Epilogue
One Year Later
EVERLY
“Girl, it’s year three, can’t we get a new poster?” Hannah stands with her hands on her hips in the middle of our common room as I finish securing the five familiar faces to the wall.
“No way! At this point, it’s tradition. Plus, who will keep you company the nights I’m not here?”
“Fictional characters from an eighties movie? Right.” She rolls her eyes. “Speaking of, have you heard from your grumpy lover boy yet?”
“I’m happy to report he is a lot less grumpy since signing the lease, and yes, he texted me when he left Silsby this morning. I’m guessing he and Storm should be here soon.”
It’s been a year of long distance, ups and downs, and moments of uncertainty, but Hux is finally returning to the city—my city, to be exact.
Last month, he put first and last month’s rent down on a small studio apartment just a few blocks from our place.
Transferring his credits from NYU to Northeastern was pretty easy, and he starts classes next week.
He also scored himself a paid internship at a well-known investment company.
The distance was hard, and the Anderson’s had a tough year working to heal and integrate Storm back into daily life.
Storm mostly keeps to himself but has resumed a lot of the responsibilities at the resort.
This past summer was one of the most profitable seasons on record, allowing Hux’s parents to bring in some extra help and making Hux’s departure a bit easier.
Alex got a job as a personal assistant to one of our favorite actresses over the summer, and believe it or not, the actress is super cool and not a terrible human.
She even somehow convinced Alex to try some acting classes on the side.
Between filming projects and her new passion, Alex was about to sneak back East for about a week.
I was able to line up my one week off from the internship I had gotten, and we beelined it to Silsby for a few days.
Most of my time north was attached to Hux’s hip or in his bed, meaning I didn’t even attempt to try to connect with Storm, nor did he seem open to the idea, but I did catch a few glimpses of Alex and him together.
There seemed to be a silent comfortability between them.
Maybe it came from being childhood friends, but whatever the reason, I could tell Hux was grateful.
Even after being reunited for almost a year, things were not the same, and I know that weighs heavily on him.
“As long as you promise to still come out with me from time to time, I’m sure Grump and I can come up with a shared custody plan that works for all of us,” Hannah jokes.
All hard feelings between the two were quickly forgiven once Hux, who she exclusively calls Grump, started coming to visit me last year.
As expected, Hux fit seamlessly into our small group of friends as if he had always been a part of it.
The nostalgic sound of a loon cry comes from my phone somewhere on our couch, buried beneath blankets and decorative throw pillows.
The last few days we have spent hours making our on-campus suite feeling a bit more grown up than our old dorm room.
I dig through the mess, the giddiness uncontained.
“He’s almost here!” I squeal, grabbing my wallet and room keys from the table while slipping on my flip-flops.
I want to stop and grab the guys some coffee from this amazing new coffee shop that recently opened around the corner.
Before I rush out the door, I grab the small gift I picked up last week, tucking the wrapped package under my arm. With a quick wave to Hannah, I head out the door.
The U-Haul truck is illegally parked with one wheel on the curb when I run up to Hux and Storm unloading the couch that used to sit in the middle of Hux’s secluded cabin. Birch sees me first, and the big chocolate lab comes barreling toward me, his tail slapping my bare legs in excitement.
The guys lower the couch just in time for me to throw the tray down onto the worn cushions and jump into Hux’s arms, wrapping my legs around him like a spider monkey.
“Well, isn’t somebody a little eager?” That smug smirk across his lips.
“Shut up,” I tease before pressing my mouth to his. It has only been a few weeks since I last saw him, but any time apart feels too long.
After my feet are placed back on the ground, I hand each of the men a coffee before helping bring boxes up to Hux’s third-floor apartment for the next hour.
Birch followed us up and down every flight of stairs.
Hux made the hard decision to leave him with Storm, at least for now.
City life would not be fitting for the big social dog who has had free range of a whole resort his entire life .
“I think I’ll take Birch for a walk before we hit the road,” Storm says once we are finally done and back at the truck. These are the most words I’ve heard him say today.
“You sure you can find your way back?” Hux jokes. The hint of a familiar smirk appears on Storm’s face before he whistles for Birch, and the two head down the busy street side by side.
“Come on, I have something I want to give you upstairs.” I grab Hux’s hand and pull him toward his new home.
“Oh really, I have something I’d like to give you upstairs too.” He suggestively wiggles his eyebrows, my cheeks flushing as we make our way through the building.
I feel his hands on my hips as he stays close behind me, inching under the hem of my tank top and caressing my soft skin beneath. The minute we hit the third-floor landing, my mouth is on his as he pushes me against the wall.
We fumble our way down the hall, rarely coming up for air until we make it to his apartment. I kiss his neck and nuzzle my face into his chest as he struggles to unlock the door.
My tank top is on the ground before I hear the door latch shut behind us. I tangle my arms around Hux’s warm, strong body as he peppers kisses over my exposed skin. Just before more clothing comes off, my eyes lock on the small gift I’ve brought atop a pile of moving boxes.
“Wait.” I push back slightly, escaping his grasp to grab the thin rectangle covered in blue tissue paper. Hux lets out a frustrated groan as he tries to pull me back into him. “I got you something for your new place!”
“I’m sure whatever you got me is great, babe, but it’s not really what I feel like unwrapping right now.” His fingers slip beneath the strap of my lace bra, lightly tugging it down.
“Please! I think you’ll like it.” I pout, causing him to take the gift from me and head for the couch .
We plop down side by side as he tears away the paper to reveal a sleeve of glow-in-the-dark star decals like the ones I had on my ceiling growing up.
“When I was in Silsby last month, I realized the one thing we won’t have here is our stars.
That didn’t seem right, so I thought we could cover your bedroom ceiling with these.
” I smile as Hux pulls me closer, kissing me slow and deep.
He lowers us down on the couch, covering me with his body.
Holding himself up on his forearms, he looks down at me, and our eyes lock.
His face just inches above mine, he whispers, his breath on my lips, “And the best part, these stars never fall.”
THE END