Epilogue

Friday, March 15, 2024

"You can't tell me that wasn't awkward."

Stone glanced in the rearview. "What are we talkin' about again?"

They'd been on the road for almost three hours, during which Stevie had spent the entire time sleeping. Only now, she was awake and apparently starting a conversation he was supposed to be a part of. Only he had no idea what she was talking about.

"Are we already home?"

"Two minutes out," Nico told her. "I need to stop by the office before we go home. Tara's meetin' us there with J?ger."

"I miss him," Stevie said, yawning.

Stone did, too.

"I still can't believe your sister interrogated you about your intentions," Stevie said.

Ah. So they were back on that.

Stone had invited Stevie and Nico to go with him to Dallas after Chelsea gave birth to a healthy baby boy. While Stone's parents had been up there for a week, arriving in time for the birth and intending to stay for at least another week, Stone had planned to slip in and out, making an appearance, greeting the newest Jameson, and then getting out of the way. Donovan, Tate, Reilly, and Brady all had the same plan. CJ had gone up before they did, but he'd left as soon as they arrived, not wanting to overcrowd, or so he claimed.

The visit qualified as good for the most part. Stevie, Reilly, and Deborah had spent all their time cooing over the baby. The men had sat around, congratulating Paul and giving him shit about all the sleep he was about to miss out on.

It had been quite entertaining right up until Chelsea started interrogating him about his intentions with Stevie and Nico. Mostly Nico. She was rather protective of her ex-boyfriend despite the fact they'd all reminded her that things hadn't been quite rainbows and unicorns back when they broke up. Chelsea was trying to see the good in everything, so they hadn't argued too much about it.

"And she wasn't mad," Stevie noted. "What was up with that?"

"Why would she be?" he asked.

"You're her brother. Nico's her ex-boyfriend." She didn't add the duh, but Stone could tell it was implied.

"And she's married with a kid," he retorted.

"Plus, it's been fifteen years," Nico tacked on.

"And that," Stone agreed.

"I wouldn't've been okay with it."

"Really?"

"Probably not," she said. "Could you maybe speed it up a little? I've gotta pee."

Stone chuckled as he pulled down the driveway leading to D S Landscaping Solutions.

"Brace yourself," Nico warned.

Stevie grunted at the first pothole they hit. "Oh, God. Hurry."

Stone laughed, dodging as many potholes as he could, trying to help her out.

"Oh, good. She's already here," Nico said.

"Yes. Very good," Stevie said through gritted teeth. "I'm not sure I can hold out long enough to unlock the door."

Stone parked the truck beside Tara's car. Stevie didn't wait for anyone, launching herself out and racing up the steps. He was almost on the steps when he heard Stevie shout.

"Oh, my God! What the—"

Stone glanced at Nico, both of them bounding up the rest of the steps and racing after her. He came to an abrupt stop, barely avoiding a collision with Stevie.

"What the hell?" Stone asked, staring at his brother. "CJ?"

"It's not what it looks like," CJ declared.

Oh, Stone was pretty sure he was wrong about that. His hair was disheveled, his shirt partially unbuttoned. Behind him, Tara had her back to them as she tried to put her shirt on. They'd clearly been getting busy or about to be until they were interrupted.

Stevie squealed, then darted toward the bathroom. "Don't move!" she shouted. "We're gonna talk about this in a minute."

"She's gotta pee," Nico told them, trying to be helpful. "Where's J?ger?"

Tara pointed toward their offices.

J?ger barked from his spot on the other side of the child gate. He barked again before Nico could make his way over.

Stone stared at his brother, confused. Just two days ago, he'd sat down to a family meal with CJ and Jamie, his girlfriend. A girlfriend who wasn't the redhead standing behind him.

He wanted to call CJ out on it. To ask him if he broke up with Jamie, the girl he'd been seeing for years. However, he was cognizant of Tara's feelings, and if she wasn't aware of CJ's relationship status, Stone figured it wasn't his place to inform her. Yet.

"Could y'all maybe give us a minute?" CJ asked, his eyes pleading.

"Sure." He turned and headed outside, Nico right behind him, J?ger trotting along.

"Tell me I was seein' things," Nico said when they were outside, the glass door closed behind them.

