.
“You literally woke me up at 4:00am,” she said, looking at me like I’d dug my own grave.
“You weren’t complaining,” I replied, grinning like a damn fool.
“You didn’t really give me an opportunity to speak,” she parried, as laughter bloomed at the corners of my mouth.
“Oh, come here,” I pulled her into me, planting four quick kisses to her cheeks.
“Give me another one right now,” she demanded, and my chuckle broke across the kitchen. “And hurry, everyone is waiting to eat.”
“Let them wait,” I grumbled, “I’m enjoying time with my fiancée. My real fiancée.” I spoke into her neck, a satisfied warmth spreading through me as I felt her body arch into me, her need my favourite thing.
Leaving a trail of kisses down her neck, I slid a hand up her shirt, running a thumb across her taut nipple.
I was already aching in my pants, ready to take her again for the fourth time that day.
It didn’t matter how many times I heard her moan my name, how many times I tasted her sweetness, it was never enough.
Having her beside me every day, and especially after I’d asked her to be my wife this morning and she’d agreed, had increased my hunger.
That ring I had designed for her, now worn on the correct finger and for real.
“It’s your birthday party,” she tried to argue, but it sounded more like a gasp than defiance as her hands tugged on my hair in the way I fucking loved. “God, Coop, you need to stop,” she whispered, thrusting herself into my hard cock.
“You need to stop,” I growled back, knowing I was about two seconds from taking her to the bedroom.
“You both need to stop!” Felicity snapped, waltzing into the room all bright eyed, clearly clocking what she’d interrupted and not minding one bit.
“You’re lucky,” I whispered into Eva’s ear, before tapping her on the backside and opening the fridge as if the cold air could help the raging hard-on go away faster.
“If this is what I’ve been missing, maybe I am ready to date again.” She said to Eva, straightening the glasses which sat askew on Eva’s adorably flushed face.
“My fiancé was just grabbing more beers for the boys.” Eva replied, shooting me a look which screamed trouble.
Giving her a wink, I took a couple of six packs out of the fridge and headed for the back door.
“Jay’s here, Flick, but you won’t be able to kill him because Violet’s here too.
” I smiled, knowingly. We all knew what made her tick.
That fire in her eyes wasn’t anger and I knew that because it was a familiar shield I’d also yielded in my plight to ignore my feelings for Evangeline.
It was want, cleverly disguised as disinterest and Jay played the same game with her. Only now, things were a little messier.
“The infamous daughter. I can’t wait to meet her,” Flick said with a genuine smile.
“Winter says she’s wild and keeps him on her toes.
Sounds like my kind of kid.” Eva and I both laughed as the girls followed me outside where everyone else was chatting and drinking.
Everybody I loved and cared about in the same place.
For me. Here to celebrate my birthday. The first party I’d ever had.
“Happy birthday, brother,” Seb drawled, an arm thrown over my shoulder.
“Thanks, man,” I said, clinking my drink against his.
“About time we were allowed to celebrate your birthday,” Andy called from where he sat with Arna and Marlee.
“You should be focusing on pre-season,” I replied, nodding towards the beer in his hand before flicking my head towards Jack and Jay who were sitting with Winter and Violet. “Coach won’t be happy.”
“Especially now he has been appointed head coach!” Andy said, and just like that, silence dropped. The kind of silence that lingers while everyone races to catch up, before Violet broke the spell.
“Great, you’re my dad and as of now, you coach the worst team in the league. Rough year for both of us.” She said with a sass only a pre-teen could throw at their father.
I couldn’t help it. When I clocked the shock on Jay’s face I lost it, head thrown back howling as the backyard erupted into laughter.
“I’m Flick,” Felicity said, extending a hand to Violet who just stared at her like she had a disease, which made everyone laugh more. “We are going to get along perfectly.”
“Shut the fuck up! Head coach of the Hearts?” Seb cheered, raising and spilling some of his beer. It was rare he let loose, and I fucking loved it.
“Wait, are you actually serious about the coach thing?” Marlee asked. “Because I need to organise a time to meet with you. I have suggestions about the starting line-up. I can’t believe I know the head coach of the Hearts!”
