I set the bottle down and opened the bag. I took another drink of whiskey and then poured some into the bag, sharing one last drink.

The tears came as I upended the bag. The ashes flowed out and into the water, creating a thin coating on top. I took the bottle and poured it over the spot, over Endgame’s remains.

When the bottle was empty, I slowly lowered myself into the creek, being surrounded by him one last time, hoping I had done something that mattered.

“If being loved by me means anything, you had that.” And then I slipped under the water.

* * *

TAYLOR

I had my dream guy, I had him, and now he was gone from me. Sure, we FaceTimed a few times a month, but it wasn’t the same. It was stunted. He gently pressed me about dating again. I didn’t want to, so I’d tell him things would happen in a few weeks. And those few weeks would never actually come.

I watched through the little screen as Austin got his confidence back. It was not all at once, but he was speaking French over his shoulder to others from time to time. I followed his social media and saw the growth there, which was crazy because he was already so talented.

Peaches and Teddi came to visit. Peaches way more than Teddi because she and Ruffian were busy with her new charity.

Peaches and Parker seemed to really click. She was actually the one to suggest that Parker walk/jog with shelter dogs. Turns out, Parker was super missing Axel since he had returned to my family, but he tried not mentioning it around me.

It was a great idea. Parker had the energy of a Jack Russell anyway. Tinsley seemed to empathize with how deeply I was affected by the loss of Austin.

Hence, tonight I felt like she was betraying me by forcing me to go to a dating service. Booty Camp Dating Service was coming to town and they promised to deliver your perfect match. One hundred ten percent guaranteed, which was obviously a scam, but Tinsley said the tickets were purchased so we were going.

I dressed up in a flowy black dress with a low back. Tinsley had on a pink number that seemed to accentuate every curve she had, and a few she didn’t.

“Are those padded underwear?” I poked her left butt cheek.

“Yes! Amazing, right?” She slapped her ass with a satisfying whack. “They have these inserts that feel like raw chicken and I can make my booty bounce now.”

She did just that, making me laugh. Parker had come out of his room, munching on an apple. He started twerking with Tinsley without hesitation. After getting my arm yanked on by both of them, I caved and started doing my best to make my booty pop, too.

Tinsley pulled her phone out and yipped. “Uber’s here. We gotta go.”