“How did… how did we…”
“Afford it?”
“Yeah.”
Colson and Ripley’s heads swung in Theo’s direction. I followed suit.
Theo just stood there, hands on his hips, looking hotter than ever.
“Remember when I drained all those dirty bank accounts over a year ago?” he asked innocently.
“You mean Donovan’s accounts?”
“That would be them, yes.”
My mouth dropped open so fast I almost broke my jaw. “What about them?”
“Well… let’s just say some of them drained messily. They spilled a little, into newly opened accounts.”
“Untraceable accounts,” Ripley said helpfully.
“Oh, most definitely,” confirmed Theo. “And a teensy tiny bit…” he held up two fingers while squeezing them together, “justmight’vedripped into a handful of crypto-currency wallets. And then the wallets leaked too, right intobanks that happened to be in non-extradition countries, such as—”
“What the King of all Nerds is saying,” interjected Ripley, “is that the house is all paid off.”
“I prefer Lord of the Geeks, actually,” lamented Theo.
“Whatever.”
“So… this is…”
“Ours,” confirmed Colson. “A place we can spend weekends and summers, for when we want to get out of the city.”
I blinked hard, like it might even reset reality. But the reality was simple:
We had a new place together. One that was all ours.
“Now put the blindfold on and get back in the car,” Ripley ordered. “For engagement gift number two, we’re going to the winter house.”
Theo laughed. Colson, too.
“No…” I swore. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Don’t listen to that asshole,” said Colson. “Engagement gift number two is right here.”
He pushed something into my hand. A plastic key fob, with a single button.
Taking a deep breath, I pressed it. The garage door began to open.
When it finally slid into place, I went absolutelynuts.
“YESSSSS!”
I sprinted forward as fast as I could, fawning over the lava red Ducati XDiavel now being kissed by the sunlight. Itore off the bright blue bow and threw my leg over it, settling excitedly downward into the cushioned seat. It fit my ass like a beautiful memory. One that I hadn’t realized how much I missed.
“This is exactly like the one I had!” I cried joyfully.
“Sort of,” shrugged Theo.
