Epilogue

T he weight of Betty's stare woke him from a deep sleep, and Keegan cracked an eye open. It was still dark outside, but that hulking silhouette towering over him from his nightstand could only belong to one feisty feline. A white-tipped paw eased out of the darkness and booped him on the nose. When Keegan didn't immediately throw back the covers and leap from the bed, Betty lowered her head closer to his so that they were nearly eye to eye. Even in the predawn dusk, Keegan could see that she meant business. He did too, and he tried to convey that to her through telepathy. Come on, Betty. It's Thanksgiving. Just another hour. She booped him on the nose again, and Keegan knew she was seconds away from raising the dead with an ear-piercing yowl.

Keegan eased from the bed before that happened, not because he feared zombies or ghosts but to prevent Betty from waking Kerry, who'd had a deeply emotional therapy session the previous day and a late-night rescue. The cool air triggered goose bumps on his bare skin before he could don his robe at the foot of the bed. He slid his feet into his slippers and headed for the door. Betty didn't budge from her perch until she was certain Keegan's easy compliance wasn't a trick. Kerry had pulled that stunt with her more than once, but he'd never attempted it. Betty flew past him when he was halfway down the staircase, but he'd been ready for it. After four months of permanent cohabitation, Keegan was used to her shenanigans. And he didn't need it to be Thanksgiving to be grateful for his blessings—big and small.

He headed straight to the utility room and fed the queen her tuna and made sure she had plenty of dry kibble and water in the fancy fountain he'd bought for her fifth birthday. That was just one way Keegan made his mark on the house. Little by little, he put his touch in every room. Sometimes it was a seasonal throw blanket, a new coffee mug, or a piece of artwork for the bedroom, but he marveled whenever he came across them. It was the first time he'd ever felt a sense of home, and he understood it had more to do with the man upstairs than the walls and roof surrounding them.

Keegan hurried upstairs, hoping to slip under the covers and get another hour of sleep before they needed to get ready for the Thanksgiving festivities at Lucinda's. There'd be family overflowing in every room, food aplenty, football, and fights over rummy. Keegan was eager to enjoy every second, but maybe after a little more sleep. When he entered the bedroom, the fireplace was on, and Kerry had propped himself against the headboard, all sleep-rumpled and delicious. He lifted the bedcovers and beckoned Keegan with a wolfish smile that made sleeping the furthest thing from his mind.

Keegan stood at the foot of the bed and removed his robe. The heat from the fire warmed his backside as the hungry gaze from his man scorched his front. There was more swagger in Keegan's step these days, which Kerry enjoyed immensely. He climbed into the bed and slid over until their bare bodies touched. After a long kiss, Keegan pulled back to brush some of the wildest strands away from Kerry's face. "I'd hoped you'd get some more sleep after a rough day and late night."

Kerry's smile came easily as he ran the back of his fingers over Keegan's cheek. "This is our first Thanksgiving together, and I didn't want to miss another second of it."

"It's barely six o'clock."

"Perfect time to have a little fun," Kerry said. "I have something special to mark the occasion."

Keegan reached under the blanket and trailed his fingertips over Kerry's dick. "Yes, you do."

"That comes next," Kerry said.

Keegan arched a brow. "What's first?"

"I'm so glad you asked." Kerry leaned over to turn on his lamp and adjusted it to the softest setting. Then he reached under his pillow and pulled out two index cards. They'd been playing this game for seven months, but they somehow kept it exciting and new. Kerry held them up and bounced them excitedly. "Which one?"

Keegan pressed his finger to his lips and hummed. Whatever he picked would lead to something he'd cherish for the rest of his life. Sometimes he could tell which option Kerry wanted him to pick, but his expression remained neutral as Keegan contemplated, and he didn't tighten his grip on the right card when Keegan tugged it free.

Kerry's lips spread into the biggest grin he'd ever seen. "Read it."

Keegan's heartbeat tripped over itself as he turned the card around. Say yes and make love to your fiancé. Keegan's hand shook so badly he dropped the card. "Kerry?"

They'd talked about marriage, so the proposal hadn't come out of left field. But it was another example of something Keegan wanted so badly it hurt to think about sometimes. Tears filled his eyes, and he blinked them away. He picked up the card and read it again. It definitely said fiancé. Keegan raised a hopeful gaze to Kerry and noticed the sheen in his dark eyes too.

"Really?" Keegan asked.

"Will you marry me?"

The air left his lungs in a shaky exhale. Of course he'd marry this man. He opened his mouth to tell him but said, "What's on the other card?"

