Epilogue
Payden
Two weeks later
“I’m so happy!” Luna pumps her fists in the air. The only time she gets really excited about anything is either when we’re doing something dangerous, or the times she gets to officially adopt out her animals.
Dozer is officially ours. The three legged dog that nobody wanted.
He’s been such a treasure. A blessing to all of us.
This little dog has not been one lick of trouble.
I’ll never know how humans can be so cruel.
I get some animals are a lot of work, but even so, no animal deserves to be abused, neglected or harmed.
And yet, he came so loving. Timid? Yes. But always with a wagging tail.
He took to Logan like a duck to water, following him around everywhere, his shadow.
Now he sleeps between us, his little snores making us both gaze down at him adoringly.
“I know!” I agree as we high-five. “Though, I’m taking bets that you had this all planned.”
Luna puts on her best shocked face. “Me? I would never.”
Logan, his arm slung around me, chuckles. “Yeah, you totally would.”
“Look, I’d do anything for the fur babies, you know that.
Plus, he’s so freaking happy!” Luna strokes his face as Logan holds him in his arms. He’s had a big day of running around with his new best friend, Titan.
Even Tilbury got in on the act, the tiny little thing tagging along with the big boys.
They’re quite a sight to see. Even with the size difference, Titan towering over him, he knows to be gentle.
“Well, we couldn’t be happier, right, honey bee?” I purposely use the cute name just the way he does to me when we’re in public. I go from honey bee, to cupcake, to Logey-bear, just to see which he’ll screw his nose up to more.
“Right, chocolate covered strawberries.” He smirks. “Oh wait, that’s for later, with whipped cream.”
Luna puts her hands over her ears. “I did not just hear that.”
I pat his arm. “Well, you better keep it in your pants for the moment, Mama won’t be happy if we miss dinner.”
Logan grumbles, then I remind him that tonight is the night he’s meeting my parents. I did tell him, but he seems to have a bad memory when it comes to things he’s wary about.
My parents may be snooty, but they want to thank Logan in person, again, for saving my life, so we’re having dinner with Logan’s mom, too.
He was there when my folks came over when I got back, and they talked briefly, but I think my mom in particular was still in shock. Can’t say I blame her, it was a lot to take in.
“Oh, this should be fun,” Luna laughs. “I wish I could be a fly on the wall.”
“Well, you can come, too, Tag as well,” I suggest.
Luna pouts. “I’d love to, but we have birthing classes later…” The second the words are out, she slaps a hand over her mouth.
Logan snickers. “Tag is going to birthing classes?”
She straightens. “What’s wrong with that, he is the fucking father after all.”
Logan just can’t keep the smile off his face.
I can tell he can’t wait to rib Tag about it later, and the boys.
“Nothin’ wrong with it, I just have a hard time picturing Tag sitting behind you on a bean bag while you both practice weird breathing noises and try not to stick the pin in the doll's ass.”
She gives him a look. “Don’t go stirring shit, Logan Dawson.
And those weird breathing noises are breathing techniques, asshat.
I’d like to see a man squeeze something the size of a watermelon out of something the size of my damn fist, without splitting yourself in two, and not make weird breathing noises. ”
He grins. “Well, that’s gonna cost you.”
She pokes her tongue out. “Bite me.”
I slap Logan on the arm. “We have to go, stop stalling.”
We wave goodbye and take off with Dozer and his freshly signed adoption certificate.
When we pull up at Haze and Willow’s—it’s their turn to host—Logan shifts to look at me before stepping out.
“What’s up?” I ask with a slight frown. “Are family dinners that bad?”
“It’s not that.” He takes a breath, then surprises me by saying, “I know the renovations have taken their toll, but things should be back to normal soon.” He palms the back of his neck as I try not to fawn all over this great big hulk who still has trouble expressing his feelings. He’s getting better at it.
“Yeah, and?”
“And I was thinkin’.”
“Uh, oh.”
He gives me a lopsided look, rolling his eyes.
“Would you move in with us?” I blink in surprise, but before I can answer, he plows on.
“But the apartment would be temporary. With the new bar manager startin’ soon I thought he could take the apartment.
I wanna look for a house. Somewhere we can build new memories, be a family. ”
I swallow the lump in my throat. God damn this man. “Seriously?”
“Seriously as in, you hate the idea?”
I close my eyes, shaking off the laughter as tears spring to my eyes. Jesus, I’ve never been this emotional in my entire life. Ever since everything went down, I’ve somehow become way more in touch with my feelings. My therapist says that’s a good thing, not to keep things bottled up.
