EPILOGUE #2
“Something pretty for the house,” he says, dragging his hands up and down my body. His eyes flicker downward, watching his own movements. “Brighten the place up.”
“Yeah?”
His gaze snaps back up to mine.
Be still my beating heart, Boston Black looks nervous.
“You?” he suggests softly, and when my brow furrows, he continues. “Move in here? With me? Live here?”
Shut up.
My mouth pops open. He winces, like there is something written all over my face that is definitely not what I’m feeling underneath my initial surprise.
Oh, he loves me.
“Boston Black, are you asking to make a dishonest woman out of me?” I gasp, placing a hand on my chest.
His brow furrows. “I’m asking you to move in with me. I think I made a dishonest woman out of you ages ago.”
“Really?” I ask softly.
His green eyes drink me in. His throat bobs. “If you want to.”
“Of course, I want to,” I whisper, hauling myself against him.
I kiss him quickly, pulling back the moment a thought answers my head.
Better get it out now, before we actually commit to this idea.
“What if I’m too much to handle twenty-four-seven?
Right now, you can still send me home when you’re annoyed with me. ”
He shakes his head, winding his arms completely around my body. “You’re always just enough, sweetheart. Always the right amount.”
Oh, he really loves me.
And hell, I love him too. I love him more.
I take in his face and smile. I’m the luckiest woman in the world. I will get to wake up everyday next to that face. I’ll get to look into those eyes every morning. I’ll get to love him until I’m old and wrinkly, and still flirting with him in my rocking chair on the porch.
I won. In every facet of this life, I won.
I purse my lips in request, and he obliges, slowly leaning down to kiss me as his hands glide up and down my back.
“I get excited about life when I think about it being full of you,” he says against my mouth. He gathers me close, smushing me to his chest, and I shut my eyes. “You changed the entire course of my life.”
“I might have,” I say, my tone teasing. “But you changed mine, too. So we’re even.”
He chuckles, his hand sliding under my hair. “Don’t feel pressured, alright? If you aren’t ready, don’t pretend to be. It won’t hurt my feelings.”
“I’ve been ready since I met you,” I tell him, leaning back to scan his face. He smiles, his thumb brushing my neck. “Of course, I’ll move in with you. I’d rob a bank for you. This is lightwork.”
“Good. Would have been painfully awkward if you said no when I’ve already hired the movers.”
My heart nearly sputters at his confidence in us.
Who would have thought that we’d end up here? Two people, terrified of commitment, now moving in together. We both promised to take it at our own pace. To communicate what we want, how we feel, what we need—which is how I know he wouldn’t ask for this if he didn’t want it.
“And so we enter chapter two of our story, Boston Black.” I grin, pressing my mouth to his jaw. He stifles a breath as I glide my mouth downward, heading toward his ear, to his neck.
“We really gotta thank whoever is writing this story,” he grumbles, angling his head and crushing his lips to mine.
Perhaps we do…
“It looks amazing.”
I smile, turning to each individual owner of this lakehouse as they take in the changes. Penny hired me and gave me free reign. I made her make a vision board anyway, which inspired the hell out of me with one look. This house is completely full of their spirit now. All eight of them.
“You’ve got a gift, girl,” Avery says, glancing at the fireplace mantel.
I had it redone with dark gray stone, and it’s gorgeous.
No more of the beige and blues. No more stereotypical accents that didn’t fit their vibe.
She keeps looking at it like it’s her favourite part and I’m biased, but it’s mine, too.
EJ gasps, hanging half out of the sliding glass door. “Is that a bar?”
I had it covertly installed into the layout of the outside patio.
It was definitely constructed with EJ in mind.
Penny and Declan wanted a bit of everyone in this place.
There’s a coffee bar in the kitchen and a real bar on the deck, things that would make the twins and EJ happy.
There’s something that will speak to each of them throughout. I was meticulous about that.
You should see the kitchen. Seth is still standing in the middle of it, gawking at every miniscule detail.
“Oh my god, the couch,” Tiffany says breathlessly, running her hand over the fabric.
A soft touch finds my lower back. Boston gathers me close, pressing his mouth to my head.
“Do you think they like it?” I whisper.
“Look at their faces. They love it.”
I clasp my hands together, my nerves prickling as they venture through the house. I listen to their compliments, relaxing with each one, and I finally breathe with a bit of relief when Penny pulls me into her arms and thanks me.
It was the first, official job of my firm. She took a chance on me and I’m grateful.
