Epilogue
Payton
It’s a Summer sister tradition that on the first Saturday of each month, the six of us get together. We take turns picking the location or activity, anything from margaritas and a movie to wine and painting classes at the small gallery uptown. One thing, though, is as certain as the sun rising over the Chesapeake Bay every morning; there will be alcohol involved.
Always.
Tonight, we’re enjoying the glorious June night by playing bags in the garden at The Beaver. Jaime voted for putt-putt golf, but we all vetoed her choice as soon as we saw a set of beanbags boards open. We are three teams of two, and the drinks are flowing like the salty water of the Chesapeake Bay. Laughter rings out over the sounds of the beanbags hitting the boards at our feet.
But the best part about tonight? Meghan is here, and Meghan is smiling.
After only a bit of begging, pleading, borrowing, and then even more begging, which may or may not have included siccing Grandma on her, she finally agreed to join us for our monthly sisters’ night out. We felt it important to change up the routine, so I stopped by and picked her and Abby up.
We all cried when we first got here. I’m not gonna lie, it was hard to look at the bar and know that Josh wasn’t going to show up well before closing time to drive her, and any of us, home. I’ve caught her many times staring off at nothing, the look of sadness and longing so clearly prominent on her beautiful face, traces of tears in her eyes.
We’ve all kept a close eye on her, especially since she hit the drinks pretty heavily at first. She’s still grieving, and probably always will be, so who are we to stop her? As long as we make sure she’s safe, I say let her let her hair down. It sure beats sitting at home, surrounded by his things and his memory, like she has been for more than three months now.
“Throw, Payton,” my evil opponent, AKA AJ, hollers from across the yard, her nose practically dropped into a glass of some frothy girly drink.
“You know, for a teacher, you have no patience,” I retort, taking a bag in my hand and getting into position to throw.
“I have tons of patience, believe me. Last week, I caught two eighth graders making out beneath the bleachers, and I politely escorted them back to class without going into the syphilis and genital herpes lecture,” she says.
“In junior high? We didn’t even think of doing that stuff until high school,” Jaime says beside me. She’s AJ’s partner.
“Well, you may not have, but ol’ Lexi was always sneaking off with that guy who ended up leaving town on a motorcycle the day of graduation and never coming back,” Abby, my partner, says from across the game.
“Whatever,” Lexi chimes in from the picnic table, where she’s sitting with her partner, Meghan, awaiting for their turn to play the winner. “That motorcycle was hot.”
“Didn’t he wear leather pants?” AJ asks before throwing her bag and sinking it in the hole.
“Mmmhmmmmmm,” Lexi coos, a lustful grin barely concealed behind her drink.
“Remind me how you ended up with Chris again,” I joke. But glancing over, I see a look on her face that tells me my comment might have hit a little too close to home for Lexi. She was always the most ornery sister, giving our dad and grandparents many sleepless nights.
I watch her look inside the bar, her eyes resting on the place where Ryan and Dean sit and talk. Chris isn’t there, but he never is. If the look on her face is any indication, I’d say Lexi is about at the end of her rope with her husband’s constant disappearing routine.
“Anyway,” she says, drawing out that word, instead of answering my question. “His name was Blaze, and yes, he had that old Harley. Lost the V-card on that bad boy.”
“You lost your virginity on a motorcycle? That’s what Grandma meant! How did we not know this?” Jaime asks, her face showing the same shock I’m sure we all feel.
“Ehh, everyone assumed it was with Chris because I started dating him shortly after, and I didn’t say anything to dissuade you.”
“But a bike? How does that even work?” I ask, glancing back at my sexy, nerdy accountant, and wondering if he’d be willing to get a motorcycle. Or rent one? Maybe we can borrow one for a night or two.
“It’s definitely possible. A few ways, actually,” she says without adding anymore. And the rest of us are all left wondering and imagining the possibilities.
“Hey, doesn’t Levi have a bike? You could do some research and report back next month,” I say to my little sister across the yard.
Abby makes a face and stutters. “What? I’m not…doing that…sleeping and stuff…with Levi! He’s my friend,” she adds with as much conviction as she can muster.
“Friends to lovers, Abby. That tale is as old as time,” I remind her.
“Actually, that tale was enemies to lovers,” AJ adds.
“Whatever,” I say, pointing my finger at the shyer of the twins. “You should go for it. I think Levi likes you.”
“Not happening,” she mumbles, glancing over to where her best friend is chatting it up in the bar. He’s surrounded by females, all smiling widely and hanging on his every word. Some, even hanging on him.
