Page 27

Epilogue

Knova

Baylor examines the layout of the party, taking in the buffet on the porch, the big white tent on the lawn, and the proliferation of hockey players milling around. “This is quite the event. Although it seems excessive to have a chocolate fountain and a champagne fountain, don’t you think?”

“I disagree. They match.”

Baylor chuckles. “Good to see that marriage hasn’t made you any less extra.”

“I started off my marriage with two months of secrecy,” I remind him. “Were you worried that I was going to get boring?”

“Never. Although that does beg the question of whether this counts as your second marriage, or just a do-over.”

“We renewed our vows. Sober, and with no Elvises present.” I smooth my palms over the flowy legs of my white jumpsuit. The lace sleeves and shoulders make it look suitably wedding-y, but I feel more like myself than I would in some froufrou, cupcake gown. Sofia will slay in a dress like that, but it’s not my style.

“Hey.” Baylor nudges me. “What’s the matter?”

“I guess I was just thinking…” I bite my tongue. “Never mind.”

“About Mick?” he prompts. “It would make sense if you were.”

Baylor gets it. He knew Mick and won’t judge me for thinking about the guy I would have married, even as I celebrate my wedding. “I wish he was here. Is that weird? I wish he could see this. I know that doesn’t make sense. If I’d married him, I wouldn’t be with Viktor. And I’m glad I am, but I wish I could share this with him.”

Baylor places a hand on my back. “I get it. You two were really close. It makes sense to want your best friend at your wedding.”

“You’re my best friend.”

Baylor snorts. “Please. I could never hold a candle to that guy.”

The funny thing is, he’s right about what I’m missing right now. I can picture Mick’s face, how wide his smile would be, how he’d tell me that the jumpsuit suited me, how he’d thump Vik on the back and congratulate him. Mick wasn’t the jealous sort. He would have had nothing but nice things to say, and he’d have meant every word.

“You’re lucky,” Baylor says.

I sniff. “Yeah? Why’s that?”

“You’ve had two amazing men fall head over heels for you. True love, twice in one lifetime? That’s incredible.”

“It is,” I admit, blinking back tears. “And the second time feels… more real. Like I chose it, with eyes wide open. With all the scars and fear and everything that came before.”

Baylor bumps my shoulder. “You still got room in that big heart for more love?”

I follow my gaze to Viktor and smile. “Turns out, love doesn’t take up space. It makes more of it.”

He’s absolutely right. I am lucky. I scan the crowd in search of a shock of blond hair. Grady, Vivian, Vanessa, and the Abbotts are standing together, but I don’t see Viktor nearby. There’s no sign of Knight, either. After another quick scan of the guests, I finally spot Viktor standing next to the tent wall. Talking to my dad.

“Excuse me,” I say to Baylor. “I have to go save my husband from an uncertain fate.”

“Cool. I’m going to compare fountains and see which I like better. I feel like champagne would go flat getting cycled through a setup like that, but what do I know?”

We part ways. I make a beeline for Dad and Viktor, both of whom are holding champagne flutes and speaking in low, earnest tones. There’s enough ambient noise that I have to get close before I can hear what they’re saying.

The sight of Viktor laughing—unselfconscious and open, talking to the man who once hated his guts—makes my chest ache in the best way. That’s the kind of love I’ve got now. The kind that rebuilds, brick by brick.

Dad reaches out to poke Viktor’s chest. “I hope you’re enjoying this. Live it up. This is your big chance to be on my lawn. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Viktor frowns. “I thought things might be different now that I’m family.”

“You’d think,” Dad says. “But no.”

“Can I at least call you Dad?”

I sidle up to Viktor and loop my arm through his. “Definitely Dad, because Knight goes by Daddy.”

My father, halfway through taking a sip of champagne, splutters and coughs. Champagne spills down his chin. He has to lean forward to keep the bubbly liquid from staining his dress shirt. “For fuck’s sake.”

Mom saunters over. “Oh, dear. Knova, did you break your father?”

Viktor holds up three fingers and mouths, “Count the words.”

“He was out of warranty anyway. Speaking of Daddy—whoops, I mean Knight—has anyone seen him?” I look around once again. No twin. I’m not saying that his absence is ominous, but it certainly is suspicious.

Mom gives me one of her dreamy, knowing smiles. “I’m sure he’ll turn up. In the meantime, Viktor, I want to make it very clear that we’re all so glad to have you as part of the family.” She touches Dad’s arm meaningfully, like she’s urging him forward.

