EPILOGUE

ATLAS

Four months later

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"EVERYONE BE QUIET!" Ward cries as he stands in front of the wall-sized TV with the remote in his hand.

"He looks more nervous than me." Levi grins.

"Says the guy who owes Dad a Turkish rug from all his pacing today." I shoot him a smirk.

Today is draft day for the NFL and the entire family is here. There is a mix of confidence and nerves as we await the announcement.

Oh and there's a media crew here. They're making a documentary on my brother. The fact he's a Montgomery added extra interest in his journey to becoming pro.

We hope.

He's had a standout year in his last college year.

"I think I'm more nervous," Molly says next to me as she tucks her feet under her.

The truth is, no one is more nervous than Levi.

This is his future.

He's been pegged to be picked in the first round, and so his manager and three of his best friends are also packed into the living room.

Kyler, Aaron, and Patrick.

"Here we go," Dad says, shooting a look toward Levi. "Proud of you no matter what, son."

"I'm going to throw up," Bella says, biting her fingernails.

"Shhh," Levi orders everyone, his eyes glued to the screen.

"In this year's first pick for the NFL draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select Levi Montgomery. Quarterback. Philadelphia."

The room erupts.

Levi leaps off the sofa and throws his arms in the air, screaming.

Knox and I tackle him.

"Jesus I should have moved the antiques." I hear Dad cry, but his voice is thick with emotion and joy.

Levi rips away from us and faces him as Dad yanks him hard up against his chest. Bella leans against my arm and Knox wraps his arms around both of us.

Montgomery pride fills me as I stand with my siblings watching my brother become a pro football player.

"So proud of you, son. So fucking proud." Ward holds both sides of his head.

Christ.

I've cried more times in the past six months than I've ever done in my whole life.

Well, except when Mom died.

"Damn." I brush my elbow against my cheek to stop the leak.

His friends and manager tackle him next as someone turns on some music and the room is filled with the sounds of champagne popping.

Molly slips under my arm and smiles. "You must be so damn proud of your little brother."

I snort. "He's hardly little. I might be six foot three, but Levi has an inch on me and a whole lot more muscle."

I'm toned as hell but he's a professional athlete.

A legit one now.

"No complaints here," she says, running her hand over my six pack.

I take her hand. Just her touch has my cock twitching in interest, and Jesus we're surrounded by family.

She smirks knowingly.

Dad clears his throat and holds up his glass to make a toast.

"To my youngest child. I'm proud as hell of all my kids, and my grandkids, and today is no different," Ward says. "This is an incredible achievement, Levi. You've worked doggedly since you were about five years old, knowing this was what you wanted to do. Not everyone has that gift or ability."

I run my hand over Molly's hip affectionately.

What will our kids be like?

Will they have her beautiful brown eyes or my blue ones? Will they have her curly hair? Will they be creative like both of us or get their uncle's athletic talent?

I guess we will find out in seven months.

Because in a couple of days, once we let Levi have his time in the limelight, we'll be announcing we're having twins.

I can't wait to dress them up in little NFL quarterback outfits and take them to one of Levi's games.

So how did this happen?

Molly moved in a couple of days after I asked her, and we've been so happy. I introduced her to Harlow, something I felt was important for both of them, and the two of them are now friends.

Not best friends, but both of them are comfortable in each other's company.

Molly told me about Greg, and we plan to head to the UK after the babies are born so she can show me where her family lived. I'll meet him then I guess.

She'll have a ring on her finger by then.

But I don't question if she is mine anymore. I know we are in this for life.

In a weird way, Molly's past issues with trust have been a gift for us. From the moment we moved in together, we promised to be open and talk about everything.

We have a system.

If anything triggers either of us, we discuss it.

Even if we're upset or angry.

We give each other what we call a Trust Pass . We request the pass then the other person has to be present while we yell and rant about what upset us. The other person cannot interrupt.

Even if their complaint seems irrational or insane.

And let's face it, triggers are always insane and rarely based on fact.

Name calling or being nasty is not allowed. We then have to sit for five long minutes in silence and think.

Part of it is putting ourselves in the other person's shoes.

Then the non-triggered person gets to ask questions and respond.

It isn't fun.

But it works.

Like letting all the air out of a balloon.

At the end of the thirty minutes—that is the maximum time—we have to tell each other we love them.

Even through gritted teeth.

It's fucking hard when you're mad.

But losing Molly would be a million times worse.

I'll never let that happen.

Molly is part of my family now. At Christmas, my father warmed to her immediately. It helps that she and Payton are best friends and she knew Bella. All three of them are very close.

Dad surprised me a few months ago.

Molly and I were over for dinner, and he told me Jin Kwan, our head of design, was retiring.

"I want to offer you the head of design position at WME, Atlas," Ward said.

My mouth fell open.

Before Molly, this was everything I'd have wanted. She's changed me. I'm looking at everything differently. Molly and these babies make me feel like I'm enough. Just being me.

I'm proud of the trophy sitting in my office and the designs I've created for one of the biggest luxury fashion brands in the world.

Watching Molly run her business and thriving got me thinking one day.

What if...what if I created my own label?

What if I started something new.

That was mine.

With my name on it.

I reached over and took Molly's hand. I'd told her about it, and she was so excited for me.

There'd be no timeline in my head but now felt like the right time to do this.

"I'm honored, Dad. Thank you. But actually, I'm going to resign." I smiled at Molly.

Ward was taken aback.

"Really?"

I nodded. "Yes. I'm going to start my own fashion label and hit a different demographic. It's something I need to do."

Ward sat back and stared at me.

Pride.

Pride, unlike anything I'd seen in him—toward me—was bright in his eyes.

"You do that, son. I can't wait to see what you create."

My world feels so damn perfect, and I'm so blessed.

I focus back on the chaos around me and kiss Molly on the head. Once the twins are born, I'm making her my wife. We can elope or have a big wedding, I don't care.

"I'm an NFL player, bitches!" Levi cries and we all cheer.

"Please don't be one of those players who has a million groupie girlfriends." Bella groans.

"He only has eyes for one girl," his friend, Kyler, says.

I lift my brow.

"Fuck off." Levis nudges him.

Knox glances at me to see what I know.

I shrug.

I don't know who this mystery girl is. The fact he's being so coy about it is weird for him.

"Oh, who is she?" Payton asks, looking like she's about to pop. She's due in another few weeks and Knox looks ready to build a wall around her he's so nervous.

"You talking about Kaylee?" His manager says and the room goes into slow motion around me.

Knox and I look at one another, this time in shock.

"Kaylee Rose?!" I demand.

"Leave it," Levi says, and his smile fades. "Fucking leave it."

He turns and walks out of the room.

What the fuck?