Ain't No Sunshine

Epilogue

Nate

ItfeelslikeDéjà vu as we drive down the freeway towards my family home for Christmas. The roads are all the same, we’re singing the same tunes, even the rental car looks similar to the one we got last year.

The differences, though, mean everything. Cory isn’t nervous. At all. She’s bouncing in her seat, chatting to me animatedly, while flitting through the songs on my phone. And, there is no chance in hell we are breaking up this time round. No siree; we are done with that shit.

When we arrive at the gates, Cory sits up straight and adjusts her clothes, staring ahead confidently. Here she is, my Little Bit of sunshine.

When we enter my bedroom, I’m no longer anxious about how the day will go. I don’t need sex to distract me. Instead, I grab Cory’s face in my hands and gently kiss her forehead. “I love you, Cory. Here’s to a wonderful Christmas.”

She smiles up at me with wide eyes and a warm smile, and like always, I lose myself in her. The Christmas party at my parents’ last year was one of the worst days of my life. Even though we’ve been back at this house since then, having Cory here now means the world to me.

“What should we do to pass the time?” Cory asks just as the intercom comes to life with a request for dinner. Thirty minutes.

Cory jumps again. I don’t think it’s ever going to be something she gets used to, but she’s adjusting to life with the Edwards family like a champ.

Lunch is uneventful this year, and fuck, am I happy about that. I meet Gramps in the games room as soon as the formalities of Christmas lunch are over, desperate to do this right away. The games room was always our space. Mom and Dad rarely ventured here unless they were looking for me. Gramps, on the other hand, would spend hours here with me, sprawled out on the couch, playing video games. Yep, he’s a gamer.

“So, are you doing this thing today, or do I have to listen to you banging on about it for another year?” he says as soon as he enters the room.

I roll my eyes at the smirk he’s giving me and laugh. “I’m doing it over the weekend. When we’re back home. There’s a party at the Ball House.”

“What!? Why would you propose at the Ball House? You don’t even live there. Kids these days… Nothing is private anymore. Hell, why not go all out and do it over the tube?”

I burst out laughing at his ridiculous response. “First, I’m proposing in the gardens. Alone. Second, you know it’s called YouTube, Gramps. Your girl has her own channel.”

“That she does. Just hit 10,000 subscribers last week.” He beams proudly.

“Good for her,” I say genuinely. Gramp’s partner makes her own modest swimwear for ladies who actually want to show off some skin, despite their age; her words, not mine. She’s actually doing pretty well for herself.

Gramps takes the ring from his pocket and places it on the couch between us. “Please take this off my hands. I’ve had it in my pocket since last Christmas,” he says, taking a step back and raising his hands in the air.

“Shut it. You have not. Plus, you know why I didn’t get it last year. Cory had just left me.”

“True. Have I told you how much I like that girl?”

I blanch jokingly. “For leaving me?”

“Yep, you needed to see sense. But I also like her for taking you back.”

“Me too, Gramps. Me too.” I smile.

When Gramps and I walk back into the living room, Mom and Cory are deep in conversation. It was a long time coming, but after Cory left me, I finally stood up to my mom. We discussed my anger issues, the fact I avoid any confrontation with her, along with my plans to become a teacher and my feelings for Cory. Like Cory, I saw someone about my issues and quickly discovered it stemmed from my mom’s attack and the feeling of being unable to control a situation when someone I loved was hurting. Mom came along to one of my sessions, and we talked things through. It’s been great between us ever since.

Cory throws her head back and laughs as Mom covers her face with her hands, shaking her head with a smile. You’d swear these two have known each other their entire lives with how close they’ve become since we got back together. It didn’t happen right away, but Mom worked hard to earn Cory’s respect, and now… well, now it’s hard to get them to shut up. We’ve attempted to visit more, and Mom and Dad have done the same. It’s a relief to know that issue in our life is over.

Liv, on the other hand, is still around, but she’s no longer causing trouble. She has a very different relationship with my family now, so even if she tried something, no one would allow it to happen.

“Nate, honey,” Mom calls from her position on the floor. “Cory told me about your job change at work. I’m so happy you get to mix your two passions.” She smiles at me lovingly, and I thank the heavens that she also accepted that part of my life. She’s referring to my new role as a physical education teacher. It’s what I always wanted to do, what I’m trained to do, and I’m lucky to have secured a role sooner than I thought.

“Thanks, Mom. I’m pretty excited.”

“Lucky it’s at the same school, too. Your apartment is in the perfect location for you both. You wouldn’t want to give that up.”

Our apartment. The apartment that Cory and I live in, together. I graduated not long after we got back together and secured a job a couple of months later. The boys said I could stay in the Ball House if I wanted, but I needed the change. And frankly, I wanted to be an adult. As soon as I made the decision in my head, I was on Cory’s doorstep begging her to move in with me.

Was it crazy? Maybe. Were we moving too quickly? Probably. Did Cory say yes before the words were even out of my mouth? Abso-fucking-lutely.