As soon as it was in place, I stood and peeled off my pants slowly, making eye contact with him the entire time. I knew we were just going to finish my tattoo, but it was too fun messing with him. “Behave, Sweetheart,” he said with an arched eyebrow and handed me a sheet to cover myself. The heat in his eyes gave him away. I knew the effect I had on him because it was the same effect he had on me—and not just sexually. Some of our most fun times had actually been while we’d been fully clothed.Wild, I know.
I wrapped the sheet around myself and hopped back up onto the table. “Okay, Buzz Killington. Let’s get this show on the road, then.”
Brandon chuckled as he readied his supplies. When I’d left town, my tattoo was only half done. I hadn’t been in a hurry to finish it since I got back, but it finally felt like itwas time. Brandon and I were in a good place, the cat was out of the bag about our relationship, and I was ready to finally let go of my past. Finishing my tattoo felt like the logical next step.
“So, did you mail that letter this morning?” Brandon asked as he started cleaning my leg. Mother fucker liked to ask me uncomfortable questions while I couldn’t go anywhere, like now or while tied to his bed.
“I did.”
“And how are you feeling about it?”
“Fine.”
“Lexi—” His tone let me know I wouldn’t get out of talking about this.
“I’m okay, really. I think I was more emotional after I finished writing it. Dropping it in the mail wasn’t too bad.” I sighed. “I’m glad it’s done.”
“I’m proud of you, Sweetheart,” he said with nothing but admiration in his voice.
“I’m proud of myself, too, actually,” I said honestly, because I was proud of myself. In therapy, I came to terms with the fact that I actually had been pushing people away because of my own abandonment issues, rather than my not wanting to end up like my mom. Apparently, those were two different things, and I’d been projecting my own issues onto my mom. Then, after months of therapy and working on myself, I finally felt the weight of my father’s abandonment lifting. My therapist suggested I write him a letter to gain some sort of closure. While I fought the idea tooth and nail at first, as time went on and I got stronger, I felt like itwas the best thing I could do for myself. It wasn’t for him because, fuck that guy. But I deserved closure, and this was the only way I could get it without talking to him face to face, which would not be on any of my Bingo cards, ever.
Turned out he was in prison yet again, but that time in Arizona. He caught another drug charge and would be incarcerated for the foreseeable future. The thought of going to see him in prison never even crossed my mind. He didn’t deserve my time or energy. I went through every emotion as I wrote the letter—sadness, anger, guilt, relief. But I also felt an immense sense of pride after I’d finished it. I didn’t put a return address, and he had no way of responding to me, but getting all the things I had to say to him off my chest felt like a huge relief. Even if he never got it or read it, I had the closure I needed to move forward with my life and with Brandon.Brandon, who was emotionally available and wanted to give me everything I’d never had from a man in my life before—stability, hope, love.
“You doing okay, Lexi?” Brandon asked, pulling me back into the present, the hum of his machine still buzzing as he worked.
“I’m good. Just thinking.”
“Want to share with the class?” he chuckled.
“I love you.”
EPILOGUE TWO
BRANDON
It had been months since finishing Lexi’s tattoo—after she told me she loved me. We were still together, and I’d never been happier. Hearing her say those words both shocked and moved me, especially since I never imagined she’d be the one to say it first. Fucking Lexi never failed to surprise me. I loved her then with every fiber of my being, and still do. I tell her every single day without fail.Was our meeting fate?If you asked Lexi, she’d still laugh in your face, but I wasn’t so sure. Whether we met through Daphne and Nathan or at The Basement on a random night, I think she was always meant to be mine and I hers, and I plan on spending the rest of my days showing her how grateful I am for her existence.
I smiled to myself as I looked around the table. Sunday dinners at my dad’s place were a little more of a rowdy affair these days. Daphne, Nathan, Lexi, Dylan, Dad, and Iwere all laughing at something Coco was doing to the wall. That cat was nuts and actually pretty entertaining.
I reached my hand under the table to squeeze Lexi’s thigh. Without looking in my direction, she smiled and placed her hand over mine.
“So when are you two tying the knot? You’re not getting any younger.” Lexi’s eyes grew slightly wider, and her grip on my hand intensified until she realized my dad’s question was directed towards Nathan and Daphne. I chuckled and patted her leg.
“We’re not in any hurry, Dad. We’re just enjoying each other’s company for now,” Nathan answered for them.
“You kids these days, never in a hurry for anything,” he sighed.
“Okay, Gramps.” Dylan laughed. “You’re not even that old, Dad. Quit acting like an old man.”
“So sue me for wanting my kids happy and settled down. I don’t know what you’re all waiting for. Life’s too short.”
He was right; life was too short, but like Nathan and Daphne, Lexi and I were taking things slow. We didn’t even have any plans to move in together yet, although we rarely stayed apart anymore.
As if on cue, Coco jumped into Dad’s lap and started rubbing her face all over him and purring her little heart out. “I guess Coco Baby will be my only grandbaby,” he cooed.
“Yeah, that’s definitely the only one you’ll ever get from me,” Dylan announced.
Nathan piped up next. “I hope you eat your words one day, brother.”
