Epilogue – Chloe

It was crazy how fast things changed.

Like milk going bad, or flowers dying, or panties getting ripped in the “wash.”

Dom could claim it was the machine, but I clearly heard a rip.

And he still owed me ice-cream.

One Year Later

“Why would you put the sofa there? You can’t see the TV properly.”

I put my hands on my hips and stared at Dom. “Well, where should it go?”

He pointed with a handful of popcorn. “Under the window.”

“We don’t have blinds yet, and that’s where the sun will come in. Have you considered that we might not be able to see anything?”

“Move the TV, then.”

“We can’t. That’s the only spot it can go.”

He sighed, shoving his handful of popcorn into his mouth. “I don’t know what to tell you, Chlo.”

“You can put the popcorn down and help me move this stuff, for a start.” I waved a hand at the boxes that were piled on top of the coffee table.

“But what about the sofa?”

“We’ll buy a new sofa!” I ran my fingers through my hair. “God, this is old anyway.”

“I told you we should have brought my sofa.”

“You’re so lucky the kitchen knives are packed!” I growled at him.

He grinned. “Living together is going to be so fun.”

“Hmm.” I picked up a box and put it on the floor, then grabbed another. “Why is a bathroom box in here?”

“I don’t know. Ask Elliott. He’s the one who put the boxes there.”

“Why? Because you keep eating?”

“I have to eat the popcorn before Peyton gets it.”

I sighed. “We did this last week. You know she’s craving popcorn, and if she gets here and there’s none left, I’m letting you take the full blame for it. You can take those pregnancy hormones by yourself, buddy.”

He stilled, hand in the bag. “You know what? After how she burst into tears when Jake ate a handful of hers, I think I’ll save her this.”

“Yeah. Good idea.” I rolled my eyes. “Can you help me now?”

He gave me an overexaggerated sigh and lifted up the bathroom box. “Is this for our bathroom or the main one?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “You’ll have to look inside.”

“Why didn’t you mark it?”

“Because it’s your handwriting on the box.” I grinned. “This one’s on you, Dom.”

“Fuck it.”

A tiny gasp came from the doorway. “Uncle Dom saided a bad word!”

His eyes widened, and he turned to Briony. “Sssh. You can’t tell anyone that!”

“She doesn’t need to. I heard it,” Peyton said in a dry tone, coming up behind her and smoothing her hair. “Dom…”

“I didn’t know she was there,” he said quickly. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“That’s because you didn’t close the front door.” She shimmied past Briony. “Daddy has your tablet,” she said to her.

She quickly ran off to where Elliott was presumably unloading a handful of boxes from the back of the truck.

“How are you feeling?” I asked Peyton.

“Great,” she said with a giant, fake smile. “I threw up my breakfast and can’t fit in my pants anymore. I’m supposed to be past the vomit stage!”

“I’ll put this in the main bathroom for now,” Dom said, lugging the box out of the room.

I rolled my eyes. “He’s an ass. If it helps, I stopped him eating all the popcorn for you.”

She cast her glance toward the sofa where he’d left the bag. “Bet he only left a little.”

Elliott came in with a box in hand, followed by Jake. “This is the last of the kitchen stuff.”

“Ugh, thank you. Are the knives in there?” I asked.

“I can tell moving day is going well,” Jake said dryly. “This is the showery-stuff for Mellie’s bride party or whatever it is. Where do you want this?”

“Ummm.” Shit. I’d forgotten I’d had all that in my spare room. “Can you put it in the garage for now? All the boxes are clearly marked, so…”

“All the boxes? How much stuff do you need for a party? Isn’t the wedding enough?”

“Well, there are balloons, and plates, and centerpieces, and presents,” I started.

“And games, and bachelorette things, and more gifts, and banners,” Peyton continued.

“I heard presents.” Mellie bounced into the room, almost pushing Jake out of the way. Her eyes immediately zoned in on the Sharpie-scribbled “Mellie’s Bridal Shower” on the side of the box. “Oooh! Are my presents in there?”

