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Jesse clapped his hands together and stood. “I’d say our job is done here. No need to scour the internet, Phantom. It’s going to be fine.”
And it would.
We’d come full circle, and we were going to be okay.
EPILOGUE - PATRICK
Okay. I’m not going to lie. Knowing that photo was out there sent me into a small tailspin. Until I saw it, that is.
In the photo, Cole and I were leaning across the table toward each other, and the unguarded look of heart-stopping love on his face aimed at me diffused every bit of panic trying to interrupt my life. Then it became very simple. He loved me, and I loved him. Fuck what anyone else thought about it or us. He was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I refused to let that happen.
When Aidan and Jesse had gone back to the office, and Cole and the guys had gone back into the studio, I looked over at my new friend.
“If I wanted it down, could you do it?”
Michael grinned at me. “Fuck yes. And I could probably replace it with something that would be perceived to be just as scandalous, but not. Just say the word.”
It took me two seconds to make my decision. “No. It’s fine. But I do have an idea about something I want to run by you for the tour. Then take it to Aidan.”
“Yeah, let’s do it. We’ve got a lot to get started on.”
Six weeks later
My new job on the tour was more exhausting than I ever thought it would be. I was on high alert when people screamed about how much they loved and wanted my boyfriend and it began playing with my mind. But I knew the man on stage had eyes for nobody but me. And God knows I only saw him.
I missed my friends and that side of professional sports. But the physicality of the game itself, I didn’t miss. My only regret was missing Alex’s last year. He was retiring, like me, at the end of the season. But the good news was we’d see a lot more of each other. Just like we saw more of Simon and Jackson.
We rolled into Denver the second week of October, ready to play two shows. Cole and the guys were killing it on stage, and every night when he was finished, I waited for him with open arms. I’d missed that when we were apart.
I still had virtual visits with Donovan, even on the road. He was helping me desensitize my trauma so that I could fully heal. Truth be told, I may never stop seeing him after all this. I was learning so many things about who I was and using that understanding to help others.
We’d partnered with as many mental health organizations as possible to get the word out that mental health was equally important to physical health and taking care of yourself. In every venue Fallen Angel played, the guys shared someone’s story with the hope it might help even one person.
Tonight, that ‘someone’s story’ was mine… and a whole lot more he didn’t know about.
“You ready, baby?” I asked him as the crowd cheered and chanted.
“Yeah, are you? I can’t believe you got Liam here tonight. That set is so going to rock!”
I smiled. At my suggestion, Adam had asked his dad to come perform with him tonight. There was so much Cole didn’t know.
“Okay, drink the electrolytes and get ready. Take it from me: you need to replenish them before they’re gone.”
Cole smiled at me and did as I asked. “Okay, Daddy.”
He looked me over as he swallowed down the last bit. “Why are you so dressed up?”
I scoffed. “I’m not. Just jeans and a sweater. We are in Denver, ya know.”
Okay, when I found out how much he loved the outfit I wore to meet him in Seattle, I scoured the internet until I found another purple cashmere sweater like the one I’d been wearing. The jeans were easy. The sweater, not so much. I even had to get my BFF to help with his cyber wizardry.
“Dude, you can buy it straight from the designer’s website,” Phantom had supplied like it was so easy.
“Thank you, internet god. I’ll get right on that.”
He’d just laughed at me. For some reason, everyone loved my unfiltered mouth. Who knew?
“Good luck, babe. Have a great set!” I kissed Cole and pushed him toward the stage.
