45. EPILOGUE
CARLY
It’s my second time at a grand masquerade ball but I have a feeling it won’t be my last.
Once again, it’s being held at the Pink Hotel ballroom, which is basically packed to the brim with a line outside of people hoping they get let in. It’s the grand opening of the Pink Hotel and paparazzi are camped beside a literal red carpet rolling through the front doors that are guarded by suited-up security. And inside the room holds even more glitz and glamor.
More than just regular aristocrats, this time the place is filled with an interesting combination of people, from actual celebrities, drawn to the spectacle of the Pink Pearl to bluebloods like Micah’s grandfather and parents, and just regular old Laketowners. It’s an interesting mix of people that shouldn’t work but somehow it does.
Declan says his rebrand is about maintaining the rustic charm while still giving the Pink Hotel some prestige. It’s a difficult thing to do and something Micah lets his father and Declan know he has no interest in helping them facilitate. He’s too busy on a list of new projects including a new Yacht Club he’s building.
Micah succeeded in selling his shares to someone he knew from his fancy boarding school, who he called “kind of a weird guy.” To which Declan responded, “If he’s weird, then he’ll fit right in in Laketown.”
I can see the new owner, Toby, standing at the front of the room alone, glowering at everyone. Or at least I think he’s glowering. He might just be focusing though. Micah tells me that the man is hard to read, but his eyes are fixed on the room as though trying to scorch everything to the earth at once. He’s quite tall, even more so than Declan, and handsome despite his expression. His pitch-black hair sets off nicely against his bronze skin, and matches black eyes that are disconcerting to look into for too long.
His back is straight, broad shoulders sitting back like Micah’s posture lessons taught me to do. He oozes good breeding but in a different way than Micah does. While Micah gives off more laid back, spoiled rich-boy vibes, this man has the aura of command that Declan has, but also something else. Something I can’t put my finger on, but is undeniably… odd.
I watch him for a few more seconds, noticing his eyes linger on Tate who’s arguing with her mother about something. His gaze rests there for a few seconds, before he looks away, frowning and muttering something to himself.
Yeah, definitely an oddball.
“Are you okay, ma’am?” I jerk around and stare at a large man who approaches me cautiously.
“Oh yes. Thank you, Mercer.” It’s hard to get used to the feeling of being followed around by bodyguards. I now have two of them with me at all times. Now I understand how Emma feels. A lot of the time, they try their best to blend into the background and once in a while, you may even forget that they’re there. But then something happens and they’ll jump out to protect you and you’ll realize they were right there.
Although they haven’t done much jumping lately, since the pearl saga seems to be coming to a close.
I glance aside at where Nate and Hal are speaking. Nate got released on bail with an ankle monitor, thanks to his cooperation and Declan’s efforts. He’s not free of all the charges yet, but at least he gets to stay home while getting ready for the trial.
Hal, on the other hand, is a new hero in town. Despite the scandal that rocked Laketown, with his father in jail and branded a murderer, Hal’s reputation seems to have survived the fallout. Everyone heard how he took a bullet for me–mostly because he won’t stop talking about it–and now he gets all sorts of perks.
But I love that for him because he’s earned it. It’s because of him that I’m alive and I let him know constantly how grateful I am. Micah gave him a handsome reward for it too, and Grandpa Crane now allows him to eat for free at the Tiki Bar for life. It’s hard to know which of those things Hal likes more.
As Hal drifts away from Nate, I walk over to my cousin and smile. “That is a real gnarly mask.”
“Oh yeah?” His mask is black with puckered scars all over it. “Seemed to fit the occasion. And who are you supposed to be, Cinderella?”
“Something like that,” I say. We pause and regard each other.
“I’m sorry,” he says.
“Nate, this is like the fiftieth time you’ve apologized,” I say. “You don’t have to keep doing it.”
“I feel like I do. I feel like all this mess is my fault.”
“It really isn’t. If you hadn’t been there, Rick would have found someone else to help him with his scheme. Someone who may not have helped Amelia get saved in time.” I nod. “I know you did the wrong thing, but you have a good heart, Nate. Always have and always will.”
He smiles weakly. “I just hate that I disappointed you, Lady Fishy.”
“Oh, don’t you start with that.” Nate has been spending a lot of time with Grandpa Crane since he got out and I guess the nickname is rubbing off. He chuckles.
