Epilogue
Shae
Em came up behind Shae, sliding an arm around her waist. “I like it when you concentrate like this, Hemingway. It makes me want to distract you,” Em teased, lips ghosting the back of Shae’s neck.
“There will be none of that,” Lennon spoke, not bothering to look up from the platter she was arranging. “Stay on task, you two. Em, can you check that all the bottles of champagne were put in the fridge? I left Brodie in charge of it, and I’m not sure I can trust him.”
“On it, boss,” Em said with a grin. She reluctantly pulled herself away from Shae and headed for the fridge.
The island gleamed under the soft glow of the pendant lights.
Lined elegantly with caprese skewers, crab cakes, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and a sprawling charcuterie board beside a full bruschetta bar.
The theme this year was ‘Midnight Masquerade.’ Lennon had outdone herself again, but this time around she’d accepted help and was a lot less stressed to boot.
“Whatever happens, I want everyone to have fun!” Lennon said, placing the fruit bowl out beside the crab stuffed mushrooms, shifting around all the dishes to make room. “It’s the start of a New Year, new everything.”
“Yeah, it is!” Brodie said, strutting in. Raising his phone above his head like a trophy, making a show of pressing play. Music rang out, blaring down the halls and in through the kitchen.
“House speakers work!” he shouted over the noise.
He seized Lennon’s hand, twirling her into him and dipping her once before guiding her into a slow dance.
“You’re so extra!” Lennon said, planting a soft kiss on his lips.
“Alright, alright, save it for later,” Seth said, bursting into the kitchen in a rush of movement. “How do you love my outfit?” he asked, doing a slow turn. “Oh, oops!” he said, “Almost forgot the best part.” He lifted the mask in front of his face, posing. “I’m so charming, it’s hot, right?”
“So charming!” Shae repeated. She giggled, shaking her head at him.
“Thank you, love!” Seth said, blowing air kisses in her direction
“Anyhow. Tick tock, gorgeous people. What are you all doing, still hanging around the kitchen? It’s time to glam up. I want you all showing up down here looking as fabulous as me.”
“And me!” Claire said, descending the stairs in a long, silk black dress. It was a simple dress, no frills, but so stunning. Her hair was longer now, just past her shoulders, and part of it was draped over to one side, with large, wavy curls. She did look fabulous!
“He’s right, though,” Claire said. “You all need to get your butt’s upstairs and get ready for this party, stat.”
“I’m all set,” Brodie said, throwing a half-empty water bottle in the air, watching it land on the counter right side up. “Oooh, did you see that?”
“Brodie Taylor,” Lennon’s voice was composed and precisely measured, warning him he better tread lightly.
“I don’t know how to say this… no, actually, I do.
If you don’t go and get dressed in what I put out for you, I will literally kill you!
Dead. This party doesn’t have to be perfect, but you are wearing that suit. ”
The bass from the speakers thrummed through the walls, mixed with the faint voices of guests arriving downstairs.
Shae stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection.
She slid her hands down her black vest, “Not bad, Hemingway,” she said aloud to herself.
She had opted for a suit for this event, and she couldn’t be more pleased with her decision.
She lifted her black-and-gold feathered mask, pausing before fastening it in place. So much had changed since she’d last stood in front of this mirror.
There was a time she thought it silly when people said things like, ‘You look happier,’ but she understood it now; she could see it. She smiled wistfully.
“Let’s go find your girl,” she said to herself, heading toward the door.
Downstairs, the party had begun to pick up.
The lights were dimmed now, the glow of all the faux candles they’d placed around the house paying off.
Light bounced off sequined masks and champagne flutes, creating a shimmering effect.
Laughter swirled through the air, carried by the faint pulse of music and the clink of glasses.
It was everything she didn’t know it could be, even while helping set everything into place.
Then she saw her.
Em was standing near the window, half lit by the lights strung overhead, visiting with someone Shae had never met.
Her gold dress was clinging to her curves, begging Shae to come closer.
Em lifted her hand, dragging it through her long, blonde hair, throwing her perfect curls off to one side as she drew out a laugh.
And there it was, the thing that always drew Shae in: that kind, effortless, genuine smile.
Em was impossibly striking. The gold mask she wore only made her sky-blue eyes stand out. Shae was frozen in place. Love could still catch her off guard and steal all the breath from her lungs.
