Epilogue
Rya – (Six Months Later)~
“This really wasn’t necessary, honey,” Dad said, though the smile on his face indicated different.
However, knowing my dad as well as I knew him, I had kept the party small and personal, only inviting a couple of his closest friends, Cynthia-his new girlfriend-Dalton, Leandra, and the Wilders.
We were also all in the backyard of my childhood home, and I loved how the Wilders felt absolutely comfortable here.
Six months ago, after my father had finally met Koen, he had insisted on a family dinner, so that everyone could meet since his plan was to keep me forever-his words to my dad, not mine.
Anyway, my dad had readily agreed, and the dinner had gone as perfectly as Koen and I had hoped.
There’d been no strained conversation, awkward silences, or anything like that.
Seriously, it’d been perfect.
My dad had also begun dating Cynthia Murray about three months ago, and while I didn’t want to rush anything, she seemed absolutely perfect for him.
She’d gone through a divorce a few years ago, and she had moved here for a new start, her children all grown and living their own lives.
At any rate, they’d met in the sweetest way possible, her getting a flat as my father had been driving behind her.
Of course, he’d been chivalrous enough to keep her from having to wait for road-side assistance, and from there, a first date had been born.
“Well, since everyone is having a great time, I disagree,” I told him. “This was very necessary, and we’ll be doing it again when you turn sixty.”
“You impertinent chic,” he chuckled before walking away to host his guests.
Leaving him to do his thing, I walked over to where ‘the youngins’ were sitting, sliding next to Koen like it was the most natural thing in the world. Everyone was eating, drinking, and having a good time, and I could even appreciate how Dalton and Leandra had put away their claws for the occasion.
“So, your boy wants to get a tattoo,” Dalton announced as soon as I sat down.
“Oh, really?” I turned to look at Koen. “Of what? Because Dalton doesn’t tattoo nonsense.”
“It’s true,” Dalton chuckled.
“What do you consider nonsense?” Leandra asked.
“I usually don’t know until they ask for it,” he answered truthfully.
“Your name,” Koen broadcasted, making me look back at him, my mouth hanging wide open.
“Wh...what?”
“Your name,” he repeated.
“You can’t...you can’t do that,” I sputtered. “We’ve only been dating for six months.”
“Yeah, and I’ve been in love with you every day of those six months, and I’m certain that the rest of my life belongs to you, too,” he retorted. “So, I’m making it official.”
“Wouldn’t asking her to marry you be considered making it official?” Leandra asked.
“Not when she can say no to a proposal,” Koen chuckled.
“Koen, you can’t get my name tattooed on you,” I insisted. “That’s...that’s crazy.”
Ignoring my two friends, he asked, “Do you love me, Rya?”
“You know that I do,” I answered honestly.
“Well, I more than love you,” he said, bringing immediate tears to my eyes. “I live for you. My entire purpose in life now is to do nothing but love you, baby. I absolutely adore the fuck out of you, and this is how I want to prove it to the world.”
That’s when I realized that he didn’t want to tattoo my name on his body for him; he wanted to do it for us. It was going to be his armor against all the haters, and how could I say no to that?
“Then I guess that I’ll have to do the same,” I said, quiet tears sliding down my cheeks. “After all, I can’t have people thinking that you love me more than I love you.”
Koen grinned as he took my face in his hands. “Well, since it’s true, it’s okay if they think that.”
However, it wasn’t true.
Not by a long shot.
The End.