to have you in my arms,” he says, squeezing me tight.
When I pull back his lips are on mine, his tongue probing and I welcome him openly. I missed his taste more than I realized. The saltwater of my tears mixes with our kiss and he pulls back, wiping them away with his thumbs.
“I missed you,” I say.
“Not more than I missed you. God, I was such a wreck, Isla. I’m nothing without you, you have to know that.”
I shake my head because that’s exactly how I’ve felt all these weeks.
“Does this mean you’ll give me another chance?” The fear mixed with hope in his dark eyes almost undoes me.
I hesitate for a second, those old fears creeping in. But then I remember my mom’s words out in the hall and the promise I made to my dad.
“Yes, I’ll give you another chance.”
He kisses me again and I melt into it, allowing myself to fully enjoy it.
“I will never hold anything back from you again. You have my word.”
“I believe you.”
He smiles and it’s one of those rare ones I hardly ever get to see from him so I return it.
“Should I call the DJ in?”
I glance around. “There’s a DJ?”
“There’s a DJ and dinner and of course we’re going to win prom king and queen.”
I chuckle.
“I wanted to take you to prom a decade ago, Isla Flores. We didn’t get to experience it together, but will you be my date for prom?”
“What were you going to do if I didn’t forgive you?”
“Look like a fool, I guess.”
Laughter bubbles up my throat while he hits a few buttons on his phone. The doors open and in come the Classholes, my mom, Everly and some of the people I worked with at the campaign office. Excitement fills me as the music starts up and Garrin takes me in his arms.
That night Garrin carried me from the elevator to a bed covered in rose petals. He laid me down and made love to me like it was our first time together. The night was so beautiful, my seventeen-year-old self-mourned as my current self only had eyes toward the future with Garrin Stone.
Epilogue
Isla
Two months later…
I grip Garrin’s hand in mine when the elevator dings, announcing my arrival in the Titans’ Den. He’s been bothering me to start coming down here in the mornings with him ever since I moved in two weeks ago. I’ve been hesitant to do so. It’s hard not to feel like I’m imposing. Though I see the Classholes from time to time, somehow this feels different. It feels like I’m on their turf.
“It’s fine. Relax.” He briefly kisses the top of my head and steps off first.
I follow behind, a little hesitant, but then raise my chin as I catch up to Garrin.
Ford, Ryker and Asher are already down here. Garrin and I got distracted when he came out of the shower, so we’re here later than he normally arrives.
“Hey, guys,” I say with a small wave.
They look a little shocked at first and glance over to Garrin, then back to me. “Hey,” they all say in unison.
“I’m not crashing the party, am I?” I ask, heading over to the coffeemaker.
“It’s not much of a party this early,” Ryker says, sounding like he’s still working on waking up.
“You might not want to come down after ten p.m., though,” Asher says with a laugh.
I finish pouring my coffee and then turn to look at him. “So I hear.”
He sends an accusatory glance at Garrin, who just shrugs.
“So, what’s everyone up to today?” I lean back against the counter and sip my coffee.
They all look at me like deer in the headlights for a moment, and Garrin chuckles into his fist. I guess they don’t normally do this.
“I’ve got back-to-back meetings,” Asher says. “I hate days like this.”
“At least you’re not dealing with some pop princess who seems intent on ruining any and all success she’s had thus far. I swear I’m never having kids,” Ryker says.
I laugh, then look at Ford. “What about you, Mr. Mayor?”
“Council meeting tonight. Meetings today. You know how it is.” He shrugs and sips his own coffee.
“What about you?”
“I’m off to visit my mom today and then I’m going to do some studying for the bar. Then I have a WCC Club meeting.”
When I agreed to move in, Garrin offered to finish one of the empty levels of the building for my mom so she could be close to me, but she declined. She wants to stay in the house she spent a lifetime with my dad in. The house makes her feel closer to him, even though he’s gone.
“What the fuck is the WCC Club?” Asher asks.
I wave him off with a smirk. “You wouldn’t get it.”
“You’re going to take the bar exam? Good for you.” Ford pulls me into his side in a friendly gesture.
“Hands off my fiancée.” Garrin practically growls.
“Fiancée?” Ford lifts my left hand and does a double take. “So, this asshole asked you to be his wife again, and you agreed—again.” He shakes his head in mock disappointment while I laugh.
“You must be a glutton for punishment,” Ryker says. “Congrats.”
“Yes, he asked me again last night and I accepted.” I beam over at the man who will be my husband.
It took some time, but we’re stronger than ever now. No secrets between us.
“Let’s hope you don’t rub off on any of us, Stone,” Ford says and clamps Garrin on the shoulder.
“Oh, I don’t know. I stopped by the new mayor’s office a couple days ago and saw the way he was looking at his new assistant. There’s something there.” I look over at Ford with a teasing grin.
He rolls his eyes while the guys all laugh at him.
“Do tell.” Asher rubs his hands together and looks to me for the scoop.
I’m happy to divulge. “She’s really pretty. Honey-blonde hair and bluey-gray eyes. Seems very intelligent. And I saw her checking out Ford when his back was turned.”
“Really?” Ford turns in my direction.
“Haha.” I point a finger at him. “Gotcha. I knew you liked her.”
“Stone, you need to keep your woman in check,” he says.
Garrin laughs and walks over, pulling me into an embrace.
“Are you kidding me? This is the best.” He leans in and places a lingering kiss on my lips.
“Get a room,” Asher yells out.
“You’re one to talk,” Garrin says against my lips.
I can’t help but laugh, which spurs everyone else to laugh.
No, I’m not a Classhole. But as I look around the group, I realize how tight these guys actually are and I know that in time they’ll probably come to feel like family to me too.
Every day I wake up and count my blessings. It keeps me moving forward like I promised my father I would.
I lean in and kiss Garrin again, my heart feeling like it might burst because I know for certain that this is forever.