Epilogue
Declan
Carrying the last box into the house, I plop it down into the basically empty living room. Jake comes up behind me and discreetly grabs my ass. Whipping my head around, I give him a scandalized look as I pretend to grasp my imaginary pearls.
“How dare you, what if we get caught?” I whisper hiss.
“Can’t be any worse than Rowan and Mac walking in on me pressing my dick down your throat last week.”
Okay, he has a point there. That was rough.
“Fine, valid, but this time there are kids around.”
“You know, one of these days you’re going to have to stop calling your younger brothers kids. Especially because they’re coming up on twenty-six now.” He’s laughing at my expense, but I don’t think it’s funny. They’ll be kids when they’re in their seventies. I don’t make the rules.
“We aren’t kids anymore, Dec. Get over it. Everyone else has, but you and Rowan.” Flynn smarts as he rounds the corner with a box in his hands.
“Because Declan and I practically raised you two. You’ll bekids until the end of time, get over it.” Rowan’s commanding voice echoes through Flynn’s new entryway.
Flynn’s had a rough two years since Zach and Annie’s death. He’s somehow not let it show on the ice, but the black ink of grief drips through every other aspect of his life. From a hockey perspective, he’s playing amazingly well. From a social aspect? He’s spiraling. So much so that we’re moving him to the house across from Sullivan’s so he can keep a closer eye on him.
Sully followed Flynn to Temple Valley, Virginia. It’s right outside of DC where Flynn’s team is. Sul’s a firefighter out here, and a few months ago he bought this house in the hopes that Flynn would stop partying and come settle down. He’s been telling us that he’s out here alone, but I’ve seen those women’s tennis shoes on his shoe rack. I also know Elena’s gym is the next town over and that she’s training for the Olympics next summer.
They haven’t said anything, so I’ll keep my observations to myself and wait for their lead.
“How much shit do you need?” Mac groans in frustration as he dumps Flynn’s countless sticks on the ground.
“Woah, woah. Watch it!” Flynn dives for his sticks.
I can hear the rumble of Dom and Knox’s trucks pulling up. The lucky ones are here, so that means it’s time for us to go before their wildness gets on my nerves.
“And on that note, we’re out of here. See everyone for breakfast at Sul’s tomorrow?”
My brothers all grunt in agreement. My hand closes around Jake’s and I lead us to our SUV. Our wedding is in a few months and I cannot wait to marry this man. Jake’s changed so much over the past six months, but what’s stayedthe same is him leaning on me to walk through it.
“You go on shift first thing Monday morning, right?” Jake takes my hand and rubs the side of it with his thumb.
Oh yeah, that’s a thing now. I stepped away from Byrne business just three months after Annie. Now I’m working as a paramedic in Corey Heights. It’s the best situation for Jake and I. After Anneliese, it was just apparent to both of us that it was time to step away. My brothers and Jakob’s family couldn’t have been more supportive of the transition, and Owen stepped into my role flawlessly. I’m still just as close with my siblings as I’ve always been, and luckily we see each other almost just as much.
Jake rebuilt his bar back to its original glory. Knipe was rebranded after the fire. We kept the name, but it’s now the spot where local fire and EMS come in after a long shift instead of it being filled to the brim with mafia associates. I love the changes we made, and it’s not nearly as nerve wracking to have him at work so late without me.
“Yeah, and I’ll get off Wednesday morning. Breakfast in bed?” I ask while bringing his hand up to my lips. The whole time my focus stays on the road and getting us to the hotel safely.
“Yeah, then I promised the kids we’d pick them up from school and take them to get ice cream.” We try to take Rhett and Hannah out for an Uncle’s date weekly. Due to my work schedule, Jake sometimes takes it upon himself to keep the routine with them. His love for our nieces and nephews is one of my favorite things about him.
Our life is simple now. We work, hang out with our friends, and love each other. We see our families multiple times a week. Three out of five of my brothers are living and making liveswith their wives, while the younger two are just old enough to start getting serious about finding someone if that’s the path they choose. Lee’s living happily with Mac, and Dieter seems content raising Hannah and running his business.
I squeeze Jake’s hand three times as we pull up to the hotel. “I’m so fucking glad we called that truce almost two years ago.”
“I’m so glad you called the truce for forever.” He smiles as he squeezes my hand back.
“Think about where everyone was almost seven years ago when we first kissed compared to now.” I turn to face him while thinking back to all of our growth.
“No one was even in a relationship back then.”
“Well, Rowan and Clara, but they were still figuring things out.” I contemplate
“Kieran hadn’t met Nix yet. Lee was still hiding from the world.”
