Surviving the Nicholson Boys (Re-write)

epilogue : let it go

Song/title of the chapter: Let It Go by James Bay

"So come on, let it go. Just let it be. Why don't you be you, and I'll be me? Everything that's broke, leave it to the breeze. Let the ashes fall. Forget about me."

***

Signed and sealed.

Brad pushed the envelope filled with the signed divorce papers away from him and let out an exasperated breath. Tanner placed a hand on his father's shoulder and squeezed it. "Good job, Dad."

David nodded. "You're now a free man."

"I am," Brad sighed again.

Isaiah, Rodney, and Elliot frowned. Brad sat up and smiled at them. "Boys, don't feel bad, all right? You three did what you thought was right, and it saved a lot of extra heartbreak regarding your mother's affair. I taught you boys to do what you thought was right and stand up for the people you cared about, and that's exactly what you did. I'm not mad, okay? I'm very proud of you all."

They loosened up a bit. Brad's smiled widened as he reached over and ruffled all three of the boys' hair. Elliot groaned and matted the messy pieces down.

"You okay?" I whispered to Jeremy.

"Better than I expected to be." He replied.

"So," Dalton sighed, "what do we do now?"

"I'm going to go drop this off," Brad nodded over to the package, "we can go out for dinner tonight, yeah?"

The boys and I nodded. Brad said goodbye to all of us before grabbing the package and heading out the door.

"He was surprisingly calm." Wesley commented.

Mason shrugged. "I think Dad's seen every type of bullshit there is."

"Yeah, of course he's calm." Marcus agreed with his twin.

"I really don't wanna be travelling between houses." Gregory groaned.

"Neither do I," Pauly muttered, "but we don't have a choice."

Christian glared at Nicky. "I hate you for being eighteen."

Nicky chuckled and flashed his younger a grin. Christian rolled his eyes. Jordan and Dalton laughed.

"Have fun, and don't give Mum a hard time, okay?" David eyed all of his younger brothers and they nodded.

Jeremy, Gregory, Pauly, Christian, Jordan, Dalton, Isaiah, Rodney, Elliot, Marcus, Mason, Jamie, and Jonah would be the ones who would have to travel back and forth between their parents. I could choose whenever I wanted to go see Karolina, along with Tanner, David, Wesley, and Nicky. Dimitri would stay at the Nicholson house most of the time with me, the eldest Nicholson boys, and Brad.

Jordan rested his chin on his hand. "I'm tired."

"Tired of bullshit?" Dalton asked.

"Yes," he chuckled, "but I'm just tired in general."

"We should watch a movie and then take long ass naps." Christian nodded.

"We deserve it, to be honest." Isaiah yawned.

I leaned my head on Jeremy's shoulder and he wrapped an arm around me. If Jordan hadn't said anything, I don't think I would've realized how tired I actually was.

"You can pick the movie, Aria." Tanner smiled at me.

"Stand By Me," I winked.

Marcus fist-pumped the air. "Yes!"

Mason rolled his eyes. "Not again."