THE LAST CHAPTER.

If it's real, it'll never be over. 

~

Stuck on You: Kapitel Dreißig

I regretted it. 

It had been two weeks since I have last seen him, and the need to hold him in my arms gradually increased. I wasn't able to focus on my job because I was constantly thinking about him. Thinking about what he was doing, if he had moved on.

Shit, it would really hurt if he did.

I let out a groan as I banged my head on the table in front of me, wincing as pain flared in my forehead. "I shouldn't have done that." I moaned, looking at the people walking before me. I was sitting at a table outside of a food joint in the middle of the shopping mall, chatters, and conversations of no importance to me. I wanted Santiago back and I wasn't sure if anything had changed. I needed him. The blue velvet box in my pocket that I had bought a week and a half ago was a pure symbol of my words.

"Don't be an idiot," I heard a giggle and I turned my head to see the man that I loved and a short blonde walking out of Harry Winston. What were they doing in there? A lump formed in my throat as I slunk myself lower into the seats, staring balls of heat in their direction. He looked so good and I was envious. But who was that girl and why was she with him? I gritted my teeth as I forced myself to stay calm. 

But my presence didn't go unnoticed.

The girl stopped short, feeling eyes on her and she turned slightly, eyes widening when she finally caught me. Damn, she was pretty. The blonde then pointed a finger in my direction and I let out a breath, knowing that my position was compromised. Santiago followed her finger and his big body turned towards me, a look on indifference on those handsome features as he raised a brow, undeterred. I didn't know if he could sense the raving aura of jealousy radiating around me, or if he could see the dark look in my eyes or the endless pout on my face, but he made his way towards me. It had been a long time and I could feel my mouth watering at how utterly attractive he was. 

"Anthony," He finally said once he was in front of me. His voice was empty as he wrapped his arm around the shoulders of the pretty blonde, her sweet eyes darting at me as she waved. I wanted to hate her but I couldn't. If she could make him happy, that would be all I asked and I would retire into the shadows and watch him from afar. I shouldn't have let him go. "Meet Rosalee Michaelson," He introduced and it appeared as if she knew me. I wanted to hate her so bad for sinking into his touch like that. 

"My consigliere."

I blinked back and forth stupidly, some breath exhaling in relief. "O-oh," I muttered and there was mirth in his eyes, though it was short-lived. "Hi, patin!" Rosalee waved and I furrowed my brows at the unknown nickname (godmother). "It's nice to meet you." I waved back with an easy smile. "I'm Brad Thorpe and likewise." She seemed happy and Santiago just stood there. "We were just doing some shopping," He glanced at Rosalee. "But now we have matters to tend to. It was good seeing you though," My smile slowly fell as he nodded his head in a goodbye, making their way to the entrance.

I had my chance and I took too long to grab it.

It was okay though. Even if we weren't together, there was still some high level of trust between us, love and respect. 

It was okay.

Was it?

"You seem so depressed." I rolled my eyes as a body sat in the chair next to me. "It must be serious if you're calling me out like this." I turned my gaze to look at my father, biting my lip. "What is it, son?" He asked in a softer tone and I found that I could not hold it in anymore. "I did something stupid, dad." I murmured and he raised a brow, wanting me to elaborate. "My boss gave me an ultimatum when he found out that I was seeing Santi. Because of that, I broke up with him and I kinda wish that I didn't because I'm miserable without him." My eyes went to the direction that he and Rosalee had walked in, hoping that I would see him again.

My father was silent for a while, staring at me in thought. I knew he was going to tell me that I was dumb and that I made too quick of a judgment. The people walking by laughing and giggling did not disturb from my hopeful thoughts. I had to be with Santi. There was no one for me but him.

"Son," Noah spoke, garnering my attention. "You must decide what makes you happy and fight for it." Just a simple sentence of logic and reasoning. Just a simple sentence was all he said, but it put things into perspective for me. 

"Because no matter what, things will work out against all odds if you have put more than enough effort into it." He explained and I let my eyes fall in sadness. "If he promised that he would stand by you until death does you part, then don't waste your time trying to analyze those words. Believe in him." 

That was all that I needed to hear.

Once I was finished with him, I hightailed my ass to the police station, ready to give this man a piece of my mind. "Hey, isn't it your day off?" Gomez asked as I stormed into the station, nothing on my mind but talking to Xenon Reeves. I sauntered my way to where I knew this captain would be waiting. Instead of knocking, I just barged right in and luckily, he was there. "B-brad?" He sputtered in surprise, blinking up at my rage-filled face. "I got one thing to say to you, Xenon," I reached into my pocket, pulling out my badge and throwing it on his desk.

