“Maybe I will,” TJ says, then my brother tears his attention away from Emerson and Jo, and back to me.
“I could offer a cooking metaphor for you, Jaybird. Like, maybe you need to let this romantic situation marinate a little longer,” Nolan says.
“Or he could take it off the heat,” TJ offers.
I grin, maybe a little wickedly. “I do like the heat though,” I say.
That’s another reason why I’d really like to figure out what Beck wants from me, and what I want from him. But for now, I focus on my brother, and all our friends.
Epilogue
Friendship Goals
Nolan
* * *
This is better than shishito peppers.
An evening here in my new city with friends and family, and New York is right where I belong.
Especially as I watch my little brother and my good friend rib each other. When TJ teases Jason about Beck, my brother’s blue eyes go a little dreamy.
I could tease Jason, but I know there’s more to it for him. Maybe there has been for some time. Just like there was for me. Like there seems to be for TJ and Jude. And like there seems to be for Jo as she catches us all up to speed on her new romance in London.
As I look around my circle of friends, soaking in the moment, I suppose we’re all like that—here for each other through ups and downs, stops and starts, pain and heartbreak.
And all the joy, too, on the other side.
I found mine with Emerson, and I’ve got new dreams for the two of us. As Jo and Em chat, as Jason and TJ strategize, and as Katie and Harlan talk and laugh, I drape an arm around my best friend, my co-creator, my girlfriend.
My. . .everything.
Emerson snuggles close to me as everyone reconnects, and drops a quick kiss to my cheek. “Love you, friend,” she says.
“Love you too, friend,” I say, and enjoy the rest of the night here with them, then later, alone with her.
Epilogue
A Very Naked Parrot
Emerson
* * *
The parrot squawks. “So, a parrot walks into a bar . . . and he’s naked.”
I turn to Nolan, mouthing, Aren’t parrots always naked?
Nolan nods the answer. Yes.
“And he says to the bartender, the two of us will have a couple of blow jobs,” the bird continues.
I tug on Nolan’s shirt, whisper in his ear, “That’s a very dirty parrot.”
“Yes, he might even be dirtier than you.”
I scoff. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
The emerald-green bird squawks once more. “And the bartender says a couple of blow jobs? There’s only one of you.”
The bird drops his beak like he’s looking at his birthday suit-ed body. “It’s for me and my . . . woodpecker.”
I groan—so loudly—and roll my eyes. But I’m laughing, and so is Nolan, and we keep on laughing through the whole set of terrible jokes at The Parrot Club.
After the show, we catch a cab to our hotel. “We finally made it to The Parrot Club,” I say as the driver pulls away from the curb.
“My life is now complete,” Nolan says. “I can’t think of anything else I want to do.”
“You don’t want to ride the roller coaster?”
“Ah, yes. That. Let’s do that.”
I have high hopes for the ride.
We tell the driver to stop at New York, New York, and we wind our way through the casino to the thrill ride where we had our first kiss. It feels a little like kismet, like something big could happen. I can’t stop thinking both of beginnings and next steps. Of the future I want with Nolan.
As we wait in line, I squeeze his hand. “You’re the reason I love roller coasters.”
“You’re the reason I’m ridiculously happy, so I win,” he says with a cheeky grin. Then he stows his glasses in the locker, and we grab seats in the car.
On the first hill, I maybe, possibly, definitely squeeze his arm hard enough to leave marks. But there’s always makeup to cover that. When we zip downhill, though, I thrust my arms into the air and scream at the top of my lungs.
It’s more fun than the first time.
Everything with Nolan is, including this mini vacation in Vegas. Our show is going strong, and Webflix renewed it for another season, along with Dot and Bette’s and the Wine Dude and Drive-Thru-Babe’s too. Not Max’s. I don’t feel bad about that at all. Not one bit.
Nolan and I decided to celebrate by flying to Vegas. He played solitaire on the flight, and I read.
My goal in Vegas? Do face masks and wear robes. Translation—we bang a lot, just like we do back home in New York. But hey, every couple has hobbies. Ours are food and sex.
When we’re off the ride, Nolan kisses me like he did that very first time. It’s toe-tingling and knee-weakening, and I could kiss him all night. But kisses end, and this glorious one does too. Nolan grabs his glasses, and we leave. Once we’re out of New York, New York, I’m still a little surprised that he didn’t ask me a certain question. But I’m not disappointed.