Epilogue.

One month later

"Someone is here to see you", Elisha's secretary buzzes her.

"Who is it?" She ask as she signs a few papers, going over the week's budget and profit.

"Ace Walker."

She smiles,"let him in", she puts the files in the desk drawer as he enters.

"Hey little sis, nice office", he grins,"I brought lunch", he places the take out on her desk.

"What you're doing here so early? I wasn't expecting you so early", she chuckles.

He takes a seat,"decided to fly in early, you don't think I will miss your twenty third birthday, do you?"

"It's tomorrow you idiot", she laughs.

"You got me, Brendan needed some extra help as well", he takes out his burger.

"I told Brendan that I want something simple", Elisha sighs,"we were just going to a club tomorrow that it."

"Its his birthday too remember? You guys wanted a joint party been planning it since last month."

"His birthday was yesterday and I still have a slight headache from that alcohol."

"Told you not to drink so much, anyway heard from Malcolm yet?"

She sighs,"no, but Draven told me earlier this week not to expect him to come the party though."

"You got to move on Elisha, its been a month now", Ace advises.

"I know he explained everything and Annelise, but I don't know what he said after I left. He could have said yes to Annelise and just lied to me about it."

"Do you love him Elisha?"

"What?" She watches her brother.

"Do you love Malcolm? Yes or no?"

"I don't know, we been dating for like only a month okay",  she snaps.

"Calm down, it was just a question."

"After I told Brendan what Annelise said to Malcolm, I can't believe last night he made up back with her", Elisha scoffs.

"Love works in mysterious ways, I knew they would have  got back together soon. He is in love with her just as Malcolm is in love with you", Ace states.

She scoffs,"if he was. He wouldn't have go back to Brooklyn and stay there."

"After he explained everything, you still told him to go."

"I couldn't look at him okay, all I saw was him and Annelise together at the hospital", she defends herself.

"He's in love with you Elisha."

"Get out, go help Brendan or whatever. I'll see you later."

"Finally getting your own place by next week, about time", Ace laughs.

"Out."

***

"Who's getting the cake tomorrow?" Brendan asks as Ace packs the beers in his fridge.

"Me", Zane replies.

"Good", he nods.

"I want the pool to have lights."

"On it", Zack enters the kitchen in wearing a diver suit with the waterproof lights.

"Music?"

"DJ Draven ready to rock", Draven enters with another case of beer and Malcolm behind him.

"Happy birthday bro, sorry I couldn't make it last night", Malcolm did their bro shake and hug. Brendan punches him in the stomach,"that's for making Lisha cry."

"She's the one who told me to leave", he groans in pain.

"And you actually listened to her?" Zane laughs.

"Look its over okay, I am just here to help and tomorrow night I wouldn't be anywhere near this party", he confesses.

"You better be or I will drag your a** here if I have to", Zack glares at him.

"If you can find me", he smirks.

"You better be here, you're in love with Elisha stop denying it" Draven places the beers on the table.

"I am not in love with her anymore okay and it wouldn't work out anyway!" He yells.

"Why not?" Ace snaps.

"I think I might be gay", he says lowly and all hell breaks loss.

****

"Why so quiet Brendan? Did Annelise do something?" Elisha asks her best friend with concern as they eat dinner.

"No its not about her", he sighs,"I'm going out for a drive", he gets up.

"Are you okay? You're scaring me Brendan", she gets up.

"You'll be okay too Lisha", he kisses her forehead.

"What do you mean? What happened?"

"Nothing to worry about now and your friend Tony is coming for the party too", he informs her.

"I already know that, be careful on the road though."

"Always, tomorrow pack your stuff. We're going for a drive for the day", he adds.

Next morning

"Do you have everything birthday girl?" Brendan asks as he throws their bags into the trunk.

"Yes, but where are we going? Wouldn't Annelise get upset? You know how fast she get jealous", Elisha rolls her eyes.

"She is okay with it, once we get some alone time tonight", he smirks.

"Too much information Brendan", he laughs as they get into the vehicle.

**

They arrive at a cabin three hours later with a lake behind it.

"I can't believe this cabin is still here and with a new paint job too" , Elisha grins.

"Yeah the guys and I spent most of our time here during spring and summer when you left. We even fix the rope swing for the lake and brought two jet skis", Brendan informs her.

"What will be for lunch?"

"Well I am cooking, so you just relax. There's a box with movies you can choose to watch" , he says as he unlocks the front door.

Everything is the same expect the living room which is now paint and the kitchen. Brendan places the grocery bags on the kitchen counter as Elisha goes upstairs to check out the five bedrooms and the bathroom.

"My room is still clean surprisingly and my posters are still there as well", she comes down a few minutes later.

"Yeah the maid keeps all the rooms clean, this year we didn't come to the cabin for summer as you noticed."

"And spring?"

"Yeah for a few days", he nods.

Four hours later

"So behind the rocks and back", Brendan challenges.

"You're on", Elisha clips on her life jacket and gets on the jet ski.

"Ready, set, go", they say unison.

They speed off across the lake towards the big rock. Elisha laughs as she is ahead of Brendan until he passes her a few seconds after. Both of them goes behind the rock and back to shore, Elisha presses harder and goes faster, passing Brendan.

"I win", she grins as she comes to a stop.

"Nice riding", Brendan stops next to her.

"I want a picture", she gets off the jet ski and step onto the deck going for her phone. She takes out a selfie, one next to the jet ski and one with Brendan on their jet skis.

"We better go get ready, party starts at 8", Brendan says.

"We still got time Brendan and its our party, we can arrive late if we want", Elisha scoffs and dives into the water.

They swim in the water an hour and a half  more before hitting the shower.