J?ger made a beeline for a patch of grass.

"No. Definitely not seein' things."

"What about Jamie?"

"Question of the hour," Stone said, walking over to the deck rail and propping a hip against it.

The door opened behind them. Stone turned to see CJ walking out, planting his Stetson on his head.

"Can we talk?" his brother asked, glancing between him and Nico.

"I'll be inside. It won't take me a minute to get what I need, so just let me know when y'all are done."

Stone nodded, then turned his attention to CJ.

CJ glanced behind him, waiting for the door to close. When it did, he turned back. "You're probably thinkin' I'm a shithead."

"It had crossed my mind, yeah." Stone crossed his arms over his chest. "You and Jamie call it quits?"

CJ swallowed, his gaze shifting to his feet. "Not exactly."

"Fuck," Stone huffed. "What the hell're you thinkin', man?"

"It's not what it looks like, Stone. I swear—"

"Then what is it?"

"Me and Jamie … it's…" He exhaled roughly and tipped his head back, staring up at the sky. "It's not what it appears."

Stone tried to process what he was saying, but it didn't make sense.

"Okay," he drawled when CJ didn't explain.

But that wasn't enough to prompt his brother.

"CJ?"

"I wish I could tell you, but I can't."

"Does Tara know?"

"Yes."

Well, that made him feel a little better. Not much, but a little. He didn't want to think his brother was a cheater. There were a lot of things he could tolerate, but he'd always been of the mind that you love the one you're with. And if you want to be with someone else, end things. It was the only fair thing to do. For all parties.

"All right then," Stone said, standing tall. "I guess it's your life to do with as you see fit. Just…" He looked at the building. "Just don't break any hearts, okay?"

"Trust me when I tell you, that's not gonna happen."

Stone did trust CJ. He was a stand-up guy. Always had been. He was a giant pain in Stone's ass a lot of the time, but he was a good guy.

"Maybe next weekend we could get together," Stone told him, turning around when he heard the soft rumble of an engine.

"For?" CJ stared out at the car approaching.

"I've ordered supplies to build the first greenhouse. Thought maybe you'd help out. If you don't have a shift."

"I can do that." CJ nodded his chin toward the car as it parked. "You know this person?"

"I do not." Since it was Friday, Stone knew the office wasn't open. Didn't mean they didn't get people who stumbled across the place and pulled in to check them out.

"I think I'm gonna head out," CJ noted. "I'll see you next weekend."

"If not before," Stone threatened, watching as his brother walked toward his truck.

"Y'all get that straightened out?" Nico asked, coming out to join him on the deck. Hearing Nico's voice, J?ger raced up the steps, nearly nose-planting into Nico's leg for attention.

Before Stone could respond, Nico mumbled something under his breath.

"Are y'all ready to get—" Stevie's words cut off abruptly. "Oh, my God."

"You sure are sayin' that a lot today," Stone told her. "And not in the way I like to hear."

Stevie planted her hands on her hips and marched past them, down the steps, and right up to the car where a guy was getting out. He had a huge grin plastered on his face as she approached.

"Hey," the guy greeted. "You look good, baby."

"Do not call me that," Stevie snapped, stabbing a finger in the guy's direction.

Stone cocked an eyebrow and looked at Nico. "Who the fuck is that?"

"Oscar," Nico growled.

"That's Oscar?" Stone couldn't help it, he laughed. "Wow. I was expectin' some big, burly cowboy or somethin'."

Nico frowned, his tone reflecting his surprise. "Really?"

He damn sure hadn't expected some scrawny teenager. Granted, it was obvious Oscar wasn't actually a teenager, but someone hadn't told his wardrobe that yet.

"He never gives up," Nico muttered under his breath.

Stone grinned. "I know a way to help him along."

Nico's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Yeah?"

"Yep. And after we scare him straight, I think we should take our girl home and remind her why she's got no time for other guys in her life."

"I like where you're goin' with this."

Several hours later, after they'd set their girl straight and worn themselves out in the process, Stone sat on the back porch of the home he now shared with a damn cute dog and the two people he loved more than life.

His life had come full circle, and he knew he would never have to waste another minute searching for anything. It wasn't necessary when he already had everything he could possibly need.