Chapter 90 Epilogue(Part 2)

Chapter 90 Epilogue(Part 2)
Milie's POV

The next morning, Daxton and Sammy called from outside. I kissed Alan's forehead.

He was sleeping deeply. A smile touched my lips. 

For once, the lights had stayed on the previous night, and nothing terrible had happened. 

The world hadn't ended. Alan hadn't seen flaws. He had simply seen me.

I grabbed my backpack and rushed downstairs.

Grace aunty was already awake. "Leaving?"

"Yeah."

She handed me the box of sandwiches. "Meet your parents before you go."

I made a face. "Mom is going to lecture me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going without Alan."

Grace Aunty laughed. "She has a point."

"Aunty!"

"She worries."

"She also hates sleepovers."

"That is because she's afraid you'll build two separate lives instead of one married life."

I sighed. "Everyone is suddenly a relationship philosopher."

"Go meet her."

"Fine."

As predicted, Mom lectured me. Then she called Sammy, then Daxton, and tried to lecture them.

I snatched the phone away before she could declare them responsible for destroying my marriage.

"Mom, enough. This is the last time."

"You always say that."

"This time I mean it."

"You better."

I kissed her cheek. Dad laughed from behind his newspaper.

"Go before she cancels your trip."

I ran. Sammy looked at my face when I climbed into the back seat.

"What happened, bro?"

"Nothing."

"That face says something."

"Mom."

Both boys nodded knowingly. "Say no more," Sammy said.

Daxton glanced at me through the mirror. "Is it about Alan?"

I looked at him. "Is he finally gonna ask to take him along?"

I hesitated. This was my opportunity. I could ask. But Daxton had planned this trip for a reason.

I didn't want to shift everything toward my dilemma before he had even spoken.

"No."

"He's fine."

Sammy snorted. "Liar."

I kicked the back of his seat.

"Ow." He turned.

"But seriously, I don't understand why we don't include him."

My heart sank. "Sammy—"

"No. I'm saying it."

He looked at Daxton. "If you and I had wives, would we keep taking trips without them?"

Daxton didn't answer.

"Alan has never once created drama about us." Sammy continued.

"He comes every weekend. He listens to our nonsense. He lets Milie have sleepovers with us."

"He doesn't even complain."

I looked out the window. Because Sammy was right.

"He's basically one of us already."

Daxton's fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel. I noticed.

"Sammy, enough."

"No."

Then Daxton spoke. "He's right."

My eyes immediately moved toward him. He didn't elaborate. Instead, he started the car.

I leaned forward.

"Dax…"

"Later."

His expression was unreadable. My stomach tightened.

"Are you going somewhere?"

He glanced at me. "What?"

"Is that what this trip is about?"

Sammy immediately panicked. "Bro, don't tell me you're moving away."

Daxton laughed. "Relax."

"No, but you're hiding something."

"Yes."

"What?"

"You'll know."

"When?"

"When I decide to tell you."

I narrowed my eyes. "I hate you."

"I know."

For the rest of the drive, Sammy and I attacked him with theories.

New job. New city. Secret girlfriend. Engagement. Foreign degree. Joining a monastery.

Daxton ignored every single one, laughing. 

We reached the resort. It was beautiful. 

The moment we entered the room, I threw my bag onto the nearest chair and collapsed across the bed.

"I want to sleep."

Sammy looked at me. "Why?"

I groaned. "Because I'm tired?"

"Long night?"

I turned onto my stomach. "What?"

He and Daxton exchanged a look. Then both started smiling.

It took me three seconds. "Oh." My eyes widened.

"You disgusting idiot."

Sammy burst out laughing. I buried my face in the pillow. "Don't talk to me."

He jumped beside me. "Alan kept you busy, huh?"

I grabbed a pillow and hit him. "Shut up!"

Daxton laughed and ruffled my hair before heading toward the bathroom. "At least let her breathe."

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. Sammy and I looked at each other. "Room service?"

From inside the bathroom, Daxton shouted, "Milie, open the door."

My head snapped up. "Dax?"

No answer. I stood. "What did you arrange?"

Then another thought struck me. My eyes widened. "Oh, my God."

Sammy sat up. "What?"

"Daxton." I walked toward the door. "Did you get a girlfriend?"

No response. "Are we here to meet her?"

Sammy jumped off the bed. "BRO, SERIOUSLY.."

I opened the door and froze. It’s none but Alan standing there, smiling.

"Hello, wifey." My mouth dropped open.

"Alan?" He winked.

"What are you doing here?"

I immediately looked behind me to see if Daxton was already out. “We sorted everything last night.”

Sammy pushed me aside. "Move."

“Hey!” He opened his arms. "My man!"

Alan laughed as Sammy pulled him inside.

I stared. Daxton walked out of the bathroom, drying his hands. "You came quickly."

My head whipped toward Dax. "You knew?"

Daxton shrugged. "I invited him."

"What?"

"Yeah, last night."

I blinked, and then looked at Alan. “You didn't tell me.”

"It was supposed to be a surprise."

Sammy pointed at himself. "I genuinely knew nothing."

For once, I believed him.

