Page 42

EPILOGUE

Grayson

I looked at Henry from the passenger seat of his brand new, fully repaired Toyota. While I preferred to see him behind the wheel of my Porsche, I also knew that if we were going to do this—have a relationship—I needed to let Henry drive the car sometimes. Figuratively, and physically.

“You sure about this?” I asked.

Henry’s shoulders loosened and he pursed his lips. He nodded. “Yes.” His answer was solid, confident.

Ever since the other night—the night Henry finally opened up and let me in—it was like he was a different person.

Not as tense, not as scared.

I reached out to take his hand, squeezing it with support. “Okay then, let’s go have ourselves a gay old time, baby,” I teased.

Henry let go of my hand, opening the door, and I did the same.

It didn’t take long to find Giselle, who was in the center of the room occupying three high top tables. The party was there, plus Drew and the florist.

“Hey guys, I’m so glad you could make it,” Giselle said, giving us both warm hugs.

Henry hugged her back genuinely. “Hey.”

“Aaron’s angling for a rematch,” Mia said as she hugged her brother.

“A rematch?” I asked, looking between them.

Henry let go of her, rolling his eyes. “It’s nothing, just—”

“Henry scored the winning point that other night when we faced off in the billiards,” Giselle shrugged. “I told him I’d love to see him whoop your ass in a game, and then when Aaron heard you both were coming...”

“What do you say, Gray? You up for a challenge?” Aaron cracked a smile over his beer.

I shot my boyfriend—God, I still felt my damn heart race every time I called him that—a dirty look.

“You think you can beat me?” I asked, licking my lips. I hoped Henry would take my bait.

And he did. Like the good boy he was.

He brattily flipped his dark hair out of his eyes, shrugging. “I know I can,” he said.

Oh, it’s on, baby.

“I will hold you to that,” I said, as Aaron fist pumped the air.

“Yes! Gray’s on my team!” he hollered.

“Then Henry’s on mine, “ Riley rebutted.

“I hate to break it to you, guys, but it looks like the table’s taken,” Julie pointed to the corner.

I could see a group of three men hanging out, not playing, but taking up the space nonetheless. Riley crossed his arms.

“Well, we’ll just have to ask them nicely to move.” Aaron shrugged, chugging the remains of his beer. “Or we’ll have to challenge them. Winner takes the table.”

“I’m down with that,” Henry said, interjecting.

The smile that formed on my face was impossible to hide. I slid my arm around Henry’s shoulders, pulling him close, my lips at his ear.

“Winner takes the loser in the backseat of your car,” I whispered, knowing it would throw him off.

Henry cast me a sly look. “I’m going to make you swallow that promise,” he whispered back, grinning wickedly.

“I’m counting on it, baby,” I said as he slid his arm around my waist, and we walked toward the billiards knowing we’d already won the game.

Because as far as I was concerned, there was no greater victory than happily ever after.