Bones is also trying to build a relationship with Naomi. He asks her at every dinner if he can take her to breakfast the next day. She always declines, but he never stops trying. I gotta admit, I admire the hell out of his perseverance and his respect for her boundaries, so I secretly hope she gives him a chance one day. I’ve known the guy my whole life, and he’s not perfect by any means, and probably not the type of guy she’d ever have pictured for her father, but he’s a good man, and she could do a lot worse.
Trust me.
I feel no grief for my own father. We didn’t hold a funeral or a celebration of life—there was nothing of his life worth celebrating. Bones buried him somewhere he’ll never be found, and that’s good enough for me. That piece of shit tried to snatch my entire world away just to prove a point, to keep me in line. I’m just sorry I didn’t kill the fucker myself.
We’re currently packing for a summer backpacking trip across Europe, now Naomi’s got her bachelor’s degree. Neither of us have been, and we’re both more than eager to get away from… well, everything.
She looks up at me over her suitcase, delivering a sweet smile that almost brings me to my knees. I toss my socks to the side, lean over the bed and cup the nape of her neck, so her lips press against my own. Our tongues tangle together as we sink into one another, complete euphoria that only she can bring washing over me.
The best is yet to come—I know that for certain. We can do anything, be anyone, and I’ll happily let her pave our way. By her side is where I’m meant to be.
By her side, I know I’m finally home.
Extended Epilogue
Naomi
We’re leaving for Europe in two days, and I couldn’t be more excited. We’re starting in London before moving on to Paris, Venice, Munich and then who knows? I’ve decided to put a hold on school now that I have my bachelor’s degree; besides, where better to get raw journalistic experience than on the road? Mom doesn’t like the idea of us running wild in Europe, but I remind her that it’s safer than her spending most every night in bed with the president of a motorcycle club. That tends to silence her fairly quickly.
I’ve adjusted to the idea that Anthony Sr isn’t my real father; that Jerry is. It makes sense now that he left, and Mom was obviously in the wrong for having an affair.
She and I sat down and talked about everything that happened back then. How she grew up with Jerry and Matthew. How she would hang out at the club before she had any of us. How she and Jerry quickly fell in love, and how he pushed her away when things got too dangerous.
Then she met Anthony Sr, they got married, had Anthony and Nick, and then… she and Jerry reconnected. It was like no time had passed. She hated the sneaking around and the lying, but she would never and could never expose her kids to theclub’s lifestyle. So they ended things again, and I was a parting gift of sorts.
Anthony had felt Mom pulling away and had suspicions about my paternity, since they were rarely intimate during that time. And when it was confirmed he wasn’t my father, he just packed up and left.
I get not wanting to have anything to do with me and Mom, but the boys? They deserved better.
Jerry seems to be a pretty decent man honestly. I already had a good opinion of him, from the stories Kolter’s told me about his childhood, plus the whole saving-my-life thing. But he makes my mom so happy, happier than I’ve ever seen her in my life, and that is worth everything.
I know I’m probably being too harsh, rejecting him constantly. I should give him a chance, give us both a chance to form… I don’t know, some kind of a relationship. And I will. Someday. Maybe.
I do my best to push all of that away for now. Tonight is girls’ night, the last one we’ll get for quite some time.
Arianna’s bump is growing by the day, and she’s due in less than three months. I already told Kolter that when it gets close to her due date, we’re flying back. There’s no way I’m missing out on my best friend’s baby for anything.
Arianna and Logan eloped, which Cassi and I incessantly give her crap for, because how could she not invite us to the wedding? They wanted it to be simple and intimate, and honestly that’s perfect for them. We all know that Cassi’s wedding will be none of those things, so we’ll be able to celebrate enough for both couples.
Nico proposed in the most dramatic way possible—perfect for Cassi. He filled an entire restaurant with roses and candles and hired a string quartet to play beneath a huge heart lit up with the words “Will you marry me?” He also hired avideographer to capture every moment, and when I tell you Cassi bawled like a baby, I’m not exaggerating in the slightest.
Since then, she references herfiancé, the wedding or some other wedding-related event in every other conversation, and it makes me smile every time. Each of my friends deserve the world, and it seems they’ve both landed men who’re willing to give it to them.
Kolter has asked me several times if I want to take that next step with him. I mean, honestly, it’s a stupid question. Of course I do, but also, I don’t feel the need to rush things. I don’t need a ring to prove that he’s mine or I’m his. We’ve belonged to each other since the moment we met. A legal document from the state isn’t going to change that.
For now, we’re enjoying our quiet, peaceful life, content to celebrate our friends’ happiness, but when the time is right, we will absolutely throw the party of a lifetime, where I’ll do my absolute best to soak up every moment while staying out of the spotlight as much as possible. Wish me luck on that.
“I can’t believe you’re going on a backpacking trip through Europe with Kolter. Like, is anyone else having a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that our sweet little Nay bae is dating her brother? I’m just so proud,” Cassi teases.
I roll my eyes and toss a dinner roll at her—thankfully, we decided to order room service instead of eating out—and she laughs.
“Says the woman who’s engaged to her sister’s ex-boyfriend,” Arianna says before taking a huge bite of chocolate cake.
“Coming from the woman who’s married to her ex-stepfather and pregnant with his baby,” I point out.
Arianna swallows the cake and throws me an outraged look. “Hey! I was standing up for you, bitch.”
We all laugh, then Cassi shakes her head.