EPILOGUE
** Trey **
My girlfriend is hot.
Grant follows my eyes as they track Simone across the room. Her bright pink skirt’s short enough to give me a view of the long legs I hope to have wrapped around me later tonight. Of course the shoes with straps wrapping around her ankles will need to stay on.
“Those legs go on forever. You better not mess it up with her.”
I turn and slug Grant in the shoulder for his comment, and he sways with the force. A hand comes up to rub the spot and he shoots me a dirty look.
“What the fuck was that for?”
Like he has to ask. “Don’t look at Simone.”
He raises both hands in a surrender gesture. “Okay, okay. Point taken.” Grant rubs the spot on his shoulder one last time and then turns and walks to where Simone’s set up food on a table.
Simone comes to stand beside me and I snake a hand out to catch her around the middle and pull her closer. She looks up and smiles at me. Her lips stretch across her face and cause her bright blue eyes to squint like there’s sun in them. It makes her whole face scrunch up, and it’s my favorite look on her.
“You look wonderful. How long do we have to stay?” I ask. I’ve never wanted to leave a business event so badly before.
“Trey.” She slaps me on the arm, but the rest of her sentence is interrupted by Aspen as she stops in front of us.
“The place looks marvelous, Simone. You did a great job,” Aspen comments on the room and I move my eyes off Simone to look at it for the first time.
“Thanks.” She tries to step away from me, but I tighten my grip. “The boys all helped. Even Melvin.” She comments on the decorations she bossed us into putting up today for the holiday party. I’m not sure where the sweet and shy girl I met on vacation went. I blame it on Marissa. Of course I also might owe Marissa a thank you. I’m learning to like this feisty side of Simone.
The room looks mostly the same to me except each desk hosts a small poinsettia on the edge and the tables are covered in holiday cloths. For a holiday party to a bunch of gamers, it’s top of the line. Much better than we’ve ever done for these small events in the past.
The girls talk back and forth about the decorations as I slowly move my hand up Simone’s side until it rests right under her bra. She squirms and I stop but run my finger on the space right below in a rhythmic motion. I need her to hurry the fuck up and get out of here.
Two weeks have passed since Mari’s scandalous exposé was released and as much as I hate to admit it, Finn was right. It’s calmed down here. There are no longer reporters parked outside the building or my house night and day. The smell of gossip and scandal faded and they lost interest, off to chase the city’s actual rich and famous.
Like a coward I hid out at Simone’s place for a week but reluctantly went home a few days ago. Much to my surprise sharing a space with Simone was pleasant. Of course, it helped that I was able to fuck her hard before bed every night and then softly in the morning before work. I still have some clothes stashed in her closet for those emergencies when I don't have it in me to leave the warmth of her bed.
All the memories spur more thoughts of what I have planned for tonight and I lean over and whisper in Simone’s ear. “Tonight we’re going to my place."
She stops her conversation with Aspen and her cheeks turn a slight shade of red. “Okay.”
I lean in again and run my tongue quickly over the edge of her ear. “I still didn’t ask.”
Simone pushes against my chest with one of her small hands, and I lean back but don’t release my grip on her side.
Finn joins our group, and the way he looks at Aspen could provide enough electricity to light the room on its own. He went all out for tonight with his own green button down shirt. It’s good to see him in something other than flannel for a change.
“Did you tell them the good news?” Finn almost bounces with excitement over whatever this news is.
Aspen only laughs back at him, but her eyes light up when they meet his. It’s good to see my best friend with a woman who loves him. They had an interesting start, but I think she plans to stick around for a while.
“No, I haven’t yet. I waited for you.”
“Well you have to tell us now.” Simone leans toward the pair waiting for the news.
Finn grabs Aspen’s hand and pulls her in front of him so he’s standing behind her. “Aspen agreed to move in with me.” His hands wrap around her from behind and rest on her sides, and I’m a little envious the bastard thought of the move. It’s one I’m going to steal very soon.
“I did.” She looks to Simone quickly. “But don’t say anything yet. I’m going to surprise Marissa at brunch and give her my apartment.”
She leans away from Finn and Simone tugs on me enough I finally let her go while the two girls giggle and talk off to the side about how excited Marissa will be.
