Page 112 of Exile

I nod. "And she still doesn't know?"

Damon smirks. "I told her you were out having a couple's massage."

"For fuck sake," Theo curses under his breath, stalking toward the kitchen. "What did I do to deserve this circus of horrors?"

"Murdered someone!" I call out cheerfully, careful as to not wake little killer.

"And you'll be next," he replies back without missing a beat before disappearing from sight.

When it's just the two of us, plus a sleeping Avery, I glance around, spotting a gift bag on the coffee table. My eyebrows shoot up, piqued with interest. "What's that?"

"Take a look."

I stroll over, opening the top of the gift bag before swinging around to face him, holding back a laugh. "You didn't…"

"Did."

Lifting the brand new blender out of the bag, I grin. "Finally got my blender."

"For smoothies and shit though. No dicks."

"This is justperfect," I murmur happily, putting it on the coffee table and heading over to the discarded box on the floor.

Damon groans. "Do I want to knowwhy…?"

I reach inside the box, lifting a plastic bag up. "Avery said she was thinking of getting a pet. So, I bought a goldfish on the way home!"

He rubs a hand over his face, shaking his head. I ignore hisobviousexcitement about our new roommate, popping the lid off the top of the blender. Upturning the plastic bag, I dump the water and goldfish through the glass rim.

"You know," I start, stepping back to admire myhandiwork as the goldfish swims around, probably wondering where the fuck he is and why he's in a kitchen appliance and not a proper fish tank. "I think I'll call him Sam."

Epilogue 2

Avery

** Six Months Later **

I smile at the lilies blooming by the entrance way, the white and pink petals fully open as they welcome us inside.

Damon has really outdone himself. Stepping inside the foyer, nothing reminds me of before. The new blue marble flooring leads to a large electric fireplace. A reception desk to the side sits where Whitface's office used to be before we bulldozed the whole thing and made it a memorial wall.

Photos hang on the new wall, portraying the smiling faces of the people we've loved and lost.

Lily. Paige. My mom. Theo's sister, Madison. Leighton.

Everyone who played an important role in us arriving to this moment is honored, their memories no longer tarnished by hate and lies.

The walls throughout the building are painted in every bright color imaginable. That was my idea—much to the hesitation of Damon. I think it worked out well though. There's not a shade of gray anywhere, even if the building is a regurgitated rainbow as a whole.

"You made it!" A familiar voice announces, the man walking out of an open side door. "Damon, Grey, Theo."

"Connor," Damon nods, shaking his hand.

Grey grabs my shoulders, giving me a little shake in excitement. "It's looking great."

Connor smiles, reaching out his hand to me in a show of respect. "It's lovely to see you again, Avery."

"Hey, Connor," I greet warmly, smiling at the new facility supervisor. "I heard the first new patients are arriving tomorrow."