Page 74 of Crashing Together

Epilogue

Addi

“My own studio and store? Stop, Cole, this is too much.” The tears burst out of me like a waterfall, and I’m unable to contain them.

Cole wraps his arms around me from behind, squeezing tight. “It’s all yours, baby.”

“But … what? How?”

“Gramps had extra money after buying this place, and he gave it to me to fix it up. We made upgrades, and then both of us designed this for you.”

I turn and hug Cole tight before leaning back to kiss him. “Thank you.” And then I’m off, running around the store and studio, checking out every nook and cranny. My studio is set up just how I’d like it, with all my favorite supplies down to my favorite brand of paints and brushes. Even the décor is spot-on, moons and stars, glittery and shiny, in shades of gold, pink, and lilac.

“Wow, you know me well. I’m impressed.”

Cole grins. “Well, I can’t take all the credit. Your friend Leigh knows a lot more.”

I knew it. I’ll have to remember to thank her.

“What do you say? Work with me? Live with me? Be with me forever?”

I run over to him, jumping up into his arms as he grabs my ass, allowing me to wrap my legs around him. “Yes, yes, yes.”

We fall to the floor and christen every single inch of our new space together.

* * *

2 years later

“Addi, will you help me fix my dress? I look so fat I can’t stand myself.” Leigh wipes her forehead and rolls her eyes.

I giggle and adjust the back of her dress, fixing the several delicate buttons that line the entire thing, all the way down to the train. “You’re not fat. You’re pregnant.”

“Pssshh, you sound like Joe. And everyone else, for that matter. I look like a beached whale.”

I finish adjusting her and turn her to face me. “Relax, Leigh. You look amazing.”

“Oh, Addi. I can’t believe I’m standing here, getting married, and about to have a baby.” A few tears slip down her cheeks.

“Shhh, don’t cry. You’ll ruin your makeup.”

She swipes at her face. “I’m not crying; you’re crying.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s what everyone says,” I mimic her from a second ago. We both burst out laughing.

Leigh kept saying it would be me getting married first, me having babies first. But, no, I knew all along that she’d be settling in with Joe sooner rather than later, and I was right.

Honestly, I’m happy with things exactly how they are. Cole and I enjoy each other, and that’s all we need. We don’t need to get married, and I don’t think either of us is ready for kids.

We spend our days doing what we love—painting and surfing—and then we spend our nights together, usually with walks along the beach, fires in the backyard, or making love under the stars. Rocky is always with us, the furry guy holding a piece of my heart.

I moved into Cole’s house, but we spend a lot of nights in the apartment at the shop. Gramps keeps himself busy, but he’s around. He’s one of the best listeners I know. He needs to stop asking for a grandchild, though. It now has become an inside joke between us.

Brock and Jay come around all the time, and I love their company. Those goofs make me laugh for hours. Put Gramps in the mix, and I practically pee myself from all their jokes.

“I love our lives. We did good, girl.” I pull her in for a hug and squeeze as tight as I can without hurting her belly. “We did so good.”

“Yeah, we did. We fucking rock.”

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