Epilogue #2
They’d been back for three days, just long enough for the jet lag from Paris to fade, just long enough for Avery to settle back into her rhythm at Lilith, and just long enough for Quinn to plan something Avery could never see coming.
The morning of Avery’s birthday began the way Quinn wanted it to begin every year for the rest of her life, with Avery warm beneath her, half-asleep, sighing when Quinn’s mouth moved along her stomach, her thighs, her throat.
Avery’s sleepy laugh melted into soft moans, fingers curling in Quinn’s hair as Quinn eased her awake with slow, patient kisses and a kind of devotion she didn’t even bother hiding anymore.
A shower followed, steamy, playful, all slick limbs and hands pressed against tile while Avery whispered, “Happy birthday to me,” against Quinn’s ear with a grin that made her weak.
Breakfast came next. Quinn took her to their favorite Brooklyn spot, where Gabby, Noella, Andrea, and Natalie were already waiting.
Avery lit up—still flushed from the morning, eyes bright, curls loose from the humidity.
Quinn watched her slide into the booth beside her best friend, watched her laugh, watched her soak up the love around her.
This was what Quinn wanted for her. A day full of softness.
After breakfast, Quinn pressed a kiss to Avery’s forehead and said, “You’re going to the spa. With your girls. Don’t ask questions.”
Gabby whooped. “Massages and facials on Quinn. Let’s go.”
Avery blinked, surprised but delighted. “You’re not coming?”
“No,” Quinn said with a small smile. “I’ve got… errands.”
Avery narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Cagey, again.”
Quinn kissed her. “Just go. Enjoy it. I’ll see you tonight.”
Avery left in a swirl of laughter and perfume, her arm hooked through Natalie’s, and Quinn turned toward the real task of the day.
The rooftop ballroom was breathtaking.
Quinn stepped out of the elevator into a wash of late-afternoon gold light spilling across the space. The venue overlooked the Manhattan skyline, an endless stretch of glittering buildings, sunset clouds streaked in peach and rose, the city softening into dusk.
A canopy of warm string lights crisscrossed overhead.
Small lanterns glowed beside arrangements of blush peonies, deep wine dahlias, and creamy roses—Avery’s favorites.
Tables were draped in champagne linen, set with elegant glassware that sparkled under the lights.
The air smelled faintly of fresh flowers, candlewax, and the crisp breeze off the East River.
Quinn took a moment just to breathe it in.
This was the most elaborate thing she’d ever planned for anyone. And for once, she didn’t feel nervous, just excited. Just full.
A door opened behind her.
“Aha! There she is!” James Rossetti’s voice boomed warmly as he stepped inside with Doris on his arm, and Ally, who flew in that morning trailed close behind with a handful of balloons.
Quinn turned and smiled instantly. “Hello, family.” she said, moving toward them. James pulled her into a tight hug, Doris into a gentler one, and Ally wrapped her arms around Quinn’s waist with a soft squeal.
“We’re so glad you’re doing this,” Doris said, patting Quinn’s cheek. “She deserves something magical.”
“She does,” Quinn agreed. “And she has no idea.”
James laughed. “Good. She’s terrible with surprises.”
“She is,” Quinn said fondly. “She asks too many questions—which is why I sent her to the spa for three hours.”
Ally snorted. “Smart.”
They talked for a while—about Paris, about the merger, about the fact that Avery had apparently been glowing since returning home. Doris kept squeezing Quinn’s hand. James kept bragging about Avery like she was the mayor of the city. Ally teased Quinn about being “ridiculously in love.”
And Quinn didn’t even deny it.
More guests began arriving, Braeden first, sweeping Quinn into a hug and whispering, “Do NOT tell Avery I wore heels for her. My feet already hurt.”
Then came several Lilith team members, a couple of Halo folks, Noella’s girlfriend Lena, some longtime friends of Avery’s, a few mutual friends who had become “their people,” and even some of Quinn’s colleagues who had only met Avery once but adored her instantly.
Everyone brought gifts. Everyone smiled. Everyone looked at Quinn like she’d built something worth celebrating.
Quinn stepped back for a moment, letting it all sink in, the flowers, the music starting softly in the background, the candles flickering, the skyline stretching forever. The hum of laughter and friendly chatter warming the air.
This was it for her.
Every piece of Avery’s world in one space. Her family. Her friends. Her coworkers. Her life. And Quinn felt it like a swell in her chest, a soft, certain truth.
Avery wasn’t just the love of her life.
Avery was her future.
Quinn checked her watch.
Thirty minutes until Avery arrives.
