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Epilogue
Serena - 1 year later
“So what’d you think?” I hold Archer’s shoulder for balance as I bend down to slip off my heels. “You have an okay time?”
“Yeah.” He shrugs, closing the front door before heading over to the living room. “It was fun.”
I hide a smile, going over to give Petey a quick pat where he’s lounging in his dog bed in the corner, and join Archer on the couch.
“I’m being serious,” he insists, seeing my expression. “Gabriel and Mackenzie know how to put on a party.”
“Well, they’re professionals.”
“What do you think they’ll do for their wedding? If their engagement party was that big, I can’t imagine what the actual day will be like.”
He chuckles softly. “I don’t know.” He pats his lap, motioning for me to place my feet there. I gladly reposition myself, sighing in relief as he massages my heels. Over the last year, he’s learned his own massage tricks I frequently take advantage of.
“I saw Mackenzie’s mom had you cornered at one point. Sorry I couldn’t save you.” I’d actually enjoyed chatting with a few of Gabriel’s friends who were interested in starting their own nonprofit. New Beginnings is thriving, enough that we’re considering opening another building in Brooklyn.
“It was fine,” he says, digging his thumb into my arch and releasing the tension there. “I just feel bad for Gabriel. He’s the one that’s going to have her as a mother-in-law.”
“Oh God, I overheard her saying the cringiest thing to them earlier. Something about how she better get grandchildren soon. Mackenzie looked about ready to muzzle her.”
Archer stiffens slightly. “What’d Gabriel say?”
“Oh, he laughed it off. Said eventually they’ll have enough kids to make their own baseball team.”
He gives me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“What is it?”
He looks up at me. “Hmm?”
I lean forward and touch the wrinkle between his brows. “You’re worried about something.”
He relaxes his face, but there’s still a lingering tension there. “It’s nothing.”
I give him a look, which he correctly interprets based on his sigh.
“I’m at a new company this week,” he admits, “and this lady made a comment I can’t get out of my head.”
Archer does freelance consulting for businesses now, which is great because he can pick and choose how often he works, and he never lacks for clients because who wouldn’t want advice from the former CFO of a major corporation? After six p.m., though, we have a strict no work policy at home. We value our time together too much. “What’d she say?”
“Well, she was the receptionist there. Super grandmotherly type. She asked if I had kids and I said no, I hadn’t really thought about it before.”
His fingers move to the ball of my foot and I wiggle my toes as I relax further into the couch. “Okay…”
“She went on to tell me I’d be a great dad. I mean, I’ve never even met this lady. I had no clue how to respond.”
Admittedly, yes, kind of weird for a stranger to say that, but I don’t know why he’s so worked up. “I know we haven’t discussed it much, but I’d like to have kids with you one day. I think you’ll be an amazing dad.”
“Not like Gabe. Or Connor.”
I study him for a moment. “What are you really worried about?”
He’s silent for a minute as he continues the massage, his fingers magical as they soothe my tired feet. “You don’t think I’ll be like…” He doesn’t finish his sentence, but I know exactly where his mind is.
“Your dad?”