Ride Or Die | Book #1 ✓

Chapter 60 - Epilogue

Trigger Warning: Self-harm

Welcome to the last official chapter of ROD! (There are two more bonus chapters) Make sure to leave a lot of likes and comments to end on a good basis!

Today is the 1 year anniversary of ROD. I published the first chapter on July 9th, 2020! So happy 1 year to all my dedicated readers who have stuck around for a year exactly today.

"I just don't know how dad is going to react, I mean he's going to flip when he finds out." I sighed as I walked beside Aster. We had been walking up to the doors of Xanders mansion for Reese's fourteenth birthday party- where Xander agreed to host his little sister's birthday party.

I was excited to be taking this next step with Pierce, and I couldn't believe we had cosigned a lease together. I was glad to be growing u0and taking these big steps, it's just that I was afraid to tell my parents-well more specifically my dad. I knew my mom would be happy for me although my dad would not share the same excitement. 

"Just relax, he'll just need to process it. You're growing up and he needs to realize that." Aster stated confidently, but he had no idea how protective and at times controlling my dad was over me. I took in what in he said, and pushed open the grand wooden doors only to be welcomed into a house filled with people. 

I hadn't stepped a foot away from the door when Reese and a group of her friends came running past me. Reese stopped in front of me, flashing me a smile as her eyes flickered against the light "Hey Aspen."

"Hey, kiddo, happy birthday." I flashed her back a smile as I pulled her into a quick hug before handing her the card I had wrapped in an envelope. "Holy shit-" A blonde kid spoke up as he stared over at me, making Reese roll her eyes in response.

"Forget it, Danny, she's 1) way too pretty for you 2) like four years older than you so ew and 3) my brother's girlfriend," Reese said in annoyance as if this was a reoccurring thing. I let out a chuckle before my eyes snapped up to see Pierce approach behind the group of teenagers. 

Reese's friends began tugging at her arm as they pulled her away from the door entrance, Reese giving into their pull. "Thanks for the card, Aspen!" She called after me before disappearing behind a corner. "I see you met Reese's friends." Pierce pressed a quick kiss to my forehead before acknowledging Aster beside me. 

"I am so glad you are not that age anymore." Aster narrowed his eyes towards me before turning to Pierce "Evangeline here, yet?" Pierce nodded in response, directing him to find her in the kitchen which left us alone in the door entrance. 

"So did you tell your dad?" Pierce cocked an eyebrow at me as he pulled me closer, his arms hanging loosely around my waist. Pierce knew what a problem it would be to tell my dad that I was officially staying in New York and there was no getting out of a lease, which is something he knew. The night Pierce asked me to move in with him was at dinner with my parents, where my dad immediately spoke up to say no.

"Not yet, I just couldn't. He's going to be pissed." I was in my head about telling him. I knew that I had to tell him and that I couldn't continue to put it off, I just wasn't mentally prepared to break the news to him. Pierce took my hand and led me down the hallway before we entered the kitchen where Mrs. Gunner was preparing food with all of her daughters offering help.

"Aspen." Mrs. Gunner looked up at me with a smile on her face, as she set the knife down from her hands. Walking around the marble island countertop, she greeted me with open arms. She pulled me into a hug, which I returned as I caught the smell of her perfume. I pulled back from her as she took my hands in hers.

"Congratulations on the apartment." Her smile didn't fade, "I'm so proud of you guys." I offered back a small smile with a thank you before looking over to Pierce. I couldn't help but be jealous of Pierce and not having to deal with fighting his parents over buying an apartment-although I knew I was lucky enough to have parents that cared.