Epilogue
Snow falls softly outside as I look around the rooftop bar I rented for our New Year’s Eve party, the first reunion since I had us all put our names in a hat two years ago. Warmth settles deep in my bones as I take in my friends and family as they catch up and sip champagne. I swallow against the tightness in my throat, my heart so full of love I’m sure it’s going to burst. I chuckle softly to myself, pleased with the way things have all turned out, as a big hand slides around my waist.
“There you are,” Will says, and brushes his lips over my neck. A fine shiver of need zings through my blood. I lean into my husband, my back to his chest, and absorb his warmth. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look in this dress?” he asks.
I glance down at the little black number I’m wearing. “Only a million times.”
“How long before I can get you out of it?” he asks, his voice a bit gruffer.
I laugh and check my watch. We’ve been married for four hours now—a quaint New Year’s Eve ceremony with family and friends—and while I’m excited to head to our honeymoon suite, I can’t leave before midnight.
“Ten more minutes,” I tell him.
He pushes his thickening cock against my back. “I don’t think I can make it,” he grumbles.
I wiggle against him, teasing his erection. “I promise to make the wait worth your while, husband.”
“You’re killing me, wife.”
I grin, loving the way “wife” rolls off his tongue. “Let’s get the champagne ready,” I say.
I wave my best friends over as Will and I walk to the bar. The bartender pours thirteen glasses of champagne and one glass of milk, as I’d earlier requested. I hand a flute to Olivia and her two men. Who would have thought that Olivia would end up with Gio and his lover Luca and stay in Italy to run the villa and winery with them?
I hand out two more glasses to Kennedy and Sean Fraser. For years now, we’ve all known how much Kennedy crushed on Olivia’s older brother. I’m so happy she found love in England with him.
Reese and Cole happily accept the glasses as I hand them over. I’ve never seen the two happier. All it took was a trip to Africa for them to realize they were more than childhood best friends.
Braydon and Tyler hesitate in taking the glasses, as they can’t seem to keep their hands off Alyssa long enough to do anything. Lucky girl found love with the two guys when she went on her trip to Antigua. Now she’s a doctor in the small village and flourishing in a career she loves. I couldn’t be happier for her.
Last but not least, I hand over one champagne glass and one flute filled with milk to Piper and Lucas. Their daughter Maddie is back in Brazil, being cared for my Maddie’s grandparents. I can tell how much they miss her by the longing in their eyes. Here I thought Piper would never have kids, but now she has an adopted daughter and another on the way.
Tears of joy prick my eyes as my husband and I hold our glasses up as the New Year approaches.
“No names in a hat this year?” Olivia asks, a teasing edge to her voice.
Everyone chuckles. “No names in a hat,” I say. “I have everything I could ever want.”
“We all do,” Piper says, as Lucas pulls her to him.
I tap my flute to Will’s. “Here’s to the dossiers,” I say.
“Here’s to the dossiers,” they all repeat.
I give all those who thought it was a ridiculous idea a wink. “A brilliant idea, I might add.” On the TV screen, the ball drops in Times Square, and we all sip our drinks.
“Now can I get you alone and out of this dress?” Will asks.
“Yes,” I say, and a laugh bubbles out of me as the man of my dreams takes me into his arms, our future as bright as the fireworks going off outside the window.
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