Epilogue Cirella
“Come on in!” Jules flips the sign on the door, opening the shop for the first time.
Blair and Alora are the first ones in line, adoring smiles on their faces.
“Ahh!” Blair squeals. “The place looks amazing!”
“It really came together beautifully.” I beam with pride, stepping aside for them to come in.
“Blair,” Alora gasps, rushing over to a display rack. “Look at this.”
“We’ll see you in a bit for the game, right?” Blair asks before letting Alora whisk her away.
I nod. “Yes!”
And I’ll finally have the perfect jersey for the occasion.
In the span of the last two weeks, I feel like my life has completely changed in all of the best ways.
I officially moved upstairs into Dean and Asher’s wing.
I've blocked Adrianna completely out of my life.
I've spent a lot of time visiting my parents at the cemetery, including Dean and Asher’s mom, filling her in on all things happening in all our lives.
But one of the biggest changes has come to my parent’s house. We completely cleaned out my parents’ house, moving their remaining possessions to Kensington storage and converting the house into a boutique—the main level at least.
It’s whimsical, cozy, with coquette accents, and elevated with elegant gold highlights in every room.
I had the upstairs converted into a complete living space for my two favorite people who were ready for a fresh start. When the house was finished, I handed the keys over to Myra and Jules, who moved in earlier this week.
Everett has been a huge help. He overlooked the construction and fast turnaround of the house, making sure our vision came together perfectly. It might have been my parents’ house, but it’s not just that anymore.
It’s blossomed into something entirely new. This is Myra’s and Jules’s place now. Their names are on the deed; they own the keys. I am now merely a guest.
Jules is staying enrolled at school but has since changed majors to fashion, feeling inspired by her new job. Now we get to attend classes together, which has made everything about school better.
And while filling Myra’s role as staff director will be tough, I’ve never seen her happier as she is when she’s here.
Myra and her boyfriend, Roy, Jules, and I have been grinding away, bringing the first line of the Fairy Godmother Boutique to life and getting everything ready for today.
I won’t be working here a ton because my main role is as a designer, operating mainly out of my studio in our wing of the Kensington house, while Myra runs point here. She was happy with the agreement, and we can even bring on more staff if we need to for extra help.
Back at our house, Dean and Asher let me turn one of the spare bedrooms into my own and another into my studio, filling it with material, my sketchbooks, mannequins, everything I could need.
And in the aftermath of Adrianna’s chaos and the discovery of the real will, everything played out as it should.
Adrianna’s been charged with numerous counts of forgery, grand theft, fraud, perjury, falsification of evidence, and assault.
According to Everett, she’s likely going away for a long time, especially with the case they’ve built against her.
Honestly, I don’t know if I care to hear when she gets out. All I truly care about is being with my family now and knowing that everything worked out in the end. She lost and will now spend time in a place she never could’ve imagined. But that’s what evil stepmothers get.
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough.” Myra tears me from my thoughts, and I notice the place is filling up with customers. She pulls me into a side hug with tears in her eyes.
“You already have.” I grin, leaning into her, my heart full. “Now, just enjoy it.”
“You too, sweetie.” She plants a sweet kiss on my temple.
A purr draws out attention to the floor. Myra bends down and picks up her recently adopted cat, Duke. Wearing a cute tutu, he nestles against Myra’s chest, clearly loving his new life.
Jules is speaking to a girl across the room, helping her into a fitting room. Then she glances over at us, beaming with pride. I can see the joy in her smile. She’s not only proud of us, but of her mom, who is taking risks and chasing her dreams.
Customers continue to file in, and during the few short hours we’re open for today, we nearly sell out completely. At least that’s the message I get as I’m walking with Blair and Alora into the Kensington Arena for Dean and Asher’s game tonight.
We invited Jules, but she wants to spend the night with her mom, and I can’t blame her. I get a notification on my phone, telling me my delivery has arrived at the boutique. A moment later, my phone rings with a video call. It’s Jules.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Oh my God! Ciri, these are so beautiful! Thank you!” Jules cries out, admiring the big floral bouquets and chocolates I had delivered.
