Epilogue
ALLIE
Soft holiday music plays in the background while I bring a freshly-baked platter of cookies into the living room. I set them down on the dining room table beside the other delicious food, most of which was catered by a fancy service Shane’s assistant recommended, but some of which I did myself. I sometimes let the guys pamper me with their fancy chefs and cleaning crews, but only so much. And you better believe I decorated the house myself, with their help of course. Hence the holly, mistletoe, lights, and Christmas decorations draped around the living room and kitchen, along with the front of the house and the back patio. We even have fake snow. Hey, I did say I love holidays, after all.
“Mm,” Matt says, grabbing a tree-shaped cookie off the tray. Tonight he’s wearing an ugly Christmas sweater with reindeer that somehow does nothing to detract from his natural sexiness. “Your cookies are my favorite.”
“I know. Don’t worry, I saved you some extra ones.” I nudge him. “Now if we could only get your brother to eat one.”
“Yeah, right,” Matt says, with a snort.
Luke grins and plucks a snowflake-shaped cookie from the platter. “For Allie, I’ll have one, just because it’s Christmas Eve. But only one.” He slides a hand along his stomach, raising his burgundy shirt to give me a tantalizing glimpse of his abs. “Don’t want all this hard work to be for nothing.”
I shake my head with a smile, while Shane comes over and grabs a cookie too. He’s wearing a black suit and tie, looking every inch the dashing host of the party. As he bites into my cookie, I grin. I’ve won them all over it seems. Who could have predicted it when I moved in with these guys a few months ago?
Brooke moves beside me with a grin, wearing a low-cut black dress, her nails dark green tonight. “Nice little party.”
“Yeah, it is.” I gaze across the small crowd of people in the living room and kitchen. Only close friends and family were invited, specifically the ones who know about our unconventional relationship and are okay with it. Including my sister Kristen and her husband, who were surprisingly supportive of me after the big media blowup. My parents were invited too, but they’re still getting used to the idea of me dating three men. I’m sure they’ll come around eventually though.
The big scandal about the photos died down after a few weeks, partly thanks to Luke’s ex-wife, Lana. She got arrested after she crashed her car into the set of her new movie, breaking the director’s leg in the process. Turns out she was high on meth at the time. No one cared about us after that. Surprisingly, none of the guys’ careers suffered from the scandal either. I chalk it up to the fact that men can get away with things that woman get labelled a “slut” for, but I’m still happy for them.
As for me? I got a job as a librarian, which I love even more than teaching. I spend my entire day with books and, even better, help people discover new ones. When they hired me I worried they’d care about my reputation, but the other librarians shrugged it off—as long as I agreed to have the guys do some fundraising events for the library now and then. In fact, one of them—a brunette named Sienna who loves books as much as I do—has already become a good friend and is currently flirting with a guy who worked with Matt at the bar. I hope she gets lucky tonight.
And Parker, well, Brooke threatened to sue him, and the three guys had a little talk with him about leaving us alone. No one’s heard from him since. Thank god.
Brooke hands me a perfectly wrapped gift with a silver ribbon. “Merry Christmas. Spoiler alert, I got you a monthly planner because I figure with three boyfriends you’ll need some mad organizational skills to keep up with all of them.”
I laugh. “Thank you. That’s exactly what I need.”
It really is. I can barely wrap my head around dating three men at once, especially three busy actors. The sleeping arrangements alone make my brain hurt sometimes. At the moment the men trade off having me sleep in their beds, so they each get two nights a week with me. The seventh night is spent in my bed, usually with at least two of them beside me. Sometimes three.
Somehow the four of us are making this strange relationship work without jealousy or any other problems. I think it helps that the three guys care about each other too. Their friendship has only grown stronger in the last few months.
As the party continues into the night, I spot Brooke and Hannah talking in a corner, both of them looking beautiful as their eyes linger on the other and their mouths slip into flirty smiles. They’re perfect for each other, like I knew they would be. My work here is done.
As I smooth my frosty pale blue gown, I gaze at my three men standing together by the Christmas tree, laughing at something Matt said. Love swells inside my chest at the sight of them, each one so handsome, smart, and strong. I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have ended up with them.
After the party ends and everyone leaves, when we’re all a little drunk and way too full, the four of us stand around the Christmas tree. Luke pops a bottle of champagne and pours a glass for each of us, while Matt finishes up another of my cookies. Shane then raises his glass in a toast.
“I think we can all agree we have a lot to celebrate this year,” he says. “Matt’s filming a new role in a very promising movie. Luke’s latest movie killed it at the box office and they’re already doing a sequel. I managed to not only save my show, but boost the ratings too. And none of us could have done it without this amazing woman.” He turns toward me and slides an arm around my waist. “Allie, we are so lucky you came into our lives. You’re the best Christmas gift we could have asked for.”
“To Allie,” Matt says, raising his glass.
“To Allie,” Luke agrees.
