Epilogue
Zuri
Six Years Later
“I can’t believe this is ours,” I say before turning to Ash as she’s peeking into the oven in our new house. It was just furnished and set up by movers yesterday. Ash and I spent the day grocery shopping and getting ready for a houseful of O’Sheas this afternoon, and it’s absolutely perfect.
I turn back to the vegetables I’m chopping on the counter, and a moment later, Ash’s arms wrap around me from behind.
“Believe it, Dr. Alexander.” When we got married, we decided we would keep our own last names.
Ash is an O’Shea, and I can’t imagine her being anything else, but I also wanted to keep my tie to my parents, and figured the name recognition of O’Shea might not go well with my chosen field.
“Not a doctor yet…just a resident.” I’ve just started my residency at a hospital here in Boston. It’s a lot of work for much less pay than most people would assume, but I love it.
“You’re a doctor to me. In fact, if you want…we could play doctor.” She slides her hand up my torso and grabs my tit.
A laugh tumbles from my lips. We do that together so often, just laugh and love. Really, that’s what life is all about. “I think that might need to wait until later, considering our family will be here soon. But I’ll give you a full examination tonight for the first time in our new bed.”
We bought a house right down the street from Fia—well, a house was purchased for us right down the street from her. We’ve gotten so close over the years. She really is like a mom to me—they’re all like family to me, and I feel so lucky to have them.
“Well, that sounds kinky,” Ash teases, and then, as if they planned this just right, the doorbell rings.
I turn in Ash’s arms, and she offers me a huge smile. “I’m so excited for the first party in our new house!” She loves hosting, loves bringing our family together in any way she can. It’s one of my favorite things about her, about all of them, really—the way they all love each other.
“Me too.” I kiss her before the two of us go to the door together. The foyer is in front of a large, curved stairway with pretty, intricate pillars throughout the downstairs space.
The first two faces we see when Ash pulls the door open are Fia and Kat, each of them holding a gift in their arms. The two of them have become the best of friends over the years. It’s a beautiful thing.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say.
“We know, but that’s just how things work around here,” Fia says, giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek before doing the same to Ash.
Kat is in line for hugs and kisses next, before the two of them come in.
“My baby has her first house,” Fia says, then looks at me. “With the most incredible partner.”
“Thank you. Here, let’s set the gifts on the table.”
They do, and we chat with the doorbell ringing every few minutes.
Cillian and Ollie are the next to arrive—which doesn’t surprise me—followed by Tiernan and Dean, then Shai and Rory, who honestly look like they’ve been up to no good.
I’m afraid to ask, and judging by the look on Ash’s face, she is too.
There are more of us, of course, the more extended part of the family, her uncle, and the like. Rian is away on a much-needed vacation—something he hasn’t done for most of his life. It’s nice that he takes the time for things like that now. Even men who run criminal empires need time off.
“The house looks great,” Shai says.
“Thanks.” I give him a hug.
“Hey, bestie,” Rory teases and gives me a smacking kiss on the forehead.
“Hey, bestie.”
Like everything is when we’re all together, the house is loud and full of love. We eat too much food, talk too much, and some of us have a few drinks. We open the gifts from all of them—the guys having brought their own, too—and like always, it’s too much, but again, just how they do things.
When I head back into the kitchen to refill my drink, I realize Fia had slipped away in there. “Hey,” I say.
“Hey, you.” She gives me what is maybe the world’s kindest smile. “I’m so happy you and Ash are close by.”
“We are, too.” Honestly, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. This is home. These people are home.
I lean against the counter beside her, and she nudges me with her arm. “You make her happy.”
“She makes me happy, too.”
“It’s amazing when I look at how much things have changed.
When Sloan was alive, I didn’t have much hope.
And I was so angry at myself for what I allowed my children to live through.
I know I’m not the perfect mom. I’ve made horrible mistakes, and people will look at me and judge us for who my kids are, but I love them.
I love them, and I love their partners with all my heart.
And despite some of the things they do, I couldn’t be prouder of them, and of you.
You’re good people, and you love your family.
You would all do anything for each other, and that’s more than a lot of people can say. ”
She’s right. It is. People aren’t black and white, and I’m honored to be loved by the people who are in this house. “You’re good people, too, and the love you have for your family is undeniable, Fia.”
She swipes at a tear in her eye. “Thank you.” We hug and both cry a little, then laugh at being so emotional.
We rejoin the party a couple of minutes later; everyone is just spending time enjoying each other.
When the house is empty, Ash and I shower together, and I do, in fact, give her a thorough examination with my fingers, tongue, and her favorite dildo, before she plays doctor with me in return.
And then, like we always do, we just hold each other and talk before bed. It’s become our ritual, and one we don’t skip unless I’m doing a night shift at the hospital.
“I’m happy,” I say.
“I’m happy, too,” she replies. “It’s always going to be like this, ya know? No matter what happens, the two of us will be happy. I promise you.”
There’s not a doubt in my mind that she’s right. “I love you.”
“And I love you.” Ash pulls me close, and the two of us go to sleep, knowing that we will have a lifetime full of days like today and nights just like this.
Together.