“That deadly serious look on her face comes from pure, unhinged team loyalty so you should take notes.” Eva said to Jay, as she came to stand in front of me.
“That is a level of fandom I could never understand,” I replied, kissing the top of her forehead. “But if you were a sport…” I said, grinning when a smile broke across her face.
“Well, since we are making announcements,” I said loud enough to grab everyone’s attention. “Evy finally agreed to make me the luckiest bastard on earth!” He turned my wrist, showing the ring on my left hand. “For real this time.”
“Oh, honey,” Judy said, wrapping her daughter in a hug before reaching for me. “Told you so.” She grinned and I hugged her a little tighter.
“As if I could ever leave your family.” I replied earnestly.
“Our family,” Judy corrected, and I smiled.
“Brother!” Seb said, before pulling me in for a back-slapping hug. “So happy for you man.” One by one they all moved in to congratulate us both, before heading to Jay to offer a round of congratulations over to him too.
It was a perfect fucking day in my books. My woman had finally agreed to be my wife. I celebrated my birthday with people I cared about, and everyone was happy, until Evy eventually made it back to me looking sombre.
“Your mum messaged asking me to wish you a happy birthday,” she said, killing my vibe.
“I don’t care,” I sighed, basking in her warmth as she wrapped her arms around my waist.
“I know. I thanked her and told her I would pass on her wishes, which I’ve just done,” she said with a confidence I wished I could match.
We’d had a very awkward coffee with them only a month prior.
Something my mum organised through Evangeline and one where they both fumbled through apologies and lacklustre explanations.
It was all bullshit, I knew that the same as I knew my father’s business was bankrupt and he wanted to try and keep me on his good side.
All of which just emphasised their guilt and how they saw me as nothing more than a meal ticket.
The me of a year ago would have told them both to piss off and never spoken to them again.
But being happy changed a person. Finding love changed a person and I was without a doubt, an entirely different man thanks to the woman wearing my ring, who would also wear my name when we decided to make it official.
The loyalty and comfort which came from truly being loved was like nothing I’d ever known and made things worth fighting for - in a new and healthier way. But I wasn’t ready to forgive and forget and wasn’t sure I ever would be.
“I love you,” I said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Thanks for being a buffer. I’m not sure I could face this otherwise.”
“I love you,” she answered, “And you’re welcome. They are on their best behaviour at the moment.”
“Only because I think you scare them.” The image of her, fearless and fired up, came flooding back, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Don’t think anyone had ever told them to fuck off before.
” I chuckled, remembering her acerbic tone and the way it sliced through their attempts at apologising, leaving everyone speechless the first time they tried talking to her after it all went down.
“And that’s why they will behave. Because they know there are too many people in your life who will fight for you. Starting with me.” She threw her arms up, proud of those little muscles that would barely make a dent.
“I would be too. I’ve seen you throw a shoe.”
“Anywayyyyy,” she grinned, reaching for a black box on the table and I was smiling before I even opened it, knowing exactly what would be inside.
“How many years have you been making these, Evy?” I asked, already knowing the answer and watching as recognition flickered before she settled into a frown.
“Like, thirteen plus one years,” she said, and I chuckled, removing the slice from the box and taking a large bite.
“Second best thing I’ve tasted today,” I exclaimed, shooting her a wink before my laugh broke free when her cheeks flushed.
“Happy birthday, Coop. I love you more than any number in this world. Even more than my old calculator.” She confessed, wide-eyed.
“That is the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me, Evy girl.” I pressed a kiss to her mouth.
“Wait until you see your other present,” she teased, and my thoughts scrambled at the way she bit her lip seductively telling me everything I needed to know.
“Tell me it’s another outfit,” I begged, thoughts of her bent over one of the barrels sending all of my blood south.
“Correct. You get to see me in my birthday suit,” she winked, and I pulled her close, indifferent to the crowd around us, including her brother and mother.
Because there would never be a time or place where I could keep my hands to myself, and no matter how much time I had, it would never be enough with her.
“Beyond fucking glad you agreed to be my wife - for real this time, Evy.” I said feeling incredibly lucky.
“It was never fake, Poop,” she replied, “now kiss your fiancée.”
“Happily,” I grinned, “for the rest of my life.”