She’d loved Em through distance, through silence, through the worst timing. And most surprisingly, Em loved her the same.
She took the last step off the stairs as the front door swung open.
“Did someone say, Midnight Masquerade?” Kira said, stepping inside. She hugged Shae so tight it shifted her mask askew, sending laughter bubbling from both of them. Elliot followed in behind her, a large grin across his face, carrying a bottle of wine.
“Kira insisted I wear a mask,” he explained, gesturing to his very plain black mask.
“And you look fantastic,” Kira teased, bumping him with her shoulder.
Shae remembered Em off over in the corner and glanced back to see her making her way over to the three of them.
“Hey guys!” she said, greeting Kira and Elliot, wrapping them both in hugs before sliding her hand into Shae’s.
“You look fucking stunning!” Kira gawked.
“Yeah, you do!” Shae agreed.
“Yeah, like I want to take you home tonight and trust me, I’ve tried going there with women and nope, not for me but yeah…
I’d try it again!” Her eyes moved to Shae, “If you weren’t taken by my best friend.
And I wasn’t taken by one of yours, I guess.
” She grabbed Elliot’s hand, entangling their fingers.
“Kira Fierce!” Seth strutted up, throwing his arms around her. “Girl, Yasss! So hot! This party is one hundred percent up my alley.”
Kira squeezed Seth. “Ugh, Seth. I missed you! How’s life in Austin?”
“Ugh, so amazing. Men, like always all over me. I am so happy I never settled for Julian. Is he here by the way? Have you seen him?”
“Seen who?” Lennon said, joining in on the hugs, welcoming Kira.
“Oh, umm. Nobody,” Seth replied, looking away.
“Julian.” Em mouthed.
“Seth!” Lennon scolded. “I told you to stop bringing up Julian. We love him, but I didn’t invite him!”
“What is all this sappy shit going on over here that I’m not being included in on?” Claire said as she strutted up. “I’m Claire,” she said, extending a hand out to Elliot, “and this is my girlfriend, Taylor.”
“So nice to meet you, Taylor.” Kira squealed, offering her a hug. “Oh yeah, everyone… well, most people know you, but… this is my boyfriend, Elliot.”
“Hey, E. Over here,” Brodie called to Elliot from the kitchen.
“Nice meeting you guys. Bro stuff, I guess.” He left the group, high-fiving Brodie as Brodie handed him a beer.
The crew made their way into the living room, dancing and reconnecting.
Shae held Em close the whole time, not wanting to be far from her.
The room was filled with laughter, friendship, and the feeling of new beginnings.
For a moment, Shae was suspended in its lightness, its warmth.
This was a moment she never wanted to escape from.
Brodie had enlisted Elliot to help him walk around the room, handing out champagne glasses to everyone, a task Lennon had set for him.
The crew gathered together in the middle of the living room, glasses in hand. Their faces glowed beneath gold, black, and silver masks.
“Ten, Nine, Eight…” Shae found Em’s eyes. The noise falling away, only the steady pull of Em’s presence and her warm smile anchoring her there.
“Three, Two, One…”
The room exploded in cheers, confetti floating down like snow. Em slipped her hand into Shae’s.
“Happy New Year, Hemingway.”
“Happy New Year, Cali.”
Shae kissed her, slow and certain. Lingering against Em’s lips, causing everything else to fade into the background.
When their mouths broke apart, Em brushed a strand of hair from Shae’s cheek.
“What do you say…” she said, “we spend our summer together somewhere new this year?”
Shae tilted her head, curious. “Somewhere new?”
“Somewhere new!” Em repeated, a mischievous grin on her face. “I was thinking, Spain?”
Em’s lips curved up into a soft smile. “You and me. No plans or deadlines. Just… us. I always dreamt of traveling Europe with you, Hemingway!”
A laugh rolled out of Shae, her heart swelling. “Spain, huh?”
“That’s right,” Em’s grin widened. “Think of it as our next chapter.”
For once, Shae didn’t overthink it.
“Let’s do it!” she said, confidently, feeling like the world was spinning around only them. The fireworks burst outside, their reflections flickering in the glass behind them, and Shae knew she was right where she wanted to be.