Epilogue
Tease
Six years later
LIFE IS FUCKING perfect. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier than I am right now in my life.
I’m sitting at the clubhouse with everyone as we wait for dinner to be ready.
We all gather here for a huge family dinner at least once a week.
Mainly on the weekends so we can all slow down and catch up with one another.
The kids love hanging out with all of us there and it’s amazing to watch the boys be so protective of the girls in our families.
They’re already taking after the rest of us and it’s a sight I’m sure our own parents loved watching.
Mr. Russell and Shelly spend every family day at the clubhouse with us as well.
The Dirty Slayers family has certainly grown over the years and I couldn’t be more proud of each and every person I’m lucky enough to consider my family in this club.
Sheridan graduated with honors two years ago and we had the biggest party for her.
Her dream has become a reality and the ranch is thriving already.
Not just the ranch, but her veterinary practice is also doing better than she thought it would already.
My wife spends eight hours a day doing what she loves and working with animals.
She’s gone from home for at least ten hours a day though because she spends two hours at the ranch catching up with everyone and ensuring things are running smoothly.
Eric is officially the head of the ranch hands and goes through Sheridan for everything.
The two of them work amazingly well together and I fully believe he’s one of the reasons the ranch is doing so well.
Sheridan does as well. Shelly also turns to him when she has questions about anything and Eric takes his time to explain things to her in ways she can understand.
He’s like that with everyone on the ranch.
Over the last two years, Eric has truly come out of his shell and we’ve all witnessed a side of him we never thought we’d see.
His confidence has gone through the roof and he truly enjoys splitting his time between the club and ranch.
He’s a full patch member now and was given the road name Wrangler because of all the work he does with the animals.
I also believe he has something going on with Shelly because they spend a lot of time together.
He has a calmness to him that rubs off on her and she makes him live a little wilder than he typically does. They balance one another out perfectly.
Leo is thriving and we just celebrated his sixth birthday.
He’s a mama’s boy for sure and follows her around like a little shadow.
If he could get away with being on the ranch every day, that’s where he’d spend all of his time.
Our son is the best boy and always helps everyone around him.
He spends hours with his grandpa in the garage learning about vehicles and rides the small minibike Knuckles got him all over the compound.
He’ll definitely have his first bike by the time he’s sixteen.
However, he’s a little troublemaker. We get at least a call a week from school because he’s gotten into a fight.
Most often it’s because he’s defending someone smaller than himself from bullies.
I’m not about to punish my son for sticking up for those who can’t do it themselves.
Shelly always laughs when Sheridan gets the call while my wife shakes her head in exasperation.
We all talk to Leo about doing something different than fighting, but our words seem to fall on deaf ears when it comes to him.
So, we’ve made the decision to enroll him in martial arts classes so he can learn discipline and hear from someone else there are other ways to handle situations.
I’m sure he’ll also play football when he’s old enough because it’s one of his favorite sports to play with the boys when they’re all together.
My son already has such a personality and I can’t wait until he gets even older and channels everything he feels into better ways to handle each situation he finds himself in.
After graduating, Sheridan gave me a daughter.
We named her River Moon and she’s two and a half now.
She’s the spitting image of her mama but is my girl.
While Leo follows his mom around like a shadow, River is definitely my shadow.
No matter where I am or what I’m doing, she wants to be with me.
I don’t have a problem with it at all. River entered the world in the middle of a storm and was calm and sweet.
She rarely cried as a baby and gives everyone in her world nothing but love.
The only problem we have with her is that she hates wearing clothes.
If she could run around in her pull-up and nothing else all day long, she’d be the happiest little girl in the world.
However, we don’t allow her to do that. My girl needs to be covered completely at all times.
When I’m not home or I’m busy, she follows the boys around.
Leo doesn’t ever push his baby sister away and encourages her to go with him and the others every single day.
That’s how all the boys are with the girls.
No one is left out or made to feel as if they don’t belong.
Slayer’s Pit is thriving and Sheridan is a regular there.
Not so much when we’re open and the girls are dancing, but before and after open and close she’ll show up to spend time with the girls.
They’ve accepted her into the fold and have even taught her how to pole dance.
I enjoy those lessons and watching my ol’ lady learn something new.
She loves it and says it’s more of an exercise than anything else.
With Jess gone from the club, the girls are happier and accept everyone new into the fold without hesitation.
There’s no drama or jealousy between the dancers.
If a problem arises, they take care of it amongst themselves and only tell me about it if I’m needed.
For the first time in a very long time, I actually love my job and don’t have to spend countless hours there doing nothing but playing referee.
I’ve been able to make changes to improve the place including adding a kitchen and food menu.
“Dada, I hungry,” River says, her sweet, soft voice washing over me and pulling me from my thoughts.
“I know, Baby. They’re almost done cookin’ and then we can eat. You want another drink?” I ask her, knowing I spoil her like crazy.
“Please,” she says just as Knuckles walks over with a cup of juice for her. Yeah, he might spoil my daughter worse than I do. “Unca!”
Leo and River see Knuckles and Janessa as their aunt and uncle instead of cousins.
None of us bother correcting them when they call them aunt and uncle.
Their kids call Sheridan and myself aunt and uncle as well.
We’re all one large family and most of the kids call us aunt and uncle.
It’s a role I’m proud to have and one I won’t ever take for granted.
