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Epilogue
Goddess
3 Months Later
I’m so excited to see my parents. I haven’t seen them since I visited Los Angeles after coming out of hiding. We talk plenty, but it’s not the same as seeing them. Plus, I’ve told them so much about Huxley that I can’t wait for them to see him again. Their meeting before was brief and not under the best circumstances. My life has been pretty amazing these past few months. I’ve actually made friends here too.
“Goddess, get your cute butt down here, woman. It’s time to go, or we’ll be late,” Jasmine yells. She is my best friend. She’s only been working at Rosalita’s for the past month, but we hit it off immediately. Today, we’re all going to see Huxley’s new house he bought. He’s given up his advertising agency and states that he won’t be offering any more services to the FBI. However, they’re free to use his estate if needed. He’s been so secretive about finding this house, but today is his housewarming. I’m so happy for his next chapter and for him setting down roots here. Rosalita has taken the evening off to help host the party. She insisted on picking up my parents while I finished getting ready, so I’m meeting them at Huxley’s. I hope they love him just as much as I do.
“Pump your brakes, Jas. I’m coming,” I answer when I realize she’s still yelling for me. She insisted I get all dolled up in this black spaghetti-strap dress and ditch the jeans. I know he invited some people from the town as well, so I guess I should look presentable. This housewarming will give me a chance to meet some of the people he grew up with during his summers here.
“Look at you. You’ll turn every head at the party. Huxley is going to have a coronary.” I roll my eyes. “What? I just can’t believe you’ve never dressed up like this for your man. I just thought today was fitting to show what you’re hiding under those jeans you always wear.”
“Trust me, he knows.” I giggle. That man is insatiable.
“You know what I mean, smart-ass. I know he likes you just the way you are, but you can humor me for a day. Be glamorous with me.” Jas is definitely the glamorous one out of the two of us. She dresses up every chance she gets. I just like being comfortable. Today is no different.
“Let’s go! We’re going to be late, remember?” I tease.
When we arrive, we head around back to where the party is. The house is a two-story rustic cottage with a modern appeal. I can’t wait to see inside. The party is already in full swing, yet I just want to explore this dreamy house. After seeing my parents, of course. Despite Jas’s nagging efforts, we are late. Even my parents are here.
I run as fast as my heels will let me and give them both the biggest hug as soon as I see them. I squeal from my excitement to finally have them here. My father had the hardest time clearing his busy schedule with all his patients who had to be rescheduled while he was in hiding. He did end up rejoining his group, and he has been happier since the transition.
From the corner of my eye, I see Huxley walking up with Rosalita. He’s dressed in a dress shirt that does very little to hide his chiseled perfection and dress pants that hug his muscled thighs in a way that makes my panties wet every time. He runs a hand through his hair, and my heart slams against my chest. That is my guy.
He stops directly in front of us, and I’m ready to introduce him to my parents when the music playing softly in the background stops. Funny how I didn’t even notice it until now. All the attention is on us. Huxley adjusts the collar on his shirt, and it causes echoes from a mic he has clipped on.
“I want to thank everyone for coming to the housewarming this evening,” he says as he grabs my hand. “Today is a very special day. You see, this beautiful woman came into my life and stole my heart about four months ago.”
What is happening? Today is about him and his new home, not me. My father is smiling, and my mother is sobbing. Something is up.
“She rescued me from the shell of the man I was. I thought I had life all figured out, but I was afraid to love. Afraid to try. The moment she was put in my path, my destiny was decided. She challenged me to look at why I was pushing women away— why I wasn’t letting anyone in. The truth is, I was waiting for her. She makes me the happiest I’ve ever been— every day. Like a release of endorphins.”
I can feel the heat creeping up my neck as I think about all the earth-shattering sex we have and how special it makes me feel daily. He winks at me with a sheepish grin. He’s thinking about all the sex we have too— we joke that it’s our daily endorphins release like taking a daily vitamin. I can’t even look over at my parents right now for fear they’ll read the dirty thought I have on replay just from looking at my face. Jas gives me a knowing look. I force my mind out of the gutter and brace myself for what Huxley will say next. Is he going to suggest I live in this lovely house with him? Because I sure hope so.
He walks around the house to the front door, and the crowd follows. He waits until the small gathering makes it around to join us before he continues. Then I see it. A wooden plaque above the door that says “Huxley & Goddess.”
“You rescued me from my past way of thinking, Goddess, and now, I want to be your future.” He gets down on one knee, and Rosalita lets out a squeal. She is hugging my mom now. “Goddess Abernathy. Will you do me the honor of being my wife? I can’t promise to be perfect, but if you say yes, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy. I will give you the best of me. I love you so much. You are my destiny—my everything!”
Tears fall like a faucet. I know Jas will complain that I ruined her makeup job, but I can’t help it. Now, it’s apparent he’s already met my parents. I’m sure he asked them for my hand in marriage too. I know we’ve only known each other a little over four months, but when you know, you just know. Time has no say when it comes to matters of the heart. Who says there are no such thing as fairy tales? He is mine.
“Yes,” I yell louder than I expected. “My make-up birthday wish was for you, Huxley. You rescued me too. From evil.” I don’t have to explain. He knows that by evil, I mean Arlo. “You have shown me what real love is, and there are no words for how happy I am to be your fiancée.”
He slides one hell of a solitaire diamond on my left ring finger before standing. “You made me the happiest man on your pseudo birthday because that’s the night I found out you loved me too. I knew before you even admitted it to me. Because of you, I do believe in happily ever afters. We found love together in Marietta. We found each other.”
I don’t care that we’re in front of my parents. I give him the most passionate kiss that borders on the line of obscene. This beautiful man chose me, and I get to spend the rest of my life loving him.
“One more thing, Goddess.” He digs into his pocket and takes out a set of keys before handing them to me. “Open the door to our new home, future Mrs. Lair.”
* * *
