Epilogue

Carson

Four Weeks Later

Gentry steps into my office with a straight face. He carries a small white box with a pink ribbon tied around the outside and he wears a rare smile. It’s so rare that it creeps me out a little.

He nods toward Sky. “Brought this for the baby. I saw it in one of those online ad things and thought it looked cool. I can return it if you hate it.”

Is he trying to be nice? I’m not sure how to take it.

Thankfully, Sky knows how. She stands from the chair and rounds her arms around his shoulders, tipping up onto her toes to reach him. “Thank you! You didn’t have to get us anything.”

“But I wanted to. You know, I thought this was crazy at first, you two getting married and shit, but you’re happy and I’m happy for you.”

Who is this man and what has he done with my brother?

Sky grins and sits back in the chair, rubbing her hand over her expanded stomach. She’s getting fuller and fuller by the day, and I gotta say, I love seeing her like this. She’s stunning.

“Well, thank you, Gentry. We want you to be happy, too. Carson was telling me that you had a long-lost love of your own you were searching for. Want help tracking her down?”

This is the question that turns him back to stone. “No.” He glances toward me. “I told Carson we don’t talk about that shit.”

“Right.” Sky clears her throat. “Well, can I open the gift? You had it wrapped so nicely.”

He nods and I watch as Sky pulls the string on the ribbon and opens the box gently. Everything she does is so delicate and soft. I can’t wait to see her with our baby girl.

As though Gentry can’t stand the anticipation, he announces the gift before she’s pulled it from the box. “It’s a rattle, but it’s clear and it reminded me of a snow globe because of the mountains floating around and all. Figure she can pass it down or whatever people do with keepsakes. Her name is engraved on the handle. Anyway, I should go. I need to get some work done, but yeah… hope you like it.”

Sky sets the box onto the table and stands again, wrapping Gentry in her arms.

He stares toward me as she hugs him, as though the embrace is difficult for him to accept. The man has always been like this. Harder than the rest of us, colder, less likely to indulge in anything emotional, and he definitely steers clear of physical contact at all cost… unless it’s a fist fight. He leans into those.

Hell, Sky and I married a couple weeks ago out on my property overlooking the mountains, and the man couldn’t conjure up a hug for me. Instead, he nodded his head in acknowledgement and cracked half a smile. If I didn’t know who he was deep down, I’d think he were an asshole.

Even Sky’s brother was in good spirits that day, and he has every reason in the world to hate me.

Speaking of the devil.

“Hey guys, you got a second?” Tyler peeks his head in the door and nods toward Gentry.

“Yeah, they do. I was just heading out.” Gentry taps the door frame twice and nods toward us before taking off. I really need to make time to talk with him tonight. Sure, this mood is normal for him, but I can’t help but feel he’s deep in his thoughts about that girl he used to know. He was really in love with her and seeing all us brothers get married can’t be easy.

Sky glances toward her brother. He’s dressed in a suit and tie as though he’s just coming from work. “What’s up?”

“On my way up to South Dakota again. Just checking if you wanted me to stop by and try to get your stuff back for you. I’m not sure you ever got to that considering the whole thing where you two fell in love and got distracted from the original mission.” He glances toward me and smirks.

“Nah,” Sky says with a grin. “Somewhere along the line I decided that whatever I left in the past belongs there. The wedding was a fresh start. A new beginning. Thanks for asking, though.” Tyler has been way more understanding than either of us ever thought possible.

“You sure? I’m driving right past Cheyenne.”

Sky nods. “Yeah, I’m sure, big brother, but thank you. When will you be home? You’re not going to miss Halloween, are you? Carson was going to paint my belly up like a pumpkin, and he’s dressing like Charlie Brown. It’s a thing.”

Tyler laughs. “Yeah, I’ll definitely be back in time for that. I’m so fucking glad you two have each other. Seriously. This couldn’t have worked out any better.”

“You mean it?” Sky says before tucking under his arm.

“I saw you two together over the years.” He smiles down at his sister. “Carson has a way with you, Sky. He gets you. And you… you get him too. Besides that, I’m so happy you’re not raising the baby with that asshole up north.” He kisses the top of Sky’s head and reaches toward me for a hug. “Love you guys. I mean it. I said it before the wedding, at the wedding, after the wedding, and I’ll keep sayin’ it. I’m happy for y’all and I can’t wait to see what the future with this little girl will be like.”

Sky rubs her hand over her stomach. “I don’t know, I’m getting nervous. I know nothing about being a mom at all. Like zero percent.”

“Not true,” Tyler says, scrubbing his hand down over his beard. “Mom taught you lots of things before she passed. You’ll remember them when you need them. Trust me. And whatever doesn’t come to mind, I’ll remind you.”

I couldn’t imagine the state everyone would be in had Tyler not accepted our relationship. As much as Sky thinks she needs me, she needs her brother too. And as much as she needs us, we both need her. We’re a family.

She squeezes her brother’s hand. “Thanks, big brother.”

He nods, kisses her head, and turns toward the door. “I gotta run. Don’t want to be on the road late tonight. Mary and the kids are coming along. We’re going to stop at the dinosaur exploration center after my meetings.”

“Have fun!” Sky and I say in unison as he steps out of my office.

“Well, we’re finally alone again.” Sky makes her way toward me, tucking under my shoulder. Her hair smells like wildflowers and strawberries. Faint, beautiful, perfection. “You want to get out of here? We still have to put the finishing touches on the baby’s room and pack my go-bag. Plus,” she glances up at me, “I’m in desperate need of like twelve thousand snuggles.”

“Wow! Twelve thousand? That’s a lot.”

She nods and pouts out her lip playfully. “I know. I have to hurry up and get them all in before I’m overloaded with mommy duties.”

“You’ll never be overloaded with mommy duties, bug. We’re doing everything together.”

“Even diapers?”

“Even diapers.”

“What about late night feedings? You’re not going to want to do that.”

“I’m excited for that.”

“You’re excited to wake up randomly at two a.m. to a screaming, hungry baby?”

I nod and bite back a smile. “Yeah, I am. There’s something about the quiet of the night, ya know? We’ll have our little moments together, Tess and I. We’ll read a book, we’ll rock in the chair, she’ll tell me all her secrets… it’ll be great.”

Sky’s brows raise. “She’s going to tell you all her secrets, huh?”

I laugh. “That’s the plan. Don’t worry, I’ll steer her right.”

Sky’s gaze meets mine, and she tips up onto her toes for a kiss. “I know you will, Carson. You always steer everyone right. I’m so thankful that you’re here. I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone but you.”

For the better part of a decade, I’ve been in love with my best friend’s little sister. I kept myself away because I didn’t think it could result in anything, but in the quiet moments of life, I thought of her. I imagined us holding one another. I imagined us kissing. I imagined us raising a family and making a home.

For so long those thoughts were taboo, wrong, disgusting to even let cross my mind. But now, I realize more than ever how dangerous it was to keep my feelings locked inside.

If I hadn’t turned around that day at the hotel and gone back for her, who knows where we’d be.

I doubt we’d be married, I doubt she’d be against my chest, and I doubt we’d be going home for twelve thousand snuggles.

Then again, maybe we would be. Maybe something else would’ve happened that day to draw us back together again. Life is funny that way. Somehow, you always end up where you’re meant to be.

THANK YOU FOR READING.

READ KELLY’S STORY HERE .