Frostbite (Mindgames #1)

Epilogue

A year later.

Stephanie looked like she was half asleep, I had woken up at about six am, it was Stephanie's birthday, and I wanted to make her breakfast, something nice she could have to enjoy after all the stress she had gone through lately.

It gently unwrapped my arms from her waist and slowly sat up, trying to rub the sleep out of my eyes to focus on my current task; spoiling Steph rotten.

Stephanie had managed to graduate from the Academy, and I did as well, but I did not find myself in the field of law anymore. I found myself tending to the house and small garden I had put together in the field in front of our house.

I had been researching William's topic at hand, the concept of reality shifting and how humans could travel the multiverse, It honestly looked insane, but considering we managed to evolve magic after achieving a multi-planet civilization, I honestly did not question anything anymore. I had finished a file for William, an essay written for him to read. I opened up my phone and walked downstairs to the kitchen to begin Stephanie's breakfast.

I dragged the file from my phone into the texting conversation I had with William, there were not a lot of messages between us, most exchanges had to do with the mission with Beatrice, or sending happy birthdays and well wishes on holidays, a low-maintenance friend.

I sent the file, before turning the screen of my phone off to begin making waffles for Stephanie, she adored waffles, it was something she enjoyed since I even heard about her. The screen of my phone turned back on when I got a message from Indi.

I picked up the phone after pouring the batter into the waffle maker. There was a picture of herself, Felix, and Kacey all together in a government building, with a message below.

Indi: Your sister is one of the most brilliant fourteen-year-olds I have ever met, I am in awe of her. She's more awake than Felix is and he does this regularly LOL

The picture had them all sitting in a line, Felix was at the end slightly slumped over, clearly fast asleep, and Kacey was sitting with Indi, making a peace sign gesture with a big smile on her face.

I smiled softly, chuckling to myself as I set the phone back down. I continued cooking the pancakes as I heard gentle footsteps come down the stairs. "Why did you get up?" A groggy-sounding Stephanie was audible from the staircase. "I wanted to make you waffles for your birthday," I answered gently.

"oh, it's my birthday?" Stephanie said, checking her watch curiously. "Happy birthday," I smiled softly walking over to her, and kissing her forehead. "I don't like aging." Stephanie pouted as I chuckled, returning to the waffle maker to remove the waffles, and placing them on a plate for her. "Butter? Syrup? or none?" I asked gently.

"minimal syrup please.." Stephanie said, rubbing her eyes as she sat down across from me on the island where I had set up the waffle maker. I did as told, doing a gentle drizzle on the waffles, placing a knife and fork on the plate, and sliding it over to her.

"I love you mi amor," Stephanie said softly.

"I love you too." I smiled softly, soon working on my waffles, to enjoy my fiancée's birthday with her. As I eventually finished cooking my waffles, I wandered around the island to sit next to her and eat breakfast, to enjoy my newfound years with her.