Page 144 of Painted Truths

My throat closes as I try to swallow the ball of emotion that threatens to choke me, so the only thing I can do is nod.

I nod, again and again, tears filling my eyes and flowing freely as he leaps forward, catching me around the waist and spinning me around to the sound of several catcalls, the loudest being Caden, of course, even without a mic as an amplifier.

Setting me down onto quivering legs, Henry plants a hard kiss on my lips before licking the seam of my lips and drawing my tongue into his own mouth, swallowing my gasp of delight. He pulls back, bestowing me with his perfect grin before leaning forward to drop his brow to mine, his hand finding its familiar home at the nape of my neck.

My eyes close automatically at the comforting gesture as I feel his breath whisper across my smiling lips.

“I love you so fucking much, baby.”

EPILOGUE ONE

Henry

Two Years Later

“We’re in here.”

Liv’s sweet voice carries to my ears through the hall where I’ve just entered. “Where’s here, Peach?”

Her giggle is as melodic as always and I hear several voices murmuring, followed by her reply. “The kitchen.”

Having just moved into our new home a short six weeks earlier, I’m still getting the hang of living in such a large space.

Liv had tried to warn me when I’d gone through the plans with the architect that it was too much for just the two of us, but I’d insisted. Our double front doors open into a vast entrance hall with several corridors leading off of it in various directions. To my left lies our joint home office, something I’d never thought to have until meeting my wife, but the appeal of being near her as often as I can means this was a must-have.

We both have our own space, separate but together, so that I can continue to run the more successful than ever version of DeMarco Holdings while she manages the admin side of running three non-profits.

Yes, three. Katherine’s House alone wasn’t enough, oh no. My Peaches has branched out, opening two further intermediary services within London, with another in the works up north in Manchester.

Beyond our office is the hallway leading to a substantial open-plan kitchen and living area. Further, there’s a formal dining room, formal living room, library, home gym, two bathrooms, a laundry room, and a mudroom.

Upstairs, there are eight bedrooms and nine baths, probably a bit on the excessive side. Okay, so definitely extreme—but Mila has her own room for when she stays, just like she always had at the penthouse, and Alex also stays with us when he’s home visiting from the States, so there are at least a couple of rooms always in use.

Drawing closer to the kitchen, more giggling meets my ears, and I wonder who else is in the house. I don’t have to wonder long as I enter the rustic living space to find Mila, Josie, and Nola holed up around the oversized island, poring over something on the counter beneath them, laughing sporadically while speaking quietly amongst themselves.

They haven’t seen me yet, so I take a second to admire my wife. Having spent the last few days in New York with my brother, I’ve missed appreciating her beauty in the flesh. Her body is displayed perfectly in casual dark blue jeans and a light blue fitted sweater. She’s barefoot and smiling, which only broadens when she spots me over my sister’s shoulder.

Crossing the space between us, she throws herself at me, wrapping her legs around my waist, holding me close to pepper my face with kiss after kiss.

She eventually pulls back, hands on either side of my face. “I missed you, husband.”

The titles are still relatively new, having finally tied that knot good and tight a little under four months previously. “I missed you more, wife.”

I press a kiss to the tip of her button nose, her laughter ringing out through the large open space as I walk toward the island and our guests, Liv hugging tightly to my body like a baby koala.

Setting her ass down onto the marble top, I peer over her shoulder to look at what’s so interesting that my own sister hasn’t even glanced in my direction.

“Isn’t it wonderful? Mila is thinking about going to university after all.”

Liv’s words are a shock to me because just last week before I left, Mila was dead set on taking an entry-level position at DeMarco, just like I had.

“And,” Josie jumps in, “she’s bought her first apartment too!”

I send a questioning glance at my sister, who just so happens to be staring at the counter rather than meeting my curiosity filled gaze. She can easily pull the wool over everyone else’s eyes, but we’re too alike for me to not realise when something’s off in her demeanour, and I plan on getting to the bottom of it once we’re alone.

For now, I’ll play along. “That’s great, sissy.” Her eyes find mine and narrow into thin slits as she huffs out, “Thanks, bro! Keeping my options open,” knowing full well I’m onto her and not letting it go.

“We were just about to head out,” Nola interjects. “Did you want to come with, Mila?”