EPILOGUE
Stacey
It was hard coming back from Tahiti. The sun and sand had been amazing, letting me get away from the trial, the talk about my parents, the gossip about Pax and Peyton Jones dating their stepsister. It was easier to pretend that it didn’t exist, that I was alone on an idyllic island, anonymous.
But life is never really like that. Even in far away Tahiti, my life found me. At the resort bar one day, the bartender looked at me funny and said, “Hey, aren’t you …?” he asked, his eyebrows raised.
Because I’d put on a nice sundress that day, blowing out my hair, even putting on a little make-up, and once more I looked like Stacey Light, the girl you saw on TV. So even halfway around the world, I’d been outed. It’s truly a global world these days.
And it’d been tough coming back. My job was kaput, Walter had explained that I couldn’t continue as a sportscaster with the network.
“I don’t get it,” I said slowly. “I know my stuff, I’m ready to be on camera again.”
“That’s not it Stacey, and you know it,” he said reprovingly. “It’s that you outshine the stories now. Everyone knows about you, your dad, your mom, the video, the twins …” and here his voice trailed off. Because as Pax and Peyton’s sister and lover, the network didn’t want to touch me, they didn’t want to sully their family brand with our threesome.
And I got it. Walter had always been kind to me, and I knew he didn’t want to see his best sportscaster go, but my notoriety dwarfed my career now.
“Brothers,” I said sadly. “What am I going to do?”
“Whatever you like,” answered Pax gently. “Take some time and figure it out.”
And I shot him a grateful smile. Because since coming back, I’d moved in with them and they’d been understanding, supportive, everything you’d want in lovers.
“I’m not sure,” I said. “I’m not sure about anything anymore.”
Peyton frowned.
“Are you not sure about us?” he’d asked slowly. I knew they wanted me to be whole again, and supported my efforts to heal. But I’d been six months in Tahiti and they were ready to pick up where we left off.
“Well,” I said with a tremulous smile, “I’m not sure about a lot of things, but I’m sure about us.”
And they swept me off my feet, picking me up and twirling me around before laughing joyously together. Because I’ve achieved a peace of sorts. I’ve had no contact with our parents, we don’t visit them in jail or correspond, Gordon and Virginia can rot in hell as far as I’m concerned. Every time I think of them my skin crawls, the betrayal still hot under my skin even though I’ve done my best to purge the ghosts, let out my rage.
But at home, things are smooth. The good thing is that pro football doesn’t care what shenanigans you’re up to so long as you score touchdowns. So Peyton and Pax, despite weathering harsh criticism after the revelation, are still on the team … and just signed four-year contracts for thirty-six million dollars. Can you believe it?
So financially we were more than fine. Sure, I didn’t have a job anymore, but I was looking into starting my own lifestyle blog, something that would feature personal posts with a sports twist, capitalizing on my know-how. I hear women make seven figure from these things with all the affiliate links, and it was something to try my hand at.
Plus, the Donkey. Well, Enchantress Inga still dances sometimes, and let’s just say my brothers come to watch … and participate as well. Our relationship is deep, fulfilling, everything a girl could hope for and their male egos weren’t threatened by my dancing, they were proud that their woman had the assets, the self-confidence to go up and jiggle.
That night, after another hot session, I smiled. My limbs were still entangled with theirs in the sheets, our skin hot and flushed, our breathing coming fast and hard.
“Brothers,” I panted lightly, taking their hands. “That was incredible, I loved it.”
And they smiled back, growling their pleasure, taking in my ample curves, the blonde hair spread on the pillow.
“Stacey,” Pax growled. “We’ve been waiting, we have something for you.”
And I figured I knew what it was. We’d been talking about going to Tahiti again, my chance to show them around. I’d been raving about it, the beach, the ocean, the tropical breeze, and my lovers were eager to see it as well.
And sure enough, out came a bulky envelope, the kind with plane tickets inside.
I toyed with it, examining the envelope closely, running my finger along the seam.
