What happened after, p.1
What Happened After, page 1
part #4 of Chicago Series
What Happened After…
Chicago Series Finale
by
NICOLE PYLAND
Chicago Series Finale
Do you ever read a story, fall in love with the characters and wonder what happens to them after the book ends? Epilogues are nice, but they’re a snapshot in time. Maybe it’s a year after the end of the book or even just six months. Maybe there’s a proposal or a wedding. Maybe a character announces she’s pregnant. Maybe a character just got their dream job.
I write the epilogues in my books mostly for myself because I want to know where they go next. I like to check in on them to find out about those next big steps in their lives. What I’m doing here is adding to their stories.
There’s a danger in this, of course. What if you’re already satisfied with how the story ended for the characters? What if this ruins it for you? That is a risk you’ll have to decide on your own to take. I’m merely providing short glimpses into the lives of my characters beyond their epilogues.
If you plan to read these, please read all the books in the series first. Because the lives of the characters in the Chicago Series are so closely woven together, you won’t want to read the additional content for Eva and Ember, for example, until you’ve read all four of the Chicago Series books.
To contact the author or for any additional information visit: https://nicolepyland.com
You can also subscribe to the reader’s newsletter to be the first to receive updates about upcoming books and more: https://nicolepyland.com/newsletter
This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.
BY THE AUTHOR
Stand-alone Books:
All the Love Songs
The Fire – Available for Pre-Order
Chicago Series:
Introduction – Fresh Start
Book #1 – The Best Lines
Book #2 – Just Tell Her
Book #3 – Love Walked into The Lantern
Copyright © 2018 Nicole Pyland
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1-949308-03-7
CONTENTS
AFTER… FRESH START
AFTER… THE BEST LINES
AFTER… JUST TELL HER
AFTER… LOVE WALKED INTO THE LANTERN
COMING NEXT
AFTER… FRESH START
“God, I wish we could actually get pregnant by doing that,” Hannah said after she rolled off her wife and onto her own side of the bed.
“That would be much more fun than what we have to do,” Alyssa replied as she turned to face Hannah.
“Al, are you getting worried?” Hannah asked.
Alyssa’s blue eyes met Hannah’s dark green ones. She smiled at her and ran her hand through Hannah’s dark blonde hair. She was still the most beautiful thing Alyssa had ever seen. They’d met all those years ago in California, moved to Chicago together, got new jobs, got engaged, made new friends, got promoted at those jobs, got married, had their two beautiful children and even bought a house together. When they’d made the decision to try again, Hannah had been the one to bring it up. Alyssa was content with their little family. Their twins were about to graduate from kindergarten. When she’d had them, she’d been in her late-twenties. Now, she was in her early thirties, and Hannah was older than her. They’d already tried once. It had been about two years prior. Hannah wanted to have their next child, but it didn’t take, and they’d paused the process when Hannah got promoted to VP at the Camden Hotels. They’d started the process again, and the injections were not fun for either of them. They’d made a deal that for every shot Hannah had to receive, Alyssa would make sure she had as many or more orgasms. They both seemed to enjoy that part of the process at least.
“I’m not worried about that, Han,” Alyssa said. She rolled on top of her wife. “I am worried that our kids are about to wake up any minute and run into this bedroom, and I’m not done with you yet.”
Alyssa leaned down to kiss Hannah, who was too busy laughing to return it at first. When her laughter calmed, Alyssa slowed their kiss. She internally processed what time it was, knew Tyler would wake up first and would run into Lizzy’s room to wake his sister. That usually took about six minutes, give or take a minute or two. Sometimes, Lizzy fussed with her brother. Sometimes, she woke right up. As she lowered her mouth to Hannah’s breast, she knew that, immediately after Tyler woke Lizzy up, their children would rush to their parent’s bedroom and try to open the door, only to find it locked. Alyssa sucked Hannah’s nipple into her mouth while she slid her hand down between her legs.
“Hurry, Al.”
Apparently, Hannah had done the math as well. Alyssa slid her fingers inside, not wasting any time. Hannah’s hips bucked instantly. Alyssa knew that the fastest way to make her wife come was to go down on her while her own fingers roamed deep inside her. She slid down and took Hannah’s ready clit in her mouth. She sucked and welcomed Hannah’s hand on the back of her head, gripping her long dark hair harder and harder every time Alyssa thrust inside her.
“Mommy?”
“Shit,” Hannah whispered. “I’m so close, Al.”
“They can wait,” Alyssa replied and lowered her head back down.
“Mommy?”
“Al, we should–” Hannah started. “Never mind. Don’t stop.”
Alyssa smirked as she plunged inside her again. Hannah came softly, with her hips lifting up and freezing mid-air. She made no sound as she came down. Only her breathing could be heard in the room while Alyssa was kissing her inner thighs and then moved to stand at the end of their bed.
“I’m washing my face in there.” She pointed to their bathroom. “You, get dressed and unlock the door.”
“Why do I have to unlock the door?” Hannah whispered at Alyssa, who was already rushing into their master bathroom naked.
