Xerxes laughs. “I love it when you tell me what to do, Aurora. You know I have a thing for older women, right?” I hear a smack from the foyer and none of us bother to check. Xerxes laughs. “You know I’m going to enjoy fucking up your entire life for that. I love it when a woman knows what I like and you’re just so damned cute. Bite-size and all. Let’s go, future Mrs. Hanlon.”
“Over my dead body, little boy,” Rory answers.
“I’ll chase you until we’re on the same page and then we’ll see who’s little,” Xerxes says and the door shuts.
I shudder, this is weird as fuck. I look at Jagger and he smirks. “Finally, there’s going to be a Jagger and Oran relationship. Oran Hanlon.”
I roll my eyes, laughing. I need a drink. “Daddy, how do I look?” Bethany asks from behind me.
“Your skirt is too short. Go change.” I don’t even look at her.
“Dad!” she stomps her foot.
“Andy, if she stomps her foot again, you’ll both stay home,” I say turning to face them.
Andy grabs his little sister and starts to walk out of the house. “We’re going to be back a little late. We’re only taking the Range! Bye mom!”
“Bye baby,” Ainslee says, distracted by the movie Jagger has found.
I grab my drink and join them on the couch. “Should I call Mr. Wong’s?” I ask them.
“Hell yeah!” we all say.
Ainslee cuddles into my arms as we relax and it’s surreal that we all started as something else but now, us four, we’re still here. We’re all happy, in love, and we’re like one big family. Life is great.
Not all arrangements are bad, some have an expiration date, some spoil, but others, like ours, end in bliss because we chose happiness and love over bitterness and suffering.
THE END