"And that is, I quit." 

I undid my holster and tossed it as well, watching as he stood up with a look of astonishment. "I thought that I could do it. I mean, I busted my ass well enough to secure the position that I had. There was no one else that had that much dedication to this job. There was no else who wanted the job as badly as I did," I began, folding my arms. "This job was everything that I hoped for, my dream, and I thank you for giving me the privilege to serve my city. But there is no point of this dream if the person who made it with me isn't with me anymore." Xenon wasn't furious, but he was rather calm and collected as per usual. He stared, taking in my words as I continued. "I love my job but I love the man who pushed me to my dream even more. I hope you find a suitable replacement," I turned around him, heading out of the place that once held so many memories for me.

"Because there is no way that I can be a man of the law, knowing full well that I'd rather break them."

And with that, I dashed out of the police station, free of the chains that were binding me back from my one true love. 

But first, I had to make a stop.

I pulled up the private academy, seeing my daughter standing with a teacher at the car lot. I got out and went to get her. "Ivory, my sweet baby," I reached a tentative hand out to caress her hair, unsure if she was going to flinch out of my touch. I was merely surprised when she didn't. This was my moment to fix things. "Daddy's sorry for everything that he has done but he promises that he will fix it," She finally looked me in the eye after a long time and I couldn't stop the exhilarating feeling that warmed my chest. "I promise you that I'm going to get your father back, okay?" I smiled gently as she stared at me for a long time with no emotion. She really was her father's child. 

"Oh?" She finally spoke and I was taken aback. "Really?" There was a hint of amusement in her tone as she turned to look at me and I was shocked by the smirk on her face. It appeared as if she knew something I didn't.

"Papa's already two steps ahead of you."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?" I questioned and she shook her head. "Nothing. Do you think that you can take me to that nice restaurant down the street from the hospital?" She asked sweetly and I went to say because of the plans that I had, but I stopped myself. Santi could wait. My daughter was finally talking to me. "Sure thing." I ruffled her hair as she went to go tie her black flats. "Why do you look so nice?" I suddenly asked once we were on the way to my truck.

"Klarissa said that this would be cute for me to wear," She opened the door to my truck, sliding in and smoothing her pink tutu down. "I see," That was all I said before I made sure she was strapped in, making my way to the driver's seat. I had a lot on my mind, so the ride was silent until we arrived at the eatery.

For a restaurant as popular as Lombardi's, it was awfully empty with the exception of a few people. "Hello, Brad!" The host grinned at me as she picked two menus. "Right this way!" She led me to a table and sat us down. When we got to the table, I noticed that there were 15 red roses laid out on the table. "What's this?" I asked, taking a seat. "Oh, just a little decoration." She placed the menus down and walked away, leaving me to look at the singular note in the middle of the roses. 

One for each year that I have loved you.

"Okay..." I trailed off, unsure if this was some sick joke. I furrowed my brows, pulling out my phone to text my father. "I'll be right back, daddy. I'm going to the bathroom." I nodded to Ivory and she got up, making her way. 

I could hear the tune of Mary J. Blige's Be Without You strumming through the restaurant and I smiled at the beautiful symphony. I heard a voice from above me as I stared at my phone, waiting for a text back. "Sir, you haven't ordered yet." It was a deep and falsetto tone as if it wasn't the waiter's actual voice. "Oh, yeah, sorry," I placed my phone down next to the velvet box, looking up to meet his eyes, but the sight before me startled my very thoughts.

I blinked back and forth, seeing a few people scattered against the wall as they stared at the man on one knee in front of me, his hand up and open with a glint of something shiny peeking through the red box in his hand. He was dressed dashingly in a red button-down and black slacks, the small cheers from those few people doing nothing to stop the rapid beating of my heart. "Santi, what—" The man of honor held a finger up at me, smiling.

"Anthony Bradley Thorpe, you are undoubtedly the most infuriating man that I have had the privilege of being with. You annoy the hell out of me. It's always something new with you. You give me so much grief. You keep me on my toes. You frustrate me to no end and I sometimes question everything," I bit my lip, willing myself not to cry as a soft grin coursed his lips. This was happening, right here, right now. Everything that I had ever wanted. "Despite it all, we have been through hell and back and no matter what, it's gotta be you for me." There was a fond look in his eyes as he recounted everything we had been through.

"I don't think you realize it, but you are my one and only. There is no way that I can do anything without you by my side. You are my best friend, my lover, my everything. You know me better than I know myself and you are the greater half of me. I knew that it was you from the moment you put your hand in mine and you smiled at me, telling me everything would be okay. So here I am," Santiago smiled brightly and a tear slipped my eyes when I noticed how nervous he was. "Making it a reality." 

