Epilogue
Austin
Five Months Later
“Do I finally get to see what you’ve been working on?” I asked Julia as we drove to the First Friday Art Trail.
“Maybe,” she said coyly.
She’d been hinting at a big event that she had been working toward for months. But nothing I’d said or done—and, trust me, I’d tried—could get her to change her mind. She was set on me finding out with everyone else. Because of that, I hadn’t been allowed to step foot into her art studio at her apartment. I’d respected her privacy, but it had been killing me not to know.
Julia had a parking spot for the event this time, so she wouldn’t have to park in a tow zone. I hopped out of her Tahoe and followed her around the corner to one of the warehouses already crowded with people.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
I took her hand and kissed the palm. “I can do anything when I’m with you.”
She laughed. “Oh, boy. Well, here we go.”
Julia walked me to the back of the exhibit, and when I realized what I was looking at, I stopped dead in my tracks. Julia shot me a worried look. And then I burst into laughter.
“Austin!” she gasped.
“You put up the naked picture of me?” I said through my laughter.
“It’s kind of the centerpiece of my exhibit.”
“Oh, Jules,” I said, sliding back into that nickname. It had taken a long time before she decided that I could start calling her that again. I was glad. I didn’t want her to associate anything with that douche.
“You’re not mad?”
I wiped a tear from my eye, and then I scooped her up in my arms and twirled her around in a circle. “How could I be mad at you?”
She giggled when I set her down. “Well, I don’t know. Everyone in Lubbock can see you naked.”
“Everyone is just looking at your talent.”
“Well, I could have had the space for this months ago. Nina told me to do it whenever I was ready. It took longer than I’d expected to get there. I’d started on a lot of these while you were away, but I didn’t get them just right until last month.” She bit her lip and then glanced around at the fifteen canvases that showed the range and depth of her abilities. “It’s kind of an ode to our relationship and the struggles we’ve overcome.”
I could see it when I knew what I was looking at. A watercolor of Waffle. A collection of letters. A charcoal of water. And so many more that I recognized. It was perfect.
“I love every single one.”
“One more surprise.”
Then, she handed me a piece of paper. I glanced down at it and beamed.
“All proceeds are going to the foster care system in Lubbock?” I asked in awe.
“It was the first time that I really saw how there was so much more to you. I thought it was only fitting. I have a full-time job. The money I make from the pictures should go to something worthwhile. I’d rather make a donation.”
“You’re amazing,” I told her. “I love you.”
She beamed. “I love you, too. I was really worried you’d hate it.”
“How could I when you put so much effort and love into it?”
I leaned down and drew her into a kiss. A throat cleared behind us, and I whirled around to find Patrick standing behind us.
“What the hell is that?” he asked, pointing at the naked picture of me.
I laughed at his astounded face.
“When Julia invited me, I didn’t know I’d have to look at your naked ass.”
“Can’t you appreciate art?” I asked in mock seriousness.
“My eyes are bleeding.”
A minute later, the rest of my family showed up with David in tow once more. He had Jason on his shoulders, and Sutton actually seemed not to be miserable at the gesture. That was something at least.
Jensen’s and Landon’s eyes rounded in the same way that Patrick’s had when they saw the naked picture of me that Julia had painted last summer.
“So…how exactly did you get into doing that?” Landon asked.
“I volunteered to sit naked for an art class I signed Julia up for. It was full, and that was how I got her in.”
Jensen raised his eyebrows. “You know, when you came to me last summer and I told you to lay it all out there for Julia…I didn’t actually mean everything.”
Julia snort-laughed, and I couldn’t keep my laughter in. I clapped my brothers on their backs.
“It’s tasteful,” I insisted.
“If you say so,” Landon said as he wandered over to look at the picture of Waffle.
Heidi came forward and hugged Julia. “I’m so proud of you!”
“It’s really freaking amazing,” Emery agreed.
“Especially that middle picture,” Heidi added with a wink. “Pretty impressive.”
Emery tilted her head as she stared at the picture. “Well…now, I’ve seen all the Wright brothers.”
“Emery!” Julia said, covering her face.
“It does run in the family,” Heidi added.
It was my turn for my face to turn beet red. “Jesus, y’all are worse than us guys.”
“Duh,” Heidi said, swishing her blonde hair off her shoulder.
Emery just shrugged. Her eyes glanced down to my shorts once, and then she laughed. It was Julia who finally herded them away. I could hear them chatting and giggling. As thick as thieves, that trio was.
We spent the rest of the First Friday camped out near Julia’s exhibit. She sold three pictures while we were there, but I thought she was more excited about the experience of the whole thing. To use her art for good, no matter what money it brought in.
When I could see she was flagging, I finally drew her away from the warehouse and out to the food trucks to grab something for dinner.
“Lemonade?” I guessed.
“Don’t act like you know me,” she teased.
“Oh, but I do.”
I got her the lemonade and both of us barbeque. My eyes drifted to the red Solo cups everyone was carrying and the signs for alcohol. Several months ago, I wouldn’t have even been able to come to First Friday. It was a testament to the fact that I was now eight months sober and that I was able to be here for Julia. It wasn’t easy. There were times when I thought I’d never make it, but it was the right choice. And, as we moved to an empty picnic table amid the chaos and I sat across from Julia, I knew that it was worth the effort.
“I’m really proud of you, you know,” I told Julia.
She flushed. “It feels good to be doing what I love again.”
“Will you move in with me?”
Julia’s eyes flashed up to mine. “What?”
“You know…move in with me.”
“Your house isn’t even done,” she said with a laugh.
“I know. We have another month or two. That means, you will get final say on everything. You can decide which room you want your art studio in, paint the walls, decorate, choose the details that you’re good at. I want you in my life. I want my house to be your house. I don’t want it to feel like a bachelor pad. I want everything to have your touch on it.”
“Austin, that’s a huge step.”
I grinned. “That’s why I’m asking you now. So, you’ll have a couple months to get used to the idea.”
She laughed and shook her head. “That’s not what I mean.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…it’s a huge step, and I’m excited to take it with you.”
“You are?”
She nodded and then laughed. She jumped up from her side of the picnic table and then threw herself into my arms. Exactly where she belonged.
Our road hadn’t been easy.
In fact, at some points, I’d thought we were never going to make it.
But Julia was my forever. Full stop.
One day, I’d put a ring on her finger, give her my name, have her carry our children. But, today, knowing I had a future with her was enough.
She was enough.