“Mom?”
Hannah threw on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts before she unlocked and opened the door to see both of her children standing there, waiting for her.
“Lizzy peed the bed,” Tyler said immediately.
“I did not,” Lizzy argued. “It’s water.”
“Where did the water come from?” Ty argued with his sister.
“I don’t know,” Lizzy said. “Sky.”
“You’re stupid,” Ty said to her.
“Hey.” Hannah ruffled Tyler’s hair. “Say you’re sorry to your sister.”
“Sorry, Lizzy,” he mumbled. “Can we go to the park today?” He looked up at his mother.
“Ask your mom,” Hannah said. “I have to go change Lizzy’s sheets.” She paused as Tyler rushed into the bedroom and jumped on the bed. Lizzy moved more slowly but followed her brother, as she usually did. “The day was starting off so well too,” she muttered.
◆◆◆
“And you’re sure you want to do this all over again?” Lindsey asked later that day.
“You had another,” Hannah returned while keeping one eye on Tyler, who was playing with Lindsey’s eldest on the jungle gym, and the other eye on Lizzy, who was making a mess of herself in the sandbox with Lindsey’s three-year-old boy.
“I had them one at a time,” Lindsey replied. “You had two at once and want another one. I made Xander have a vasectomy.”
Lindsey had moved to Chicago the year before when Xander had gotten an amazing job offer just outside of the city. She’d been a stay-at-home mom since her son was born and was just about to get back into the professional world once he went off to pre-school.
“I want another one. What can I say? I just love those two little brats so much.” She smiled at Alyssa, who rushed around the equipment with Ty. “And my big brat too.”
“It feels like you two met like yesterday, and now you’re working on your third kid,” Lindsey said.
“It does still feel like yesterday in a way. It also doesn’t, when I think about how far we’ve come. Al hasn’t had a nightmare in over a year. We both got promotions at jobs we love. Those two are about to graduate from kindergarten. It’s all come together for us.”
“I’m glad, Han. Are we going to talk about the book though?”
“What about it?” Hannah turned to her best friend as they sat on their shared bench.
“Are you sure it’s such a good idea? You just said she hadn’t had a nightmare in over a year.”
“It’s her choice. It always has been,” Hannah replied and turned back to see Alyssa walking over toward them.
“But you’re not worried?”
“She’s tough. She can handle it, and she has me.” She stared at Alyssa, who ran her hand through her dark hair and walked over, looking so sexy in her gray V-neck and skinny jeans. Her wife never seemed to age. If she did, Hannah couldn’t tell. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
◆◆◆
Alyssa stared at the blank computer screen in her office at the Camden Hotel in downtown Chicago. She was in her office today. Her job, despite her promotion to Director, still had her traveling at least once a month for a few days. Her region was fairly small, and she could travel by car to all her destinations, which made it easier. Hannah had been promoted several times over and was now a
VP for Camden corporate. Her office was much larger and now in a different building but also downtown. Alyssa still often worked in the same space with her wife whenever she was in town. There was just something about sitting at the round table in Hannah’s office while Hannah replied to emails that enabled them to be as close as possible, despite the demands of their jobs. It was also some of the only alone time they got, with two kids running around the house.
Today, though, Hannah was in meetings. Alyssa worked for a few hours and decided to take a much-needed lunch break, which she often didn’t do. She snacked on the fruit salad she’d brought with her. She’d been the one to pack the kids’ lunches before they went off to AM kindergarten and then aftercare. She’d made sure Tyler had his cantaloupe and strawberries and Lizzy had her grapes and oranges. The resulting leftovers now comprised Alyssa’s lunch along with a Greek yogurt and a large coffee.
She stared at the blank document with the blinking cursor begging her to get started. She had no clue how to do that though. When a publisher reached out to her years ago to write a book about her experience, she hadn’t been ready. Her boyfriend and his young daughter had been murdered. She’d been arrested and tried for the crime. She’d been let go and sent out into the world that thought she was guilty. That was when she met Hannah. Hannah had been the best thing about her life ever since. She loved her children more than life, but she loved Hannah because she’d been the reason Alyssa had even wanted to become a mother. She’d always said she could go either way. With Ty, her boyfriend, she’d gotten his daughter Lizzy as a part of the package. She adored Lizzy, but Lizzy wasn’t her daughter. She wasn’t their daughter. She would have had no problem being a step-parent to her had she not already been thinking about ending things with Ty. She wasn’t ready to become a mom back then.
Today, though, she couldn’t imagine her life without Hannah or their kids, whom they’d named after Tyler and Lizzy as a way to remember the two people that lost their lives that day. When they’d chosen those names, it had been Hannah’s suggestion, and it had surprised Alyssa. Then again, her wife was a constant surprise. She smiled at that thought. Then, she frowned again at the blinking cursor.