“I love you,” I tell him. “You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know. I love you too. And I’m sorry.”
“Fifty-one,” I say tiredly, and he laughs.
Then, I spot Micah’s grandfather conversing with an equally distinguished-looking man. His eyes meet mine over his companion’s shoulder and I wink, smirking when he huffs and looks away.
It’s funny the transformation our relationship has undergone in such a short time. Even after his apology, the man still frequently says ignorant stuff about the less fortunate, but I make sure I call him out on it. It surprises Micah and his dad till this day, but they’re getting used to it. At this point, I think they might be enjoying it.
Last week, I convinced Micah to help me take his grandfather to a shelter, where we met up with the manager. His grandfather only lasted five minutes before he wanted to leave, but a part of me thinks something got to him that day. He’s still a raging snob, but he at least no longer calls the unhoused “riffraff.” And I overheard him talking to Micah about possibly funding his affordable housing project.
So, yes, perhaps he’s not completely hopeless.
At the other side of the room, I spot Grandpa Crane talking an actress’ ear off, and Roger and Shoreton standing not too far off looking a tad suspicious. I walk close by and hear them muttering, “Do you think anyone would notice if we made off with that tray of shrimp cocktail over there?”
“Nah, I think they’re all too busy schmoozing,” Roger responds. “You can cause a distraction and I’ll grab it and hide it in my jacket.”
“Both of you, be on your best behavior,” Poppy scolds. “We’re not savages.”
“Nah, just you,” Shoreton says and Roger snorts.
I smile, and sail away with the rest of the bodies moving between us.
At the corner of the room, Mrs. Peach sits and talks to another elegantly dressed woman I’ve never met before. Just like Micah’s grandfather, her eyes catch mine and I wink at her too. She beams with so much pride and love that it’s palpable.
The only ones who aren’t here are my parents, no matter how much they’ve pleaded and begged. I cut them off a while ago when, after my kidnapping, the only thing they wanted to know was how big Micah’s family home was. I mean I realized earlier that they never truly cared about me, but that proved it. I said goodbye, walked away and haven’t been back since. Neither has Nate.
I’m not answering their calls either. Sometimes I feel a little guilty, but I don’t give into that. At some point, the cycle has to break and we have to sever ties with the ones who try to keep us tangled in them. I’ve told Nate the same about his mother, but it’s going to take some time for that one to sink in.
But it has stuck for me. My only family, in my opinion, are those who have been there for me who I hold dear to my heart: Mrs. Peach, Emma, Grandpa Crane, Poppy and Tate, Yule. And of course, my Micah.
I drift around the party across the smooth burnished wood gleaming under the chandelier lights and search for Micah. In my search, I catch sight of Amelia and her friend, Jace, a tall blonde boy who seems to hang onto her every word.
They would make a cute couple , I think, walking up the sweeping staircase where rows of rooms lead down a hauntingly beautiful hallway with tiny stars embedded in the ceiling washing it with golden light, and gilded windows letting in the moon’s haze.
Suddenly, a hand shoots out of an open closet and grabs my arm.
I already know who it is, so I don’t panic. I can practically smell him from here even before he drags me close and whispers in my ears, “Did I tell you how beautiful you look?”
“Only about a dozen times.”
“Well, you look beautiful,” he says, his hand traveling over my ass. “And sexy. And hot.”
Desire thrums in my belly. “I think all those things mean roughly the same thing.”
“Do they?” He runs his nose down my neck and I shiver.
“Were you just hiding here waiting for me?”
“Nah. I saw you coming and decided to drag you in here to descend upon you like a hungry beast.”
“You know there’s a bedroom right across from us, right?”
“Yeah, but we’ve never done it in a coat closet.”
I giggle and then sigh as he kisses the nape of my neck.
“Thank you,” he whispers.
“For what?”
“For being with me. For having our child. For being the sexiest damn accountant I’ve ever seen.”
“Well…” I wait until his eyes meet mine. “You’re welcome.” I take a second to soak in the silence, with the faint sound of classical music downstairs triggering memories. “You know this reminds me so much of our first hook up. At a hotel party, fooling around upstairs while the event goes on downstairs.”
“Yeah, I remember. I got real nostalgic in this coat closet.” He pulls back from my neck so I can stare into his beautiful green eyes. “The best decision I ever made was walking over to talk to the beautiful Athena.”
God, he can be so sweet.
I can’t help it then. I kiss him.