Page 154 of Sinners Reunion

“Sounds like my sort of vacation,” King says.

Aven smiles. “Then it’s settled. I’ll get the details together and send them over.”

Everyone heads off to gather their things and load into their campers, leaving only Frankie and Maverick standing with us.

“See you in the office Monday?” Frankie asks.

King shakes his head. “No, that’s not my office anymore. As of eleven p.m. last night, it’s yours. I moved up my retirement. I’ll work as your consultant now.”

Frankie shakes her head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Then say nothing,” he says with a shrug. “There’ll be time for talking later. I’m not going anywhere. I won’t miss another second of your lives.”

“Thanks . . .”

“You can still call me King. I haven’t been Grantham Carter in a long time, though that’s still my name on paper.”

“No,” Frankie says. “I was trying to decide between Dad and Daddy.”

King looks at me. “Let’s go with Dad.”

“In Bennett’s stead, I’ll say it.” Maverick grimaces. “Gross.”

The two of them head into the house, and then there were two.

All the kids got their happy endings. They reconciled with their dad, and they’re off to begin their lives with their partners.

King and I got our happy ending too. We plan to take it easy now. Retirement is already looking good on him, and he’s only just gotten started.

As for everyone else—Grim and Rose, Eve, Jim, and Ice Pick—who knows what’s in store for them? I’m sure we’ll find out, though, no matter where they end up or what they’re doing. Families like these are shit at keeping secrets.

King wraps his arm around me. “It’s been quite the adventure, hasn’t it?”

I lean my head against his shoulder. “I’m sad that it’s over. But I’m glad that it happened.”

He pulls me in and kisses me. “Me as well, my beauty. Me as well.”

Epilogue

Three Months Later

King

Itold the girl I don’t dance. Did she listen? Of course not. She’s taken it upon herself to turn my arena in Wisconsin into a dance floor. Gary gives us the thumbs-up from the DJ booth, and I just scrub my hands down my face.

Kenny takes off from Jim’s shoulder as feedback squeals through the speakers. Jim takes off after the bird. Gary winces and cuts the volume, then shrugs his shoulders.

“I can’t remember the steps,” I say to Josie as she plants her hands on her hips.

She stands on tiptoe in her boots and kisses me. “That’s okay, Cowboy Cocksure. It’ll give your kids a laugh to see you look stupid.”

I roll my eyes and look down at the dance floor. It’s made of glass, so we can clearly see the Cattle positioned on their backs on the ground beneath it. It’s locked in place right now, but controls in the DJ booth allow it to move on the Cattle each time we stomp on the thick glass.

And we will be stomping. This line dance demands it.

Chef Maurice steps into the arena and takes a look around. I never would have pegged him as a dancer, but the moment Josie mentioned line dancing, his eyes lit up.

I wave him over as Josie wanders off to check on the sound issues.