Epilogue
DREW
Six months later
As a man of my word, I always stick by my promises, and I always expect others to do the same. A promise is a promise and she did promise me this.
I raise onto my elbow, resting my head on my hand. Reaching out, I run the back of my fingers down Jules’s bare arm and she stirs in her sleep, her legs shifting under the sheets. The early morning summer sun spills in through the windows, lighting up her golden skin.
It’s been a year since she first moved into my house. Looking back now, I can’t imagine how I thought it would end any differently.
“What time is it?” she mumbles.
“A little past ten.”
She groans, burying her head into the pillow. “You can’t keep me up into the early morning and expect me to be up at ten.”
“As if you didn’t enjoy our activities.”
She turns, looking at me over her shoulder, her eyes barely open. “I do enjoy tying you up and having you at my mercy.”
I lean down to give her a quick kiss. “Everyone will be here soon.”
Her eyes widen as she sits up in bed, the sheets pooling around her waist. The cold air of the room causes her nipples to pebble. My cock stirs at the sight of her breasts and I remind it to calm the fuck down. If we get started, we won’t stop and right now is not the time.
Everyone we know is coming over for brunch soon and we need to make sure everything is ready. Good thing we’re having it catered because it’s a lot of people.
“I completely forgot!” Jules exclaims.
“I’m flattered.”
“Oh shush,” she says, waving her hand. The ring on her finger glitters in the sunlight. It’s a large marquise diamond on a plain platinum band.
Outside the window, Nantucket Sound is calm, the sky is a clear blue and I can see the lighthouse in the distance.
“When are the caterers coming?” she asks. Sliding out of bed, she reaches for her robe and I have a quick flash of her naked body before it’s covered in silk.
“In thirty minutes,” I say, relaxing back onto the bed.
Jules ties her robe. “And you’re still in bed? We’ll have twenty people descending upon our house soon!”
I love the way she says our house because it is our house. I surprised her with it last week. This and the deed of my house which is now half hers. I don’t ever want her to feel like she can lose her home. The apartment is all hers and it will stay hers.
“Let me enjoy the day,” I say.
Jules arches an eyebrow, placing her hands on her lips. “If you don’t get out of that bed in the next second, you’re not invited to my shower.”
I throw off the covers and step out of bed before she’s even finished talking.
My family is the first to arrive as the caterers are leaving.
“Where’s Jules?” Lavinia asks, looking around.
“She’s getting dressed, she’ll be down soon.”
I’m a little disappointed the caterers arrived before I could see her fully dressed, but the anticipation of seeing her makes everything that much sweeter.
“The house is beautiful, Drew,” Mom gushes.
“We still need to decorate and Jules wants your input on that.”
“And there’s so much light for you to work on your sketches,” Aunt Constance says, walking into the sunroom.
I finally caved a few months ago and told them the truth, right after I signed a publishing contract for my graphic novel. I had a lot of time to develop the idea while I was benched and taking time off to let my shoulder properly heal. I figured if Jules can write under a pen name, so can I.
The HoBros arrive next and I give them a tour of the house. Sage brings her daughter, Junie, and Coach brings his daughters, Willow and Luna. Holden brings his girlfriend, who’s now a member of the SnackPack.
I lead them all out into the large backyard and the kids have a lot of fun playing with Bailey. The weather is perfect. Our house is on a cliff overlooking the water. The sky is blue, the sun is shining, there are boats on the water. It’s right out of a painting.
Coach claps a hand onto my shoulder.
“Remember when I told you to be careful before dating your sister’s best friend?” he asks.
I grin at him. “Yeah.”
He smiles softly. “Glad you didn’t listen to me.”
“He’s been messed up over her for longer than he realized,” Ford adds.
“Where’s the lady of the house?” Reese asks. “There’s a book I want to discuss with her.”
Before I can reply, Lavinia screams loudly which causes Bailey to start barking and the kids shriek in either fear or delight.
“Lavinia!” Mom chides. “Why are you shouting? You scared everyone.”
But Lavinia doesn’t reply. She steals her hand back from Roman and rushes towards the house where Jules has appeared. I don’t get to see her before Lavinia pulls her into a hug, but I do see Jules’s smile and the tears shimmering in her eyes.
When Lavinia steps back, I finally see Jules and I understand why my sister screamed.
Jules is wearing a creamy white dress, woven with lace and pearls, her hair twisted up into a loose knot, strings of pearls woven through them. She looks ethereal. There have been a lot of moments in my life when I’ve realized her beauty and each time she takes me by surprise.
How is she real? How can anyone be this perfect?
Jules’s eyes find mine and she smiles, so brilliant and blinding my heart stops beating for a second.
Everything perfect, brilliant, and beautiful about her is mine to nurture and protect. I’ll spend my whole life getting to know her and love her, each day more and more.
Jules weaves through the crowd, coming to a stop in front of me. Reaching up, she brushes away from a tear from my cheek.
“And I didn’t even tell you to cry,” she whispers teasingly.
“Drew, what’s going on?” Dad asks.
“Your son is exacting his revenge,” Jules says, turning to look at him.
I roll my eyes, taking hold of her hand as I turn to face our family and loved ones. Lavinia is already crying, her smile so bright. I’m sure they all suspect what’s going on.
“When Jules moved in a year ago, she suggested we conduct a social experiment,” I say.
“I told him that if he goes on double dates with me, I can guarantee that he’ll be married by summer of this year,” Jules says. She holds up her left hand, showing off her engagement ring. “The county clerk will be here in thirty minutes.”
The girls all let out a scream of excitement, rushing to hug and congratulate Jules. I’m forced to release her hand as Dad gives me a hug, followed by Mom, the grandmothers, and finally Aunt Constance.
“I knew this would happen when I sent you to New York,” she says, her eyes sparkling.
“Thank you, Aunt Constance.”
Lavinia hugs me the longest, crying the whole time. “I’m so happy you didn’t fuck this up.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I say with a laugh.
She pulls back to look at me. “You two are so perfect for each other and I’m so beyond happy.”
I pull her into a hug again, kissing the top of her head.
The guys find me next and Reese hugs me tightly. “I’ve never been more proud of you, except for when you walked off the ice to get her.”
“Let’s not talk about that,” Coach says drily.
The county clerk arrives on time and Juliet Love becomes Juliet Callahan on a beautiful Saturday morning. She was always a part of this family and now she’s a Callahan, officially and legally. Bailey sits beside us as the rest of our family and friends watch.
We recite the vows the country clerk tells us to. We’d made the decision last night that our private vows, what we promised each other would remain between the two of us.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
I pull her into me, kissing her soundly. My wife. The words settle something inside me. The need to love and protect this woman is so visceral that it only quiets when I have her in my arms. My soul finally finding its home.
“A year ago I couldn’t imagine marrying you in my wildest dreams,” she whispers. The eyes which hold my entire world shine up at me brightly.
I kiss her softly. “I’m going to make all your wildest dreams come true, Mrs. Callahan.”