Page 7 of Epilogue Legacy

“You better be careful with my shit,” I said, yawning. It was early as fuck, and the only reason I was able to get out was because Dorian was still sleeping. He was only half coherent when I told him Thatcher needed something again, from me this time. Had he known, he probably would have told Thatcher to stop being weird and go to sleep.

I had no idea what was so urgent, but Dorian said last night that Thatcher had fucked up or something.

“Of course I’ll be careful.” Thatcher closed the trunk of his Audi. He placed a hand on his chest. “It’s me, right?”

I pointed at him. “Exactly why I’m worried.”

He smirked. “Relax, Sloane. I know how important your stuff is to you and your work.”

It was. I didn’t do a lot of AV art, but I used it to capture my artwork sometimes.

Thatcher leaned a shoulder against his ride. “Anyway, Dorian would fucking kill me if I messed up your shit.”

Oh, that was a given and was really why I was trusting him to use it. He wouldn’t risk a friendship with one of his oldest friends.

I scrubbed into my hair. “Do you know how to use everything?”

“I think so,” he said, eyeing his car. I gave him a little tutorial in my studio, but he was Mr. Tech Guy anyway. This guy literally was a hacker in college.

“Cool.” I nodded. “Well, best of luck.”

“Thanks.”

I got into Dorian’s Audi, then I heard Thatcher yelling at me through the window. I put it down. “What?”

Thatcher rocked on his high-tops, which was a little unusual. “Back in high school you and Dorian had some stuff going on.”

My brow lifted. “Stuff?”

“You know, him keeping stuff from you.”

Oh, yeah, that. I shrugged. “So?”

He took a beat before rubbing his neck again. He dropped his hand. “But, against all odds, you forgave him. What about him made you want to do that?”

I didn’t know why, but I smiled. My head tilted. “Everything okay? With you and Aspen I mean?”

His head jerked up. “Oh, yeah. Fine. You know what? Sorry I bothered you. I’ll get your equipment back to you ASAP, and it will be in perfect condition. I promise.”

He started to walk toward his own car, but he stopped when I called out to him.

“Dorian has a way of making me feel safe,” I said, grinning. “And I know you’re that for Aspen, too. You guys are perfect for each other, Thatcher. I know Aspen sees that, too.”

The way those two were together reminded me of Dorian and me.

Thatcher stared at the ground for a second, his smile slow. He gazed up. “Thanks, Sloane.”

I saluted him through my window, which made him laugh, then I wished him luck. I didn’t think he needed it, though. Those two were magic.

They were destiny.

Wells

“Unkie Thatchy! Unkie Thatchy!” Bailee jumped out of the sandbox and beelined toward Thatcher. He was coming from the parking lot and picking up speed toward my kid.

I frowned. “Be careful.”

Thatcher was, like, three hundred times the size of my kid, and when he swung her around with crazy-ass momentum, I started to head over there.