Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Blakely

5 months later …

“Can you imagine living here?” Ella sighs, pulling her sunglasses down and squinting into the Australian sunlight. “And, since we’re dreaming, we might as well have our houses next door.”

I lie on the chaise next to her and smirk. If she only knew that Brock and Renn have talked about building beach houses next to each other … just not in Australia.

I won’t be shocked if they go through with it. I won’t be mad about it, either.

Nothing surprises me anymore.

Renn is happily unemployed. He and Brock have taken up woodworking … and neither of them are good at it. So far, they’ve made a chair that broke during its first use, a dresser with drawers that won’t close, and a huge mess. But they’re happy. And that makes me happy.

Thankfully, knowing woodworking won’t be enough to keep their bodies and minds satisfied, the two of them are in the process of creating a training program designed for teens. It focuses on holistic health, is affordable for low-income families—therefore not lining some rich asshole’s pockets, which was imperative for Renn—and builds mental strength as well as physical.

I love and respect the hell out of them.

And love they gave up the idea of podcasting, too.

Ella suggested she and Brock forgo wedding planning and get married in Vegas. We hopped on a plane, perks of marrying into a family with their own private airline , and flew across the country. Renn and I watched our best friends get married at the King and Bling Chapel. We reenacted ours to see if it rang any bells. It didn’t .

We’ve spent a lot of time with Renn’s siblings. I didn’t know them pre-Reid, but from what I can tell, they’re closer than ever. The boys go golfing once a month. Gannon always wins, much to Ripley’s dismay. Tate takes selfies with the club. I’m not sure he ever uses it to hit a ball. Jason is still his quiet self. But the more time I spend with him, the more interesting he becomes. His stories are the best—especially the ones he shares about Foxx. I’m determined to make Foxxy my buddy. Renn says to let it go, but I can’t. I’m not making progress, but I’m not a quitter. Bianca told me to manage my expectations. I like her delivery better than Renn’s.

There has been so much change—so many things flipped upside down—that nothing can surprise me.

But I bet I can still surprise my husband.

“Here comes trouble,” Ella says, grinning.

I follow her gaze down the beach.

My brother is oblivious to the eyes trailing them. So is my husband. Now, anyway .

Secretly, I think he still loves the looks he receives—the man has an ego, after all. But it does nothing for him anymore. After all, I’m his singular focus these days. Having Renn Brewer’s full attention leaves me a very, very satisfied woman. Likewise, as his reward, he’s a very, very satisfied man.

Renn slides his Aviators off, his lips twisting into a smirk.

A flurry of goosebumps rushes over my skin, intensified by the love shining in his eyes. It makes him more attractive, more desirable— my dream .

“What are you two doing?” Brock asks. Without missing a beat, he bends down and quiets Ella’s potential response with a long, deep kiss.

I shake my head. “Some things never change.”

Renn removes his hat, stopping beside me. He woke up, grabbed a shower, and tucked the strands under the cap without a second thought. The unruliness makes my fingers itch to comb through the tangled mess, digging my nails into his scalp until he moans— again .

He watches me intently as he tugs the brim over his head again.

Once upon a time, I wondered if I could ever get used to a man like him. He was overwhelming. Tall, muscled, and swagger for days. But now, I know the answer. You can’t .

What I didn’t know then was the heart behind the heat—the sweetness beneath the sex appeal.

It’s how he charges my phone for me every night because he knows I forget. I notice it when I overhear him talking about me to strangers and when he invites strangers over for dinner because of his wife’s amazing chicken piccata. I see it in the way he takes care of his mother, lets Tate borrow his car, and insists Astrid overtip everyone .

His heart is as big as … other parts .

Nope. I’ll never get used to him. He’ll overwhelm me in the best ways every day.

“Hey, cutie,” he says, pressing a soft kiss against my lips. It’s barely deep enough to hint at the ideas floating in his head for later.

I hold his cheek in my hand. “Hey, Daddy.”

He laughs. “New kink?”

“You better hope it is.”

Ella and Brock stop talking.

Renn’s forehead pulls together. His brows slowly raise. His eyes grow wider as his mouth falls open.

“ Blakely …”

I laugh, my heart swelling in my chest. “ Renn …”

He gulps, his eyes dropping to my stomach.

I place a hand over the spot where I assume the little bean is growing.

He raises his eyes to mine, a hopeful sparkle shining brighter than the sun.

“We’re having a baby,” I say softly.

He sucks in a breath, then blows it out in disbelief. It takes a long few seconds for it to settle in. Watching it register is the most precious thing I’ve ever seen.

My eyes fill with happy tears. A slow smile breaks across his face.

“We’re having a baby?” he asks.

I nod.

“ Oh, my God . We’re having a baby.” He looks up at Brock and Ella. “We’re having a baby.”

Ella claps. She figured it out before I did, but thankfully kept it a secret … from everyone but Brock. Naturally .

My brother pulls Renn into a big hug, wishing him congratulations while winking at me over my husband’s shoulder. The scene fills me with more happiness, more pure joy than I ever dared to dream for myself.

Renn steps back and takes my hand. “Come on, Mama.”

I giggle and get to my feet. “Where are we going?”

“I don’t know.” He laughs. “I just want you to myself for a little while.”

He turns me to face him, his face as happy as I feel.

“You get me to yourself for as long as you want me,” I say over the lump in my throat.

“Forever, then.”

“Forever.”

He kisses me softly, still chuckling in disbelief.

“Guys, we’ll see you later,” he says, leading me to the house we rented for our honeymoon. “I need to have sex with my wife, find out when the baby’s due, and do a lot of research because, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

I giggle. “You’re going to do great.”

Our eyes lock as I run through a litany of things that qualify as things Renn does great.

His tongue caressing every part of my body. His hand wrapped around my ponytail, pulling my head back while he slams into me from behind. The taste of him as he comes in my mouth.

Mischief floats in his eyes. He can read me like a book .

I grin. “Yes. All of that. Now.”

A low, throaty chuckle is his response.

My laughter trails us as he picks me up and carries me toward the house.

To our happy ending.

To forever .