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“Here’s the kitchen,” Jason says.
I’m speechless as I try to take everything in. The elegant light fixtures. The seamless finish. The impeccable attention to detail. While the foyer is a simple blend of ash hardwood flooring and off-white walls with a couple of slim-legged side tables, the kitchen sprawls generously with black and gold marble and lacquered-red counters. The counter tops are a Carrara-style marble with delicate gray veins, and all the appliances sparkle in the abundance of daylight flowing through the gigantic windows.
“It’s stocked and fully equipped, ready to move in as soon as today,” Matthew says. “Six ensuite bedrooms, including the nursery. Three half baths. A dining room and an entertainment room that doubles as a home design studio.”
“Matthew,” I manage as they show me around. “This is… it’s a lot!”
“One bedroom for each of us, one master bedroom for the four of us,” he reminds me with a playful wink. “Plus, the nursery for our baby. It’s perfect.”
“It’s huge,” I reply, with a nervous laugh.
Sully gives me a worried look. “Don’t you like it?”
“Oh, God, I absolutely love it,” I turn to look at him. “I’m just… I’m stunned that you actually thought of this. How long have you been working on it? It must’ve taken some time to have the place done up like this. Holy smokes, the game room is amazing…”
I am positively stunned as I behold a spacious lounge area with a huge wall-mounted TV and cream-colored sectional seating. On the other side of the room, they actually brought in a desk and chair, a massive wooden drawing board and plenty of shelving for all my design books and art supplies. They’ve thought of everything, and the enormity of this gesture is enough to bring tears to my eyes. A knot tightens in my throat.
“She loves it,” Jason chuckles softly.
“I… I do… it’s amazing,” I whisper, the tears now freely streaming down my cheeks. “I cannot believe you did this…”
“To answer your question, it took us about three months,” Sully says, proudly crossing his arms as he gazes around. “Granted, it wouldn’t have been possible without Matthew’s financial input. The handiwork alone was quite the monetary challenge, getting this place ready at this level in such a short time. But it was worth it.”
Jason, Matthew, and Sully move to stand in front of me, the three of them smiling as I try to register every detail so that I can remember this moment with crystal clarity later down the line. I can’t stop myself from crying, though these are happy tears. They’re tears of relief, of love, of unending gratitude toward the universe for having gifted me such days to live through.
“We love you, Selina,” Matthew says. “We love you and our child. We love each other and we want to cherish every single day that we get to spend together on this earth. Most importantly, it’s time for us to stop moving around and live under the same roof.”
“Fair enough.” I can’t help but laugh as I open my arms and welcome the three of them into a tight embrace.
They hold me close. We kiss each other deeply and lovingly, and I am overwhelmed with excitement as I look around once more. This is going to be our home. My home. My safe space, in the company of my men and my baby. This is my future spilling into the present and further drowning out the past.
Epilogue II
Selina
This is insane.
I’m walking onto a fashion catwalk, showered by clicking camera lights and applause as I join an army of male models sporting an entire collection signed by yours truly. My first full collection for The Sartorialist. Three years in the making. Three years since my life was forever changed when I first sought shelter in that store and slept there like the ultimate hobo before Matthew, Sully, and Jason walked in and turned everything upside down.
My life is the complete opposite of where I thought I would end up, truth be told. I wanted this. The glory. The professional and creative accomplishments. My name on my own fashion line. I just never expected it to actually happen. After I lost my shot early on at a professional tennis career; after I lost my sister and then the rest of my family; after I lost my direction and entered into a defective and unhealthy relationship with a man who only dragged me down instead of lifting me up; after I lost my home and my heart and almost lost my frickin’ life on account of a crazy woman—I have finally arrived.
Smiling and waving at throngs of fashion reporters and fellow designers, discerning clients from New York’s upper echelon, fashion bloggers and magazine editors, fancy fashion critics and famous models and actors as they all applaud and cheer my collection.Mycollection. Holy smokes.
“You’re killing it,” Matthew whispers as I stop at the front of the catwalk.
I actually got him, Sully and Jason to join the other models in wearing my designs. My men inspired these pieces, and it only seemed fitting for them to show it all off to the world. They look fantastic, I’ll give them that. The jackets are perfectly tailored to fit their muscular frame and broad shoulders. The colors and patterns work beautiful with their handsome features.
Matthew’s salt-and-pepper hair is sleekly combed back as he dons navy blue silk with silver embroidery on the lapels and black lacquer loafers. God, I wish I could rip everything off him in this very moment and have my way with him right here, in front of everybody. Sully looks stunning in white and deerskin beige. The makeup artist even added a hint of charcoal eyeshadow, making him appear like a desert prince, and I am more than happy to let him take me away on his black stallion. And Jason, my darling Jason, always sunny and smiling in blue denim and white linen.
They inspire me. They are my muses.
“Congratulations, Selina,” Sully says, clapping along with everybody else.
I’m overwhelmed, smiling, as my brain is working overtime to keep me upright as I glance across the room once more. There are plenty of familiar faces—people I’ve worked with, people I’ve met and networked with over the past couple of years. It’s amazing how much I’ve managed to accomplish with the right men by my side. I am stupid lucky, even I can’t believe it, sometimes. Matthew likes to say that it isn’t luck but rather the universe’s way of rewarding me along with me working my ass off.
To say that I’m humbled would be a severe understatement. I don’t want this moment to end. I feed on the applause and the words of encouragement constantly pouring in from all sides. Secretly, I’m glad I’ve got my guys up here so I can discreetly lean on them while I smile and wave at the rest of the world. I’m glad I get to breathe them in, to feel their hearts thudding against mine as I embrace this new stage of my life.
“It came out infinitely better than I expected,” I mumble mostly to myself.
