Bonus Epilogue #2
Maybe Christmas, or New Year? Meh, there’s an outside chance I just can’t understand how he could have been with Sades for years now, and not thanked his lucky stars and bought the best engagement ring he could afford, pleaded with her to marry him, and tie himself to her in every conceivable way.
It’s Sadie. What’s wrong with him? Why is he wasting time?
And if she isn’t that bothered by how he’s dragging his feet and stringing her along, why not?
It’s a relief that he hasn’t asked yet, and a source of unease for me. The Sword of Damocles is shit to live with..
I just wish the lucky guy was someone other than him. Someone who genuinely loves her.
Someone like, hmm, I dunno...ME.
Then at least I could nurse this broken heart and work through it with the safe and sure knowledge that she’s valued and appreciated and cherished for who she is. It would help.
I think.
I turn the music up and start singing along loudly to Pick Up the Bones by Alice Cooper, nodding my head and tapping the steering wheel with my fingertips as I get into it. We all had a great evening. Gotta let this shit go before it ruins my whole night.
I’m so psyched for Eli and Em. Them getting hitched was always inevitable, I thought that from the start, so the sweepstakes with Sadie and Dean was about the when rather than the if.
Still, I sure as shit didn’t expect that when I walked into our D&D game this evening.
Fan fucking tastic, and I’m still buzzed and already having awesome wedding present ideas for them, not all of which involve harnesses and swings. ..
And that gift I’ve been planning for Eli’s fortieth can be brought forward, too, though it does mean I’ll have to do Dean’s at the same time. It’s only fair.
I park in my space and head up the steps into my town house.
I haven’t been back here in a couple of days, because I’ve been faffing about with business admin at the parlour until late, and it’s easier to just crash in the upstairs studio.
It’s good to be here tonight. To be honest, this place is more of a family home, much too big for me, but I like the area, and bricks and mortar is a good investment.
And who knows, maybe one day someone will live here with me.
That’d be weird. I’ve never lived with a partner before. But I bet it’s pretty freakin’ sweet. Sex on tap and someone to split the chores with. Not too shabby. If only it was Sadie.
I’d kiss her awake every single morning, and use my fingers to...
Shaking my head impatiently, I pour myself a glass of water and head up the stairs to bed, flopping down fully clothed on the mattress to chill for a while. Eleven pm. I pull out my phone and Google how to get ordained. It looks pretty straightforward.
I guess I get a bit carried away daydreaming about how to do my cousin and his fiancee proud on the day and make it fun, because when I look at the time, it’s almost midnight.
In spite of myself, my fingers press all the right buttons to call up my text conversation with Sadie.
I chuckle a little as I read our last few messages from a couple of days ago.
Leo: Swear to god
Leo: Swear to god, woman
Sadie: What?
Sadie: ……???
Sadie: I’m trying to chill out with a sheet facemask, what??
Leo: A what now?
Sadie: A sheet facemask
Leo: Like, it’s not very good and is a leetle beet sheet, or?
Sadie: [Photo of Sadie with a pink fabric facemask on and an impatient expression through the eye holes]
Leo: Hot, Sades, that is some hot shit [laugh emoji]
Sadie: Yes, fine, funny, haha. Swear to god what?!
Leo: Oh, right. Sorry, got distracted by your insane beauty [laugh emoji]
Sadie: [Photo of Sadie with the mask still on, cross eyed and flipping the bird with her tongue hanging out]
Leo: [Flame emojis]
Leo: I’m keeping that
Sadie: LEO
Leo: Oh, yeah, right
Leo: I was channel surfing and just caught the ending of The Amityville Horror, the original version
Leo: Creepy AF
Leo: And it hit me
Leo: James Brolin is Christian Bale’s real father
Sadie: You interrupted my self-date night home facial for THAT??? I thought something was wrong, you absolute plank!!!
Leo: I’m SERIOUS
Leo: Took me a few seconds to realise that Christian Bale would not have been of an age to play Lois Lane’s husband in the seventies
Leo: And the resemblance is so striking that there’s literally one explanation that makes sense since cloning isn’t that far advanced yet
Leo: Unless there’s some weird time travel crap happening
Leo: Heh. ‘Crappening’
Sadie: You are a jackass
Leo: [Photo of James Brolin and Christian Bale side by side]
Leo: TELL ME YOU DON’T SEE IT
Sadie: ...OK, yes, I see where you’re coming from
Sadie: But he so isn’t. And FYI, CB’s dad was married to the amazing powerhouse that is Gloria Steinem, true story
Leo: I didn’t know James Brolin was married to Gloria Steinem, I thought he was married to Queen Barbra
Sadie: [Forehead slap emoji]
Sadie: Go away, dingus
Sadie: Also, please can I have the 19th off, Mr Boss Man who is totally right about James Brolin and is completely awesome etc etc yadda yadda yadda
Leo: And handsome
Sadie: *sigh* and handsome
Leo: And sexy
Sadie: [eyeroll emoji] never mind
Leo: Course you can have 19th off
Sadie: Thanks [smile emoji]
Leo: IF...you will also agree that Jeff Buckley faked his death to start a new career as adult film star Manuel Ferrara
Sadie: WTF
I love winding her up sometimes. All the time, actually. Every day. She does this cute wiggly frown when she’s amused but exasperated, and it’s completely irresistible.
I tap my phone to make the keyboard come up, wanting to have some sort of contact with her, and pause. What can I possibly say to her at this time of night?
Just want to make sure you’re OK.
Just want to say hey and I’m here if you need anything.
I know you must be really feeling it that Em got engaged and you’re still waiting for a douchebag to see what he has in you.
Why are you still with him? What’s that about?
I’M RIGHT HERE AND I LOVE YOU THE WAY YOU ARE MEANT TO BE LOVED, YOU DAFT BUCKET.
Oh, yeah, she’ll love all that.
Finally, determined to say something, I just keep it simple:
Leo: Goodnight x
My mom loves this film called Love is a Many Splendored Thing, and I think William Holden did something similar for the heroine in that, except with calling rather than texting because it was set in the fifties or something.
Mom made me watch a lot of old movies with her when I was a kid, and honestly, I still love them.
Eh. It’s that or spew out my Secret Feelings like a fry-up after a hangover.
I take off my shirt and start getting ready for bed because I’m getting drowsy, when my phone pings back chirpily at me.
Sadie: Goodnight, cupcake x
And just like that, my heart melts for her for the thousandth time today.