Epilogue
September weather in Colorado is still warm enough to enjoy, but you can also tell fall is approaching. I’ve been home for a little over a month now, and as much fun as I had during my internship, I can’t deny that I’m happy to be back.
Connor and I had a sex-filled few days in LA before he had to fly home, and the five months after that were full of a lot of texts, phone calls, and weekend trips. Being away from him for so long was hard, but the timeline we put together helped quite a bit. We had little landmarks we kept track of and celebrated, and that made passing the time easier. It was a team effort—I’m told that’s actually how healthy relationships work.
Now we’re getting ready to head over to Scott and Alyssa’s for Gemma’s birthday. Connor’s in the middle of piling her gifts on the kitchen counter.
“Are you staying over tonight?” he asks.
“I am,” I reply.
I know, right? Since he had to sleep next to me when he came out to LA, I kind of got used to having him there all night. I didn’t hate it.
“You spoil my niece, you know,” I plop down on the couch. “Between you and your brother, she’s going to be a nightmare when she gets older.”
“Hey, you only turn five once, and Uncle Connor needs to bring the birthday business.”
“Birthday business?” I laugh. “What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know,” he confesses from behind the coat closet door. “Here,” he walks over to me with a small gift bag hanging off his finger.
“What? What’s this? It’s not my birthday.” I accept the gift and pat the spot next to me so he’ll sit down.
“Nothing big, just a little accomplishment present.”
“Accomplishment present?”
He shrugs. “Yeah, you know. We checked off all our long-distance relationship timeline boxes. You gotta reward those accomplishments.”
“You didn’t say there would be accomplishment presents! I didn’t get you anything!”
I knew there would be accomplishment presents. I totally got him something.
“It’s fine, just open it.”
The bag feels like there’s nothing in it, so I know already what it is. But it’s still exciting to see what charm he found this time. I open it up, and in the tiny gold box is a sparkling key.
“It’s beautiful! Thank you!” I hold it up to the light and pause. “Oh god, this isn’t some lame metaphor like you’re giving me the key to your heart or something, is it?” I joke.
“What the hell? What if that was what I was doing, and you just crapped all over my grand romantic gesture? How bad would you feel right now?”
I laugh and lean over to give him a kiss. “I’m just kidding, baby, I love it. Thank you.”
“Here. It goes with this.” He holds out his hand. “It’s a key to my condo. Not because I want you to have unlimited access to my bedroom. Just, you know, in case I get locked out.”
It’s stupid how much I love this man. I take the key, kiss him again, and say, “Don’t move, I’m gonna go put it on my key ring right now.”
Which I do, but right afterwards I grab the gift I got for him out of my purse.
I skip back to the couch and proudly present it. “Happy Accomplishment…versary…or something…”
He laughs. “It’s so sexy when you placate me.”
I sit down and rub his knee as he opens the lid of the box.
“Are you serious?” he asks.
I nod. “It’s actually kinda creepy that we got each other the same thing.”
“Wait, you got me a key to my condo too?”
“Shut up,” I shove his shoulder. “Such a dad joke. You know it’s a key to my house.”
“Just in case you get locked out, right?”
“Yeah, definitely. That’s the only reason I can think of.” I lean in and kiss him, softly at first, but then sinking in to the feeling of his lips on mine. The key falls to the floor and I push him back to straddle his lap, using my tongue to open his mouth to me.
“Mmm,” he groans. “Stop, we gotta stop.”
“What? Why?” I pout.
“Because we’re going to be late and I can’t show up to a five-year-old’s birthday party with a giant boner, okay?”
I sigh. “All right, all right, fair enough. But we can finish that up when we get back tonight?”
“If we leave the party early, we can finish it up twice.”
With an armful of presents, we walk together to load them into my car. For so long, I thought that a loving relationship was just a plot in a movie. A nice fantasy, but nothing I’d be able to have. Connor pushes me out of my comfort zone in the best way. He makes me feel loved, desired, and important. And I’m finally accepting that I deserve that.
Walking through the door of Scott and Alyssa’s house is pure chaos. There are small people running all over the place, riding high on sugar and pony fumes. Jess makes an immediate break to head to the kitchen and help, but I’m looking for the guest of honor.
It doesn’t take long for the birthday girl to zero in on me.
“Hey, Uncle Connor!” she leaps into my arms and gives me a hug.
“Hey, Birthday Girl, are you having a good day?”
“I’m having the best day!” she screams. Then she looks around and stage-whispers, “Did you give Aunt Jess her present yet?”
“I did,” I smile. “She really liked it.”
“Are you gonna get married?”
“Someday. When Aunt Jess is ready.”
“Okay, come see the bouncy house!”
I put her down and let her lead me to the back yard.
“Dees are my friends, dat’s Ashley and dat’s Andy.”
“Ashley, Andy, got it. Hi, guys.”
Both kids just stare at me. Tough crowd.
“Dis is my Uncle Connor,” Gemma continues. “He’s gonna marry my Aunt Jess someday.”
More stares.
“Okay, well, I think I’m going to go find your Aunt Jess now, but you guys have fun! That is a cool bouncy house!”
Gemma is my co-conspirator in all things wedding-related. I keep reminding her it’ll be awhile, but it doesn’t stop her from asking me about it every time there’s a family function. She’s very invested.
I bought the ring charm already, of course. And the ring, if I’m being honest, but I gave that to my dad for safekeeping.
If there’s anything I’ve learned from my relationship with Jess, it’s that good things don’t need to be rushed. If someone’s important in your life, you make the time for them, you give them the time they need. She helps me slow down and be part of the family again. She shows me what it means to be in a real partnership. And I know the best is yet to come.
Yeah, obviously because I wrote it in on the timeline.