Epilogue

Rosie

One Year Later…

I look around the hotel and smile. I catch Hudson's eye from across the room and he winks at me.

"You've really outdone yourself with the Monster Mash this year," Vivian says.

"Right? You did a banging job, babe," Harry says.

I love my friends. They're both human but married to their own monsters. Finally, for the first time ever, I have somewhere I belong. A place where people know me and love me. Funny how it took me dying for that to happen.

Hudson appears behind me, wrapping his arms around me. "What are you three troublemakers doing?"

"We were just telling your lovely wife about what an amazing job she did organizing the Monster Mash this year," Vivian says.

"My Rosebud is brilliant, so of course this year's conference is bigger and better than last year's," Hudson says.

He kisses the top of my head.

"If you two ladies don't mind, I need to borrow my wife for a minute."

My friends give me knowing smiles as I take Hudson's hand. "Everything okay?"

"Everything is perfect. I just have a surprise for you."

Once we're in the long hallway that leads to our private suites, Hudson picks me up and speeds us to our rooms.

I giggle as he tosses me onto the bed.

"Hudson! Did you bring me here just to have sex?"

"No, but now that we're here." He waggles his eyebrows at me. Then he kisses me. His tongue swipes into my mouth and brushes against my own.

The weight of his erection presses against me. I arch into his body, wrapping my arms and legs around him.

"Do you have any idea how sexy you are walking around the lobby with your fangs flashing at everyone?"

"If they're as sexy as yours, then yes, I know."

"It does something to me every time I see them. I still can't believe you gave me you. Forever."

"I didn't give it a second thought. You're mine, Hudson, and I'm yours. Now did you really haul me back here to talk about my fangs?"

He shakes his head. "No, I had something to show you."

"If it's that monster in your pants, then I saw it this morning."

"Cheeky brat," he says. Then he stands up. "Stay here, I'll be right back."

He returns with his laptop. "I've been working on a secret project. It's not a gift for you, per se, but I think you're gonna really love it. I know you and I had very different experiences with the foster-care system."

"Yes, and why you have so many generous scholarships for kids in care."

"Yes, I just want to do more. There's no state agency in this country that would approve us to be foster parents or for adoption." He taps his tongue on one of his fangs. "Can't hide these, babies."

I'm so nervous, my hands are shaking in my lap. I wrap them around the fabric of my skirt to try to still them.

He opens the laptop and clicks a few times, then he turns it to face me.

"Chester has been doing research and Atticus has helped with all his crazy computer skills. Turns out there are monster children that don't always find a home. Sometimes they end up living in towns like ours, but I wanted to create a stable, safe place for them."

My eyes swim in my unshed tears. I blink and they pour down my face. I stare at my beautiful husband and wonder how I ever got so lucky to meet him.

"For the time being we're going to build a foster group home in town so we know they have somewhere to go. Then we'll create some sort of vetting system for monster couples to apply to foster. We're just in the beginning stages of this, and I'm sure it's going to be crazy and more challenging than I'm thinking. But I thought you'd want to know."

I briefly glance at the screen to see a model home drawing of the facility. It reads: The Wells Family Home.

"We don't have to adopt them all to give them a home and a name to claim," he says.

I tackle him then, pushing him back on the bed and kissing him all over his chest. His laptop falls—somewhere—but I just keep kissing his sweet grumpy face.

"You are the very best man in the world; have I ever told you that?"

He grins up at me. "Once or twice." He wraps his arms around me. "Happy?"

"Deliriously," I say. "This foster thing for the monster kids is so damn amazing. I'm just in awe of your consideration and love."

"It's easy for me, Rosebud. I have an endless amount of money."

"Plenty of people out there have a bunch of money and would not help their next-door neighbor. But you," I shake my head. "You just see the world and all the hidden pieces of pain, and you pour your love all over it. I'm proud to be your wife."

"You inspired me. My sweet, brave Rosebud who sent the sexiest little voicemail to her boss, then drove to his home to apologize…"

"I don't think that was bravery. That was idiocy. I don't regret how it ended up though."

"No, Rosie, you are so brave, so fearless. I love you because of your love."

I cup his face and kiss him.

"I love you, Rosie Wells."

"I love you, Hudson Wells."