“Quick, run!” Peyton yelled around a mouthful of popcorn.

Jake turned and ran through the hall, swerving in just enough time to avoid Briony. Who had no chance of seeing a tall, muscular man coming toward her because she was too engrossed in YouTube.

With the skill only a young child could have, she wandered over to the sofa and climbed up next to Peyton. She stuck her hand out, and Peyton tilted the bag so she could reach for it.

Just in time for Dom to walk in.

“Peyt. Seriously? Why will you share with her but not anyone else?” He held out his hands.

With a completely serious face, Peyton looked up and said, “I like her.”

“Oh, well, that covers it,” he muttered, moving the last box off the coffee table. “Where am I putting the table?”

“Outside,” I said. “Where do you think it’s going?”

“This is going to be a long day.”

Elliott’s laughter announced his return to the room. He smacked Dom on the shoulder, chuckled again, and headed outside.

“I think I regret this,” Dom said.

“If you don’t already,” I replied, grabbing the end of the coffee table to pull it across the carpet. “You will when I unpack the knives.”

***

I closed the door to the dishwasher and leaned against the counter. The laughter coming from my living room made me happy. The boxes everywhere? Not so much.

But they would disappear in time. I knew that. Especially if I took control of the unpacking, because God only knew nothing would ever get done if Dom was in charge.

A hard, familiar body pressed against my back, and Dom’s strong arms wrapped around my shoulders as he kissed the side of my neck. “Okay?”

I nodded. “It’s weird, isn’t it? Knowing this house is ours.”

“Yep. And we have so much space. This is definitely better than staying at my old apartment.”

“Which I hated,” I added, touching his arm. “Isn’t it weird how everything changed?”

“For who?”

“All of us. Did you think we’d be here eighteen months ago?”

He shook his head. “Honestly? I never thought you and I would ever break through the barrier that we had between us, never mind any of this. Especially Peyton being pregnant.”

“No kidding. That’s the weirdest one of all. I would have sworn on my grave that she would never have gotten pregnant. Ever.”

“You’re not the only person. I guess filing the adoption papers changed her mind completely about parenthood.”

“Well, she couldn’t have Elliott without Bri,” I said. “She told me they’re due in court in two weeks to finalize the adoption. Bri wouldn’t stop talking about it. She’s so excited for Peyton to be her mom.”

“Poor kid,” he muttered. “She has no idea what she’s getting into.”

I laughed and tapped his arm. “She’s a great mom to her, and you know it.”

“I do. But I’m still her brother, so…”

“Dom.”

He chuckled. “Do you think we’ll have kids?”

“Yeah, but we’re doing gender selection, because nobody needs another Dom running around this planet. One is more than enough.”

“A girl could turn out like Peyton. We share genes, remember?”

“Crap. I guess it’s a potluck, huh?”

“Something like that, yeah.” He kissed the side of my head again. “I’m glad we did this.”

“So am I.” I leaned into him, briefly closing my eyes.

He held me a little tighter, and I relaxed into his hold. It was perfect—it always had been. And, against the odds, we’d made it this long.

A part of me still wondered if we could actually do it. The fear that one day I would lose him completely was something I didn’t think I would ever get rid of, but I was so glad I made the choice not to let it rule me.

The only thing I regretted was that we’d taken so long to admit to each other how we felt. And, you know what? I’d never been so glad to go on a date with another guy or see him go out with another woman.

Without that, I knew exactly where we’d be. We’d be in the same office, having the same fights. I’d be saving him the last piece of pizza, and he’d be doing all the little things around the office, so I never had to.

It still amazed me that he could do all that, but he was basically unable to pay the internet company until I took control over that.

Then again, he was a little strange like that. Can’t keep a key in his pocket to save his life, but printer ink?

Sign. Him. Up.

“Chlo?” Dom whispered in my ear.

“Yeah?”

“I saved you the last piece of pizza.”

And that, right there, was true love.