Epilogue Lincoln
EPILOGUE
LINCOLN
[Yesterday]
@pancakesareelite:
Don’t go to bed yet, I just need to finish drafting this email and then we can play
@theanswerisno:
I waited a lifetime for you. I can wait a little longer.
I knocked on the bathroom door. “Lily, come on. We’re going to be late. William made me promise I’d help him set up Thunderstruck’s booth. Didn’t you promise Rose you’d help her over at Fun&Games?”
“Uh-huh,” she replied. “I’ll be done soon. Rose’ll totally understand when she sees this.”
Elizabeth stepped out of the bathroom wearing the maroon leather pants I’d dreamed of. They hugged her curves and hung low on her hips. My mouth dropped open.
“You like?” She ran her hands down the black corset, tight around her waist. “This is because you made me watch Star Shield three times. I was inspired.”
“Oh no,” I groaned, then nodded. “I mean yes, yes, obviously yes but oh no, no, no. How am I supposed to…?” I couldn’t even finish my sentence.
She spun around, obviously enjoying my pain.
“Maybe we can be late.” My eyes dipped to her cleavage and got stuck there.
She pressed a soft kiss on my mouth. “Nope. Rose asked me to be there early, and I agreed. We have no excuse.”
“But this is an excuse.” I gestured to her outfit. “Like you said, Rose and William will understand.”
“I like to keep you waiting.” She winked, knowing it would drive me up the wall, and before I could grab her and have my way, she swayed her hips and escaped, making sure I’d get a good view before adding a cape and completing her costume.
We hopped into my truck and drove down to where Comic-Con was being held. I read the directions off the special-access tickets Rose had given us. “It’s supposed to be here. Which is weird. It’s not where the main con access is.”
We parked. Beside us, Claire, Dean, and Hannah climbed out of their car. Claire gave Elizabeth the tightest hug.
Shaun, Neema, and their brand-new baby arrived. Elizabeth practically teleported toward them.
“Lincoln,” Claire called, and pointed at Elizabeth, “it was the secret identity trope all along.”
“Fated mates, maybe,” I said, that familiar heat filling my chest.
Claire clapped and nodded before asking, “How’s work? Any regrets?”
“None at all. I love it there.” My cheeks ached from all this smiling. I wasn’t used to this. But my new job was good, and after all these years, I didn’t feel so frazzled every morning.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, seemed to thrive under pressure, and she gave Anders a run for his money on the daily. It was as though she was avenging me for every trouble he’d ever given me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy that.
“William sent a text,” Shaun yelled over at us. “He said to hurry and stop chitchatting.”
We walked through the entrance, and the doorman stopped us. “Are you here for Rose and William?”
We nodded, and he took a quick look at the tickets Rose had emailed us. He led us inside and pointed to the board game area. “In you get. Pick one costume off the rail. Your names are on them.”
“No way,” Claire said. “She was being serious about us dressing up?”
“But I like my costume,” Elizabeth said.
“I like it too.” I slipped my hands around to her backside underneath her cape and nearly glitched. That was dangerous.
The stillness of the empty venue was eerie and somehow exciting. I’d been here before, but it was filled to the brim. I had never returned.
Shaun located the costumes and wasted no time finding his name.
“Hey! I’m an elf! Look at this epic wig.
” He lifted his clothing and a few smaller outfits.
“There are costumes for the kids too.” He handed Hannah’s outfit, which looked like a hobbit’s costume, to Claire.
He handed an even smaller version to Neema and then walked into the changing booth.
Shaun stepped out fully dressed, and his excitement was almost enough to get us moving, and if that didn’t do it, well, the person who walked out from the board game area did.
“Legolas!” Rose’s mother yelled at Shaun. “You look marvelous. Come on, the rest of you need to hurry. We need to be done and packed up in fifteen minutes.”
“Done with what?” Claire asked. Although by now, I think we all had an idea of what was coming next.
“With the wedding, of course.”
Shaun and Neema high-fived. “Knew it!”
Claire squealed with Dean hugging her from behind and swaying from side to side.
While my heart exploded with joy, Elizabeth’s hand slipped into mine, fitting perfectly. I tugged her closer, and she spun against my chest, kissing the underside of my jaw. The nonchalant public display of affection had heat spiraling through me.
I dragged her into a booth, where I had the honor of peeling off her incredible costume. It wouldn’t be the last time I’d do that.
Main quest: Watch friends get married. Side quest: Think about marrying Elizabeth.
By the time we made it out, everyone was ready and waiting. We walked into the board game area and found Rose, dressed as a hobbit and scattering white rose petals everywhere. Her face was emotive on a regular day, but now she looked like the sun.
“You’re here!” she squealed, and we went in for a group hug. “Mom! Let’s get a move on. I’m ready.”
William was at her side in an instant. He pulled her into his arms and spun her around in the air. “I’m ready too. I’ve been ready.”
Elizabeth shifted closer to me, close enough for me to smell her delicious scent. It was different now, knowing I’d get to taste her later. I took a moment to stare at her, admiring her pink-tinged cheeks and her copper hair framing her face. Her eyes. Those eyes. I couldn’t look away.
“What do you think about when you look at me like that?” she whispered.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” She curled an arm around me. “Not even something… naughty?”
I grinned. “Honestly, I’m not thinking about anything except how good it feels to look at you. And I know that’s not the cheeky answer you expected but… Lily, do you know that nothing has ever silenced my brain the way you do?”
Her beautiful eyes widened.
“I know peace when I look at you,” I said, and added a disclaimer. “Well, as much as my brain allows me to have.”
She giggled, but her eyes were shining. “I can’t wait to marry you. Scenario four won out. I don’t know what you’re waiting for.”
My eyes widened, and I thought she may have triggered my fight-or-flight response again, which I’ve since come to understand as being a rush of emotion. “Are you proposing to me now because I’ve been slacking?”
“If I was, what would you say?” She pulled me aside.
Scenes of our future together flashed across my mind.
Waking next to her.
Hosting game night together.
Visiting our moms.
Lily’d come in for the occasional lecture just to tease me.
I’d consult on her projects to tease her.
Gaming with my Player Two and maybe future little gamers.
There was nothing I wanted more.
I leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. “To you, my Lily, the answer is always yes.”