Epilogue
Roman
Ren’s scream rips me from my sleep. I bolt upright, instinctively reaching for the gun in my nightstand, but it’s not there. Because we’re not home.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Ren grimaces, sitting next to me in bed, clutching her phone.
My pulse steadies as soon as I realize she’s okay. For New Year’s, we continued our holiday with the Foxes to Summerland, a private island resort they’d bought earlier in the year.
“No, no, you’re good, baby. You’re good.” My morning voice is croaky, and I rub the sleep from my eyes. “What’s up?”
“Oh my god, okay, so,” she spews, as if biting at the bit for me to ask. “You know how I told you about that lawyer and the class action suit?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Well, they settled and look, look—” She thrusts her phone in my face, bouncing where she sits like she can’t possibly contain her excitement. She points to an email. “Do you see all those zeroes?”
“Yes, that’s amazing.” I actually can’t because her finger keeps covering it up as she pokes repeatedly at the screen, but I don’t need to.
I already know exactly how much it is.
Because that’s the thing about dedicating your life to the job: you make a shit ton of money but don’t have anyone to spend it on.
“This is surreal.” She shakes her head incredulously.
I knew the moment Ren told me about the gorilla sanctuary that I wanted her to be able to volunteer for as long as she wanted. But from the short time I’ve known her, I knew she wouldn’t just take my money. Then I heard about the oil scandal. It was the perfect cover.
I also didn’t want her to feel trapped or obligated. After all, this was supposed to be for five days only. But hopefully by the time this settlement starts running low, my money will be our money and she can continue doing whatever makes big and little Ren happy for a very long time.
Ren
Three weeks ago, I thought I was at the peak of my career and about to be engaged to a wildlife veterinarian. I thought all my years of being the good girl were finally about to pay off.
Then it all came crashing down around me. And all I can think is: thank fuck it did.
God bless the soon-to-be divorced Dr. Guzman—I decided to tell Maria, and she filed papers the very next day—because without his deceit, I never would have ended up in the giraffe barn.
I never would have awkwardly, though very politely, cockblocked Cash and Harlow.
I never would have finally learned the beautiful man from June Bug’s name or told him I felt like being bad. 1
And I definitely wouldn’t have ended up here, on the beach of a private island, listening to a New Orleans brass band while waiting for fireworks to ring in the new year.
“Look at those two.” He chuckles and nods down the beach. Following with my gaze, I burst out laughing at the scene unfolding a few yards away.
Reggie is currently dancing drunken circles around Roan while teasing the straps of her dress down. “C’mon, Ro, you’re allowed to take that stick out of your ass every once in a while.”
She’s been trying to convince him to go skinny dipping all trip and has apparently decided she is going to do it with or without him.
“Please keep your clothes on.” He tries to sound unamused, but there’s a hint of a taunt in his voice, like he wants her to push him.
He tries lunging for her, and Effie and Harlow cheer as she sidesteps him and skitters away, laughing. Reggie and Roan square off again as she undoes the zipper down her side, and they continue to egg her on.
Apparently moved by their encouragement, Cash jumps up from the lounge he’s sharing with Harlow.
He yanks his shirt off before grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet.
He takes off toward the shore, and like pulling monkeys from a barrel, Harlow snags Effie’s hand as they run past. The three of them progressively lose more and more clothes the closer they get to the water.
“You guys aren’t helping,” Roan shouts as they crash into the small waves in nothing but their underwear.
I watch them splash around, a little envious, until I realize there’s nothing stopping me from joining them.
Something I never would have done three weeks ago, now comes easy.
It’s freeing realizing that oftentimes, the only thing stopping you from experiencing pleasure is having the courage to chase it.
As soon as I look back at Roman, he’s already reaching for Finn’s drink. I tug my dress over my head and squeal as I take off after them. Before I run into the ocean, I glance over my shoulder to see Roman taking a big sip of Finn’s stolen beer.
I dive under the warm tropical water, invigorated, and pop back up just in time to see Reggie pants Roan. She howls with laughter. He growls something indistinguishable before ripping off his shirt, throwing her over his shoulder, and barreling into the ocean.
I can hardly make out the musicians’ countdown over the waves, yells, and laughter. My pulse races as I look around for Roman, somehow having lost track of him. Lochlan has his arms wrapped around Stella next to our row of empty chairs.
“Ten . . . Nine . . .” The deep, velvety voice of the musicians carries over the speakers.
I scream as I’m grabbed from behind and spun around. Roman grins, water dripping down his face. I encircle his waist with my legs.
He pushes my wet hair back to cradle my face between his big hands. “You’re everything I never knew I needed.”
I rest my forehead on his, overwhelmed and so full of love and gratitude. “You’re more than everything I thought I deserved.”
“Three . . . Two . . .”
“Make a wish,” he purrs right before pulling me to him. Our lips meet at the same time the sound of fireworks blankets the beach. I knit my fingers together behind his head and listen to the explosions above us as I lick the salt water from his lips.
His hands smooth down my back as he pulls back and he asks, “What did you wish for?”
Picking my wish was easy. Whether back home or off the coast of a beautiful, tropical island, his arms are the only place I want to be.
“I bet you can guess.” I smile as the water lights up with the fireworks’ reflection, like a thousand gemstones glittering around us.
“Well, if it was the same as mine . . .” He holds me closer. “But I was thinking five more weeks this time.”
“Close.” I bite my lip, my heart bursting like the colors in the sky. “Only, I wished for five more months.”
He smirks. “Why not make it years?”
Then he kisses me, hot and bright, just like any future with him.
The End.
1. Play "Sexual Healing (Space Captain Remix)"—Hot 8 Brass Band