My heart goes out to her. I know she has feelings for him, even if she refuses to acknowledge it. Jaime and I share a look, having our own conversation without even uttering a word. We’ve been able to do it since we were little. Yes, I see the look she gives him. Yes, I’ve caught the way he watches her when she’s not looking. Yes, I think they need a little nudge towards each other.
Smiling, I glance over and see my own man watching me from the window. Yeah, I might have needed a little nudge myself. I’m so thankful he took a chance on me and wouldn’t let me push him away. Lord knows I was going to, but he held his ground, and the result is a relationship that is heading towards Foreverville. For as much teasing as I’ve given Jaime for her coupledom with Ryan, I’m all giggly and giddy at the prospect of a long-term future with Dean.
When our game is complete, Abby and I crowned victors by, well, ourselves, Ryan and Dean make their way out to the garden. He’s at my side, his arms wrapped around my waist, and pulling me close into his embrace.
“Ready to go home?” he whispers, his warm breath tickling my ear.
“Yeah,” I answer, glancing over at Meghan. Abby and AJ are right there, talking and engaging with her, but I can tell she’s reached the end of her night. “We need to take Meggy home.”
“Okay. My car is out front. Leave yours here and we’ll run over and get it in the morning.”
“I brought Abby too,” I tell him.
“I can take Abs home.” The comment comes from behind me, and a moment later, Levi steps up beside me.
“You sure you don’t have entertaining to do tonight?” I ask with a smile, glancing over his shoulder to see a slew of women staring, grinning, and waving at him.
“Naw, I’m good,” he says, heading over to where Abby is standing. She’s laughing at something AJ said, but sobers as soon as Levi walks up. I don’t miss the way he touches her back as he steps up to her side, nor the way her slight smile appears to be filled with nerves.
“Let’s grab Meg and we’ll head back to your place.”
“It’ll be your place soon,” Dean says, guiding me towards my other sisters.
“It will.”
“Do you guys want a cat? I know one that you can have as a housewarming gift,” Ryan says, stepping up beside us.
“Don’t you dare give away my Boots! I would cut you off so fast, you would remember what it was like to lose a tooth before you’d remember what it was like to have sex with me.”
Dean whistles beside me, but it’s drowned out over my laughter.
“You know I wouldn’t do that, babe. As much as I’d love to pawn Satan’s cat off on sweet little Bri, I would never do that to them. Boots is our pain in the ass. I love you too much to hurt you like that.” Ryan pulls Jaime into his arms and kisses her square on the lips.
“Let’s go. I can’t wait to play with your joystick. Maybe even road-head for being so awesome,” she whispers very loudly.
“Time to go,” Ryan hollers, practically dragging Jaime to the door. She waves over her shoulder, a bright smile on her face as they head home for the night.
“Do you think they’ll make it home in time or will one of us be bailing them out again for indecent exposure?” Lexi asks.
“Oh, leave them alone. They’re young and in love.”
“Speak for yourself. She was my ride,” AJ chimes in.
“We’ve got you,” I tell my sisters.
With Abby heading home with Levi, that leaves Meghan, Lexi, and AJ to pile in the back seat. As we make our way through the bar and towards the parking lot, some swaying a little more than others, I revel in the fact that I’m so close to my sisters. We’ve always been tight, but as we grew older as adults, we’ve formed an inseparable bond. We’re sisters, sure, but we’re so much more than that. We’re best friends. We’re confidants. We’re the lifelines that get us through the hard times when all we want to do is call it quits.
We’ve got each other’s backs, and won’t let them go at it alone.
We’re doing it for Meghan, and we’ll do it for anyone else if the need ever arises.
After dropping them off at their homes, Dean and I make our way to his place since it’s closer. Brielle is spending the night with Gretchen, so we have the place to ourselves. Stepping inside the front door, I instantly feel the difference.
“It’s so quiet without her here,” I say aloud.
“Always has been that way for me too,” Dean replies, taking my purse out of my hand and depositing it on the table. “We’ll just have to come up with our own ways to fill the silence.”
Turning, I find his eyes dark with desire, and they are locked on me. “I can think of a few ways to make some noise.”
His lips are soft but urgent as he takes the kiss straight to scorching. There’s a trail of clothes from the living room to the kitchen where I’m perched on top of the kitchen table. “I thought I’d have a little snack before bed.” His grin is wicked as he squats between my legs.
When he goes to remove his glasses, I stop his arm. “Leave them on.”
“You have a thing for geeks, Miss Summer?”
“Only you.”
He gives me another killer smile, his hands running up the insides of my thighs, before settling in for his midnight snack. Sighing happily, I rejoice in the feel of his touch. And I’m not just talking about with his hands. He has a firm grasp on my heart and my soul. His grip is so deep, so strong that I’m sure I’ll always feel it. He’s a part of me.
Yep. Only him.