“Logan?” I reach over and wrap my free arm around his neck. “Has anyone ever told you you’re the most pessimistic person in the entire world?”
“That’s just dumb,” he replies. “You haven’t met everyone in the entire world.”
I smile, pressing a kiss to his lips. “I’d love to move in with you.”
“You mean that?”
“Yes. I don’t usually commit to things I’m not sure about.”
“So you’re sayin’ you’re sure about me?”
“Didn’t say that, but I have to think of Dozer’s needs.”
He grins against my mouth. “Wise ass.”
“You love it.”
“We should go home and fuck instead of hangin’ out here.”
“Don’t even?—”
A loud tap, tap, tap makes us both jump and Dozer barks, jumping up from my knee.
My eyes widen as I see Logan’s mom banging on his window. Oh, holy fuck.
Logan clears his throat as he presses the window down. “Mom?—”
“Don’t Mom me, young man,” she scolds. “Making out on the curbside, Logan Ernest Dawson? With Mr. and Mrs. Benedict inside.” As if just noticing me she smiles my way, “Hi, honey.”
“Hi, Mrs. D.” I wave.
She glances back at her son, her smile dropping. “Inside, now, before we have the neighbors complaining.”
“We’ll be right there,” I say sweetly.
“And let me take that adorable grandbaby right now,” she goes on, wiggling her fingers at Dozer, who’s now wagging his tail like a mad-man because he loves his grandma.
Logan sighs, handing our fur baby over to her. She kisses his head, telling him he’s the sweetest little boy, then takes off up the drive.
“Jesus Christ,” Logan mutters, his head resting back against his seat.
“I think we better get going before she means business,” I laugh, loving how he, and both his brothers, fall into line when Mama D is in town.
He curls his fingers around mine, bringing my knuckles up to his lips. “What if I wanna break all the rules?”
“Yeah, now’s not the time to get cocky. Your mom is one scary lady.”
“Don’t worry about her.” He kisses my knuckles once more. “So, you’ll move in?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
He pulls me closer, his lips finding mine as we kiss. “I love you, Payden Elizabeth Benedict.”
“Uh, oh, using all my names.”
“Can’t wait to get you home so I can?—”
“Logan Dawson! Get your scrawny butt inside!” His mom yells from the doorway. “I know you hear me!”
We both jump again feeling like little school kids who just got caught canoodling. Which we kinda did.
“We better go before she loses it,” Logan sighs, pinching my chin. “Long as you love me.”
“I love every single inch of you.” I smile. “So glad I came into the bar that night, I doubt you’d ever have asked me out.”
“You always romanticize it. You asked me to fuck.”
“Same thing.”
He shakes his head, stepping out of the car as he jogs around to my side. He opens my door and takes my hand. I’ve never felt more loved than I have with this man. He makes everything bad disappear. I don’t want to spend a single night away from him, or from Dozer.
We’re a happy little family. We deserve it. Now the dust has settled, finally, we can lay the past to rest and move on, one step at a time.
Logan
Declan passes me the potatoes and raises an eyebrow as he asks, “So, you shackin’ up with my sister?”
I look across the table at him as everyone stops talking. Great. Just what I fucking need.
Payden sighs, shaking her head at her little brother. “Subtle, Dec, as always.”
“Honey?” Margaret, her mom, asks in a surprised tone. “Is this true?”
Payden clears her throat, ready to answer, but Declan asked me, so I squeeze her hand under the table.
She loves her parents, but they can be a lot.
They have high expectations, and Payden told me they do not like the idea of Declan being involved with the MC over in Mississippi.
I’m sure they’re hoping it’ll be a phase and he’ll grow out of it.
For a second there, it’s as though they forgot who I was and that Payden wasn’t part of the NOLA Rebels.
She’s the golden child, and he’s the kid who keeps fucking up.
I wish they’d see that he’s thriving. He has his own business for fuck sakes, and most of all, he seems happy. I bite my tongue because it’s not my argument.
From across the table, Bronco gives me a look.
Yeah, some of the guys came over with their ol’ ladies and we made it a thing.
Bronco insisted that Dozer and Titan needed a play date, and Amber snapped some pretty cute photos because we’re all fucking obsessed with this new bromance.
I’ll give Payden’s folks the benefit of the doubt; they’ve treated everyone with respect thus far.
Sawyer and Nova are here, too, along with Molly who’s become close to Payden this last month.
They both have healing to do, especially Molly. I’ve offered her a job in the restaurant if and when she’s ready.
“Mrs. Benedict?—”
“Please call me Margaret.” She smiles.