Epilogue

One month later

Fighter stood in the middle of his dream house and couldn’t move. Someone could have knocked him over with a feather when Brick said the five-bedroom home was theirs.

“What? How?”

Brick walked back across the brightly lit kitchen that had stainless steel appliances, which Fighter absolutely loved. The granite counters and tiled floor were like something out of a magazine.

He’d been tricked and told they were stopping to visit one of Brick’s family, but that obviously had been a ploy.

When his wrist was caught and lifted, he gazed down and Brick placed a key in his hand.

“Happy engagement,” Brick said huskily.

He huffed a laugh, gazing into Brick’s face. “We aren’t engaged.” His mouth went dry at the seriousness in Brick’s eyes.

“I know it’s too fucking soon and all that, but you’re it for me, baby. If you don’t take me, I’ll live a long, sad, and lonely life.”

Fighter laughed. Oh my god did he laugh. He flung his arms around Brick and tucked his head against the man’s neck. Tears stung, but he was too happy to cry.

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes. It’s got to be the best engagement present ever. Who gives a house?” Fighter sniffled and drew back just enough to look into Brick’s eyes.

“I do.”

“My billionaire.”

“Only yours,” Brick agreed and locked their fingers together. “Come check out the back yard.”

Walking to the patio doors, Brick pulled open the blinds.

“Surprise!”

Fighter leaped back with surprise at all the grinning faces. Poppers went off and people started whooping and clapping.

“Oh my God.” Fighter covered his mouth and laughed.

“Surprise, baby. What’s an engagement without a party?” Brick said, opening the glass slider. With a hand on the small of his back, Brick urged him outside and into the noisy crowd. Even though it was now spring, the day was still cool and people were still dressed warmly.

Everyone from Cobalt Security and Suwan Guardians were there, as well as several members of Brick’s family and people from Brick Industries. Jenkins and Rock stood next to Brick’s mother and grandmother. Gunner had come and gone along with Felix, but he was on the mend. Most of the people he didn’t know, and he was introduced to so many of them that after a while he lost track.

He reached out his hand for Brick, who linked their fingers again. Everything felt so surreal, Fighter wanted to be pinched.

One thing that didn’t feel unreal was the man at his side and when Brick chuckled at something Hayden West said, Fighter found his eyes drawn upward.

Brick glanced down and then dipped his head and kissed him.

“I love you.”

Fighter sucked in a breath. It was the first time Brick had spoken the words.

Fighter’s heart was so full, it turned his own words breathy as he whispered his love back.

Brick had been sweating this for a while. He’d stressed over asking Fighter to marry him. He’d known he was going to do it today, just not when.

The ring box burned a hole in his pocket and Hayden and Syn were both looking at him expectantly.

So, when Fighter whispered shakily that he loved him, Brick took that moment.

He dropped to one knee, then opened the box with the diamond band inside. He held Fighter’s hand and gazed up into the man’s shocked eyes as they swept from the ring to his face.

“I’ve always worked fast my whole life. Things came easily to me because I had everything at my fingertips. You are the first thing in my world that I’ve ever wanted badly that I couldn’t have right away.”

“Hold out longer!” Someone shouted from the crowd and Fighter laughed, pressing his free hand over his mouth.

Brick smiled. “You made me work for it, baby. And I promise I will continue my efforts for the rest of my life.”

“You better,” Fighter said on a half laugh, half sob. “I’ll kick your ass if you don’t.”

The crowd erupted with laughter and Brick waited until the noise partially died down.

“Please, Fighter, will you marry me?”

“Yes, I will.”

Brick slid the ring onto Fighter’s finger and launched up to yank him into his arms. He’d done it. He’d just made Fighter his. He’d cemented their future together forever.

The crowd converged, and leading the way was XiXi, Shane, and the kids. Brick adored her, she had the same sweet nature as Fighter and she’d quickly agreed to share custody. They had one week on and one week off until the kids were older and in school, then they’d decide what to do.

Fighter’s mother had shown up one more time at Suwan Guardians, but Brick had reinforced that he and Fighter were now together and under his protection. She seemed to get the gist of what he was saying and disappeared. He’d heard from XiXi that she took the kids to visit every once in a while, but Mrs. Suwan had so far left Fighter alone.

Emma screamed with laughter when Spencer chased her around the yard and Brick smiled when Elijah waved his chubby arms while being held by Shelly. The boy was crawling already and would soon be walking and he wanted down.

Brick’s hope was that by the time Elijah was in preschool, he and Fighter would have their own child. He knew his mother would be on the hunt finding a surrogate after today.

All good things would come in time. Right now, he wanted Fighter all to himself on their off week.

After XiXi came, his mother and Brick held her tightly before passing her to Fighter. Brick watched as his love hugged Shelly and then shook hands with a good majority of his family.

It still amazed him that they’d started out as enemies, turned lovers, and would soon be married. Had this been their fate, their destiny all along?

Some might say they’d leaped into the engagement too soon. But that didn’t matter to Brick. They could talk all they wanted.

He had no regrets.

THE END

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