“I think your Prospect has a few choice words he’d like me to hear,” Redstar said.
“Trust me, talking is the last thing he wants to do right now,” Ironside replied. “Breaking a few bones to make you pay for what you did to his blood brother is more likely on his agenda.”
Redstar hummed and craned his neck to look up at me. Rising to his feet, he extended his hand to me—a gesture of equality and respect that wasn’t typically exchanged between President and Prospect.
“I sincerely regret the actions of my men,” he said. “And I hope one day, you might consider calling on us if you ever need a friend to fight by your side.”
I hesitated, glancing at Hillbilly and Ironside. Accepting Redstar’s handshake wasn’t a gesture that I had the authority to make as a lowly Prospect. But Hillbilly and Ironside offered no objections, their expressions neutral and unreadable.
I turned to Teddy but he just shrugged. Whatever decision I made, he would back me up as always.
In the end, I shook Redstar’s hand, accepting his apology and sealing the peace between us.
After the Rebels were gone, Teddy followed me into the kitchen where I deposited the dirty glasses in the sink and began to scrub them.
“So, we should celebrate,” he said. “I survived getting shot. The Rebels backed down, which means we don’t have to be bracing for an attack every waking moment of the day.” Teddy paused and crossed his arms with a smirk. “And you have sweet, curvy Cherry. I’ve noticed your grumpy edges are already softer when she’s around. She makes you happy.”
I paused with my soapy hands braced on the edges of the sink.
Call me wife. Call me sweetheart. Call me whatever you want as long as I’m yours.
“She’s the one, Teddy,” I replied. “I can’t really explain it. But I can feel it.”
A small smile of understanding touched Teddy’s lips.
“It’s been a long time comin’, brother. I’m glad you two finally found each other.” Then he added with a grin, “I couldn’t stand seeing your sorry ass moping around anymore.”
I flicked soap suds at him, splattering his shirt.
“What about you?” I said. “I haven’t heard you mention any lovely ladies you’re interested in lately.”
Teddy snorted and shook his head. “No way. I’m never getting tied down.”
I hummed and resumed washing the shot glasses. Teddy had been saying that since we were kids. Watching our parents’ relationship fall apart, the fighting, and the ensuing ugly divorce had damaged us both in different ways.
I wanted a love our parents never had.
But Teddy wanted nothing to do with love at all.
If he changed his mind one day, I would be here to listen when he was ready to talk about it. For now, he would be busy getting to know his future sister-in-law.
Epilogue
Keely - Four Months Later
“Moving all these boxes is making me hungry,” Teddy declared.
I laughed softly, shaking my head as I unpacked the pots and pans from my apartment.
“Teddy, you haven’t actually lifted a single box today,” I pointed out, amused.
After months of scouring the housing market, Tarzan and I were finally the proud owners of our new home. The paint job was in rough shape. The windows were too drafty and needed to be replaced before winter arrived.
But the rooms were so big and spacious. The kitchen was huge, with an island, and an industrial-sized stove. Tarzan and I could spread out here, filling every room with the family we planned to have after our wedding in the spring.
Teddy perched on the kitchen counter, popping gummy bears into the air and catching them with his mouth.
“Hey,” he protested. “Supervising is hard work.”
