Epilogue
“Who the fuck is after my job around here?”
Sally stood behind the front desk of Old Man Hubbard’s motel scanning the repair logs. She frowned hard, looking at the list of requests. She’d started at the top and meant to tackle the entire list today. But the first two—a broken faucet in 202 and a loose stair rail between the first and second floor—were already completed. When she checked the other requests, she found the entire first page of items already fixed.
Looked like somebody was taking over her handy-woman duties, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about being put out of a job. What would she do with all her free time?
She smirked to herself.
She could find Rider and mark more things off their other list. Their Places To Get Down And Dirty list. Their Boink ‘Til You Drop list. Their—
“I could tell you who,” Seraphina chirped. “But I’d have to kill ya.”
Sally narrowed her eyes at her friend. “What will make you talk?”
Seraphina grinned, fluttering her lashes innocently. “Nothing.”
As Sally stared, the vixen bounced to the music playing on the little radio that sat on the shelf behind her. She whistled along to Start Me Up, making it sound like a pop song instead of a Rolling Stones classic.
Minutes later, the song faded, and replaced with Rod’s low drawl. Sally could never decide if it was supposed to be sexy and sultry or straight out of a hangover. Either way, it worked. The entire state loved listening to his show and there’d been talk of syndicating.
Seraphina went still as soon as he started talking. She stared at the paperwork piled in front of her, looking dazed.
Hm. Interesting.
Sally had an idea.
She reached around Seraphina and snatched the radio off the shelf, quickly clicking it off and stuffing it under her shirt.
“Sally, no! What are you doing?” Sera was out of her chair and reaching for the shirt, but Sally twisted away from her. “I was listening to that. Rude!”
“It was just Rod. Music was over.”
Seraphina crossed her arms over her chest, looking bothered. “So.”
“So. I’ll give it back when you tell me who’s running me out of a job.”
“Oh, fiiiiine.” Seraphina rolled her eyes. “It’s Adam, okay? He asked me not to tell anyone.”
Sally went still. “Adam?”
She hadn’t seen him since that awful night at Red Cap. And she knew Rider wasn’t talking to him even though she’d promised him she was fine. People fucked up sometimes. God, she knew that. Adam was no different.
But still, the way he’d talked her down stung even weeks later.
“Yeah,” Seraphina said. “He wanted to do something nice for you. To make up for being the assholiest of all assholes. Barb gave him the name. He likes it, I think.”
Sally squinted. “Really?”
“Mm hm. He’s here now, you know? Snuck in the back before you got down here. He’s working on that washing machine he promised to fix.”
An ear-busting screech had Sally’s gaze snapping around.
Barb ran full speed down the hall, the biggest smile on her face, her eyes so wide they looked like they’d come right out of her head.
“Holy-eeeeee monkey tits on a mama gorilla!”
She hopped the counter, almost landing on Seraphina and sending papers flying everywhere. But then she stopped, swinging her head one way and then the other.
“Where is it? Where is it?”
“What?” Sally asked, still reeling from what Seraphina had told her and Barb’s banshee scream.
“The radio! What else? History is being made right this very minute and we’re missing it!”
Frowning, Sally pulled it from her shirt and passed it over. Barb worked with the knobs until Hot Rod’s station was playing loud and clear, and then she cranked up the volume as far as the little thing would go.
All of them got quiet, listening. And when the twangy chords of God Bless the USA came through the speakers, Barb and Seraphina let out a victorious wooooooot!
Sally had to laugh, slapping them each a high five.
“I’m proud to be an American! Where at least I know I’m freeeeee…” Barb crooned.
Seraphina’s smile spread across her face. “I always knew Rod was a softy for country twang. I just knew it.”
Barb nodded. “Yeah. He said since neither of us won the bet, he was going to do Cedar Valley a solid and give the song a play.”
“Awwww.” Seraphina practically gushed.
Barb continued. “Of course, he says it’s a one-time deal. But we all know how easily he can be persuaded.”
Seraphina nodded. “Definitely.”
All three vixens went still when they realized they weren’t alone. And it was a good thing Barb’s song was almost over because all the light bled right out of her.
Sally turned to find Adam standing in the lobby, wrench in hand. His expression was dull and his eyes had dark rings underneath. Like he hadn’t been sleeping.
“Sorry. Just checking. Thought something was wrong.”
“No,” Seraphina assured him. “Those were happy screams. Rod just played the song. The song. Can you believe that?”
Adam nodded, looking uncomfortable.
“Knew he would,” he said with a sad little laugh. “Rod always does the right thing in the end. It’s why he’s so miserable.” He shook his head, realizing he’d revealed something he didn’t mean to. “Never mind.”
He turned to leave, and Sally made a decision.
Adam was one of them. Part of their family whether he wanted to be or not. He belonged to Rider and to Aaron. Who’d mated in. That meant he was family. Just like Rod was, just like DTD was. And if they were ever going to move forward, if Rider was ever going to have his buddy back… she needed to get that ball rolling.
She followed him to the utility room, leaning against the door jamb where he’d propped it open. He was deep in the machine, fixing the thing for OM like he’d promised.
Sally cleared her throat, and he jerked back, knocking his head on the top.
“I know what you’re doing,” she said as he came to a stand, wiping his hands on a rag.
“What’s that?”
“Fixing stuff around here. You don’t need to, you know?”
