Epilogue

"Is it safe to come in?" Casey asked as she knocked on the door.

I laughed and nudged Nathan, who was curled up on the other side of the bed, still sound asleep. He didn't stir, so I crawled out of the sheets, pulled on a pair of pajama pants, and stepped out into the hall.

"Good morning. Is something up?"

Nathan's mother smiled at me. "Not really, but one of Nathan's friends is here. I didn't want to just barge in..." Her face heated. She'd made the mistake once when I first moved in. Something about moms and not needing to see their children in such compromising positions. Doors were shut for a reason.

I shrugged. "Maybe it's something I can help with."

Being in Seattle had its perks. Art had gotten into trouble shortly after I left. He and Tilly were caught busting into a few houses and taking things. Since I was so far away, I wasn't even questioned, but poor Daniel was dragged through the middle of everything since they had been staying with him and his family for a while. He took it as his sign and got himself a job working as a waiter at a swanky restaurant downtown. It paid decently, and he was able to afford a small studio apartment with some help from his parents.

But Nathan's friends had slowly started to become mine as well. It wasnt uncommon to see Brandon, Andrew, or Joe stop by, but at least two of them were always in each others company. Brandon, standing alone and wringing his hands together in the entryway, was a strange sight.

"Are you okay?"

He jumped, his glasses bouncing on his nose as he looked over at me. "I—I was hoping to talk to Nathan about something."

"He's still sleeping."

Brandon swallowed thickly and nodded. "Maybe I should come back, then."

These guys didn't know me as well, but it didn't mean that I wasn't capable of lending a helpful ear. "Are you sure? I might..."

"Uhm... It's about Andrew."

Of course, it was about Andrew. Anyone could tell by looking at the two of them that there was something more brewing. It was only a matter of time before that thread snapped and something happened.

Approaching Brandon was like approaching a scared rabbit. He'd run away if you came at him too quickly. I gently set my hand on his shoulder and pulled him into a side hug. "And because of that, I might be better to talk to. I don't know either of you all that well, and I may be better at offering you impartial advice."

His whole face turned red, but he nodded and came with me when I led him into the empty living room. He sat and explained what he was feeling. The conversation was cut short when Nathan came in a few minutes later. Instead of continuing to tell me what was happening between him and his best friend, Brandon closed off completely. Maybe it had been a good idea to have him talk to me, because Nathan might not have been able to get what I had.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

Brandon grinned at him and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "It's fine. I needed someone to talk to. I came to talk to you, but I think Chase helped."

It felt good that I could be there for him, even if he hadn't been able to get it all out.

He left quickly and Nathan stared after him once the front door was closed.

"What was that all about?"

I cleared my throat and stood from the couch. "I'm not sure I'm at liberty to say?"

Nathan's eyebrows rose, but he said nothing. "I got a call to go into the office. They're having some difficulty with a code that they're having us all work on, and I can't explain it very well over the phone."

I nodded and wrapped my arms around him. His skin was still warm from sleep as I nuzzled into his neck. The temptation of his pajama pants sitting low on his hips was too much to resist. I ran my fingers along the waistband, tickling along the exposed skin until he shivered.

"Gross. Get a damn room."

I laughed as Aiden crossed the living room to the kitchen. He had Oreo clutched to his chest, and she looked content being carried around. It was only a matter of time until we'd be able to afford our own place and we wouldn't need to worry about interruptions from the family anymore.

"Not a problem. I have an interview today."

Nathan grinned and gave me a quick and filthy kiss, making my toes to curl. "Yeah? My man is finding himself a job?"

His man? God, I still loved the sound of that. "It's nothing fancy. Daniel said there was an opening at the restaurant." I'd been anxious to do anything when we first got to Seattle. Outside of high school, I had no formal education and housekeeping didn't feel like a lifetime dream. It was something that I had done to help Drew out and keep a hold of my family home. Daniel made waiting tables sound at least moderately enjoyable, and it would be nice to work with someone I knew.

He released me and we went back to the room to get ready for the day.

"You sure you can't tell me what Brandon had to say?" Nathan was like a teenage girl digging for gossip.

I shook my head as I pulled a nice polo shirt over my head. I frowned in the mirror as I attempted to straighten out my hair. I couldn't wear one of my hats to a job interview and if I got the job, I wouldn't be able to wear one to work either. They'd been such a big part of me and my personality, I felt almost naked without it.

"Do you think I should get a haircut?"

Nathan's eyes shot comically wide. "You wouldn't fucking dare."

I laughed so hard I almost fell over. It seemed I wasn't the only one who had an attachment to something. But with the way that Nathan had a tendency to grab and pull at my hair, it made sense.

My interview wasn't for another few hours, but I followed Nathan out of the house, regardless. I rode with him downtown because if all else failed, I could wander the little shops until it was time. That was the other thing I loved. There was always so much to explore and I was never bored.

I hadn't ever imagined that this was where I'd end up, but outside of being so much bigger and so much louder, there was still a beach. Seattle was my new home with the man of my dreams. Home was wherever Nathan was with me.

THE END