“Oh, wonder what it could be,” I giggled. “Tickets to Tahiti anyone?”
My brothers looked at me with hunger but also anticipation.
“Open it,” growled Peyton.
“Now,” added Pax. “Please sister.”
“Okay, okay,” I laughed. “The season’s been tough on you guys, I know a vacation’s in order.”
And sure enough, when I pulled open the file there were three first-class tickets to Tahiti.
“Thank you, thank you,” I cooed, throwing my arms around my steps’ massive frames, covering them with kisses. “I’m going to start packing right away.”
“Um, sister,” said Pax, “I think you’re missing something else in there.”
“Really?” I asked. As far as I could tell, it was just a sheaf of bulky papers, probably offers for travel insurance and carry-on rules and regulations. “Are you sure?” I asked, riffling through the mass.
But then my fingers slowed and stopped. Because besides the requisite junk mail there was an application … for a marriage license.
I pulled the form out from the papers slowly, my fingers trembling. Could it be? Sure enough, there was my name and date of birth printed on the license, with Peyton listed as the prospective groom.
“Brothers,” I said, my voice quivering. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yes,” rasped Peyton. “We want you … forever.”
I was elated, out of breath and beyond excited, but I wasn’t sure how our ménage could continue if only two of us were married. My eyes filled with tears and I could feel them begin to spill over, trailing down my cheeks hotly.
“What, what is it?” growled Pax. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just that … what about you?” I asked tremulously. “The application only lists Peyton and me. What about you? I want you to be a part of this too, I’m in love with you both,” I confessed.
And my steps descended on me, stroking me, petting me, growling words of comfort into my hair.
“No worries, we’ve already talked this through,” replied Pax. “You obviously can’t get married to us both, but we want to keep you with us, bind you to us in the best way we know how.”
“But how did you decide on Peyton?” I asked plaintively. “I don’t love one of you more than the other, I love you equally.”
“It was simple,” said Peyton, “we flipped a coin. Heads me, tails Pax.”
I gasped. Something this momentous had been decided by a coin toss? That was way too simple for something as complex as marriage.
But my brothers only nodded.
“It’s okay,” soothed Pax, “I’m used to it. We begin every football game with a coin toss, even the Super Bowl. It’s just how life is,” he concluded simply.
I threw my arms around him.
“But you’ll live with us, won’t you?” I breathed into Pax’s ear. “The three of us together?”
“Oh yeah sweetie,” he growled, stroking my back. “I’m with you every day … and every night.”
And with that, I kissed him deeply, willing him to feel the gratitude and excitement I had for our future life.
He returned my kiss passionately before pulling back and pressing a pen into my hand.
“Now sign that application,” he growled, “before I change my mind.”
And I laughed joyously, excited about our future life.
So here I am in Tahiti, about to step out onto the beach clad in a white slip dress, my feet bare, hair blowing in the wind except for a wreath of white flowers. It was the perfect opportunity – we’d go on vacation and have the ceremony here, before returning stateside and filing the certificate with the registrar.
I was lost in a reverie of happiness when the wedding march began to play. With a delighted smile, I stepped onto the walkway, each step bringing me closer to my future.
The twins waited for me at the edge of the water, their eyes watching me every step of the way, hungry, waiting, eager for the next phase of our lives.
“And do you, Anastasia Light, take Peyton Jones as your true and wedded husband?”
I took a deep breath, looking deep into Peyton’s eyes, clasping his hands in mine. But then I averted my eyes just a bit, looking directly behind him, deep into the baby blues of Pax and nodded yes, never breaking eye contact.
“Yes, yes, I do,” I sighed, my eyes still locked with Pax, my hands joined with Peyton.
And that’s how I married both my steps. And you know what? It couldn’t have turned out better because we weren’t going out with a bang. Rather, we were doing a double bang … for keeps.
THE END
ALTERNATE ENDING
In this edition, I’ve included an alternate ending for Double Bang. Scroll down to enjoy.