Breaking Free by Isabel Lucero
Epilogue
Christmas comes and goes,and we enjoy a small dinner and some presents at Dominic’s house with his mom before heading to my parents’ house on Christmas Day, where we exchange a few more gifts and eat even more food.
When New Year’s Eve comes around, we head to Renzo’s parents house, where they hold their usual party for some of their friends and their kids’ friends. Like last year, the kids end up downstairs in their basement for the majority of the night, playing pool, drinking, and snacking on the food Mrs. H had prepared. Unlike last year, I’m not struggling with my sexual identity and hiding it from my friends. I’m actually attached to Dominic a majority of the night, and able to kiss him when midnight hits. It’s a phenomenal feeling.
Shortly after we celebrate the new year with our closest friends, we head back to my place to enjoy more of each other alone.
Valentine’s day hits, and even though I’ve always thought it was more of a holiday for women, we find the perfect way to celebrate. There’s no flowers, teddy bears, or heart-shaped chocolate boxes, but we do go out to a restaurant for dinner, stop at a store on the way home and split up to get items we want to put to use tonight.
At home, he rushes to the bedroom with his bags, and I stay in the living room, putting my gifts together. He comes out nearly fifteen minutes later with a grin on his face and a red gift bag.
“You ready to exchange?” I ask, picking up my own bag.
I hand him his gifts when he gives me mine, and we both start digging inside.
The first thing I pull from his bag is a bottle of wine. I arch a brow at him. “Wine?”
“Okay, I’m not a wine connoisseur, but a woman in the store assured me this was a good one.”
I chuckle as I place it on the coffee table. “Okay, we’ll crack this open soon.”
He takes his first gift out of the bag, which is a small container of the caramel flavored popcorn he loves so much.
We go back and forth, removing one gift at a time. I pull out a bottle of massage oil. “You gonna massage me?”
“It will most definitely lead to sex,” he says with a smirk. “Grab the next one.”
The next box is a bottle of lube. I laugh. “I think we have some of this.”
“Yeah, but this is pink and smells like roses, so it’s Valentine themed.”
I snort. “Okay, you go.”
He pulls out the movie Magic Mike and cracks up. “I heard this movie wasn’t that good.”
“Nobody’s watching for the acting.”
“So, this is like foreplay. Gotcha. Don’t try to get me to dance for you tonight. I’m no Channing.”
“You’re so much better.”
When I pull out my next gift, I start laughing. It’s a pair of red boxer briefs with white hearts all over them.
“You’ll be wearing those when I massage you,” he says, waggling his brows.
“You might also have a clothing item,” I say, nodding at the bag. He removes his own pair of boxer-briefs—his white with red X’s and O’s. “And you’ll be wearing those,” I tell him.
He grins. “Great minds.”
When all is said and done, we end up with conversation hearts and red-only Jolly Ranchers to add to everything else.
“So, we’re gonna change into our new boxer-briefs, put on Magic Mike, snack on some popcorn and drink wine, then I’ll massage you while you eat those nasty conversation hearts and I suck on some Jolly Ranchers, then we go to the bedroom where we’ll put the lube to use. It’s a perfect night,” he says with a grin.
“Sounds like a plan, except…”
“Except what?”
“I have one more surprise gift. One that didn’t come from the store.”
“But those were the rules,” he says, giving me a look. “Only things from the store.”
I shrug, looking sheepish as I bite my lip. “I’m sorry, but I hope you still like it.”
After rushing to the kitchen and grabbing the small white box from one of the drawers, I head back to a very confused looking Dominic who hesitantly takes the box from me.
Before he opens it, his eyes flicker to mine. My stomach is in knots as my heart pounds in my chest. I hope this isn’t a stupid idea that ruins what was a perfect Valentine’s Day.
When he sees what’s inside, he stares at it for a few seconds before meeting my gaze again. “You...what is this? I mean, I think I know, but…”
I step up to him and take one of his hands in mine. “It makes sense. You’re always here, and I love having you around.”
“You want me to move in?”
With a smile, I say, “Yes, I want you to move in.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, glancing at the key then back at me.
“Definitely, but don’t feel like you have to if you don’t want to.”
He tosses the box to the table and takes me in his arms. “No, of course I want to.”
“Yeah?” I ask, my grin growing stupidly wide.
“My mom will be moving anyway, and I’d rather be here with you than at some apartment by myself. Plus, I kinda love you.”
I playfully pinch him before stepping back. “Kinda?”
“You’re everything to me, Trev. You know that,” he replies, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my forehead.
I feel my cheeks heat up as I grin. “I guess that’s better.”
He smacks my ass before beginning to tug me toward the hall. “I’m really glad you walked in on me in the bathroom all those months ago.”
With a laugh, I say, “I’m really glad it was you that was in there. Who knows how my story would’ve gone if it wasn’t for you.”
Dominic pulls me through the doorway to my room. Our room. “I think we’re gonna have to postpone the movie for a little bit.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“A lifetime of things,” he answers, a small grin on his lips. “But for now, let me taste you.” Then he drops to his knees and starts undoing my pants.
“God, I love you,” I whisper, running a hand through his hair.