“I wish I could have a drink. This deserves to be celebrated,” Avery whines, her hands skimming her belly.
“I’ll have two in your honour,” EJ offers.
“Can I bite into the lemon after your tequila shot?” she asks, pouting now.
EJ nods, winding his arm around her shoulders. “Of course, you can, Mama Tyler.”
Seth beams at his wife, looking at her like she’s magnificent for simply existing.
He’s always looked at her with some form of wonder, but since she’s been pregnant, every time I’ve been around them, he’s been absolute putty for her.
He dotes on her, as he should. Those looks and that love made creating the room for the kids much more important.
All the furniture is easily removable for when they grow up.
They can add bunk beds, cribs, whatever they need.
“It looks great, Ariana.”
I smile gently at Callum, nuzzling into Boston’s side. “Thanks, Cal.”
“Cribs in your house,” Boston says, nudging Declan’s arm. “Who would have thought?”
He laughs, glancing at Avery. “Just because we don’t want them ourselves, doesn’t mean we don’t want a house full of them, anyway.”
Boston nods with understanding. Their family will grow, one by one, in whatever way makes sense for them.
“Jesus, Ari. That bathroom is insane.”
I glance over my shoulder, thanking Lauren with a soft smile. I feel the pride wafting from Boston, and it makes me stand a bit taller, feel a bit more assured. I did it. It was a big job, and it took nearly a year of coming to and from Canada, but I did it.
“I have one more thing to show you,” I say, if you guys are done looking around.”
Penny raises her brows, and I gesture for all of them to take a seat in the living room. I signal for Boston to go and grab the surprise I saved for last. Something I did as a gift for them, to thank them for their business, and to tie the entirety of my design together.
One by one, the crew takes their seats on the sofa. Arden and my brother, too, who joined us on this trip to see the final product.
“I wanted you guys to decide where to put it, but I had this made as a housewarming gift, even if it’s a little late.”
“I love gifts,” Ej says excitedly to Wyatt, rubbing his hands together.
Boston returns, holding a giant frame in both hands. It’s huge. A literal statement piece. I covered it in paper so we could have a grand reveal. Forgive me. I love the drama.
My hands shake as I take half of the frame from him. Here goes nothing.
I glance at their faces, one by one.
“You guys have a family that people dream of.”
Penny swallows, smiling gently.
Avery leans into Seth’s side and he presses a kiss to her head.
“I bask in the love you guys share every time I’m around you,” I continue. “I wanted you to have something to commemorate that, but will take absolutely no offense if you collectively decide you don’t want to hang this up. This is your space. It’s your call.”
“The anticipation is killing me,” EJ whispers, making Wyatt grin.
My eyes flick up to Boston. With a nod, we both pull the paper back, revealing the enormous painting that I had done by a local artist in Pittsburgh.
It’s based off a picture I took when we were all here for the first time.
It’s the crew in their glory, at the front of this very home.
The lakehouse is in the background, the group of them on the porch.
I had a woman who does live wedding paintings do this, because it looks so… candid.
Avery and Penny are sitting on the steps, their pinkies locked, both smiling.
Declan and Seth are right behind them, Seth kissing Avery’s cheek, Declan staring down at his future wife.
EJ and Wyatt are at the top of the steps.
EJ holds up his glass toward the camera, and Wyatt flashes that crooked smile while he leans against the porch beam.
Lauren and Tiff are on the bottom step, Lau flashing a peace sign and Tiffany smiling sweetly.
It’s them. Right there. In fine art.
Avery lets out a little gasp as the paper falls away.
Wyatt and EJ’s smiles drop.
Silence spreads over the room. Everyone just stares. They study it, wonder in their eyes, taking in every miniscule detail and inch of the canvas. I risk a glance at Boston, who is staring at me with as much bewilderment as the room stares at the painting.
“Oh my god,” Declan says quietly.
Penny presses her hands to her chest, emotion flooding her face.
“It’s beautiful,” Tiff whispers.
“That’s us,” Avery says with a little nod, wiping a tear with the pads of her fingers. “That’s the crew.”
The silence stretches on and their eyes stay glued to the frame. I focus on them as they focus it, relief sprouting the longer they remain entrapped by it. That’s a good sign, right? They’re drinking it in. They’re falling in love with it the same way I had when I first saw the finished product.
“Thank you,” Penny says, her voice barely a whisper. Her eyes lift to mine—glazed with tears. “This is priceless, Ari. Thank you.”