Epilogue
Five years later
Opal lay in her husband’s arms. They’d all decided to celebrate their anniversary by going for a picnic in the local park. Wayne and Lily had brought all four of their children and the bump that was their fifth. Scarlet and Richard brought Harry and the kids. Tony wrapped his arms around her. They had decided to wait for children, taking the time to be together. They both wanted children but had decided to wait. She knew the real reason was because Tony didn’t want to share her with a baby. Kids demanded too much of an adult’s time. After the way their marriage had started she could understand waiting.
“I would like to propose a toast, to my lovely sister and my crazy-ass friend. You’ve been married for seven years and still look as happy in love as always.” Richard raised his glass.
She smiled as all gave a round of applause and knocked back the alcohol. Tony had an orange drink the same as she did, neither of them drinking alcohol.
“Happy anniversary, baby,” he whispered against her ear. She giggled as he nibbled the lobe.
“Get a room. You’re mauling my sister in front of my eyes.”
“She’s my wife.”
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you.” He kissed her head. The five years together hadn’t been easy. After the set-back, it had taken them time to get used to the fact neither of them was leaving. They loved each other and wanted to be together.
As with all things, time together had healed old wounds. The press had found a new couple to begin hassling, and she and Tony could simply enjoy their time together. She hated when one of his ex-girlfriends wanted money and would do a kiss and tell for the papers. He would explain everything and swear he loved her. She smiled. After a time, she didn’t care. She loved hearing him say the words.
“Let us leave these lovely ladies for a moment,” Wayne said.
Tony kissed her on the lips, and she watched him walk across the picnic field.
“What do you think they’re going to do?” she asked the other two women.
“Probably talk about how amazing their women are. The crap we take from them. You know I still can’t believe I married ‘The Beast’,” Lily said.
“Speak for yourself, I fell for the guy who talked me into a contract to sleep with me and then ended up married to the guy.”
“This is too much information about my brother. I don’t want to know.”
“Come on, Opal. Spill you story. This is therapeutic.”
“Okay, how about this? I can’t believe I almost married a jerk when I’ve been in love with my brother’s best friend all of my life. Not only did I end up marrying the man I love, but he started to love me back.”
“Honey, you’re too smitten with that man. You’ve got to keep him on his toes,” Scarlet said.
They all laughed.
****
“You know they’re talking about us?” Richard said.
“Let them. I love my wife and know she’ll love me no matter what happens,” Wayne said.
Tony smiled at his friends and stared back at his wife. She looked gorgeous with the sunlight streaming down on her, the glorious colour of her hair shining in the light. He glanced down at his wedding band and smiled. She’d finally given him a wedding ring. A token of her affection.
“Can you believe three guys like us managed to get three such amazing women?” Tony asked.
“I never thought married life could be so amazing,” Richard said as he, too, looked back at his wife.
“Three men who women were most unlikely to full in love with, married and happy. I’ll say we should have a toast.” Wayne raised his glass, and the other two men followed suit. “To unlikely love.”
“To unlikely love,” Richard and Tony said together. They raised their glasses and drank deeply.
The End