I blush as I smile at them. “Thank you, but I’m the lucky one here. The three of you took me in when I had nowhere else to go, when I was a total mess. Parker killed my confidence and made me think no man would ever want me again. But somehow all three of you made me believe I was worthy of love, even when things became difficult and it seemed like the world would never accept us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Luke rests a warm hand on my back. “You’re the one who improved our lives when you moved in.”
“You changed all three of us for the better,” Matt says, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
Shane nods. “You’re ours and all we want is to make you happy.”
“As long as I get to make each of you happy in return,” I say.
“Oh, you do,” Matt says. “Very much.”
We clink glasses and take a sip of champagne. I lean over and kiss each guy, tasting the bubbly alcohol on their lips. I’m about to ask them to join me in my room, when Matt glances at his watch.
“It’s past midnight,” he says, with a devilish grin. “Can we give Allie her presents now?”
Shane shrugs. “I don’t see why not.”
Luke’s lips curl into a warm smile. “Yes, I can’t wait any longer.”
I raise an eyebrow at them. “What’s this about?”
Matt takes my hand. “Come on, we’ll show you.”
The three guys lead me toward the garage, of all places, while my curiosity grows. Inside, we pass by the other guys’ cars, where I discover my ancient and barely-running blue Ford Focus is gone—now replaced by another car. A bright red Corvette Stingray.
“Oh my god,” I say, then cover my mouth with my hands. “Is it for me?”
Luke grins at my reaction. “We couldn’t let you drive that clunker anymore.”
“You told me a month ago this was your dream car,” Matt says. “Do you like it?”
“I love it!” Giddiness bursts inside me, but then I bite my lip. “No, this is way too much. I didn’t get you anything so big or fancy for Christmas. I can’t accept this.”
“Don’t worry,” Shane says. “We all chipped in to get it for you and we don’t expect anything in return. We just wanted you to have it.”
Luke wraps an arm around me. “Allie, you’re ours now, and we’re going to ta
ke care of you.”
“That means giving you everything you could ever want,” Matt adds.
I give them a hesitant smile. “Okay, as long as you don’t go too crazy.”
“Hey, Shane wanted to get you a pink Lamborghini, but we talked him out of that,” Matt says, with a wink.
Shane flashes a sly grin. “Next time.”
I laugh and run around my new, beautiful car to check it out from all angles. I can’t believe it’s actually mine. “Wow. Thank you so much. I really do love the car. I have to admit, I do like being spoiled by you three sometimes.”
“Good,” Shane says. “Because you have an entire lifetime of being spoiled to look forward to.”
“Is that so?” I ask playfully.
“I think it’s time for her other present,” Luke says, with a knowing gleam in his eye.
The guys lead me back to the Christmas tree with secretive smiles. Once we’re surrounded by twinkling lights and the smell of pine, Shane drops to one knee, making me gasp. The other guys follow, kneeling in front of me like knights waiting for me to bless them.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my heart pounding faster. A flicker of hope and excitement bubbles within me, but I don’t dare think they might actually be proposing. That assumption didn’t work out so well for me last time, after all.
“Allie, we love you so much,” Matt says, and his charming smile makes me believe this might actually be happening. For real this time.
“And we never want to be without you.” Luke pulls out a ring box. He pops it open, revealing a giant diamond ring. And I do mean giant.
Shane gazes up at me with his piercing blue eyes and asks, “Allie, will you marry us?”
I let out a little squee, as shock and happiness rush through me. It’s really, truly happening. They’re proposing to me. And it’s not a trick, not a dream, and not a proposal for someone else.
But then reality sets in and I ask, “Is marriage with the three of you even possible?”
“There’s a small country in the Caribbean called Andora that lets people have group marriages,” Shane says. “It’s a former British colony run by a queen and her three husbands.”
I let out a surprised laugh. “Wow, clearly we need to move there.”
“Maybe we’ll buy a second house there someday,” Luke says.
“Then yes, I’ll marry you.” I let out a joyful laugh, even as happy tears fill my eyes. “I love you all so much.”
Each guy wears a handsome smile while they place the engagement ring on my finger, before rising to their feet and wrapping me in their arms. As I snuggle up against them, I feel truly content, like this is exactly where I’m meant to be.
Matt pulls back and flashes me a wicked grin. “Come on, let’s open some more presents. Wait ‘til you see what I got Shane this year.”
Shane groans. “It better not be another prank gift.”
“Ooh, like the one from last year?” Luke asks.
My heart warms as they continue teasing each other while we sit around the Christmas tree and unwrap some presents. I never imagined I could ever be so happy, let alone with three men. No matter what happens, or what society thinks of us, we’ll get through it and come out even stronger. We’ve found our true family together—and I know it will last forever.
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More Than Music - Excerpt
Their secret romance might tear their band apart, but they can’t resist…
Chapter One
Tonight was going to be epic, I could feel it. I edged closer to the stage, pushing past emo kids with sweeping black hair and girls in fishnets and combat boots. Julie and Carla followed, our hands linked so we wouldn’t lose each other while I searched for the perfect spot. Not right in front so we looked like obsessed groupies hanging all over the band, but close enough to get a good view of the stage and feel the music vibrating under our skin. After some maneuvering, the three of us wedged into a space in the crowd and clinked our beers together.
