Sleet Banshee by S.J. Tilly

EPILOGUE

MEGHAN

The sound of the rain stick announces my arrival.

Benny pops up from behind the counter. “Well, lookie who's here!”

“Hey, Benny.”

He bows. “Greetings, Mrs. LeBlanc.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t be an idiot.”

“Hmm, I’d’ve thought two weeks of sun and sex would put you in a better mood.”

I purse my lips and narrow my eyes. “Something looks different. What did you change?”

Benny’s right, it’s been two weeks since I’ve seen him.

Things moved kind of quick after the playoffs. Sebastian’s recovery took longer than he hoped, so he didn’t get to play in any more games last season. He was bummed about it, but he’s more than ready to start the new season next week.

As for us, well… Sebastian moved in with me after about a month of officially dating. I know, right? My place? He’d bought his house as an investment and said he didn’t want to stay there. Not one to half-ass anything, he sold it a week after moving in with me.

Not long after that, he asked me to marry him. It was wildly inappropriate, and not a story we can tell the grandparents, but it was perfect for us. He was balls deep, and I was a heartbeat away from an orgasm, when he asked. Obviously, I said yes. And since he did it in the museum after hours, we even got it on tape.

Sebastian didn’t want to wait, and I didn’t want to plan my own wedding, so we got hitched at the courthouse, then flew to a glorious little resort in Hawaii to honeymoon.

We just got home, and I’ve never been happier.

Izzy’s still grumpy that I tied the knot before her, but - as her wedding planner - I can tell you it’s going to be killer.

Benny clears his throat and tips his head to the side.

I was right, something is different.

“Give me a hint,” I tell him, stepping closer to the counter.

The rain stick starts up again.

“Hey, Benny.” Sebastian’s deep voice fills the coffee shop.

“Hey.”

Sebastian stops next to me, draping his arm over my shoulder. “Sweet tat.”

“Huh?” I look back and forth between them.

“Thanks!” Benny beams. “It means Life.”

He looks at me and points to the side of his neck.

Just below his ear is a newly tattooed pair of Chinese symbols, inked in black.

I look closer and bite my lip.

“What?” he asks, eyes wide. When I don’t say anything, he opens his eyes wider. “What!”

“Uh, remember that Calligraphy conference I did?”

“Yeah…” His face fills with dread. “It doesn’t mean Life, does it?”

I shake my head.

“What does it mean?” Benny asks.

I smirk. “Kitten.”