Epilogue
Keely - Four Months Later
“Moving all these boxes is making me hungry,” Teddy declared.
I laughed softly, shaking my head as I unpacked the pots and pans from my apartment.
“Teddy, you haven’t actually lifted a single box today,” I pointed out, amused.
After months of scouring the housing market, Tarzan and I were finally the proud owners of our new home. The paint job was in rough shape. The windows were too drafty and needed to be replaced before winter arrived.
But the rooms were so big and spacious. The kitchen was huge, with an island, and an industrial-sized stove. Tarzan and I could spread out here, filling every room with the family we planned to have after our wedding in the spring.
Teddy perched on the kitchen counter, popping gummy bears into the air and catching them with his mouth.
“Hey,” he protested. “Supervising is hard work.”
Tarzan traipsed into the house, with three large boxes stacked into his arms.
“You’re not supervising,” he countered. “You’re just making a nuisance of yourself.”
Teddy tossed a gummy bear at Tarzan’s head.
“Meanie. That hurt my feelings.”
I laughed, listening to their banter. It had been like this all morning—the relentless teasing back and forth, and a house full of bikers helping us get settled into our new house.
The Reckless Order had volunteered to carry boxes and move furniture for us, which made the work fly by.
What should have taken us all weekend was now almost completed in one day.
A notification chimed on Teddy’s phone. He pulled it from his back pocket as he hopped off the counter.
“Lunch has been delivered,” he said with a smug look. “Maybe I’m not so useless after all, huh?”
Tarzan made an exasperated noise as Teddy swaggered out of the room. I chuckled, stacking pots and pans on the kitchen island.
“You shouldn’t laugh at his antics,” Tarzan said. “It only encourages him.”
“Can’t help it,” I replied. “I’m finally getting the sibling that I always wanted, and I’m having the time of my life.”
“Yeah, well, let’s see if you change your tune when Teddy puts Nair in your shampoo because he thought it would be funny.”
I gasped. “He wouldn’t dare.”
Tarzan clucked his tongue. “He did it to me. Watch your back.”
Teddy returned to the kitchen, carrying a tower of boxes from Pepper’s Pizzeria. On top of the boxes was a brown paper bag.
“Teddy,” I scolded. “Is it true that you put Nair in Tarzan’s shampoo?”
He shrugged. “Yep, I sure did. But I bet he conveniently left out the reason why.”
I glanced at Tarzan with a firm look. He scrubbed the back of his neck and looked away.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Teddy continued, setting the pizzas on the island. “Tarzan put itching powder in my boxers. On prom night. When he knew I was going with the hottest cheerleader in school. So I got my payback.”
I rounded on Tarzan with my hands on my hips.
“Tarzan,” I scolded, fighting to hold back the laughter in my voice.
Tarzan shouldered Teddy aside, reaching for the brown paper bag on top of the pizza boxes.
“That was a long time ago. It’s water under the bridge now. And stop turning my woman against me, kid. Where are those cheesy breadsticks with extra dipping sauce?”
Teddy elbowed at Tarzan and snatched the paper bag protectively.
“That’s for Cherry, you giant ape,” he said.
“For me?” I echoed, surprised.
Teddy stripped the paper bag away to reveal a wooden sign, painted to resemble a slice of cherry pie. The plump cherries and glossy syrup looked good enough to eat. Arching across the top were looping red letters that said, Home Sweet Home.
“Teddy, it’s beautiful,” I said.
He shrugged and the tips of his ears turned pink.
“I was thinking about giving it to both of you as a wedding present. But when it was finished, I knew it couldn’t wait. You’re officially the woman of the house now. You sweetened up my big brother’s life—and my life, too. He gets the wife of his dreams, and I get a sister.”
“Did you make this?” I asked, incredulous as he placed it in my waiting hands.
Teddy shook his head. “Nah, I just came up with the concept. I commissioned a friend of mine—she’s a tattoo artist—to paint it, since my art skills suck. And a member of the Reckless Order did the woodwork. He owns Titan’s Carpentry and he does all kinds of incredible work with wood.”
“I love it, Teddy. Thank you.”
Standing on tiptoe, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hugged him. He squeezed me back so tightly that my ribs ached and he kissed my cheek.
“I see what’s going on here,” Tarzan said lightly.
Teddy and I broke apart to look at him.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
He gestured between us.
“You two are becoming thick as thieves. It won’t be long before you take sides and gang up on me.”
“Sounds like my brother is a little jealous,” Teddy said in a loud stage whisper.
“I think you’re right,” I whispered back, looping my arm through Teddy’s elbow. “Maybe we should go easy on him.”
Teddy snorted. “Never. Did you know that when he shaves off those luscious flowing locks, his head is shaped like a chicken nugget?”
Tarzan growled. I smothered a laugh behind my hand.
“Actually, I did know that. What other juicy secrets can you spill for me today?”
“Oh, I have loads of embarrassing stories to tell.” Teddy grabbed a pizza box. “I’ll fill you in while we eat.”
“Hold on for one second. I want to put my sign up first. And I have the perfect place for it.”
I broke away from Teddy and climbed onto the counter. Tarzan made a disgruntled noise and grabbed my hips, steadying me. I positioned the sign above the sink window, where the sunlight illuminated that rich red paint and those juicy cherries.
“There,” I said. “Now I can see it every morning when I make coffee.”
Tarzan lifted me off the counter and set my feet on solid ground again.
“You could break your neck climbing around on the counter like that, honey,” he said.
I patted his chest with a smile and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
“Teddy warned me that you would ramp up that over protective streak of yours as soon as you put the engagement ring on my finger. He wasn’t kidding.”
“I don’t want my future bride getting hurt,” Tarzan argued. “You can’t fault me for that.”
Teddy flipped open the pizza box and selected a slice.
“Worry wart,” he declared around a giant bite of pepperoni pizza.
Tarzan glared at him. “How many times have I told you not to talk with your mouth full?”
“I don’t know. I never really listened.”
“You little—” Tarzan started.
Teddy cackled and hurried out of the room, taking the pizza with him. A moment later, his voice rang through the house.
“Pizza is in the kitchen, boys! Get your fill before it’s gone!”
The next thing I knew, a dozen bikers swarmed into the room, descending on the pizza boxes like locusts.
This was my life now—chaotic, loud, crowded, and wonderful. And I couldn’t wait to build a home, a family, and a future with the man I loved.