Two months later
L evi had just about finished setting up the screen and projector on the back deck, fiddling with the speakers that would project the sounds of the final Origin game. Katy dropped the last of the beanbags down and surveyed the area, smiling. Levi and Con had worked tirelessly, building the deck and a railing around it and she now had her view back. The lights of the Surfers Paradise skyline in the distance had always captivated her. She’d fallen in love with the view when they’d first seen the house, but since then the trees had grown and blocked most of it. Trimming back a few strategic branches had solved the problem and Katy spent many an arvo out there, doing paperwork or reading, curled up in her men’s arms. She breathed in the perfume of the evening jasmine just starting to bloom in the planter boxes Con and Levi had also built.
Since he’d quit, Levi had done a lot. She was damn proud of him. Getting behind some of the local LGBT organizations who’d spoken out in his favour, he was now actively supporting them, speaking out to promote acceptance and understanding. He’d attended every one of the pride events during June and raised tens of thousands of dollars for their youth initiatives. Somewhere in between Levi had managed to start a killer tattoo as well; the Japanese-style phoenix rising from the ashes covered most of his arm, his shoulder blade and his pec. The outline had healed enough that he was starting on the first of the sessions to have it coloured in a few days. And on top of all that, he was getting his career back on track, looking at going into business with Mike.
Con had struggled when they’d been under the media spotlight. He’d had an episode in front of the paps, their flashing lights and shouts sending him back to the battles he’d fought. He hadn’t left the house for days after that, only venturing out when the temptation of playing at the pub was too strong to resist. The trauma would always be with him, but he was mostly managing it. His music, and the regular gigs he got were good for him. It was his safe space; getting paid for it was a bonus.
Her own business hadn’t seen much of a change, except for the drop in sales of over the counter cakes—it was hard to move them when customers were avoiding the store because of the interviews they’d have to give. But since the speculation had died off, things had bounced back. Dylan had been her lifesaver throughout, pulling some long hours for her and giving her some much-needed time away from the prying eyes of the camera crews. They’d left them alone for all of a day, and that was only because the paparazzo who’d leaked the pics spilled the beans on who’d tipped him off—her brother. Once the other news agencies had made the familial connection between them, they’d hounded the three of them for weeks. The only good thing to come out of the whole damn debacle was the confirmation of just how slimy Jonathan actually was. Finding out it was him had been the catalyst for Katy to start speaking with her mum and dad again. She was earning their trust back, and they were making the effort to get to know Con. For that small mercy, she would be forever grateful.
Katy smiled as Con dropped the fluffy blanket from their bed on top of the beanbag and took her into his arms. He grumbled as the doorbell rang and Katy laughed, playfully squeezing his arse. Their visitors had arrived—Mike and his kids, Nick and a very pregnant Emma, Dylan and Ash from the shop, and a few of their other friends who’d stuck with them through the last few months.
They watched the game—as frustrating as it was to see the ref’s shitty decisions cost Queensland more than one try—and mowed through the masses of popcorn and beer, hot dogs, and pies that Katy had made. Yelling and cheering rent the night air from their own yard as well as their neighbours’. State of Origin was always a big deal, but it was the first time they’d hosted it. It wouldn’t be the last.
“Oh, come on,” Levi shouted when Queensland was penalized on the half-time buzzer, slamming his beer bottle down, while Emma cheered. As the only Cockroach supporter, she was happy for New South Wales’ chance to get points on the board to narrow Queensland’s lead. Katy was still mumbling insults at the referees as she stepped over the bodies sprawled out on their deck. Dessert was ready to be dished up and she could do with a hot drink. Even being sandwiched between Con and Levi and covered with a blanket wasn’t enough to ward off the chill in the winter air.
She’d just poured steaming milk into the mugs spread out on the bench, dropping marshmallows into the hot chocolates when Con joined her, stepping behind her and wrapping her in his arms. He nuzzled into her, pushing away the collar of her Maroons jersey and kissed her throat with cool lips. Shivering, she laughed, batting him away, but he held tighter and sighed happily. Katy turned her face and kissed his temple, noticing that he was staring at the photographs on the wall. “I love those pics of us at the beach. Nearly seven years between them, but you’re both still my best friends,” he murmured to her.
“A lot’s happened between them, hasn’t it? Would you change anything?” Katy asked, turning her attention back to him.
“To get here? Right now?” When Katy nodded her answer to his questions, Con shook his head and pushed her hair off her neck, brushing his lips over the sensitive skin there. “No, I wouldn’t change a thing. That pic—the one from when we were too young and stupid to see what we could have? That was our beginning. My deployment, your lives together before me—that was our middle, how we found our way back to each other. And now? Now we have our happy ending.”
“Never mind the ending,” Levi murmured, coming to stand with them, his big hand resting on her hip as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Con. “Endings and goodbyes are too fucking sad. Just gimme a happily ever after and I’m sweet.”
Katy laughed and snuggled into her men. He was right. She hated goodbyes. Nope, she was happy living her ever after right in that moment.
The end