_______

Malcolm sighs as he waits for Elisha and Brendan to arrive, at least his stomach area is just bruise. He doesn't know how to tell Elisha about him being gay, how would she react? Would Brendan tell her and just get it over with?

"They're five minutes away guys, put on the music", Tony announces entering the house. Draven puts on the music as more people start to arrive, they were some of their high school friends and baseball teammates.

"Where is the birthday girl?" Zane places the large cake with a picture of Elisha and Brendan, age 13 grinning at the camera on the table.

"This is so cute" Stephanie coos, she's a few weeks pregnant with Nick besides her.

"Yeah, ten years later and they still have their big identical grins", Draven states.

"We're here", Elisha enters first.

"Happy birthday!" They all shout making her gasp as her eyes fall on Stephanie.

"You're here? How?" They hug.

"You don't think I will miss your twenty third birthday, do you?" She grins.

"I missed you though, are- are you gaining weight?"

Stephanie smirks,"I'm about four weeks pregnant."

"B*tch and now you're telling me this", Elisha glares at her.

"Sorry I forgot, but you'll be his or her godmother of course."

"I better be", she laughs.

Everyone greets Elisha and wishes her happy birthday, as Malcolm stays in the corner sipping on his beer quietly as he watches his ex crush/ date enjoys her birthday.

"Are you going to tell her?" Ace leads against the wall next to him.

"Later, I don't want to spoil her happiness right now."

"The longer you stay, the harder its gonna be. She already knows you're here and isn't even acknowledging her", he pushes off the wall and walks away.

Evan arrives and  hugs Elisha, handing her a gift bag as she smiles.

2 hours later

Elisha is half drunk as she and Brendan cut their cake together while Annelise takes pictures and Zack films.

"You may now kiss the bride", Zane teases as Annelise glares at him. Brendan kisses Elisha's forehead then pulls Annelise towards him, pressing his lips against hers.

Malcolm approaches Elisha when she is alone in the kitchen,"finally decided to approach me, let's talk", she leads him outside to where the pool is and sits down on the long chair.

"Where to start?" He chuckles nervously.

"Start from why you stop text me after you left and never to be seen again?"She crosses her arms.

"During the weekend when I was in Brooklyn I had lots of time think about all that  had happened. One night I went to a club  and was sipping on my beer when this guy approached me, we introduced ourselves and started to hangout,

"A few days after we met up again to have a drink after a long day's work. Then we kissed well he kissed me and I kissed him back Elisha, I actually enjoyed it and that's when I realize that I might be gay", Malcolm confesses while Elisha looks at him in shock and pain.

"Y- you're gay?" She looks at him with tears in her hazel green eyes.

"Yes and I am so sorry that I am, I didn't mean to hurt you Elisha. I just wanted to tell you that before things got more serious", he sighs,"I hope one day you forgive me though, I'll leave now", he turns to leave.

"Wait", Elisha grabs his wrist and he looks at her with a sad face .

"Did you ever had feelings for me?"

He smiles sadly,"yes I did, why wouldn't I? You're an amazing girl and your guy is out there waiting for you somewhere, don't lose hope", he kisses her hand.

"Why you're leaving so early though?"

"Have a flight to catch in the morning, I just wanted to explain things to you. Enjoy your birthday and when I come back, you better move on and start seeing guys again", he teases," there's my brother and Zack available", he smirks.

"I think I have it under control, don't worry I'll find a guy", she assures him and he leaves.

"Hey, you okay?" Tony comes out a while after.

"Yeah, how about you? Anything about Lola?" She winks.

"Its not mine Elisha, you know this", he glares at her.

"How you so sure?"

"Because when the doctor backtrack to the day her egg got fertilized it was days before we slept together and I told you we used protection", he reminds her.

"So who's is it?"

"Keith's, I suspected it though. Now Aaron moved out with Lisa while Keith and Lola are staying at a smaller apartment in the city, they both are working to pay bills and to prepare for the baby's arrival. Lola's parents don't know that she is pregnant just yet, but Thanksgiving she's going to introduce Keith", he explains.

"Whoa, so you're relived?"

"Yes, I am not ready for any kids yet. I am enjoying myself right now."

"There you are, I saw Malcolm left. Are you okay?" Brendan comes outside with his shirt wrinkle and lipstick on his neck.

"Yes, you got a little sometimes there", Elisha points at her neck.

"Its evidenced that I am taken", he winks as Tony gets up and goes back inside.

"Brendan?"

"Yes Lisha."

"Thank you."

"What for?" He smiles.

"For keeping your promise", she hugs him.

"I will always keep my promise especially when it comes to you", he whispers.

She closes her eyes and smiles,"I know."

Sometimes promises get broken, but its up to the person to decide if to fulfill it or break it.

_______________________

The end.

I can't believe this book has finally come to an end. 😭😭

I enjoyed writing it.

Were you expecting Malcolm's confession? Who do you think is his new 'date/ boyfriend'?

Who will Elisha date in future? Any names?

Its up to you guys, who she ends up with in your mind.

Another note, Will (Jett's father who wanted revenge) is dead. Issac killed him when he was about to shoot him for helping Elisha escape.

Issac is still living in Brooklyn, but from time to time go over to Atlanta to visit his kids.

Fred the diner guy is okay as well and turned the diner to a regular one, no twenty four hours shift again and the latest to close is midnight.

Zane and the nurse? Let's just say she will be transferring to Chicago in January to  be closer to Zane since they are dating.

Elisha's mother, she is in California soaking in some sun and dating a guy she met online. She visits Ace and his son from time to time.

Ace and Anika with their son Chase will be moving back to Georgia soon, Ace got a permanent job there and Anika can go back to school to finish her studies at Georgia State University while being close to her son and working a job part time.

I think that covers everyone.

Oh and Draven, don't worry he will find his girl soon as well as Zack, Tony and Evan.

Bye.