California

Epilogue

*6 Months Later*

I hear my phone ringing and pick it up. "Hello?"

"Hey girl what's going on?"

I smile. "Hey Sam! I'm just hanging out with Scott. We're about to grab dinner with the others. What are you doing? Wanna join?"

"I just left the cemetery. Did you go yet?"

I sigh. "I went this morning."

"I thought so. Text me where y'all are going and I'll meet you there."

The call ends and I set the phone down. Today is Steve's birthday. That day in the hospital that I told him I couldn't be with him was the last time I ever saw him. He told me goodbye and left. A cop on the task force inside the cordon, the one Jake helped with, was a friend of his and told him to join them. Apparently he had planned to go until we almost kissed, then things got sticky.

A week later he was killed.

A cure was finally found and distributed throughout the US. Most cordons were lifted about 4 months ago. As soon as it was lifted, Jake quit the police department. He found out Quentin's father had died as well so he and Quentin moved away to Washington where Quentin's extended family is. Jake doesn't have custody of Q, but he couldn't imagine not being close to him. The three of us have weekly video chats. I decided to quit my job as an attorney. I now work as a liaison with the CDC.

I've been spending a lot of time with Scott since things opened back up. Brook and Syd swear we will end up together. But I meant what I said to Jake and Steve. I'm okay being alone. I'm happy enjoying time with my friends. We took our lives for granted before the virus. So we strive to enjoy each day more now. Brook and Bucky took time off to travel and help other cities that were affected by the virus. I worry about them every day. But I'm happy to say that my relationship with Sam has gotten so much better. I couldn't imagine not having him in my life, so I've sworn to stop being such a brat whenever things get too overwhelming.

I miss Steve every day. Yeah we stopped talking for 5 years. And when we finally reconnected, it was mostly shitty. But he was my first love. My most serious relationship. He was also my best friend. I can't help but wonder that if things had been different, he wouldn't have left and he wouldn't have been killed. I'm doing my best to work through everything, though. No matter what Ill feelings were between us, Steve would never want me to blame myself for a decision he made. He always took responsibility for his actions, whether it was feeling driven or not. I think if he were still alive, we would've eventually gotten back to being friends. But since that can no longer happen, I'll cherish the memories I did have with him, and I'm grateful I was able to see him at least a little before his death.

Scott appears in front of me with his hand out, breaking me from my thoughts. "You ready ma'am?"

I grin and let him pull me up. "I'm always ready."