“There’s my girl. Why you sittin’ here with your daddy and not playin’ with the kids?” Knuckles asks her as River snuggles deeper into my chest and wraps her arms around me.
“She’s tired. Missed her nap before we came over here.
She was playin’ with Leo, Kaden, and Alexis.
Sheridan tried to get her to lay down with her, but River refused.
You know she loves playin’ with the other kids as the baby of our large family,” I tell him as Leo and Kaden rush up to us.
Yeah, they’ll be best friends for sure as they get older.
“Miss River, ya gotta take a nap when you’re tired, Baby Girl,” Knuckles says, running his hand down her back as she looks up at him with a smile.
“Sissy, I’ll lay down with you,” Leo says, hugging his sister and me before Kaden does the same thing.
River shakes her head no and just holds me tighter. When she’s tired or sick, my girl rarely goes to anyone but me. Sheridan can’t even take her from me. She’ll cry and scream until she’s back in my arms. It’s literally the only time she does cry these days.
Knuckles sits down with me at the table as the boys run off to find the other kids and my dad and Mr. Russell make their way over to us.
River doesn’t pay attention to either of them as she plays with the sleeve of my tee-shirt and remains cuddled up close to me.
My dad presses a kiss to the top of her head while Mr. Russell rubs her back for a minute.
“She’s a tired girl today,” my dad comments with a smile on his face. River tries so hard to stay awake when we’re at the clubhouse because she doesn’t want to miss out on anything happening around her.
“I was just tellin’ Knuckles she missed her nap because Kaden and Alexis were over and she was playin’ with them and Leo.
She’ll eat a little bit and then go to sleep.
Unless she falls asleep before dinner is ready.
We’ll make sure to save her a plate of food and dessert so she doesn’t miss out.
It won’t be the first time she sleeps through dinner,” I say as River’s eyes flutter closed before opening again.
Yeah, my girl isn’t gonna make it to dinner today.
She’ll be asleep in a matter of minutes.
“We got the new Prospects comin’ in this week.
Gonna patch in Tommy and Jake when the new guys get here.
They’ve proven themselves over the last two years.
I can’t wait for the day I get to witness the boys here in the family start their Prospectin’ life,” my dad says, a smile on his face as he watches the boys come racing inside with a football.
“Not gonna pressure them to join if they don’t want to,” I say knowing Leo is stubborn enough to make up his own mind about what he wants to do in life.
“I agree. Our boys will make their own decisions about what they want out of life and we’ll do everythin’ we can to support them.
And one day, they’ll all be sittin’ here like we are now watchin’ their kids,” Knuckles says, a smile on his face as his youngest son Justin walks up to our table. “What’s goin’ on, Son?”
“Mom told us to get ready for dinner. It’s almost ready. Do you want me to lay River down on the couch?” he asks, looking at her curled up in my arms.
“Nah. She’s good where she is. I’ll lay her down eventually,” I answer him knowing Justin takes River’s protection and comfort seriously.
He’s loved River since the day she was born and when Leo’s busy doing something else, Justin is following her around.
My girl already has two very protective bodyguards and I’m gonna hate to see anyone who tries to fuck with her when they’re all older.
“I’ll tell Auntie Sheridan to make her a plate before everyone else gets their food,” Justin says before running off as the rest of us start laughing.
“Justin will always take care of River and Alexis no matter where he is or what he’s doin’. That boy is growin’ up to be just like his dad,” my dad comments as Sheridan comes to the doorway of the kitchen and looks our way. Yeah, we sit at the same table every single time we have family day.
With a smile on her face, she holds up five fingers to let me know dinner is almost ready.
I nod in response before she disappears.
Calling the boys over, Knuckles grabs the football from them and tells them to go clean up so we can eat.
I keep a tight hold on my daughter as the kids run to the bathrooms to clean up and make their way back to the various tables in the common room.
Justin, Kaden, Alexis, and Leo sit at a table right next to the one I’m sitting at.
They always sit at their own table next to ours so we can help them if they need it but have their own space to talk and laugh like the kids they are.
It’s not long before a plate of food appears in front of me and Sheridan takes her seat between her dad and myself.
Shelly sits on the other side of Mr. Russell while my mom and Janessa take their seats next to my dad and Knuckles.
I’m the only guy who doesn’t get up for his own food.
I have no problem making my own plate, but Sheridan takes care of me when River is already asleep in my arms.
“Thank you, Little Fairy,” I tell her, leaning over to place a kiss against her cheek.
“You’re welcome, Hubby,” she returns, her voice soft and gentle so River doesn’t wake up.
We all dig into our food and I don’t put my daughter down once.
Between bites, we talk, laugh, and watch all the kids as they eat and play.
The boys hardly breathe between bites because they’re waiting to play football with us.
After dinner, we always play a game with the boys while the girls watch on or join in.
When we play football, the girls act like cheerleaders and cheer for all of us no matter what team we’re on.
These are the memories I love being there as we create them.
It’s time we’ll never get back and I’m glad I don’t have to miss a single moment with my kids and everyone else in my family.
Ten years ago I never dreamed my life would turn out this way.
It’s better than I ever thought it could be and I know I’m as happy as I am because of the woman at my side.
Sheridan makes me a better man every single day and fills my world with love, laughter, and sunshine.
Our kids love her and there is nothing I would trade for the time I get to spend with my wife and kids on a daily basis.
I’m exactly where I’m meant to be and my family is filled with the best people in the world.