Kerry burst into laughter as he turned it around to reveal a gold band taped next to a small sketch of interlocking hearts. "Your engagement ring and the tattoo I will wear on my ring finger."

Keegan let the tears flow this time. "You're going to ink your commitment to me on your body? That's permanent."

"So is my love for you." Kerry removed the gold band from the card and reached for Keegan's hand. "I found my special someone, and I'm keeping you." He stroked his thumb over Keegan's ring finger. "If you'll have me."

Keegan nodded at first, then cried, "Yes!"

Kerry slid the ring onto his finger, then pulled Keegan onto his lap. "You are the thing I'm most grateful for." And then he showed Keegan.

Lucinda's house was already bustling when they arrived, yet every person froze in place when Keegan and Kerry walked through the front door.

"Did you do it?" Lucinda asked.

Keegan arched a brow. That was bold, even for Lucinda. Then he realized what she'd really meant and raised his left hand to show off his shiny gold band. The room erupted in cheers as everyone rushed forward to congratulate them.

"Huh," Debbie said when she looked closer at the ring. "It's a little plain, isn't it, Ker?"

"I think it's perfect," Keegan said, cradling his hand to his chest.

Kerry chuckled. "That one is just for our engagement, Aunt Deb. His wedding band is blinged out properly."

Keegan quirked a brow in surprise. Two rings? He loved the simple band, but the blinged-out one sounded intriguing too.

"Attaboy," Debbie said before she let the next relative gush over them.

When it seemed like they'd never make it farther than midway through the living room, Lucinda carried out platters of appetizers. The family abandoned the newly engaged couple and pounced on the food like fleas on a barn cat. Kerry waded into the fray to grab them a bite to eat. Keegan breathed a sigh of relief and eased to the side of the room, where Sven greeted him with open arms.

"I'm so happy for you, honey," Sven said. "I knew this day would come, but I was worried I'd have to take desperate measures."

"I shudder to think what that might entail," Keegan said. When Sven didn't respond, he caught a faraway look on his friend's face. Keegan was nearly positive he knew the source of Sven's daydream and had his suspicions confirmed when he followed his friend's line of sight. Sven's entire demeanor changed anytime Dom was near. He dialed everything up to a hundred, and Keegan couldn't tell if he was ready to battle or—

"Fuck, why does that man have to be so damn hot?" Sven asked before he stomped in the opposite direction from Dom.

Keegan didn't miss the way Dom's eyes tracked Sven's movements.

Kerry joined Keegan and extended the plate of snacks toward him. He snagged an olive and nearly choked on it when Kerry said, "Dom and Sven just need to fuck already."

After Keegan recovered, he said, "Aren't you the one who cockblocked them?"

"Yes, and I'm not sorry," Kerry said. "It wasn't the right time."

"And it is now?"

They watched as Sven kept inching closer and closer to where Dom chatted with Lucinda. A group of cousins plowed into Sven and nearly took him down, but Dom was there with a helping hand that lingered on Sven's bare midriff afterward. The two men locked eyes, and something electric passed between them.

"Yeah," Keegan said. "It's time."

As luck would have it, Keegan and Kerry would get their chance to play matchmaker when Dom expressed his dread about the upcoming Christmas holiday plans with his family.

"You don't get along?" Keegan asked.

"We got along great until I caught my husband in bed with my cousin," Dom told him. "You can imagine the explosive reactions in my family when I went to war with my cousin, and my mom took her sister to the mat."

"Oh, Dom," Keegan said. "I'm so sorry."

"I want to say it's all water under the bridge, but it would be a lie. I'm over the failed marriage better than I thought I'd be at this point, but I'm struggling with my cousin's betrayal."

"Who wouldn't?" Kerry asked. He tightened his grip on Keegan's hip and sent a scathing look in Seth's direction.

Keegan scoffed. "As if."

Kerry nuzzled his nose in Keegan's hair and nipped his ear.

"That's the shit I'll get to look forward to over the holidays, except it will be my ex loving up on a guy I loved like a brother." Dom sipped his beer.

"Why are you even putting yourself through that kind of heartache during the holidays?" Kerry asked.

"My nana isn't doing very well," Dom said softly. "You know how much I love her."

"I thought she'd outlive us all," Kerry said.

"I wish that was true, but Mom thinks this will be her last Christmas. She wants everyone to suspend their animosity for two weeks so she can have the most amazing holiday ever. My aunt and uncle rented a huge chateau in Vail, and Mom expects me to go. I can't let Nana down, but I don't want to be the only single loser getting pitiful looks every time my ex-husband and his new lover go up to bed for the night."