“Of course. Enjoy your girls’ night! You guys deserve the world.” I smile, following Blair and Asher inside. “I love you.”
“We love you too.” She blows kisses into the phone before hanging up.
I quickly pull up the game pass on my phone and present it to the attendee.
Alora studies my jersey, and I feel so goddamn proud. “You know you’re going to have to make me one of those, right? But with Malik’s name and number, obviously.”
I snort. “Yeah, I figured. And of course.”
Blair admires my work as we walk through security, our bags rapidly checked and our bodies scanned with the tall machines.
Asher and Dean each gave me one of their jerseys, and being the seamstress I am, I took some creative liberties.
For starters, I cut them both apart horizontally, right below the shoulders, arching just below their names on the back.
I sewed white lace to the corrected edges, creating a top part of the outfit.
But with the two bodies of the jerseys, I made a corset that laces up at the sides.
I couldn’t sacrifice the back because I needed it to be legible with Asher’s number in plain view while Dean’s was on my chest. I might have giggled a little while making it, as that seems to be a position we all favorite.
I paired my two-piece jersey with black jeans and sparkly heeled booties, and my hair is in loose waves, pinned back at the sides. This outfit is going to be hard to top.
We grab a few snacks, and surprisingly, the number of girls who scowl at me the entire time does little to get under my skin as we head to our seats.
Every now and then, I struggle some days more than others, but I’m getting a lot more used to being in the spotlight and dating the two princes of campus, especially after the guys brought me to every class I had the past two weeks, barely leaving my side.
We wander down the long hallway, passing giant, oversize wall stickers of some of the players. Alora looks longingly at Malik’s intimidating stare. And I can’t help but smile with her.
I’ve spent more time with these girls lately, including at the last couple of games, and they’re pretty goddamn special. I think we’re going to become great friends.
A sexy whistle blows out as we walk down the stairs, heading to the first row by our boys’ bench. Dean and Asher skate over mid-warm-ups, their eyes wide when they see what I’m wearing.
Griffin and Malik join them, each waving and blowing kisses at their girls.
Asher motions with his hand for me to spin around, and I do, trying not to look at the huge, growing crowd. “That’s so sick! Both of our numbers. But I’m on her back, loud and proud.” He smirks.
I giggle, knowing that in Dean’s and Asher’s minds right now, they are also thinking about other reasons they love this outfit and the specific placement of their numbers.
Griffin nods in approval after briefly glancing over, and Malik can’t be bothered to look away from Alora.
“Kick some ass,” I shout at them through the glass, my smile uncontrollably big.
Dean winks. “Anything for you.”
They skate away, falling back into their routine for warm-ups, and us girls settle into our seats, ready to cheer on our guys.
I may not understand a lot about this sport yet, but I’m learning, and thankfully, Blair seems to be a damn genius, helping me every single play through the entire game.
But it doesn’t take an expert to know that we obliterate the Knights seven to two by the time the clock runs out and the third period comes to an end.
The arena is insane, the noise deafening as the guys come together to celebrate, meeting Finn at his goal to bump helmets. Which I think may be the most adorable thing about hockey altogether.
While the guys head to the locker room, Blair, Alora, and I make our way to the lobby to wait for our boys. I don’t know why I’m so nervous to see them. I literally live with them.
But my heart is in my damn throat as time drones on.
“Cirella.”
I recognize Everett’s voice immediately, turning to find Mr. Kensington heading my way from the looping hallway to where we’re waiting in the entrance.
I greet him immediately with a hug. “Did the guys know you were coming? I could’ve sat with you,” I offer kindly.
He shakes his head with a smile. “No, no, no. I appreciate that, but it’s all right. I was in a booster box with a few friends.” He pauses. “The boys don’t know I came.”
“Well, you should wait and tell them. They’ll love to know you’re here.” I encourage him, seeing the nervousness on his face.
