He kisses me in earnest and we fall back onto the bed, content just to hold each other. “I love you, Phoebe James. You’re my family now.”
THE END
Epilogue
Ty
“We’re gonna be late,” Phoebe whines as her naked body writhes beneath mine.
“I’ll drive fast,” I promise, spreading her legs wide and propping the backs of her thighs on my shoulders. “Have pity, baby. I’m starving.”
She sighs as I feast my mouth on her sex, licking and sucking and tasting. God, how is it always this good? I cup my hands under her ass and hold her close while I drive into her with my tongue.
“Ty. Oh, god. Please. Don’t stop, I--” she pleads, but she shouldn’t worry. I have no intention of stopping until she comes on my tongue. Her hands grip my hair as I worship her, wringing every ounce of pleasure from her as she finds her release.
I come down from the high and look up at my girlfriend. Even all these months later, I’m struck by her beauty, just as I was the day we met. I crawl up her body, brush a kiss on her lips, and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “I love you, Phoebe.”
She smiles. “I love you.”
Reluctantly, I crawl out of bed and make my way to the shower, turning on the spray to warm up the water. I step under the spray and Phoebe joins me, sinking to her knees to take me in her mouth. “Fuck, baby,” I tell her, bracing myself against the shower wall. “We don’t have time. You--”
She grips the base of my cock firmly and sucks me deep. Holy Jesus. I may not survive this shower. The water beats down on her back and makes trails down her spine. I’m captivated by the slope of her shoulders, the curve of her neck, and the sweet warmth of her mouth as she milks me dry.
I could make love to Phoebe James every day for the rest of my life, and still want more. I give her my hand and she stands before me on shaky legs, so I lift her and place her on the bench seat and proceed to wash her hair and her body. Worshipping her is my favorite thing to do.
Soon enough, we’re dry and dressed, and loading our stuff into my car to make the drive to Delaware for Thanksgiving with Missy and Sam. But before we get there, we have an important stop to make.
***
Phoebe
A few miles from my mom’s house, Ty pulls to a stop in a small parking lot. We get out of the car and hold hands as I lead him across the still-wet grass onto the paved path. It rained all week, and we’re supposed to get snow this weekend, but for now, the skies are clear and the sun is shining down.
He squeezes my hand as we veer off the path and make our way to a bench in the clearing. Sam had it installed a few years ago. We sit, quiet for a moment, content to just breathe.
Finally, I lean forward and trace my hands along the cool gray stone in front of me.Dylan Dawson James.
“Hey, big brother. This is Ty. I’ve talked to you about him before, and we’re on our way to see Mom and Sam, but I wanted to formally introduce you first.”
Ty clears his throat, as though he’s nervous to address my older brother, rather than freaked out to be talking to a headstone. And that's one of the many things I love about him. He hasn’t questioned any of this. He knows it’s what I need, and so it’s what I have.
“Dylan, I, uh...I just want you to know that I love your sister with everything I am, everything I have. And I promise I’ll show her that love everyday.”
I lean into his frame, holding him close so he knows just how much his words mean to me. We stay a little while longer, before saying our goodbyes. Not a day will go by that I won’t miss my brother, but I feel a peace about his passing that I’ve never felt before. Sometimes I think that if there is a heaven, surely Dylan’s there. And if lost loved ones become angels, then surely, he’s mine. I finger the medallion I still wear around my neck. I miss him like crazy and I wish like hell he was still here, but I’d like to think he’s up in heaven with a dog in his lap and plate full of French fries drizzled with mustard. And that he sees my mom and Sam and Ty and me and that our happiness has brought him peace.
***
We’re both quiet on the short trip to my mom’s house. Our hands are clasped over the center console and we’re content to just sit in each other’s company for a little while. Before too long, we pull into the driveway, and that sense of calm evaporates.
I can see Ty’s shoulders tense up as he rests his hands on the steering wheel. I unbuckle my seatbelt and turn, leaning forward to rest my hand on his forearm. “Hey, it’s ok. They’re going to love you.”
He looks at me like I’m crazy, and I see where he’s coming from. We have a complicated history. Or, more accurately, our families do. But we’re putting all that behind us. “I’m serious. When I told you it was all over and that I chose you, I meant it. Those weren’t just words, Ty. All of that--all of it-- is behind us.”
“Behind us? Yes. But, your mom? Sam? Jesus. I’m fully expecting the guyto clock me the minute I pass the threshold. And then your mom is going to take one look at me and be catapulted back in time.”
I roll my eyes. “Dramatic much?”
“Phoebe…”