“Here’s to the end of finals,” Julie shouted, over the noise of a hundred conversations going on at once. “And the end of our junior year!”
“I still have a final tomorrow morning,” Carla shouted back. “What time are they going on again, Maddie?”
“Any minute now,” I said. “Don’t worry. Kyle’s band only has one album. We’ll be out of here in an hour.” I had a final early, too, and normally I’d be studying right now and then going to bed at a reasonable hour to make sure I got an optimal amount of sleep. But it wasn’t every day a friend’s band got a gig like this in a club on Hollywood Boulevard. Besides, I was a music major. This totally counted as research.
I rocked back and forth on my feet, full of that intoxicating mix of excitement, anticipation, and longing I always felt right before a concert started. The club was dark except for the spotlights highlighting the equipment on stage, poised and ready for the band to come out. People with dyed hair and tattoos and piercings pressed all around us, and I felt more out of place than ever with my black-rimmed glasses, red flannel shirt, and jeans.
Julie fit into the crowd better with her knit panda beanie, despite it being approximately the temperature of the sun in here. She’d made the hat herself and on anyone else it would look stupid, but with her long black hair and red lips, she somehow managed to pull it off. Combined with the skater dress with stars and planets that she’d also made, she was really rocking her sexy nerd look tonight. Sort of like an Asian version of Zooey Deschanel.
Carla looked gorgeous as usual, like she’d walked straight off the runway and into the club, which she probably had—she modeled on the side while pursuing her theatre major. She was half-Portuguese and half-African-American, and casting agencies went crazy for her smooth dark skin, head full of wild curls, and tall, thin frame. It was a shame Julie and I were the only ones who knew she’d rather fix old cars and play video games than do a photo shoot.
The glow of Carla’s phone lit up her face as she checked her texts yet again. Probably another string of annoying questions from her boyfriend.
“Is that Daryl?” I asked.
“He just wants to know where I am.”
“Don’t tell him,” Julie said, slapping the phone away. “He’ll show up uninvited.”
It wouldn’t be the first time he’d crashed our girls’ nights looking for Carla, convinced she was with some other guy. Probably because he knew she could do way better.
“He won’t. I told him we’re leaving right after the show.”
A cheer went through the crowd as the band walked onto the stage, and I stood on my toes to get a better look. Hector, a Latino guy with curly hair tucked under a baseball cap, sat in front of the drums. He was followed by Becca, a blue-haired pixie in a dress with safety pins all over it. She stumbled across the stage like she was drunk, but managed to pick up her bass and slip it over her neck. Next came Kyle, his black hair hanging in his eyes and the gauges in his ear flashing under the lights. He moved behind his keyboard, but my gaze left him as soon as his older brother Jared appeared.
The crowd’s cheering took on more of a screaming sound, and one girl even yelled, “Jared, I love you!” I rolled my eyes. Not that I blamed the girl. With dark hair that always stuck up like he’d just gotten out of bed, a perpetual five o’clock shadow, and blue eyes that could charm any girl into giving him his phone number, Jared was impossible to resist. I wanted
to, believe me, but every time he opened his mouth and sang it was all over.
Jared gave the audience a wicked grin while he grabbed his guitar, a black Fender Stratocaster almost identical to my own except for the color. Like Kyle, he had tattoos running up and down his toned arms, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they continued under his shirt.
The entire club buzzed with excitement, every one of us poised on the edge, holding our breaths and waiting for the plunge. In this moment, right before the music started, it felt like anything could happen—and I was ready.
Hector yelled out, “One, two, three, four,” and the band launched into their first song. Jared’s hard guitar riffs filled the small club, matched with the deep pulse of the bass, the fierce beat of the drums, and the eerie moan from Kyle’s keyboard. The music ripped through me, touching the wild, dark part of my soul I kept locked away. My fingers itched to form the chords myself and play along, but I kept my hands in fists at my sides. Instead I nodded my head to the music, picking out each note Jared played and feeling it in a way only another musician could.
When Jared leaned into the mic and sang, his smooth voice washed over me like a soft caress. It was like the last, decadent bite of a chocolate-covered strawberry. The smoky burn of whiskey as it slipped down your throat. The final night of passion before your lover left forever. I sang along to the words, feeling each line strike me deep inside. I understood exactly what he was saying, like he’d written every word just for me, like somehow he understood me in a way no one else did. Of course, every other girl in the club probably felt the same way I did. And a few guys, too.
I tore my gaze from Jared to watch the rest of the band. Hector was a blur as his muscular arms flew across the drums. Becca swayed while she played bass, her movements sluggish and her eyes half-closed like she could barely keep herself awake. Lately Kyle had been complaining about how she kept coming to rehearsals wasted, but I couldn’t believe she’d do that tonight, not for their biggest performance ever.
Hollywood Roommates: A Reverse Harem Romance Page 17
