Page 175
“You and me,” I hear him say.
“Forever,” she replies.
You may now kiss the bride.
EPILOGUE
Four Years Later
Lily
“All packed for tomorrow?” Paloma asks.
In the little screen, she sits on her sofa with a cup of coffee, hair up in a messy bun, eyes bright. I toss her into my pocket so I can unlock the door, before setting my bag down and pulling my phone back out.
“Yep! I just need to pack a few things for Van.”
Paloma smiles wider. “Where is the nugget?”
“Sahara took him for the afternoon. I’ve got a project to finish up here, and I didn’t sleep much last night. He was up late, and Tor needed rest before the game tonight.”
“I saw the WAG jacket with your artwork on it. Sadie posted it.”
“I haven’t seen it yet!” I pull up my social media then—something that’s entirely run by my assistant now that the art thing has taken off, but she’s already reposted the photo. All the Wives and Girlfriends of the players wear a special jacket during playoffs and they let me design and work on them this year. “It looks great, huh?”
“You hand painted them?”
“Yeah.” I sigh, pulling a few snacks from the fridge to cover my lunch. “It was pretty cool.”
Paloma looks around from where I’d propped my phone up with the video call. We talk nearly every day when we’re not busy, and sometimes even when we are. “You need to get some photos on those walls. Let’s get some printed and I can help you hang them next time. I don’t think Captain Kane is going anywhere anytime soon.”
Halfway through a bite of carrots, I look around, brow furrowing. “We have pictures.”
“You don’t even have wedding photos up!”
“Yes, we do.” I take the camera and spin it toward the one closest to me.
Paloma’s fingers massage her temple. “That’s a photo of you and Toren as Nightwing and Starfire, Lily. From last Halloween. You were already married.”
“But it’s cute,” I whine, putting her back on the counter. “And we’ve been them for, like, every Halloween. He’s Toren’s favorite. Why can’t that be our wedding photo?”
My best friend laughs and shakes her head. “Fine. But I’m printing the photos from our wedding of you three. And getting them framed, so no excuses—” A deep rumble of a voice, followed by the closing of the door in the background has Paloma’s face growing somehow brighter.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
• • •
I wake on a moan.
“Easy.”
A caress against my thigh, soft and slow. Then higher, something that feels tight and intense. My body squeezes as I blink blurry eyes, cheek squished against a silken pillow.
“Tor,” I breathe. “You’re home.”
He’s inside me, thrusting slow. I squeeze around him with a groan, still somewhere between awake and asleep.
“Shhh, doll. Stay relaxed for me.” His voice is soft and gruff, hand petting down my side where he’s shoved up my thin nightgown.
