Epilogue

Reed

It wasn't long before Wells was back to his old games. Rumor has it around Rixton that Wells landed himself in some hot water—trouble that's got the police involved. All I can hope is that whatever he's tangled up in doesn't lead investigators to our door to question Tate. We managed to get Wells to leave her alone, and I don't want her dragged into it or to rehash the past.

"To the end of the season!" Colter exclaims, raising his beer for a toast.

We all clink our cups together and cheer, "To the end of the season," before finishing our drinks.

We fought hard to make the playoffs this year, and it's crushing for it to come so close only to lose in the SAC championship to the Panthers. We played a hell of a game, but they were the better team in the end. They made some big moves in the offseason, and it showed.

It's tough that our season is over, and now we're left watching the playoffs from the sidelines. This wasn't how I'd hoped to ring in the new year.

I step out onto the patio to refill my cup and Tate's with the juice concoction the girls made earlier, then head into the house, where Tate and the other girls are on the makeshift dance floor in the living room.

Without missing a beat, Tate continues dancing as I approach, pressing my chest against her back. I hand her the drink I got for her, and she raises her cup, clinking it with mine before taking a sip.

Tate slides her hand down my forearm and laces her fingers with mine as we dance and sway to the music. She sings along to the songs and cheers with Hallyn and Ava.

The music cuts out briefly, and someone shouts from the far side of the room, "Two minutes until midnight!" Tate spins in my arms to face me, her palm gliding up my chest.

I'm too distracted by her red-tinted lips—maybe from the juice or her lip gloss—to think about anything else. All I want to do is kiss her.

"Do you have your wish ready?" Tate shouts over the music.

"Wish?" I ask, furrowing my brows.

"You're supposed to make a wish at midnight. Whatever you want for the new year, you wish for it, and it's supposed to come true."

I finish off my beer, wanting my hands free when the clock strikes midnight. I grip her hips and pull her against me, sliding my hands down over her ass.

"Why do I need to make a wish when I have everything I want right here?"

Tate bites back a smile. "There's nothing else you want? Even for our future?"

"Sweetheart, as long as I have you, I'm a happy man. I don't need anything else."

She leans up on her tiptoes and kisses me. As the music dims and the countdown begins, Tate keeps her eyes locked on mine. When we reach "one," everyone shouts, "Happy New Year!"

Tate closes her eyes, her lips moving silently as she makes her wish. I do the same, though I already have what I want—it's her. Still, I make a wish for our future.

When I open my eyes, Tate's smile is beaming at me. Leaning down to kiss her, she opens her mouth for me, her tongue tangling with mine. My fingers dig into her ass, holding her close. After we break the kiss, struggling to catch our breath, she murmurs in my ear, "What did you wish for?"

"I thought you weren't supposed to tell anyone your wish, or it won't come true?"

She smiles and finishes her drink, adding it to the cups on the nearby table. Her eyes are heavy with her buzz when she faces me, her slow smile confirming it. Her fingers slide up my chest and around my neck, pulling me close.

"Meet me upstairs in five minutes," she whispers in my ear, nipping my earlobe. I suck in a sharp breath, my gaze locked on hers.

When she puts a finger to her lips, signaling me to keep quiet, I nod, watching her slip into the crowd and head toward the stairs. I squeeze my eyes shut, knowing whatever she has planned for me, I'm about to be tortured in the best fuckin' way.

I slip into the kitchen, down a shot of vodka, and check the time. I navigate through the room, avoiding our friends, and head upstairs to our bedroom.

Both of our doors are closed. We've talked about moving my desk into her room and turning my room into our bedroom. Since my bed is a king and she brought a twin with her, it makes the most sense to keep mine.

I test the handle of the door to my room, finding it dark inside. I almost think I've gone to the wrong room when I hear her call out for me not to leave. I push the door open and step inside, closing it behind me.

As soon as I lock the door, she reaches over and turns on the bedside lamp, illuminating the room and revealing the scene I've just walked into.

Tate lies in the middle of our bed, wearing nothing but her black lace bra and matching panties.

That's not the only thing that captures my attention. When she catches me eyeing the purple vibrator next to her, she grins.

Her hair fans out on the pillow around her, and her legs are bent and spread open for me, giving me a perfect view from where I stand at the foot of the bed.

"Mmm," I hum, raking my eyes over her body. "Is this what you wished for, sweetheart?"

She nods, dragging her lip between her teeth.

"I thought it was time for you to see what you missed the day you came home and caught me using my toy."