Three different publishers had contacted her in the past year. It happened nearly every year near the anniversary of the crime and also the anniversary of Derrick’s suicide. When Derrick had been arrested for the murder of his brother and niece, he hadn’t lasted long in prison. He confessed and then killed himself. Alyssa and Hannah had moved to Chicago at least in part to get away from as much of that history as possible. But, every year, there was at least one request for an interview or for Alyssa to write a book. Alyssa had finally acquiesced. It wasn’t for the money. They were doing fine financially. She’d agreed because she was ready to deal with it all now, to get it all out on the page and to really put it all behind her. She just had no idea where to start.
◆◆◆
“Maybe it’s not the right time after all,” Eva suggested when she joined Alyssa for dinner at BBZ’s later that day. “If it was, wouldn’t it all flow out of you?”
“You should just write it for me. You’re the Lit Professor,” Alyssa suggested as she snagged a fry from Eva’s plate. “I can give you the overview. You can make it readable.”
“I am not a writer.” Eva laughed. “And it’s your story. They’re paying you to write it.”
“Let’s change the subject. Where’s your wife?” Alyssa asked.
“Off, doing complicated math somewhere. Where’s yours?” Eva lifted her eyebrow at Alyssa.
“She’s probably driving home about now with the kids. They were hanging out with Lindsey’s kids tonight. I’m sure I’ll get a text soon.”
“Everything okay?” Eva asked and took a drink of her beer.
“We’re trying again,” Alyssa said with a shrug. “I think she’s worried it won’t take like last time.”
“It is a lot of pressure,” Eva replied.
“With me, it just worked. It worked so well, we got two.” She held up two fingers. “It didn’t work when she tried. And I think she’s scared she’s too old and it won’t work.”
“She is not too old,” Eva argued.
“Trust me, I know. There is nothing old about Han’s body,” Alyssa offered.
“Moving on,” Eva said with a chuckle. “What do you think you’ll do if it doesn’t work again? Would you consider having another?”
“If she wants me to, I will. We both would like to have another. If she can’t, then I will.”
“But she really wants to, doesn’t she?” Eva asked.
“She does. I think she wants to experience what it’s like to give birth, which sounds terrible to me because I’ve actually done it.” She laughed a little. “But I get it. They’re our kids. They’re the best of both of us, even though they came out of me. I don’t think she feels like she needs to have her own or anything. I think she just wants to have the experience.”
“I think that’s pretty normal for lesbians,” Eva said. “Well, some of them at least.”
“It’s just a lot. We both have work, which is super intense for both of us right now. Plus, there’s this book I’m supposed to be writing. Now, we’re trying again,” Alyssa replied. “It’s a lot.”
“Have you told her you feel that way?” Eva asked.
“She knows. I tell Han everything. It’s kind of always been that way between us. I think that’s because of how we met though.”
“That’s true. The first night you two spent together was because of your nightmares,” Eva said. “I’m glad those are gone, by the way.”
“Me too.” Alyssa finished her beer as her phone chimed. “She’s home.” She read the screen. “I should probably be heading out. She’ll want help getting them fed and bathed.”
“Plus, you want to see her.” Eva smiled at her. “Admit it, you love your wife like crazy.”
“I can admit that if you admit the same about Ember. I’ve seen you check your phone about ten times since we sat down to eat.”
“It’s true. I miss her when she gets like this,” Eva said. “She makes it up to me though. We’re going away for the weekend, just the two of us.”
“That’s nice. I know how she gets sometimes when she’s working really hard.”
“As much as I miss her when she falls into her genius work, it’s one of the things I love most about her.” Eva stood.
“Maybe Han and I should go away somewhere, just the two of us. We haven’t taken a vacation in a long time. We could leave the kids for the weekend and just disappear for a couple of days.” Alyssa stood as well.
“We’ll watch them, if you want. Em is still hoping to get Lizzy to love math. She’s given up on Ty, but I think he’s a big reader. I’ll handle that part of his development,” she offered with a smile.
“We appreciate the it takes a village approach to raising our children,” Alyssa replied and laughed. “Let’s get home to our wives now. I know I miss mine.”
◆◆◆
Alyssa dropped her keys on the table next to the front door and heard the yells coming from upstairs, where it sounded like Tyler had done something to make Lizzy upset. They were nearly six years old, but they sometimes still fought like toddlers. She headed up the stairs as she heard Lizzy call Tyler a “not nice boy” and then Lizzy ran into Alyssa’s legs as Alyssa made it to the top of the stairs.
“Mommy,” she said. “Ty called me bad names.”
“He did?” Alyssa leaned down to kiss her daughter on the top of her head.
“I did not,” Tyler emerged from his bedroom only in his underwear. “It’s her bath time first.”
“Hi, babe,” Hannah said as she emerged from Ty’s room, holding his pajamas in her hand. “Ty, bathroom.” She pointed and gave her son a glare. “Your turn first because you were mean to your sister. Lizzy, go to the kitchen and get your apple juice. You can play on your tablet until its bath time, as long as you don’t argue.”
“Okay,” Lizzy said and moved past Alyssa down the stairs.
“Nice one, Han. Well handled.” She moved toward her wife and kissed her on the lips.
