Epilogue
I woke up the next morning tangled in the sheets; Jameson was gone. Sitting up, I stretched, finding my body pleasantly sore from the night before.
Picking up Jameson’s T-shirt, I pulled it on, padding into the kitchen to make some coffee.
Sitting down at the kitchen table, I tucked my legs up under the T-shirt, sipping from the cup.
I killed Aden yesterday. The thought replaying in my head was, He was going to kill Jameson with that knife, I couldn’t let him do it. I didn’t think, I just reacted.
But at the end of the day, I had still committed murder. I didn’t feel remorse for it; there was no way Aden should be alive and Jameson dead, had he stabbed him.
The tears started falling and I angrily wiped them away. “Stupid hormones,” I said out loud.
Aden was a feral animal, preying on those weaker then him; he needed to be put down. People like him should be locked up or dead, end of story. Taking his life would be with me for the rest of my life, but I wouldn’t regret it because I had Jameson, alive and well.
I could hear pipes in the distance. Jiji must be coming home. I slid off the chair, taking my mug into the bedroom as I went for a pair of shorts.
Catching sight of myself in the mirror, I saw that my hair looked like a rat’s nest and my face was still red and blotchy from all the crying yesterday. Running a brush through my hair, I pulled it up into a messy knot. Quickly, I washed my face and brushed my teeth.
I could hear the bikes in the driveway, so I walked down the hall to open the front door. Jiji was dismounting from Breech’s bike. Jameson was still sitting on his.
Jiji came running when she saw me at the door. I threw my arms around her. Rocking back and forth, we hugged, laughing and crying at the same time. “Girlfriend, don’t ever scare me like that again,” she said.
“Scare you? Damn, Jiji, I was terrified the whole time!”
“How can I ever repay you, Tish? First me, now my brother—you saved us both. We are here today because of you.”
“No, Jiji, you got that wrong. He gave me a reason to live; I love him more than my own life.”
Jameson stepped in between us, pulling me into his arms. “You mean that, Tish?”
Looking up at him, I answered, “Yes, Jameson, I do. Before all this happened, I was just going through the motions. I had Jiji and my job, but something was missing. My heart was empty, but you’ve filled it, you make me happy. I want to wake next to you every day and sleep with you every night.”
“Tish, I know I could never be happy without you beside me. I need to know you will be with me for the rest of my life. When Aden had you yesterday…” He stopped for a second. “If I lost you, life wouldn’t be worth living. I didn’t want to do this here, but it just feels right, both our best friends here with us.”
He dropped to his knee if front of me, pulling a ring out of his cut and holding it out to me. He said, “Babe, marry me.”
I was stunned, speechless for a minute. Here I was, in his T-shirt, a pair of my ratty old shorts, my hair a mess, no makeup on my face—and I couldn’t have been happier.
“Yes,” I said.” Yes, yes, oh my God, yes!” I threw myself at him, hugging him hard around the neck. He moved me to sit on his knee, sliding the ring on my finger. He crushed me in his arms, kissing me hard on the lips.
Jiji was squealing in the background, jumping in to hug us both. Jameson let go of me. Breech pulled him in for a man hug, slapping him on the back.
Jiji was hugging me, then Breech pulled me in, kissing my cheek. “Congratulations, Tish, your fiancé is a good man. I’m happy to call him friend.”
“Jameson, this ring is beautiful,” Jiji said. “Where did you find it, is it an antique?”
“It belonged to Grandma Jiji. Grandpa bought it when he was overseas during WWII. You don’t remember it because she died before you were born. Mom gave it to me before I went on my last tour. She wanted me to find a nice girl when I got out and settle down.”
“Well, at least you got the nice girl part right,” Jiji teased. “Congratulations, big bro,” she said, going to him and hugging him hard. “I finally got the sister I always wanted.”
Jameson winked at me over her head. “Yeah, I guess that’s why I asked her, Jiji.”
She punched him in the shoulder. “Dude!” she said.
I laughed at both of them. “It’s a beautiful ring,” I said, admiring the sparkling diamond. “I will wear it proudly in honor of your grandmother. Let’s go inside, have some coffee,” I said, turning to open the door.
Breech hustled Jiji down the steps. “Can’t, Jiji has to get to Sandra’s for an early surgery. We can catch up with you later at the clubhouse.” Jiji was about to say something, but Breech stopped her by kissing her then hauling her over to his bike. “Say bye-bye,” he said to Jiji.
Looking a little dazed, she wagged her fingers at us then got on the bike with Breech, who winked at Jameson.
Jameson took me into his arms. I looked down at the ring, then up at him when he spoke.
“I love you, babe. It’s only going to get better from here; I will do everything in my power to make you happy.”
“I love you too, Jameson. You claimed me body and soul; I belong right here beside you forever and always, Fighter.”
He smiled, closing the front door behind us once we stepped inside the house.
A few days later, a registered letter was delivered to the 3rd street house, which was officially our home. The DA for New York County declined to press charges against me. The chapter against Aden was officially closed. We were free to start the next chapter.
Together.
Fighter claimed me, and I would go anywhere with him willingly. Whatever comes, we would face it together, united in love.