It’s been a while since he came to watch them, and I know it’ll mean the world when they see him.
Begrudgingly, he agrees, “All right. If that’s okay with you ladies.”
Alora and Blair nod.
I laugh. “Yes, please join the girlfriend club.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “All right, now I’m regretting my decision.”
The girls laugh with me, and he breaks, joining in with the best dad laugh ever, deep and guttural. Looking over my head, he smiles and waves, and my nerves spike again.
He walks around me, and I spin, finding a beaming Asher and Dean approaching Everett. They hug and share a few words before Everett walks away, offering me a little wave on his way out.
My guys turn to face me, their eyes hungrily devouring me head to toe with a smirk on their lips.
“Go on.” Blair encourages me, lightly pushing me forward.
Dean takes his cap off, flicks his wet hair back, and puts the cap on backward, his motorcycle helmet in his hand. Asher tosses his helmet at Dean, who laughingly takes it.
Ash crooks his finger with one hand and spins his cap around with the other. “Come on, baby.”
A giggle bubbles out of me, and I take off toward them, ignoring everyone else in the room as I run and jump into Asher’s arms, my legs wrapping around his waist. He catches me with ease, spinning us around as he crashes his lips to mine.
Without a care in the world, I kiss him back, my arms around his neck.
Our foreheads roll together, and we’re breathing heavily.
Jostling me in his arms, he moves us beside Dean, who holds both helmets in one hand while cupping my jaw with the other.
Asher holds me up as I lean over and kiss Dean, feeling like my chest is going to burst. Dean kisses me firmly once more before letting me go back to Asher, my arms wrapping around his neck as he carries me toward the exit.
“Ready to go home, Ms. Chamberlain?” Asher asks all properly, a smile beaming ear to ear, reminding me of the night we met and the fake names we used.
“I think so, Mr. Kensington—or should I say, Prince Charming? Take me to my castle.” I play the part up, my chin held high.
“Of course,” he agrees, continuing the playful voice. “We must see our child, our little Gus. And maybe have some dessert in the gazebo.”
“I think I’d like that.” I grin.
Dean chuckles at both of us, keeping pace at our side as we walk outside, the starry sky greeting us with a cool breeze. He may laugh, but he knows he loves us and our silly little accents.
Looking over at Dean, I find his lips tipping up when his eyes meet mine, glistening and bright. “My knight, how may I ever repay your great love for me?”
Reaching over, he hooks his finger in the belt loop of my jeans, pulling us closer and quickly kissing the corner of my lips.
His hooded eyes hold mine. “Princess, you already have.” His voice is soft and delicate, but thick with emotion.
My eyes burn, welling up with tears from the uncontainable, overwhelming love I feel for both of them. This is something I never even knew was possible to experience, let alone be lucky enough to live every single day.
When we first met and I ran away that night of the engagement party, I couldn’t have imagined that anything more would happen between the three of us, much less that I would end up here, with a family I didn’t think I’d get the chance to have and in the arms of the two loves of my life.
Adrianna tried controlling me for such a long time, destroying anything I held near and dear to my heart.
It became my biggest fear to get close to anyone.
And I was stuck in that mindset, conditioned to accept whatever horrors she handed me.
It wasn’t until I met Dean and Asher, and Jules and Myra, that I learned how much more I deserved in life.
Adrianna fought hard and long to tear me down and trap me in a box.
But little did my evil stepmother know, the walls of my cage were a magnificent castle, and I was, in fact, a princess after all.
She never could’ve expected that the king she had fooled would be the one breaking the glass, stained and colorful, finally setting me free.
Fairy tales may be magical, unrealistic stories, written to inspire hope, to chase the impossible, and to find unbreakable love, but somehow, that’s exactly what I got.
I might not have had a magical fairy godmother who granted my every wish along the way, but I found my own happily ever after all the same.
A princess. A knight. And Prince Charming himself. Now, that’s a fairy tale I can get behind.