43. Chapter 43
Chapter forty-three
One Month Later
— GET WELL SOON BY ARIANA GRANDE
“Uhh, this one?” I say as I hand Bree a book.
“Oh, everyone has been telling me I need to read this one. Great choice, babe!” she says as she adds to it the pile. “November is going to be a month of variety, thanks to Vince.”
I’m not used to being in front of the camera, but I’d do anything to see her beautiful smile. She asked if I wanted to film a video for her channel, so that’s exactly what we’re doing. Apparently, she’s hard launching our relationship to the world.
I had to ask her what that meant, and she explained it to me without making too many jokes. Now, though, Nico keeps making fun of how old I am. He’s only three years younger than me, so if I’m old, then what is he? That fucker still pushes my buttons, but he is my best friend, so I guess that’s what he’s supposed to do.
“Okay, how about you pick three more? I usually read ten to twenty books a month, and we’re only at ten. I think I can handle a few more.”
I’m standing in front of her specialized shelf in Liv’s guest room. We’ve been living here for a month as we search for a home of our own. As soon as we hear from our realtor, we’ll be out of their hair and finally starting a life together. I cannot fucking wait. I’ve grown way closer to her sister and Tristan, but I know we’re all itching to get our privacy back. I know Bree and I miss Nellie, too. She’s staying with my sister until we get back on our feet.
I hate moving around with Nell this much. I know dogs need a stable place, and my entire life has been unstable. Now, Bree and I are building a home together, and Nell will finally have a permanent place to call home, with a yard big enough for her to play and roll around.
As for Ralph, he’s officially back in a supermax prison. That motherfucker will never see freedom again, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s the least he deserves for what he put Bree through.
All the hired help he had is also in prison. The four fuckers got sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for being accomplices.
This is the first regular video Bree is uploading after everything happened. Two weeks ago, she uploaded an unedited, hour-long video telling her entire story. She didn't leave a single thing out, and I couldn't be prouder of how she handled it.
She didn't let her parents tell her story for her, and now, her version—the correct one—is out in the world. News outlets called her brave for the video, and her followers have been nothing but kind to her.
Bree is also starting a foundation for survivors. She brought the idea to Connie last week, and she loved it. It’s the perfect way to shift the narrative off Ralph, and onto all the good Bree can do helping other survivors.
I’m so fucking proud of my girl.
There’s been a few tough moments, of course. Bree still has nightmares, and she wakes up the whole house when she screams, but instead of just me being there to calm her down, Liv and Tristan are there to help.
Gone are the days of Bree running on the treadmill until she passes out. Now, she’s got a family to help her down from the memories haunting her .
“Vince, come back, baby,” Bree says as she grabs my chin in her hand and turns me to face her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m perfect,” I say as I kiss her before I pull back and peruse her shelf. I reach for three books—one with a pink cover, one simplistic one, and the last one blue with some flowers on it. “These.”
“Are these your final choices?” she asks me, a gleam in her eyes.
“Yes,” I tell her. “All of these better be five stars, or I’ll make it my mission to outdo myself next month.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, angel, it is,” I say as I kiss her again.
“Okay, great,” she says as she films her outro. When she's done, she closes her camera and all but tackles me in a hug. “That was so much fun. Thanks for doing this with me.”
“Bree, I’d do anything for you. And I enjoyed myself. I like seeing your eyes light up at all these books. It’s adorable.”
Bree’s lips meet mine, and I kiss her with all the passion that she makes me feel before a few knocks and the door opening interrupt us. I can’t wait until we have a house.
“Oh, shit, sorry,” Liv says as she tries to leave.
“It’s okay, sis. What’s up?” Bree says as she moves her hair out of her face. She’s still on top of me, and she might not feel that awkward, but I do.
“Tristan wants you guys to help hand out candy.”
“We’ll be right out!” Bree says as she gets up and heads for the closet. She grabs our costumes, and I chuckle when I see what she chose for us. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s perfect.”
I put on my costume—Mario—while Bree puts on hers—Princess Peach—and the two of us walk out to the living room to meet Tristan and Liv .
Tristan starts laughing immediately when he sees us. “Oh, Bree, you’ve outdone yourself.”
“You guys look adorable,” Liv says as she grabs her camera and snaps a few pictures of us.
“I’ve never seen Mario so stone-faced.” Tristan laughs.
“You’re one to talk. Your costumes don’t even match. I thought we were all doing couples costumes. How is a cowboy and some lady from ye old times matching?”
The two of them just look at each other, their eyes sparkling as Tristan pulls Liv onto his lap. “You just don’t get it, Vince.”
“Fucking explain it to me then.”
“One day when you’re older,” Tristan says as the doorbell rings. “That’s our cue.”
The four of us traipse over to the door, and as we swing it open, four kids dressed as ninja turtles greet us. We give them their candy and shut the door. Bree and I head to the couch where some scary movie is playing, and I hear Tristan talking quietly to Liv behind us.
“What are you saying, pretty girl?”
“I’m saying that we should try. I want one.”
I smile to myself at the thought of the little family we all have getting bigger. Liv and Tristan would be wonderful parents, and Bree would make the best aunt.
I never had a huge family, and Bree gave me that back. She’s never had one either, but together, we’ve created our own.
It took us a while to get here, and maybe some other people would’ve taken a different route, but we decided to take the road less traveled by. Even though it was full of bumps and bruises—literally—I couldn't be happier knowing we made it.
Bree chose me, and I chose her right fucking back.
“Are you okay?” Bree asks me, her head on my shoulder as we watch the movie .
“I’m better than okay, angel. I’ve got all I need right here,” I say as I press a kiss to her forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”