Her heart thudded.
Everything was ready.
Everything was perfect.
And she couldn’t wait to see Avery walk through that door.
* * *
Avery
By the time Gabby tugged her out of the car and toward the elevator, Avery already knew something was up.
The spa day had been too nice.
The hair appointment too coordinated.
The manicure perfectly matched the dress that magically appeared laid out on her bed, tagged with one of Quinn’s trademark minimal notecards:
Wear me.
—Q
And now her friends were walking three steps ahead of her, whispering like teenagers, trying and failing, not to look guilty.
Avery smoothed the skirt of the dress as the elevator rose. It was the one Quinn had impulsively bought in Paris when Avery spent an entire afternoon talking herself out of it. Silky, deep wine-red, with a low back and delicate straps. She’d felt beautiful the moment she slipped it on.
She hoped Quinn liked it.
She hoped Quinn was—The elevator doors opened. Avery froze.
For a heartbeat, she didn’t breathe.
Then the room came into focus all at once—warm canopy lights overhead, the glow of candles reflecting off glassware, the skyline stretching behind tall windows, her favorite flowers arranged in soft clusters. And Her parents. Her sister.
Her closest friends. Her team.
And Quinn.
Quinn stood near the center of the room, looking devastatingly sharp in a tailored black suit, her platinum hair curled just slightly, her eyes already fixed on Avery like nothing else existed.
“Avery!” Doris cried, rushing forward with open arms.
Avery’s knees almost gave out.
She covered her mouth, tears blurring her vision instantly, hot, quick, unstoppable. Doris enveloped her, James pulling them both into a hug big enough to lift her off her feet. Natalie squealed and clung to her. Ally pressed a kiss to her cheek.
But Avery barely heard any of it, barely processed any of it, because she was already looking past them—At Quinn.
Quinn, who hadn’t moved.
Quinn, whose eyes softened like the world cracked open the second she saw Avery in that dress.
Quinn, who looked—God.
She looked like she was in love with her.
Avery pulled away from her family, breath trembling, and walked toward her. Her heels clicked softly on the polished floor, her fingers shaking as she wiped her cheeks.
Quinn’s lips parted, her breath catching when Avery stopped in front of her.
“You…” Quinn whispered, voice low, reverent. “You look beautiful.”
Avery let out a tiny laugh-sob. “You planned all this?”
“Every part,” Quinn said. “Even the dress.”
Avery didn’t realize she was crying harder until Quinn reached up and brushed a tear from her cheek. Her touch was tentative, like she was afraid Avery might break.
“Happy birthday, baby,” Quinn murmured.
Avery’s chest clenched, overflowing. She surged forward, wrapping her arms around Quinn’s neck and burying her face against her shoulder.
Quinn held her instantly, her grip solid and warm and grounding.
Avery felt Quinn press a kiss into her hair, felt her whisper something she couldn’t quite hear, but she felt it.
When Avery finally pulled back, her face was flushed, eyes wet, but she was smiling so hard it almost hurt.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” she whispered.
Quinn cupped her cheek. “There was never a world where I wasn’t.”
Avery kissed her full of every emotion she didn’t know how to say in front of a room full of people. Quinn’s hand slid to the back of her waist, holding her steady, kissing her back like she didn’t care who saw.
When they stepped apart, applause broke out across the room, cheering, teasing whistles, laughter. Avery flushed, but Quinn only smirked and slid her hand into Avery’s like it belonged there.
Gabby pushed forward, eyes glassy. “You should’ve seen your face,” she said, swiping at her mascara. “This is the best day of my life.”
“Mine too,” Noelle added dramatically.
Avery rolled her eyes, overwhelmed and beaming. “You guys all lied to me.”
“Yes,” Natalie said proudly.
“And we’d do it again,” Andrea said with a laugh.
Avery squeezed Quinn’s hand, leaning in close to whisper, “This is… perfect. All of it.”
Quinn kissed her temple. “You deserve perfect.”
Avery looked around the room—her parents laughing with Braeden, her sister hugging Noelle, their two companies blending like they had always been one family. Her world, every part of it, together in one place.
She inhaled deeply, warmth pooling in her chest.
This moment would’ve felt impossible a year ago.
But now? Now it felt right. She looked up at Quinn, eyes shining.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?” Quinn murmured.
“For loving me like this.”
Quinn’s expression softened, her thumb brushing along Avery’s knuckles.
“Always,” she said. “Always, Avery.”
And Avery knew, without a doubt, without fear, without hesitation, this was the beginning of the rest of her life.