Epilogue

Ikept Eliza to myself for two weeks before I told anyone about her. Instead of allowing her into my life so easily, I made her let me into hers.

The first time she let me into her apartment, the embarrassment on her face was enough to make my stomach flip. But the small room was her home and an important part of her healing process, so I made us tea in her kettle and then we sat on her mattress in the corner for the afternoon.

It was the first time that talking to her came easily. She told me about her decoration plans, her neighbors, and her leaking ceiling. We played with Carolina—who did indeed smell like dirt and shit, but had so much love to offer despite what the little dog had been through.

I went home that night with a warmth in my heart that I hadn’t felt since the first night I’d known Eliza, although now it was accompanied by a deep guilt. I was hiding her from my friends because I worried they’d tear her to shreds, and me in the process—not that we didn’t deserve it.

Two weeks passed, and every time I went to Eliza’s apartment, I brought her something new. Spare blankets Holland asked me to donate, a pothos plant to put in the window, Echo’s old cat bed. Anything I could bring that didn’t make Eliza feel like a charity chase. She wanted to do this on her own, and I didn’t want her or Carolina to die of exposure.

“Wren,” I said, turning toward the red-haired vampire in my kitchen. “Can I ask you a favor?”

He turned from washing the dishes from his and Willa’s dinner. “What kind of favor?”

I grimaced. “One I need you to not tell Willa about—at least for now.”

Regret flashed on Wren’s face. “That’s not a fair favor.”

I huffed. “I’ve been seeing Eliza,” I blurted.

He paused, lowering his dishes. “And?”

“And her new apartment is on the top floor of the building and the ceiling is leaking and her landlord doesn’t care. Are you handy enough to help stop it?” I rambled.

Wren sighed. “I’m happy to help you, Sophie. But I have to tell Willa.”

“Tell Willa what?”

I cursed internally. I’d hoped she would take longer in her shower so I could ask Wren for help. Now, she stood in the doorway, suspicion filling her eyes.

Wren looked at me expectantly. “I need help patching a leaky ceiling,” I muttered. “At Eliza’s apartment.”

“You’re seeing her again?” Willa exclaimed. Black veins appeared under her eyes as her anger surged. “What are you thinking? She killed Addie!”

I flinched and let my shoulders slump. “I’m thinking that I gave her a chance. I’m thinking that I lay awake every night terrified that I’ll never be able to forgive her despite the fact that I crave her touch, her voice—her. I thought it would be easiest to re-introduce her to one part of my life at a time because I know how angry you all are—I’m angry too—but how do I let someone into my life who hurt the people I love so deeply?”

Willa’s eyes were as wide as saucers by the time I finished speaking, and I found myself breathless and unsure what else to say. I felt like a cornered animal, shrinking in on myself—terrified that my decision to be with Eliza would drive away everyone else in my life. Willa looked between me and Wren over my shoulder before rubbing her hands on her thighs and straightening.

“When are we going?” she asked.

“What?” I stuttered.

“You either take me and Wren to help with her apartment, or you can bring her here to meet all four of us at once—including Addie and Holland,” Willa said.

“I don’t know if she’s-” I started.

“Has she apologized?” Willa interrupted, her eyes dark. “For what she did to Addie.”

“Yes,” I said.

“Good, that’s the bare minimum. Now she has four more people to apologize to, and if she does it right, we’ll tolerate her presence,” Willa said.

My chest ached at her cold reaction, but I supposed it was the best I could have asked for. I agreed to take them to see Eliza.

As it turned out, I didn’t need to take my friends across town to Eliza. The next morning, she was bold enough to come to my apartment with a bouquet of wildflowers.

Unfortunately for her, every member of my family was home.

I was painting with Addie on the balcony, so Willa answered the door. The hushed silence that followed was chilling, and I turned in my seat to see Eliza standing in the doorway with wide, horrified eyes.

“What is she doing here?” Holland’s growl from the kitchen made Eliza take a step back. Icy fear filled her features.

I leaped from my chair, bolting across the room to stand in front of Eliza. My hand closed around her wrist to keep her from running, and I held her behind me. I surveyed the expressions on my friends’ faces. Wren and Willa looked shocked, though Willa seemed more tense than her partner. Addie’s eyes were wide, but she was the only one who remained seated. Holland was the only one who bubbled with anger and hostility.

“I had earphones in, I was listening to music,” Eliza murmured behind me. “I didn’t know they were here, I’m sorry.”

Our last two weeks together had been easy.

This was the hard part.

I wasn’t sure if I had the strength to stay with her if everyone in this room rejected her. As much as I loved Eliza, I would choose them every time. I needed them like I needed oxygen, even when I wanted her.

I forced myself to take a deep breath. “I’m sorry you all had to find out this way.” I chose not to mention my conversation with Wren and Willa yesterday. “I’ve been waiting for the right time to approach each of you and talk about this peacefully, but life happens, I guess and Eliza’s here now.”

“Why is she here?” Holland repeated his earlier question, his voice like death.

I kept my body in front of hers while I answered. “Because I love her. And I decided to try to give her a second chance.”

“Do you eve-” Holland began.

His roar was cut off by Addie’s appearance in the kitchen. She blinked in surprise at herself, like she hadn’t realized she could move so quickly. Recovering from her shock, she placed her hand on Holland’s chest. He was shaking and closed both his hands over hers, leaning down to rest his forehead against hers.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m okay. I’m here with you.”

My bottom lip quivered at their grief.

“I should go,” Eliza murmured behind me.

I almost let her.

Except Addie turned, leaving Holland and walking up to me—no, up to Eliza. She held out her hand, which barely shook with trepidation. “Hi, I’m Addie,” she said.

Eliza took her hand. “I know. I’m so sorry.”

Addie blinked. “We were working on a balcony garden for Sophie. Would you like to join us?”

Eliza looked around the room, terrified. Her eyes finally settled on me, and I could only nod in encouragement. If Addie, of all people, allowed her to be here, then the rest would too. She took a deep breath and placed another hand over Addie’s. “I will spend every day for the rest of my life working to gain each of your forgiveness—most of all Sophie’s.”

Addie’s smile only grew. “You can start today.”

And just like that… the rest of our life began.