Daxton walked toward me. Something about his expression made my smile disappear.

He looked nervous. "Mils."

"Hmm?"

He glanced at Alan. Then back at me. "For years, I kept thinking Alan came between us."

My chest tightened. Daxton gave a faint smile. "But he didn't."

Silence settled around us. "I was the one who kept putting him outside."

My eyes immediately filled. "Dax…"

"Let me finish."

I nodded.

He swallowed. "When you chose him, I spent months asking myself what he had that I didn't."

Alan looked down.

Daxton continued. "Why him? Why wasn't I enough?"

My throat closed.

"I kept looking for faults in him because I thought if I found one, maybe your choice would make sense to me."

He laughed softly. “Instead, every time I looked, the idiot gave me another reason to respect him.”

Alan smiled faintly. Daxton's eyes returned to me. "And eventually I understood something."

"You didn't choose Alan because I lacked something."

A tear rolled down my cheek. "You chose him because you loved him, for who he is."

My lips trembled.

"That was it." His eyes shimmered. "There was no competition. There never should have been."

Daxton stepped closer, and I covered my mouth, stopping myself from crying. 

"You were my person for so long that I thought loving you gave me some right over where your heart went."

He shook his head. "It didn't."

"And Alan?" He turned toward him. "He gave me three years."

Alan frowned slightly.

And he never once made me feel guilty for needing time.

Alan's expression softened.

"He stepped back when he didn't have to."

"He let you have us."

"He never tried to replace us."

Daxton swallowed. "And I should've said this long ago." He held out his hand. "I'm sorry."

Alan looked at it, then at him. "No."

Daxton frowned. Alan stepped forward and pulled him into a hug instead.

"You have nothing to apologize for."

Daxton stiffened. Then slowly hugged him back. My tears spilled completely. 

Sammy sniffed beside me. "I am definitely crying."

I hit his arm without looking. Alan released Daxton. "I understood you."

He smiled. "If I'd loved Milie for that many years and some irritatingly handsome guy suddenly showed up—"

Daxton laughed.

"Shut up."

"See?" Alan grinned. "Progress."

I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around both of them. "Finally."

Daxton groaned. "Don't make this dramatic."

"Too late."

Sammy joined from behind. "Group hug!"

"No."

"Yes."

Within seconds, all four of us were trapped together. I laughed through my tears.

For years, I had imagined this moment. Not Daxton merely tolerating Alan. Not Alan carefully walking around Daxton.

This ease, acceptance, and belonging.

When we finally separated, Daxton walked toward his backpack. "There is one more thing."

Sammy immediately leaned forward. Daxton pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. I opened it.

My eyes widened. "Miami?"

Alan looked over my shoulder. 

"A week?" I stared at Daxton. 

"Yours…" He smiled. "Your gift."

"For what?"

"For not giving up on me."

I laughed through my tears. "You booked this?"

"For both of you."

My heart swelled. "Dax…"

"And don't start calculating the price."

I narrowed my eyes. "You can take anything from me, remember?"

That broke me. I threw myself at him. “Yes, I can ask anything from you.”

He hugged me tightly. "Yes, Angel."

Sammy raised a finger. "I would like it officially recorded that I expect the same gift when I get married."

"You'll get a keychain," I said.

"Rude."

Daxton laughed, then looked at Alan. "For this trip…"

He nodded toward me. "She's completely yours. Sammy and I are leaving."

Sammy froze.

"What?"

"We'll meet Sunday night."

"But this is our trip."

"It was."

"You betrayed me."

"Come."

"No."

Daxton grabbed the back of his shirt. "Bye, Milie."

"Yeah, bye, but please sleep tonight." Sammy chuckled.  

I shoved him. "Get out!"

Alan burst out laughing. 

"You want to get out too?" I glared at him. 

"What did I do?"

"Encouraged him."

Daxton dragged Sammy toward the door. Before stepping out, he turned back.

His eyes moved from me to Alan.

Then he smiled. Not painfully. Not reluctantly. "Alan, take care of her."

Alan wrapped an arm around my waist. "Always."

Daxton nodded, then looked at me. "Bye, Angel."

"Bye, Dax."

The door closed. For several seconds, I just stared at it.

Alan's fingers moved gently along my arm. "Happy?"

I turned toward him. "So much."

He smiled. "He finally accepted you."

"Yeah."

"No." I shook my head. "He accepted us."

Alan kissed my forehead. My phone buzzed. I opened our old group chat.

Sammy: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.

Sammy: Gang officially upgraded to four members.

A second message appeared.

Daxton: Unfortunately.

Then another.

Sammy: Alan, leave Milie. Come back. I like you more.

Alan laughed. 

I looked at him. "What?"

His arm tightened around me. "But I can't like anyone more than my wifey."

He winked and pushed me onto the bed before hovering over me. 

"I love you," I said

He smiled.

"More than anyone?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't ruin the moment." He laughed and rolled beside me, pulling me closer.  

I kissed his chest and rested my head against him. 

"I love you too, my Mils." 

I smiled. For the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid of what might change next.

Because I finally knew, whatever changed around me, I wouldn't lose myself again.

And maybe that was what growing up had been about all along.

The End