Epilogue

Charlie

3 years later.

“Guys, you know both of you can afford luxury holidays, right?” Louise put her hands on her hips, eyeing the bags we dumped on the driveway at our house in the Boston suburbs.

“Yeah, but we like camping.” Trent opened the double doors to our van and hauled in our enormous tent and inflatable mattress. “And we make it fancy. Charlie even got us heated blankets.”

“And no one disturbs us cause my fans are not expecting to find me sporting a beard and playing acoustic by a campfire in the middle of nowhere.” I stroked the stubble that had become thick enough to grow out during longer breaks between touring.

She sighed. “Okay, that’s fair. Just be careful. I’m sure Trent packed Barbell-ella towels and 77 Rotary Road tumblers and merch so if someone sees those, they’ll know it’s you guys. And I’ll be calling Trent to talk over some executive decisions.”

“Meanie.” Trent stuck his tongue out at her. “I still adore you for keeping the gym afloat when I’m gone.”

“Good. You should.” She handed him a cardboard box. “I got you some outdoor fairy lights so you won’t trip over the tent ropes like the last time.”

“Thanks.” Trent took the gift and added it to the growing pile in the van.

“Yeah, we don’t need another trip to E.R. only to find out this guy has so much muscle, he can’t even break an arm when falling over, head first.” I patted Trent’s back, then I splayed my fingers over the warm skin I loved to snuggle to.

“I just know how to fall gracefully, thanks.” Trent glared at me, but leaned into my touch.

“That’s true.” I kissed his cheek and addressed Louise. “We need a break, so I’ll mute my phone. When we’re back, we’ll only have a week to prepare for the tour. So it’s gonna be crazy.”

Trent turned to his sister. “I’ll spend the entire time we’re in Boston at the gym. I know we have the guys from the local youth center coming over to organize work experience at our place. Then I’ll be off with Charlie and I’ll get new material for the vlog.”

Trent’s social media channel, Gym bunny and the Rockstar—a journal of a traveling husband, gained so much interest he hired Sabrina full time to edit the videos. The income allowed him to go with me on tour, as he took only a tiny cut from the gym earnings to make it as accessible as possible.

“Trixie and Cindy are taking their dog for the tour, so you’ll have plenty of cute moments there.” I loaded the heaters and the small stainless steel espresso maker. I liked camping, but coffee was not a luxury I could go without.

“We got the best views when I was on tour with Charlie and included behind-the-scenes glimpses of the band on top of my usual meals and workout tips. I can’t wait to see you in action again, babe.” Trent hugged me around the waist and kissed my neck, then returned to squishing stuff in the van.

“It’s gonna be so fun playing at a festival with Baelfire. They’re top-tier awesome and look like they’d kill you in a dark alley, but are actually the biggest softies. But you’re my fave softie anyway, don’t worry.” I bumped Trent with my hip.

“You guys are so cute, rolling my eyes is not enough.” Louise plopped on the bed of the van and leaned against the huge lump that was the tent bag. “But I love seeing you so happy, Trent. You’ve always been a slice of sunshine, but Charlie has unlocked more light in you. Even mom and dad saw it. I wish I took a picture of their faces when they looked around the gym at the opening, jaws on the floor and all.”

“Charlie, did you drug up my sister? She’s talking gibberish.” Trent gasped, putting a hand on his chest.

I shook my head, chuckling.

“Fuck you.” Louise flipped him the bird and crossed her arms.

Trent threw a pink towel at her. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and I keep pinching myself that this hot rockstar even looked my way. The world tour will drain all of us, but living on the road with band members who are also your friends and their significant others is the future I didn’t know I wanted, but I’m loving now. Then I can return home and look for mentors and speakers for the youth project we started with Charlie. I can’t believe we get to help queer kids with school stuff, find a job, or someone to talk to.”

I sighed, trying to contain my heart eyes for this man in front of his sister and failing miserably. Pushing him to sit on the bed of the van, I climbed onto his lap and wrapped my arms around him. “And that’s why I married you.”

It had been a quiet ceremony at the City Hall with only our closest friends in attendance. We had both worn white suits that we had fun taking off each other that evening. Sabrina and Trixie were my best maids, while Louise and Cindy stood on Trent’s side.

It had been intimate and absolutely perfect.

The crowd chanted 77 Rotary, 77 Rotary when we just got off the stage. The final leg of our world tour brought us to one of the biggest festivals in Europe, and fans in Germany were positively bonkers during the show, crowd surfing, jumping, and singing with us.

“Are we going back?” Trixie asked, twirling her sticks.

“Second encore? The festival will kill us,” Sabrina said, plucking the edge of her crimson dress.

“We’re only one minute over our time. Let’s do one more.”

The Rotarians, as the fans dubbed themselves, erupted with joy when we returned to our spots on the stage.

“We can’t leave you wanting. So here’s the last song, for real this time. Dedicated to all of you are still looking for your perfect significant other, or others. To those who want to enjoy the freedom to fuck whoever they want. And to those who are happy in a relationship.

“Inspired by the love of my life.” I pointed to the first row where Trent stood squished to the balustrade. He could sit backstage in comfort if he wanted to watch us play, but he kept saying he enjoyed being amongst our fans, seeing how people reacted to us, feeling the high of being a part of the crowd. And said that mosh pit was an excellent workout, because it was how Trent’s mind worked—seeking a silver lining in everything. And it was only the tip of the iceberg of the things I loved him for. “Here’s Lollipop Kisses. ” The fans whooped in excitement. I lifted my hand and waved it from side to side as Sabrina started the sing with a bass intro.

I took in the ocean of people in front of me who had raised their hands to wave to the melody. In the setting sun, I couldn’t see where the crowd ended, feeling like we were playing to the entire world.

“Eating strawberry lollipops

Better than cigarettes

Sweet like you.

I keep my rose-colored glasses on

Around you

But they’re not on my nose

It’s my world that’s happy

Because you are in it.”

Standing on the stage with my best friends, in front of my fans, and squinting against the lights in my face to see the love of my life cheering me from the first row did feel like my entire world was with me. And at the center was my Trent—my heart, my lover, my husband.

T.H.E E.N.D.