Epilogue

Epilogue

Jamie

Returning home early from a seminar at the college, I wasn't expecting to find Oli and Jackson in such a focused huddle in our living room, especially not with Craig kneeling beside them, poring over what appeared to be a sprawl of blueprints and papers. The scene was domestic and intense, all at once.

Of course, I expected Oli and Jackson to be together every moment they could, given they'd come home from Disney an engaged couple, but to see Craig there as well made me smile. I couldn't be happier for my best friend, particularly when I knew I'd marry Craig one day.

I was sure of it.

Just as sure as two and two made four.

Talking of the man I'm going to marry. Craig's face lit up as he saw me, and he immediately beckoned me over with a wave and a grin that could brighten any room.

"Jamie, come take a look at this," he said, his excitement written in every line even before I reached them. "I can't make sense of the technical stuff, but look how gorgeous this is."

As I settled on the floor beside Craig, leaning in to view the plans more clearly, my eyes caught the detailed layout of a house. The drawings made it obvious that a lot of thought had gone into the design. Oli, who had always talked about buying a house, seemed to be making his dream a reality.

However, as I scanned the plans, a tinge of sadness brushed over me. There was no indication of an outbuilding or additional space that might suggest a place for me in their future setup. Not that I expected Oli and Jackson to plan their lives around me, but the realization stung a bit. They were a couple, and naturally, they would want their own space without an ever-present friend around. I guess I'd still see the girls; after all, I was part of their lives. Right?

"Post-retirement planning?" I asked as I placed the plans back on the table. He'd been talking about retiring for a couple of years, so it was a reasonable question.

Oli glanced at me, then reached for Jackson's hand and leaned into his lover. "It's time to think about what comes next."

Craig pushed the house specs back at me. "Look, though," he instructed, and I couldn't say no to his gorgeous smile or take my focus from his sapphire gaze. "Look," he instructed, so I did.

The plans showed a house with two studies, a large kitchen, and spacious living areas, but notably, it featured only two bedrooms. I frowned, puzzled, and poked at Oli's side.

"But what about the girls? They'll need their own rooms."

Oli looked up from a sheaf of papers, a smile playing on his lips as if he'd anticipated my confusion. "This isn't our house," he said, chuckling softly. "Our house is over here." He shifted the paperwork and pointed at the map. "This is us helping Craig look at potential designs for his house."

His house.

Yeah, I guess a man with a million-dollar career could afford to drop money on the house of his dreams.

"The next plot that is up against Oli's," Craig said, and he sounded so excited. "For us."

My confusion cleared instantly, replaced by a rush of surprise.

"For us?"

"Yep. We could build our own place, and the girls could just come over and visit all the time, and you wouldn't have far to go if you were caring for them and?—"

"But you have a house."

He stared at me a moment, and then Oli dragged Jackson away as the silence went on. I hadn't meant to blurt that, but somehow all of his talking hadn't been making sense.

"This would be ours if you wanted it. I mean, I'm probably going to invest anyway, because it looks perfect, and I'm not like Oli, I won't wait to get traded away, I'll go first, so if you said yes to this then you'd have me for the long haul and Oli is staying here, and you'd be near Oli and the girls, and…"

"Craig?" I was lost for words.

"I'm not saying this right." He shifted quickly, straddling my lap, and cradling my face. "Build a house with me? Stay with me? Be with me? Forever?"

"A house," I said faintly, "I don't have the money to?—"

"Babe," he stopped me and kissed me soundly. When he leaned away, I saw a hopeful glint in his eyes. He'd been considering the potential of starting something new, perhaps our own place together. "I love you. Do you love me?"

"Of course."

"There's no ‘of course' about it."

"But there is," I defended. "I love you more than anything."

He bit his lip, then fake pouted. "More than math?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's maths."

"Tomatoes To-mar-tohs."

"It's maths because maths is short for?—"

He stopped me with a kiss, and I willingly sunk into his embrace and held on tight. I could never get enough of the taste of him, or the weight of him in my lap. When we broke apart he was breathing heavily, and he was wild-eyed.

"I want forever with you," he blurted. "In our new house, next to Oli and the girls, will you build this with me? Live with me? Love me always?"

"Of course, I love you too."

Craig smiled at me. "Jamie, will you marry me?"

My heart skipped. "Sorry?"

"Marry me?" He leaned back so he could see my face.

"You're asking me to marry you?"

"I am. In our new backyard, on our land, where you've designed a maze full of spirals."

"I've always liked mazes," I said for something to say. "And spirals."

We kissed again, and this time we smiled and gripped each other tight.

"So will you?" he asked me again.

"Is the solution to the Riemann hypothesis still pending?" I deadpanned, and he blinked at me. Shit, why didn't I just say yes in a simple way?

"Huh?" he asked, confused.

"I mean, the solution to the Riemann hypothesis is still pending. So, it's a yes." He blinked more, and I realized I wasn't being clear at all. "That's me saying yes."

He kissed me then.

And it was a whole list of yesses in one touch.

It was an infinite amount of yesses.

It was forever.

THE END