I bit my lip to stop myself from bursting into tears. He always knew what to say. "When you love someone as fucking much as I love you—Jesus fuck, am I in love with you," He ran a hand through his hair as he grumbled like he was frustrated with himself. "Getting married is the only thing left to do." He pushed the red velvet box higher, letting me see the gold ring with small blue and silver diamonds encrusted, leading up to gold roses around the large diamond. It was beautiful and nothing else would make me happy.

"So will you do the world a favor and be mine, forever and always?"

There were no words to describe how much his speech healed my heart. I was speechless. Here it was, the moment of a lifetime that I had been imagining to spend every day of my future with him. 

I nodded vehemently, launching myself into his open arms with tears, the sound of clapping filling my eyes. He stood, swinging me around. He had just made me the happiest man alive and there was nothing no one could say that would stop me from thinking otherwise. He was the man that despite any difficulties, would always be there for me. That was just how it was. We met when we were in kindergarten and we would not leave each other side until death did us part.

Then it hit me.

"Wait, hey!" I picked up the box next to my phone. "I was supposed to propose first!" I opened up the container, exposing the beautiful ring to him. "I had a whole speech to prepare and everything and you ruined it!" I pouted and he snickered, holding out his hand. "Then why don't you put it on me?" Santiago smirked with those luscious lips of his and I nodded, removing the red and gold ring from the box and slipping onto his finger. "You're a pussy, Santiago Luzardi," He full-on grinned. "I'd like to fuck yours." He whispered lewdly and I stared in disbelief as he leaned forward, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I believe there's a kiss you owe me," His hot breath fanned over my lips as his eyes traveled down, hazy and blown with need. "You're right," I replied, pulling him down to my level and like the river meets the shore, his lips met mine for the first time in two weeks, granting me the most beautiful kiss for the duration of my existence. It was soft, it was passionate like he was conveying every single bout of love that he could with his lips.

It was mesmerizing.

We pulled away with a peck, breathing heavily with small chuckles as we stared into each other's eyes; green into brown. This was everything that I could've wanted and I finally got it. With a reluctant huff, I moved my head back to peer up at him. It was now or never.

"Santiago, I need to tell you something," I said with a hint of uncertainty and he tilted his head, squeezing my hand in his. He looked a bit wary and I understood, considering the last time we had a conversation like this, I broke up with him. "What is it?" He questioned and I let out a sigh, biting my lip as I fixated my gaze on him. Those eyes were searching mine for an indication of what was to come but all I could think about was the life that I was crying. "I-" With a deep breath, I closed my eyes, forcing myself to just say it in the way that I knew I could without fear or anxiety.

"Congrats, babe," I grinned, waiting for his reaction. "You'll be a DILF." 

Santiago stared at me, no emotion in those eyes as they flicked from me to my stomach then back to me. He finally put it together. "W-What?" He finally croaked out, that calm facade crumbling to ashes, exposing true joy and ecstasy in the form of a mafia lord. His smile tore through his face as he beamed down at me, picking me up and hugging me tightly. "Seems like your attempts have worked," I said, rubbing his hair. "You have just made me the happiest man alive," He chorused in my ear, his body glowing at he took heed of the news. "I'm going to be a father again," He bubbled and I let out a laugh, seeing how hard he tried to contain himself.

This was what I wanted. 

He kissed my cheeks, my lips, my forehead, making sure every part of me was touched. He put me down on the ground, rubbing my stomach, the sound around us dying down. I smiled up at him, ready to let this go. It was him and I with two children, against the world.

"I thought you were leaving me for good," I whispered, shoving my face into his chest, inhaling the scent of his cologne as his arms wrapped themselves around me, almost in a comforting manner. He let out a chuckle as he sighed, his hand coming up to rub my back as we sat in silence. "How could I leave for good, when your eyes were begging me to stay?" He breathed and I had never felt so sure in my life before. Ivory came and wrapped her arms around our waists, allowing us this illusion of happiness to become a beautiful reality.

Then I spoke, breaking the silence.

"For personal reasons, we're telling everyone that I proposed." I poked Santiago and he rolled his eyes, seemingly stifling a laugh as he threw his head back, mocking me. He shook his head and I glared, pouting up at him. He looked down at me, the stars and the moon in his cocoa eyes, the corners of his mouth quirking up in a gentle smile as he gave me the look that meant that this would be something that would last a lifetime.

"As if anyone would believe that."