"Man, that's rough," Kerry said.

"Take Sven!" Keegan blurted.

Kerry's eyes glittered with glee. "That's a great idea."

Dom looked over at Sven, who made lounging on a couch look sexy. "I don't know." Dom turned back around and sipped his beer. "Some of my family members are pretty uptight. Sven's outfits wouldn't go over very well."

"I'm sure he'd wear something more conservative if you approached the subject in the right way," Keegan suggested.

"Hell no," Kerry said. "Sic Sven in his full glory on the pretentious assholes. No one who has been hurt as badly as you were would ask you to shack up with your ex and his lover for two weeks. That is selfish and inconceivable. Sven would love to help you teach them a lesson."

Kerry took out his phone and typed a quick message. Sven looked at his phone, quirked a brow, and headed toward them.

He raked an ardent gaze over Dom. "Kerry said you need me."

Dom's cheeks turned pink as he fidgeted with the label on his beer bottle. "I could use your help with a situation."

"Ohhh," Sven simpered. "Undercover for another case?"

Dom swallowed hard but held Sven's gaze. "This is personal."

"You'd get a two-week trip to Vail at Christmastime," Kerry said. "Dom, lead with the selling points first."

"Color me curious," Sven said. "Tell me more."

Kerry's teasing seemed to loosen Dom up because he didn't have any difficulty explaining the situation. Sven's interest was piqued with each new twist and turn.

"Sounds fa la la la fabulous, baby. I'm in." Sven hooked his elbow through Dom's and pulled him away. "Let's work out the details someplace quieter."

Keegan and Kerry watched them until they disappeared from sight. "Did we make a mistake?" Keegan asked.

"Hell no," Kerry said. "They both deserve this." Usually people uttered that phrase in a snide tone, but Kerry sounded blissfully happy. "What? You don't agree?"

"I'm trying to figure out what's behind your joy. Is it the chance for Dom and Sven to find genuine love, or are you anticipating the fireworks this will cause?"

"Both."

Kerry set the plate of food down and pulled Keegan into his arm. "Enough about other couples. I want to talk about us."

Keegan kissed his lips. "My favorite topic."

"When do you want to get married?" Kerry asked. "Lucinda will kill us if we try to pull a stunt like Seth and Rueben did with their wedding."

"I definitely want our friends and family with us, but I don't want something fancy."

"What if we decorate the Feisty Bull and get married there?"

"That sounds perfect," Keegan said. "But when?"

"Either before Sven and Dom leave for Vale or as soon as they get back."

Keegan's eyes widened. "That soon?"

"Why wait?" Kerry asked. "We pick out suits, string up some pretty decorations, and invite our friends and family. That won't take much planning."

"Surely, it's harder than that."

Kerry quirked a brow. "I'll take that challenge." He looked over at the living room. "Hey, Ma. Got a minute?"

"Oh, sure," she said. "I'm not trying to feed over thirty people."

Kerry snorted. "I might've fallen for that if I didn't know Keegan, Sven, and several others were all over here helping yesterday. But I understand if you don't want to help us plan a wedding."

Lucinda was nearly on them before Kerry finished his sentence. "You're not too big for a spanking."

"Yeah, but someone else doles them out now," Kerry said.

Lucinda clutched her chest and cackled. "Do you seriously want my help with the wedding?"

"Yes, but I want to get married before Sven leaves for Vail," Kerry said.

"Vail? What are you talking about?" Lucinda asked.

Kerry waved that off. "I'll let Sven tell you all about it." He looked at Keegan and smiled. "I want to marry the love of my life in two weeks." He told her the few things they worked out so far.

She patted both of their cheeks. "Consider it done." Lucinda left them alone to return to the kitchen, where a joyous whoop rang out.

Kerry kissed him until his toes curled. "Now I understand why the newlyweds skipped all the family gatherings for months to stay home."

Maybe they would've slipped away if one of Kerry's cousins hadn't called him over to watch a replay of a touchdown. Keegan followed too, though he didn't have the first clue about the sport. Instead, he sat beside Kerry and observed the amazing family he would soon call his own.

This is thriving.

The End!

A note about Sven and Dom's story: I had originally planned to release their novella in December, but I needed to push that back a month to accommodate changes in my personal life. I decided to revise the title of the book to be less Christmasy, though I will not skip over the events with Dom's family. No way! Prepare for a doozy! The new title is Starts With a Bang and better represents the overall story. If you preordered Fa la la Fabulous , you don't have to do anything else. The download date has already been revised on your purchase. If you haven't already preordered Sven and Dom's novella, you can do so here .

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