We were all sitting around a table enjoying our beers, laughing, and having ridiculous conversation per usual when Ava stood up. “I’ve got to go to the bathroom really quick.” She turned her attention toward Dean and me. “Which, uh, bathroom did y'all fuck in? I want to be sure never to go in that one.” Walker immediately barked out a laugh, Weston covered his face with his hands and groaned, and Ava stood there with a smug look on her face, pleased with herself.
Dean took a long pull from his beer, draping his arm across the back of my chair. “I’ll never tell.”
He smirked, and Ava stomped off, yelling over her shoulder, “You are the worst!”
At that, Weston actually cracked a small smile. “All right, no more talking about or bringing up my sister’s sex life. Either one of them.”
I laughed. “Well, just for the record, we didn’t fuck in there.Basically everything but.” I picked up my beer bottle and took a sip, thinking fondly back on that night.
I felt Dean’s eyes on me. He leaned down and whispered into my ear, “You thinking about that night right now too, baby?” The low rasp of his voice turned me on.
He leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eye. “We could always remedy that tonight. It is where it all began, right? It’s nostalgic,” he said loud enough for the table to hear, which caused me to choke on my beer. He rubbed my back soothingly while Walker was beside himself, cracking up.
Weston shook his head in disgust. “I don’t want to hang out with any of you anymore,” he grumbled, which caused the table to erupt in more laughter.
After a great night out with my siblings, Dean and I slipped beneath the covers, utterly exhausted. He pulled me close against his chest, my back to his front, and placed a sweet kiss on the top of my head. He let out a long, contented sigh. “This is what I wanted right here. You and me. Falling asleep together. Every night.”
I nodded as I melted into his embrace. “Thanks for fighting for me, Adler,” I whispered in the dark.
He stroked his fingers slowly up and down my back. “I’ll always fight for you. Thanks for loving me, James.”
I felt Dean’s breathing slow as he drifted off to sleep with me still wrapped in his arms. Before sleep finally took me, I couldn’thelp but think how much my life had changed in the last year and how far I had come, how far Dean and I had come. I’d gotten the confidence and the courage to trust myself again. I was able to love someone deeply and not lose myself to their dreams, but instead chaseourdreams together. Side by side.
A year ago, it didn’t seem like this reality could exist. I didn’t think I could have it all. But now here I was with a successful business and career, the best horses and clients, a fantastic start to the show season, my family close by, and the most loving and incredible man to do life with.I had it all.I fell asleep with a smile on my face, knowing I would get to wake up to this remarkable man and to this extraordinary life—every day.
Epilogue
Dean
One Month Later
“And this”—Addison motioned to the large field, arms spread wide—“will be Cash and Dahlia’s new pasture, so I can sit on the back porch and watch them in the morning with a cup of coffee in hand.”
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pulling her back against my chest. “Sounds pretty perfect, sweetheart. But I didn’t ask what the field behind the house would be.” I chuckled. “I asked if you wanted the ten-foot sliding glass doors off the living room or windows instead?” We broke ground a couple of weeks ago on what would be our future home together on Addison’s farm property. Even though we had recently moved her into my house, we decided the farm is where we ultimately wanted to be to build our future together. Plus building a house took time (especially with Addison's indecisiveness), so we still had almost a year left to live in mine.
“Oh, sorry. The sliding glass doors for sure.” She stepped out of my grasp and walked into what would be our future kitchen. “I can’t wait until everything is completed and we can host our families here.” She sighed happily. “When did Paul say that it would be finished?” We hired her client Jessica’s husband, Paul, to build the house. He had a fantastic reputation and an impressive portfolio.
“He said they should be able to get it done in eight to ten months, but it really depends on the lead times for all the expensive-ass finishes that you chose,” I teased her.
Addison waved her hand in the air dismissively. “Please, don’t act like you didn’t love everything I chose. You are bougie as hell, Adler.”
We both heard the sound of a car pulling up outside our somewhat framed-out home. Archer and Harper hopped out of a black SUV and made their way over to where we were standing. Harper whistled. “Wow, this is going to be incredible when it’s finished. Will this be the back patio? What a view!” She walked toward the back, staring out at the large green field, complemented by rolling hills in the distance.
“Can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s done,” Archer said while looking around the space. “I bet you can’t wait to be living on your farm, huh, Addi?”
Addison flashed him her gorgeous smile. “It is literally my dream come true,” she said, looking up at me, her green eyes a little glossed over with unshed tears. “I will admit, I am going to miss Dean’s place. That house is beautiful, and so are the views, but I cannot wait to be on my own farm full-time.”
I looked down at her with all the love and adoration in the world. “Me too, baby.” I pressed a kiss to her temple.
Archer cleared his throat. “So, uh, brother, speaking of your house, I wanted to run something by you.”
I glanced over at him. “Sure, what’s up?”
“I don’t think you should list it. I want to buy it from you. For me and Harper, actually.”
Addison made a loud squealing noise. “What? Really? Y'all want to move to Primrose Hill? But how?”
A large smile spread across Harper’s face. “Yes, really! So, when we were in Wellington, your client Heather told me that Sarah was looking for a new nurse practitioner for her pediatric office and gave me her contact information. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew if it was even a possibility, but you’re now looking at the new pediatric nurse practitioner for Dr. Sarah Townsend!” Harper did a little bow, and Addison nearly knocked her over, lunging at her to pull her into a hug.
