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The strength of two hearts is always going to be stronger than being on your own.
She calls me her safe place, but she will never understand how she is the only home I’ve known.
The love I have found in my own family is all I will ever need. From now until the day I die, I will be here to protect them and make sure that every day is a better day than the one before.
The silence is broken by the words I will never say no to.
“Noah.” A soft whisper comes from her lips, not much more than a mumble. “Show me how much you love me.”
“Something I promise to do for the rest of our lives, bright eyes.”
This is the way every day should end, full of love.
Epilogue
12 MONTHS LATER
GHOST
“I’m sure you’ve forgotten something. It’ll probably be some major detail of the day, but don’t worry, I’ll pick up your slack. It’s not like you're a man who fixates over fine details or anything. Of course you're bound to miss something.” Kurt is pushing our friendship to the limit right now.
“Fuck off, Kurt. Otherwise, I’ll send you to supervise Bessy and Eli.” My mind is going in so many directions, trying to make sure I have everything covered. I mean, I’ve been over my plan so many times it’s imprinted on my brain, but still, I’m so desperate to make sure everything is perfect for her.
“Really? You say that like it’s a punishment. My godchildren are angels for me.” We're looking at each other now, knowing that the words out of his mouth were utter bullshit. My kids have Kurt wrapped so tightly around their fingers that they can get away with anything. The laughter that bursts out of both of us is what I needed.
I’m nervous, and that is completely ridiculous, totally irrational, and something that is just not me.
What has this woman done to me!?
Kurt puts his hand on my shoulder and looks straight through my panic. “Noah.” I’m still adjusting to him calling me that. Now that we’re living out in the open, we're trying to keep our code names for work and real names for our normal life. What a normal life is, I’m still trying to decipher.
“She loves you, and she will love all of this,” he says, waving his hand around at the arch, chairs, and so many damned flowers that we have decorated the back yard of Kurt’s house with.
I had this vision the first time we came to visit Kurt and Asha, at his beach house, but it took me a while to get everything in place. As beautiful as our home is, I knew it needed to be somewhere completely different, a fresh start. Asha and Kurt’s little girl being born gave me the perfect reason to fly Cassie and the kids back out here. Of course she was desperate to see the baby, and Bessy was beside herself with excitement to be getting a little cousin. She has no idea there is no blood relationship, but that doesn’t matter in our world. Love is family. Having Mason then fly all our old and new friends from Chicago out here to be with us is going to make it perfect. I mean, Tate would have made a song and dance if he wasn’t invited. He will forever hold over me that he saved her life. Pfft! Minor detail, buddy.
“What if she says no?” The words just blurt out of my mouth.
“Because it’s not like you’ve already married her once, dickhead,” Badger says as he's walking past, hearing me freaking out. He gives me a slap on the shoulder, bringing me back into reality.
“Can I be the backup groom if she says no? I’m a better option anyway, better-looking, that’s for sure,” Ashton calls out from far enough away he knows I can’t punch him. My death stare is all he needs for him to put his hands in the air and back away with a stupid grin on his face.
Kurt shakes his head at both of us. “Just get in there and get that suit on, because the girls are due back shortly with your bride, and we want her to get the full surprise. Plus, you’re right. I wouldn’t marry you looking like that either.” He walks away to make sure everything is ready to go with the music.
“What’s wrong with black cargo pants and t-shirt?” I yell at him as he’s walking away.
“You look like you're on an undercover op," Badger yells at me from across the yard where he's grabbing himself a beer out of the cooler. "Pretty sure she has seen enough of you looking like that. Try to act like a normal human being, just this once.”
I scowl at him. “Drinking already? Don’t think the party has started yet.”
“Well, I’m starting it now, thanks, buddy,” he says, lifting his beer up to me with the biggest smirk on his face.
“Asshole.”
“Every day of the week,” Badger replies, and I don’t know what it is about that man, but I never want to know what our lives would be like without him in it. He’s the father I never had, although he’s not quite old enough to be my actual father, but it’s great to say that to him. Age means nothing; he is the wise soul we all need, whether we ask for it or not.
I can hear Kurt’s mom behind me, pushing everyone to get inside and get dressed. It’s been her job overseeing the kids, looking after her baby granddaughter, Bessy, and Eli while the girls went out for a pamper session. Kurt’s sister Jodie has become part of the girl tribe too, and Cassie’s in heaven, the more the merrier. Having friends to share all these experiences with, that she’s been missing out on for so long, has made her happy in a way I never could. Women need other women in their lives, it’s just how it is. Cassie never complained, but I know it must have been hard for her all these years.
We're still cautious and not too adventurous about leaving the house, but coming here to Kurt’s house, we know that there are so many eyes on us, worrying about keeping us safe. I feel she is more protected now than if we were still in WITSEC.
