Epilogue

Reed hefted the last of the boxes from the moving van and lugged it up the stairs. Why was he marrying someone who owned so many goddamn clothes? Where were they going to put everything?

But he didn’t care. They’d figure it out like they always did. Like they always would. There weren’t a lot of things he could count on, but he knew he could count on that—and on Talia always being by his side. In her dresses, her yoga pants, and—his personal favorite—nothing at all.

He’d started off nervous. Hadn’t he done this whole moving in together, getting engaged, planning a future thing before? Hadn’t he thought he could never go down that path again?

But looking at the boxes piled in the living room, all he could think about was how lucky he was. He and Talia spent all their nights together anyway, but now they were making it official—and not in either of their cramped, shithole apartments.

After Jonnie’s arrest, Stacey had taken a longer leave of absence to spend six months studying at the Moscow Bolshoi Ballet, one of the best ballet companies in the world. Talia got to keep subletting her apartment. And, after a stunning performance as Giselle that left critics praising her “bold interpretation” and “raw athleticism,” Talia also got to keep her position as a lead principal dancer in the ballet. Even with Stacey back, there would always be roles for her, too.

Talia had been worried for two and a half seconds about having to find a new apartment. But Reed knew the answer to that.

“Are you sure you want me to move in?” she’d said. “For real? I know I’m at your place all the time anyway, but that’s still a really big step.”

But Talia didn’t need to worry about whether Reed was ready. To him, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Inevitable. Like he’d been waiting his whole life to finally have her in it.

He slept better with her around. He laughed more. He still cleared cases, but he did it without grinding his molars all the way down. After his promotion to lieutenant, thanks in no small part to Talia and Aaron’s work in nabbing Jonnie West, he was more grateful than ever for her smile, her perspective, her ability to boost him up when he needed it—and give him a reality check when he needed it even more.

No, there was no question in his mind. He didn’t need his mom riding his case, or his brothers asking what the hell he was doing. There was no way he was letting this one go.

“Don’t move into my place,” he’d said. “We barely have any space as it is. Let’s find somewhere bigger. A two-bedroom—in Inwood, maybe. Or Queens. Something near a park with lots of space to run around.”

He’d never forget the look Talia had given him then. “Are you telling me I need to run around more?”

He’d laughed. “Not a chance, babe.”

“Are you telling me you want to get a puppy or something?”

“That’d be fun, but no,” he’d said, sweeping her into his arms. “I was thinking about space for something else. Someone else. Maybe even someones.”

And Talia, turning in his arms, kissing him, had known just what he meant, and said that she wanted that, too. Of course, she’d said it in a lot more words than he had, with a lot more waving her hands and calling her friends. But the idea was the same.

They were each other’s, and there was no doubting it, and no turning back.

“Where do you want the dresser?” Aaron called from the bedroom.

“Let’s try putting it to the left of the bed,” Reed heard Talia say, and there was a flurry of movement as they pushed the dresser to one wall…and then another…before settling on a third.

“You guys have done way too much work,” Talia said, coming into the living room, her face flushed and beaming.

“I wish we could help you unpack, but we have to go relieve the babysitter,” Maggie said.

“Aka Mom,” Aaron said. “Are you guys coming for dinner tomorrow?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Talia said, slipping her hand in Reed’s.

“We’re hosting brunch tomorrow morning,” Reed said. “Then heading out to see you guys.”

“Then on Monday, our new couch gets delivered.” Talia clapped her hands together. That piece of junk from his old place was the first thing to go when they decided to take the plunge.

“Thank God,” Amanda said. “No offense guys, but that thing was so uncomfortable.”

Reed caught a hint of pink sneaking up Talia’s cheeks. Of course, they’d done plenty of things to that couch to wear it out.

Everyone had come to help them move—Aaron, Maggie, Jessie, Shawn, Rose, Amanda, and even Amanda’s work crush, Luke. The only one who was missing was Rose’s fiancé, Jason. When Reed asked Talia what the deal was, she shrugged.

“I don’t think he likes us very much,” she whispered so Rose, eyeing paint samples with Amanda and Luke in the second bedroom, wouldn’t overhear.

“This might be a stupid question, but does he like Rose?” Reed asked.

Talia frowned sadly. “This might be a stupid answer, but I really don’t know.”

“As long as she knows she can stay with us anytime,” Reed said.

Talia kissed him on the cheek.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“For being you,” she said. “For always being so perfectly you.”

“I’m glad everyone came to help us,” he said. “But I still wish we had more time to christen our new apartment.” He nuzzled her neck, threatening to turn her chaste kiss into something more.

She gently pushed him back in a way that said that putting space between them was the exact opposite of what she wanted to do. “It’s your first case as a lieutenant—I know you have to go in to work today. And don’t worry.” She flashed him a grin. “We have all the time in the world to get christening.”

“Just promise me you aren’t going to spend the rest of the day rehearsing,” he said. “You have weeks until the new show opens. You can’t go tiring yourself out for every new role.”

“I won’t let her,” Shawn said, coming into the room. “It’s hot, and everyone deserves a drink. We’re going to Thunder and I’m keeping the beers flowing and ordering pizza. What do you say?”

“I’d say my brother has the right idea,” Talia said, getting up from where they’d been sitting. “Sorry, Lieutenant. I’ve got a better deal calling.”

“Swing by if you have a chance after work,” Shawn said to Reed, and Reed grinned. Yeah, he could definitely make time for that.

“The things I’m going to do to you tonight,” he whispered devilishly in Talia’s ear before he headed for the door.

“I’m holding you to that,” she said, looking pointedly at the handcuffs as he snapped them around his belt loop.

“I promise,” he told her. He didn’t have to add that he was talking about more than just tonight, and more than just a little bit of fun.

He was talking about everything—about their lives together, the days and months and years to come. About how, no matter what they did or where they called home, he would always be by her side.

It was more than he’d ever have words for—more than he’d ever be able to say. But he knew she could feel it. Deep in his gut, in the part he was trying harder these days to listen to, he could feel it, too.

Maybe it wouldn’t always be safe. He knew it wouldn’t always be easy. But he finally understood how his father managed to go to his job and come home to his family, and why his mother could stand to leave that light on, waiting. It was worth it. Being in love was worth it. Not just despite the risks, but because of them.

“I love you,” he said to Talia, giving her another kiss, his hand on the doorknob, ready to go.

“I love you, too,” she said, and he knew, as he headed down the steps of their new apartment, the one they were going to fill with their laughter and their family and their memories, that he’d never get tired of hearing her say that. Every goddamn day of his lucky, incredible life.

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