Epilogue

Summer

Four Months Later

Who would have thought running away from my problems would have led me straight to the one place I am supposed to be? I ran right into the arms of the man I was meant to spend the rest of my life with… or rather I ran straight to his burning vehicle and pulled him out so we could spend the rest of our lives together. I may have saved Roan that day but he’s more than returned the favor.

And the man who caused the wreck, they found him a few days after my demon was put away. He was in a bar, drinking and bragging about what he had done. The bartender turned his ass in. Guess he should have tipped better.

And now there is absolutely nothing stopping me and my hero from being together. Today is going to be perfect. I have too many people willing to shoot someone to make sure of it.

“Are you ready?” I can’t help but laugh at my little sister being all antsy to get me down the aisle.

“Nolia, you seem more nervous than I am. What is up with you?”

“I just… think maybe, if you can find your happy ever after…maybe so can I. Like it’s not some lie they’ve been telling us our whole lives, you know.”

“Nolia,” I brush a stray hair back behind her ear, “it isn’t a lie. Soulmates are real and happy ever afters exist. And one day you’ll find yours. Someone who isn’t afraid of how… strong you can be when you want something.”

“Nolia, you little… where are you, Sunshine?”

As if on cue, Roman yells loud enough the whole church can hear him. Her eyes widen at the sound.

“Uh, I have to go.”

“What did you do?” The way she’s getting all squirrely tells me she’s done something to Roman she’s going to take a spanking for. I swear that man’s hands are on my baby sister’s ass more than her panties are.

“See ya, sis. I’ll be back in time to line up.”

Nolia runs from the room, and I start to wonder if all the women in my family have a running problem. I have to ask Mom how she met Dad and if it was during a time she also found herself sprinting towards something.

But it’s who is standing behind my sister that has my heart racing and my nipples perking up. Roan.

“What are you doing here? You know my mom is superstitious. If she sees you…”

“I had to see you. I missed you last night. I didn’t get a fucking wink of sleep with you not being by my side. I cannot believe that woman nailed the windows shut.”

I have to laugh. Mom knew Roan was going to come for me. That’s why we all slept in the living room like sleepaway camp. It was fun and I’m glad I got to do it with my mom and sister and Pearl, but I missed my man too.

“Me too. I can’t believe how fast it’s become something I can’t seem to do without. You are something I can’t do without.”

“So, let’s make sure we never have to do without one another.” He pulls me in close to him.

“I thought that was what we were doing today.”

“Well, it’s one step to doing it… making a baby is another one.” He starts to trace the edge of the silk strap on my chemise and gives me that Hot Cop smile.

I lean into him and give him my own smile, “Then I guess steps one and two are taken care of.”

That pulls him up short, his eyes flying to mine.

“I wanted to surprise you after,” I wave my hand to encompass all the wedding stuff, “but I can’t keep anything from you.”

“You…,” His eyes light with a hope that’s blinding, “really?”

“Really.”

“When did you find out?”

“Last night. I was talking to Mom about being super sick in the mornings and not wanting to eat anything that resembled my favorite food and she told me I was already knocked up. I took the test she had bought… she really wants grandkids.”

Thankfully Mom and Dad have taken Roan under their wing and really stepped up since his parents are gone. I think it's made me closer to my parents in many ways. Sometimes I think Mom likes him more than she does me… and she loves me.

“The woman has a whole bag of them. She made me take two different ones just to be sure. And both were positive.”

“Oh…oh, angel, you don’t know what you’ve given me.”

He has a sheen of tears in his eyes that catch me by surprise and make my own start shining. Our lips meet and cling to one another and in an instant, I am up and in his arms.

“What about the…?”

“They’re here for us… they’ll wait.”

And that is why we were both fifteen minutes late to our own wedding and why I’ll never have another Blue Summer!

The End!