My nostrils flare. "You gonna let me watch you, Tate?"

She slowly nods. "It felt like forever since a man had touched me. I almost forgot what it was like. I turned on the video and laid it on the bed next to me so I could hear the sounds they made, but in my mind, I pictured it was you and me."

I clench my teeth, fighting the urge to crawl on the bed with her. As much as I'm dying to take what we both want and bury my face between her legs, I'm letting her call the shots on this one.

"Show me, baby. I want to see how you would make yourself come."

She reaches next to her for the vibrator to flick it on, and a low buzzing sound comes to life. I almost forget how to breathe when she traces it over her nipple, through her bra, and down her stomach before she positions it on her clit.

"Take your panties off for me. I want to see how wet you are," I grunt, gripping my dick through my jeans.

Her eyes snap to where I'm jerking myself off through my jeans, her tongue tracing across her lips.

She lifts her hips and shimmies out of her panties, kicking them off her legs before she reclines on the pillows again.

When she opens her legs and I see how wet she is for me, it's more than I can take. I unzip my pants and push them over my hips to free my dick, gripping my hard length tight in my hand.

Tate lifts her vibrator to her mouth, sucking on the end before she positions it between her legs again, brushing it over her clit.

"Oh fuck, Reed," she moans, and I release my hand to hold myself off from coming at the sight of her.

"Unhook your bra, Tate. Let me see your beautiful tits."

She fumbles at first, trying to unclasp her bra. Not bothering to take it off entirely, she lets it fall open. When she resumes using her vibrator, she dips lower to thrust it into her pussy.

"Jesus, Tate, you're fucking dripping."

Her body trembles, and her gaze loses focus briefly before settling on where I'm fisting my dick. Remembering how she said she listened to the video and imagined the sounds they made were us, I give her more of what she wants.

Widening my stance, I reach between my legs to cup my balls and slide my hand over my length, focusing on the tip.

Rolling my head back, I thrust into my fist and groan.

"Look at what you do to me, Tate." I brush my finger over the tip, swiping the bead of precum, and hold my hand out to show her.

She adjusts her position; her legs and stomach start to quiver.

"You're close, aren't you, baby?"

She nods, her breath coming out in heavy pants.

I'm unable to resist waiting any longer, and I crawl on the bed between her legs and take over where she's fucking herself with her vibrator.

When she relaxes on the pillow, I lean in and swipe my tongue over her clit.

"Oh God, don't stop," she groans, threading her fingers into my hair.

Her movements grow erratic, wildly tugging on the strands to hold me against her. I flick my tongue along her swollen clit, moving lower to taste her cum.

She gasps, confirming she's close. Her body tenses, and it hits her all at once. I hum against her, lapping at her pussy.

When she starts to float down to reality, I pull the vibrator out and switch it off before I thrust deep inside her.

She wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me on top of her. Leaning on my forearms, I cage her in and keep our eyes locked. My hips piston hard, fucking her until I'm certain neither of us will be able to stand after this.

I don't care about the party going on downstairs. They can continue to drink and have fun.

When we both come again, I collapse on the bed beside her. She turns to face me, resting her hand against my cheek.

"You want to know what I wished for?"

"And risk it not coming true?" I question.

She shakes her head. "I'm not worried." She smiles, leaning in to kiss me. "All I want is to grow old with you."

I roll her over again, pinning her beneath me.

"Is that all? Nothing else?"

"I mean, I wouldn't mind everything else that comes along with it. You know, marriage, family, a house of our own."

Six months ago, the idea of marriage and kids felt like a distant dream. It wasn't even something I imagined for myself, let alone thought I'd find someone I could picture a future with.

You'll know when you find your Sunny.

I understand now what Hayes meant when he said he knew Everly was the one. Looking back, I think I knew it too, but I was too scared to admit it to myself or to Tate. Neither of us was looking for a relationship when she moved in, and revealing my feelings felt like it might push her away.

It was hard to grasp when Hayes said he'd give up everything he ever dreamed and worked for if it meant keeping Everly. I saw the world chew him up and spit him out. It wasn't until she came along that he found his love of football again. What he meant was she showed him what truly mattered in life.

"I want all those things too, sweetheart, and I want them with you."

Tate wraps her arms around my neck, and I lean in to kiss her, her smile widening against my lips.

When I pull back to stare at her, it's with the realization that she's mine, and for the first time in my life, I don't have to worry about losing her too.

* * *

Thank you so much for reading The Fouls We Make!