“Yes, we are.” Dad gives Viktor a wary once-over. “But don’t go thinking that gives you special lawn privileges.”

“We’re going to mingle, okay?” I give Viktor’s arm a little tug. “There are some people I want him to meet.”

Viktor, still looking stunned, lets me lead him away. “Is he serious about the grass?” he whispers. “I knew he was protective, but I married his daughter. And he’s still obsessing over the lawn?”

I try not to laugh. “You stepped one foot on the edge while unloading the vow renewal centerpieces this morning. He hit you with the hose, remember?”

Viktor scowls, rubbing his damp shoulder like it’s a war wound. “I thought that was an accident.”

“Nothing Dad does to protect the lawn is an accident.” I squeeze his hand. “Consider it a baptism. He has priorities. I know my place. Now, we’re going to take a quick detour for some chocolate, and then I want to introduce you to a couple of my friends from the service…”

We spend the next couple of hours hanging out with our friends and family. Baylor was right about the champagne fountain, but I still say it was worth it. Sure enough, Knight shows up about halfway through the party. I catch him giving Viktor a thumbs-up. I’m too busy introducing Ella to Vivian and Vanessa to wonder what scheme they’re cooking up now.

By the time people start to trickle away from the party, I’m pleasantly buzzed and giddy over having spent so much time with people I love.

Dad watches Viktor help me into the passenger seat of his car.

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive?” Dad asks, voice heavy with suspicion.

“Yes, sir. I stopped drinking over an hour ago.” He closes the door behind me.

With all the doors closed, their voices are a bit muffled, but I can clearly hear Dad say, “Take care of her, Viktor.”

“Yes, sir.”

“If you do anything to hurt her—”

“I won’t. No threats necessary.”

“...Good.”

To my absolute astonishment—and, apparently, my father’s, too—Viktor retraces his steps for one of those manly, back-slapping hugs that guys give each other. It’s not just a hug. It’s Viktor stepping into a space he’s always wanted to belong to and being welcomed there—for real this time. Not just tolerated. Trusted.

It’s enough to make me tear up a little. I’m so glad Dad’s willing to give Viktor a second chance.

I’m glad I did, too.

Viktor climbs into the driver’s seat and backs us out of the driveway. I close my eyes and revel in the lingering euphoria of a successful party.

We head out wrapped in a quiet bubble of contentment, the kind that only comes after a hard-won ending. And a new beginning.

Once we’re out of the neighborhood, Viktor lays a hand on my knee. “Did you have a nice time?”

“Yes. So much fun. Everyone was there.”

“I think your father and I have turned the corner.”

I place a hand over his and let out a contented sigh. “I do, too. Life is so perfect.”

“I don’t know. I feel like… we’re missing something.”

“You do? I can’t imagine how anything could be better than it is right now.”

“Really?” Laughter brightens the edges of Viktor’s voice. “You don’t get lonely when I’m on the road?”

I open one eye. “Oh, hell, no. I’m not ready to turn the wife experience into the Mom experience. Can we be a couple for a little bit first? I don’t even want to talk about it yet.”

He chuckles at some joke I’m not privy to. “Well, this is awkward. I thought you’d make the perfect… pawrent.”

“I will. Eventually.”

“Isn’t there anything that might make life feel more… complete?”

I nudge his hand away and sit up. “Okay, I see that you’re not letting this go. What have you done?”

“Me?” Viktor flutters his eyelashes. “What makes you think I’ve done something?”

“When have you not?”

He busts out a laugh that fills the car. “Guilty as charged. I’ll show you when we get home.”

“Does this have anything to do with why Knight was missing for half the event?”

“I guess you’ll have to see,” Viktor says. He’s so infuriatingly smug that I don’t know if I want to smack him or kiss him. Then again, given our general proclivities, why pick one?

Horny thoughts aside, I’m wary as I follow Viktor into our house. I don’t know what I’m expecting, but Viktor never does anything by halves. I wouldn’t put it past him to have arranged for something unforgettably weird. A life-sized voodoo doll onesie so that he can embody my portrait of him? A live band set up in our living room, ready to break into a Nona Gaye song in homage to the girl I thought he cheated on me with? Anything’s possible, really.

But there’s no onesie, and no band. And instead of leading me to the bedroom for some hot sex, which would at least align with the clues he’s given me, he takes me to the downstairs bathroom.

“Ready?” he asks.

