Page 93 of The Air You Breathe

“Girl, I have that shit recording on DVR and I can’t wait to see her ass get arrested,” Jane said, as Darcy laughed.

“You should send her a letter with snapshots of the whole fucking thing that way that bitch can remember her fucking fall from grace,” Darcy said, and they both cackled.

“I’m going to make a fucking calendar and send it to her, maybe one every year she rots in jail!” Jane laughed.

We all chuckled watching them talk shit.

Evan and I walked over to the guys to say hello.

“You doing okay, man?” I asked Cal, shaking his hand.

“Yeah, I am,” he sighed. “I’ll feel even better when I know he’s not going to get out anytime soon.”

“No shit. I hope he stays there forever,” Nathan said, looking relieved too. “And Candy too.”

“Let’s hope, man,” Aiden added.

“He will and let’s hope she will too,” I said more confidently than I really felt. He had affected so many people it would just be better if no one heard from him again.

Everyone brought a dish over and more than one in Mary’s case, so we ate and drank the afternoon away.

My mom and Ava hounded me, making sure I was ok, asking me questions nonstop. Seeing them fuss over me was great, but seeing the change in them this past year had been even better. I never realized my mom had so much trauma from her time with Lucio, she was always worried he’d wanna start seeing her again. She looked so much better, so much healthier. She looked like a different person, making me wish we had done something sooner.

Evan seemed to be getting the same treatment from his mom and sister, but I knew this was a different story. He had to tell them what he did for his sister, and it was a rough couple of weeks for them, but his sister was the first to forgive him. His mom tortured him for a bit longer but finally gave in.

Jane and Darcy were pretty tipsy when Candy’s arrest came on the nightly news. They had a field day with her, cackling between themselves when Callum and the guys decided it was probably time for them to go.

Our parents decided it was time to leave too, giving us hugs and kisses, telling us to take care of Darcy or there would be hell to pay. Mary might not be Darcy’s mom, but she loved Darcy like her own, and that was more than enough. As I closed the door, I heard them talk about getting together for a girl’s night.

Our families had gotten along so well, accepting us with no questions asked, that it felt like a dream come true. We were lucky we had amazing women as our mothers.

“No! One more drink, please.” I heard Darcy protest when Evan picked her up, taking her upstairs.

I finished locking up the house, checking every window and door, an old habit that I knew was going to live with me forever. I grabbed a glass of water for Darcy, looked at the dirty dishes but decided they could wait till tomorrow. I was exhausted.

Darcy was pouting when I entered the room as Evan took her clothes off.

“Here, drink up or you're going to regret it tomorrow,” I said, bringing the glass up to her lips.

“I’ll be fine, I’m just tired,” she said, climbing into bed after Evan put one of his shirts on her.

I shook my head because a minute ago she was ready to keep drinking. I undressed quickly, sliding in so she could lay on my chest. She snuggled close to me laying a hand over my heart and the Camellia flowers I had tattooed there. Evan turned off the light before he crawled in, spooning Darcy.

“I love you and I'm so happy we found each other. I’m a lucky girl.” Darcy kissed my chest, then turned so she could kiss Evan. “Thank you for not making me choose.”

“I love you too, mhuirnín,” I said, kissing her head. “I’m glad we found each other and we get to build this life together that I never thought was possible.”

“I love you, baby,” Evan said, sounding a little muffled. “I never thought we would be here, and I definitely didn’t expect another man in our bed.”

Darcy giggled.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work because I want us to be the air you breathe when you’re sad, mad, orgasming and especially when you're happy. You’re the oxygen for our souls, making them burn brighter just because you exist. I can’t wait to see where life takes us next,” Evan said, as he leaned over stealing a quick kiss from her.

I kissed the top of her head feeling peace that I never knew was possible, until I met Darcy. We had an unconventional relationship, but it worked for us because Evan was right, the strongest shape was a triangle. We held each other up, giving all of us the stability we craved and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I couldn’t wait for our next chapter.

EPILOGUE

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