32. Epilogue Part 1

Epilogue Part 1

Shane

Present—July

“ B abe!”

I stepped into our home— our home . As much as I loved living with our friends, we needed a certain level of privacy that couldn’t be promised. I wanted to have my man without so many listening ears. After months of their heckling, I’d had enough. Eli was vocal, and I didn’t want that to change—but I also didn’t want to share those sounds with everyone. They were for my ears only. Our home was a cute two-bedroom, one bath. Nothing huge, but it was ours. We had a guest room for when my family visited… sadly, it was only my family so far.His sisters had both reached out and apologized, and we had a holiday planned when the baby arrived in a few months. Otherwise, his parents had been radio silent. Eli did his best to pretend it didn’t bother him, and my family did their best to shower him with love.

“Yes, sweetheart?” I toed off my shoes and went down the hall to the kitchen.

“How do I use the oven again?”

I panicked, hastening my steps. The last time he used the oven he’d set the food on fire. “Okay, the real question is why are you touching the oven?”

I rounded the corner to see him leaning over and playing with the knobs. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why someone with so much knowledge couldn’t manage to operate basic kitchen appliances, but we all had our weaknesses.

“Because I wanted to make a cake. I put all the ingredients in as the box said, but why is it clicking and not igniting? It's too confusing!”

I gently nudged him aside and turned the oven on for him.

“You could show me so I could learn, you know,” he scolded, adorable little frown and all. I could… but I already had, more than once. I finally accepted that there was just no room in that brain of his. I wasn’t going to complain. His brain knew he needed me, I liked that.

“I know sweetheart. But today is your birthday and I was going to make the cake.”

He huffed, crossing his arms and attempting to look mad. “I was bored! It's lonely, and Netflix hasn’t updated any new documentaries and there’s no new crime podcasts, and you’ve been gone all day!”

I wrapped myself around Eli, and he melted into me. Needy Eli was my favorite Eli, and I knew just how to placate him. I found that spot below his ear that drove him mad, and pressed a gentle kiss to it. “I’m sorry, but I was getting your birthday present.”

“Is it good enough for me to forget you left me all alone?”

Oh, sweetheart. I know it will. I grabbed his hand and led him to the small sitting room where his present was sitting. I paused just before to cover his eyes, but the screeching coming from the little fur monster was not helping me one bit.

“Shane…”

I knew I was going to regret my choice, but as long as I’d known him—which was forever—there was one thing he wanted more than anything. Naturally, it was the one thing I really didn’t want, but Eli’s happiness was more important.

Once we were in the sitting room which was filled with books and cute cozy love chairs—did I mention Eli loved designing? Our home was really a home —I lifted my hands to reveal the cat carrier that held a black and white cat. It was fluffy and the only one at the shelter that let me touch him—I thought that was a good start.

“Oh… em …gee!”

I laughed. I loved a lot of things about Eli, but his inability to say, “Oh my God,” was up there.

“This is Ralph,” I explained. “He’s two years old and the only cat that didn’t hiss at me. You can rename him, it's just the name that was on his information booklet.”

Beside his carrier was a shit ton of toys, food and a bed and scratch post for every room—Eli spent a lot of time and money decorating this place. Sir Ralph better not wreck it…though I didn’t have high hopes.

“We can’t rename him! He’ll have an identity crisis!” Eli squawked. I suddenly regretted choosing the one cat with the name-Ralph.

But the moment Eli turned to me, eyes watery with joy, I forgot my reservations. He leapt into my arms, “I love you! Thank you! I know you hate cats, but I promise Ralph will be such a good boy.” I squeezed him back, hiding the laugh that wanted to bubble in him promising something on behalf of an animal that had his own agenda.

Eli let go way too soon and knelt by the carrier. The moment he did, the creature practically melted. I understood the feeling. Ralph rubbed against the side of the carrier, almost chirping like a bird.

“Oh, who’s such a beautiful boy,” Eli murmured, opening the carrier Ralph strutted out and lifted his head in expectation. Eli placed the cat in his lap, and I swore the purrs could be heard all the way to Boston. I fully regretted it now—because I was no longer Eli’s favorite guy.

“Oh, my goodness, Shane. Can you hear him? He loves me!” he whispered excitedly as Ralph pushed into his palm as he patted him.

“Yes, sweetheart,” I answered, because despite my regrets, that smile and sparkle in his eye was worth it all.

After a nice dinner with Cal, Tyler and Hunter, I closed the door and spun to meet Eli’s heated eyes. I drifted across the room and swept him up in my arms, his legs wrapping around my waist—where they belonged. I carried him upstairs to the loft style bedroom and laid him gently on the bed. The heat in his eyes told me exactly what he wanted. I stripped him bare to his beautifully long, lean body. He had gained weight, and though naturally still slim, was more toned and muscular than before. His ass had more meat, and I couldn’t help but grab it, lifting his hips so I could get a taste of that perfect little hole. He made the cries and whimpers I lived for, but we both paused when a weight appeared on the bed and meowed. He looked at me, then Eli and… was the fucker judging us?

“Ralph, no it's daddies time… Go back downstairs.” Eli whimpered each word, and I paused my meal to have a standoff with the cat. I wondered then if a dog would have been easier. A dog you can tell to stay. Ralph on the other hand looked at me like I was violating his dad.

I was, but that’s not the point.

I groaned, peeling myself away from Eli and grabbing the cat who purred at my touch. Nope, I refused to like him. After dropping him at the top of the stairs, I closed the bedroom door.

He began to meow instantly, and Eli gave me a look I knew too well: he felt bad for the little monster.

I went to my phone that was attached to our speaker and clicked shuffle.

“He can come back in once I am done with you.” From the way Eli whimpered, that was good enough.

Once Eli was entirely blissed out, I opened the door, trying not to enjoy the way Ralph bolted into the room and curled up on Eli’s chest. I shook my head and climbed into bed behind my man, curling around him just how he liked.

He hummed. “Mm, between you and Ralph I’m so warm.”

“As long as I’m still your favorite man in the house, I’ll be happy,” I murmured in his ear.

“Always. Thank you for everything, babe.” His voice was so full of adoration that I hugged him tighter to myself, swearing to myself I would never let him go.