“You don’t think they… ya know?”
I try not to scoff and draw attention to us. “I seriously doubt it. Who would put up with him?”
“She has had a crush for a while.”
I look at her. “A crush?” I mouth.
“You’re right, that’s not what it is because Payd is too couture for that, but it’s better than saying eff buddy.” Of course, she doesn’t say the actual words in case we’re overheard.
I glance at them, frowning, then come to the conclusion that she may be right, not that Logan would make an announcement about it. He’s secretive as fuck.
“You think?”
“I’ll find out.”
Not that I want to know any details about Logan and his sex life, but it might take the edge off his grumpiness lately if he was actually tapping it. Which leads me to believe that he isn’t. “If he is gettin’ some, he doesn't seem very happy about it,” I observe.
“Shh,” Nova says as Payden glances our way.
“We’re such gossips,” I mumble, trying not to laugh.
When Logan and Payden both reach for the same bowl of slaw, their fingers touch briefly and Payden recoils back like she’s been burned. “Shit, sorry,” she says as the spoon clatters onto the table.
“My bad,” Logan mutters.
I glance at Nova again, and she at me. “Definitely,” we say in unison.
I reach over and kiss her chastely. Changing the subject I ask, “Are you happy?”
“I am with you.”
I kiss her again, then we hear from Pipes: “Get a room, you two.”
“Leave him be,” Mom says, beaming at us.
“Gross,” Logan mutters.
“Young love,” Willow sighs.
I roll my eyes.
Family.
That’s what this feels like.
Love.
Jokes.
Bickering.
It’s all part of being a family, and I’m finally home. I can rest my head at ease knowing that the chapters of my life that weren’t so grand are in the past now. That I am finally done.
And as I glance at my girl and she smiles over at me, I know I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else, anywhere else.
I want to be here, with her. And that’s all that matters.
EPILOGUE