He nodded, avoiding her gaze. “I wanted to say sorry, but I’ve never been that good at it.”
She pushed off from the door and pretended to check a few of the other machines. “Yeah. Me neither. Saying sorry sucks balls. And not the good kind either. The hairy, sweaty, wrinkly kind.”
Adam laughed, still sounding sad, but this time entertained. “Didn’t know there were good balls.”
Sally looked at him. “Uh, yeah. Would you like me to describe them? Or have you seen Rider’s already?”
His eyes went round. “You can skip all that. I get the picture.”
She whistled low. “Good. Because that would have been awkward.”
“Right.”
Silence settled between them, but Sally was patient.
Adam looked away. “You’re good for him. I can see that now. Real good for him. Never seen him smile like he does with you. And… I mean never, Sally.”
“I want to always be good for him, you know. But he taught me there are no guarantees. Don’t mean I won’t try my best though. You can bet on that and win.”
Adam nodded, wiping invisible grease from his hands. “Been doing a lot of thinking. Things seem real clear to me now, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. Because it’s keeping me up at night and making me a fucking zombie. But…”
He found her eyes and locked on, telling her what he was about to say was important.
“That shit at Red Cap… the things I said to you… that had nothing to do with you, and everything to do with me. Now, I’m saying sorry here, Sally. But I know it doesn’t take any of that back. The least I can do is explain.”
Her brow furrowed. “I’m listening.”
“When I saw Evie in town and she said she was back, all I saw was a chance for Rider to start over. Be whole again. She took so damn much of him when she left. Just as much as my Karly did. And all I could see was this… chance to go backwards. To have what he had before. Because I’d give fucking anything to have that chance myself. And here it was, for him. See, that’s where I messed up. Rider didn’t want to go backwards. He wanted to move forward with you. With someone who cared for him. I… I was the one looking behind me, so damn attached to the past. But Karly is gone. She’s… dead. I can’t go back and hold her again.”
His voice shook and he raked a hand through his hair. Sally could feel his despair right in her center. She couldn’t hold what he’d done against him. Not when he’d had it as rough as any of them.
People fuck up.
And people forgive.
Thus is the circle of life. Or was that the circle of love?
“Thing is,” he continued. “You were collateral damage in my storm of bullshit. It wasn’t right. And I want to say again, I’m sorry. I don’t think bad things about you, Sally. I think if you can pull Rider together and make him smile again… that’s fucking good enough for me. That’s all I want for any of my friends.”
He stared at her, shoulders back, waiting for her judgement. But he wouldn’t find it with her.
Barb maybe. She looked like she was holding a grudge.
But not Sally.
“Okay,” she nodded. “I’ll tell ya what. You quit doing all my work around here, and I’ll forgive you. Don’t want OM thinking I’m lazy. Or worse, that I’m sleeping with you for favors. He’s got ideas about me, you know.”
Adam laughed. Even less sad than the last time. “Shit, he does not. He told me you and Rider were married. Said he was mad you eloped.”
Sally tsked. “That man. I told him we were mated. Not married. Big difference.”
“Yeah?” He raised an eyebrow in question. “How does that work?”
Sally strolled to the door. “I’ll save that one for Rider to explain.”
“Hm. Unlike you, he hasn’t forgiven me yet.”
She grinned, and Adam’s shoulders relaxed even more. So much guilt, that one carried. She was confident he’d find a way to get past his past. Just like she did. Just like Rider did.
“You said it yourself, Evie wrecked him. If he can forgive that bitch, he can forgive you.”
“Difference is she hurt him. I… hurt you. Rider is protective. He won’t let that go easily.”
“True. But I like you, Adam. So I’ll work on him for you. Give me a couple hours.”
With a wink, she strolled out of the utility room…
To find Rider propped against the hallway outside. He’d been listening. Sneaky, sexy human.
She walked past him, her head tipped high, and he jogged to catch up to her.
“That was nice,” he said low.
“Well, I’m a nice person. What can I say.”
Down the hall, he pulled her to a stop, dragging her up against his body. “Very nice,” he murmured. “But I’m still pissed at him.”
Sally smiled her saucy grin. “It’s okay. I’m going to change your mind.”
“Oh, is that right?”
“Yep. Because he’s family. And he needs us. And one day, you’ll fuck up, and need him to return the favor.”
Rider growled a disagreement, and squeezed her hip.
“And because I want to mark another spot off our list, and I wouldn’t feel right about it if you were still holding a grudge.”
Rider frowned, but she’d definitely snagged his interest. “Which one?”
Sally pressed in closer so she could whisper in his ear. “Doesn’t Adam have a trampoline in his backyard?”
When she pulled back, Rider’s mouth hung open and his eyes were all lusty. He licked his lips, and she knew he was already picturing it in his mind.
“Fine. I’ll forgive him.”
She went up on her tip-toes to kiss him hard and his fingers dug into her hips.
“I’ll go now.”
He turned on his heel, and Sally laughed as he stalked all the way back to the utility room.
“You’re forgiven,” she heard Rider say, and Adam reply, “Damn, your girl works fast.”
She let out a laugh—a real one, straight from her heart—because she finally had the fairytale of her dreams. It was a journey she was taking with a lot of special people. Some would come and some would go, but one… one would cross the finish line with her.
Until then, they’d live…
…happily along the way.