I frown at the door. I’m not sure how I feel about bathroom surprises. “Probably not, but there’s only one way to find out.”

Viktor opens the door with a flourish to reveal…

A litter box and a grumpy plush fish.

I stare at the unused litter pan for a long moment. It takes me a moment to parse that the thing shaped like an anglerfish with an open mouth is a pet bed. I’m about to ask if Viktor is suggesting that we should get a cat when I hear the low rumble that would, in a horror film, presage a demonic possession.

I was wrong. He already got the cat.

“Um.” Viktor peers over my shoulder. “Sorry, this is anticlimactic. Are you in there, little guy?”

I step inside the bathroom and squat down in front of the pet bed. “Come on out,” I coo.

A pair of bright eyes flash from the fish’s mouth. They’re smaller than I expected. The sounds coming from that open maw made me think I was dealing with a ten-pound bruiser, but the scale of those eyes suggests a kitten.

I clap my hands to my cheeks. “Viktor. You got me a hater!”

And somehow, it’s perfect. The little chaos goblin with a purr like a jet engine. I think Mick would’ve approved. Hell, I think he’d have laughed his ass off.

“Hold on, the rescue lady told me how to handle this. He’s a sucker for Churu.”

I glance over my shoulder. “What in the fresh hell is Churu?”

Viktor reaches for a plastic tub that’s been left on the bathroom counter and extracts a small rectangular pouch. He hands it to me. The label says, Chicken.

“Ew.” I open the tube and sniff the contents. “It’s like the worst possible version of GoGurt.”

“Says you.” Viktor tips his chin to the cat bed. “Look.”

A tiny pink nose has emerged from the anglerfish’s mouth, sniffing furiously. An orange face follows. The kitten stares at me, caught between his hatred of the world and his desire for the chicken slurry I’m holding.

“Come here,” I coax. “I’m gonna love you so hard, you’re not gonna be able to resist me.”

The kitten takes a few more cautious steps forward, and my heart swells three sizes, nearly Grinching its way right out of my chest. We never had pets growing up, though I always wanted one. Dad didn’t want a dog to mess up his lawn, and they both traveled enough for work that it would have been difficult to juggle another obligation. But Viktor knows all that, because he was there for all of it.

“He’s so evil!” I whisper.

Viktor hums in agreement. “I saw him and thought of you.”

At last, the kitten braves the giant, unknown world for a taste of highly desirable chicken goop. He pads over to me and starts licking the open package. Before long, his growl is replaced with a purr much louder than his tiny body should be able to produce. When he’s done with his snack, he crawls into my lap and curls up.

“I probably should have told you to change,” Viktor says.

I pet the kitten, marveling at his soft fur, at how easily he trusts me even though we’re strangers. “It’s fine. I’ll have to take this outfit to the dry cleaner, anyway. Get ready for an infinity of cat hair, by the way. I can already tell he’s going to be a shedder.”

My orange menace is wearing a tiny lime-green collar, which sports a purple heart ID tag. As the kitten drifts off to sleep, I flip the tag over to see the name already printed on the other side:

Savage.

I laugh through the lump in my throat. Of course he did. Viktor always saw me—even when I didn’t want to be seen. Especially then.

I scratch behind the kitten’s ears, my gaze drifting to my husband as he watches me like I’m the best thing he ever risked loving. Maybe I am.

Maybe we both are.

Somehow, in a life I never saw coming, I got everything I didn’t know I needed.

And just maybe… it’s safe to start wanting, too.

###

Thank You for Reading!

I’m so grateful you took this wild, snarky, sexy ride with Viktor and Knova. (And honestly... who ever thought those two would make it to the second and official “I do”? Not even me for a hot minute.)

Their story was one of stubbornness, heartache, laughter—and finding home in the last place they expected. I hope they made you swoon, laugh, maybe scream into a pillow once or twice, and believe in messy, complicated love.

But guess what?

The chaos is just getting started.

If you read Zamboner, you met Declyn Murphy, inventor of the huggle. Well, his equally swoony son, Bowen’s book, Chips & Checks, is coming next!

He’s cocky. He’s reckless. He’s the Venom’s ultimate bad boy—and the one player Violet Sawyer swore she'd never, ever touch.

Except rules were made to be broken.

Preorder Chips & Checks today and get ready for forced proximity, forbidden heat, and Bowen breaking every damn rule he ever made.

Turn the page for an exclusive sneak peek at Chips & Checks !