Scarlett Chapter
SCARLETT
ONE YEAR LATER
Sawyer and I get ready together at her place. Cross’s and my place has been overtaken by his friends during senior week–our last hurrah as a class before we graduate–which means Sawyer has had to put up with me this week.
Not that I think she minds. Her cozy one-bedroom apartment is clean and very girly, kind of the opposite of my house.
Sawyer gives herself a once-over in the mirror. “What are the chances Cross is going to propose soon?”
I choke on my water. “He is not going to propose soon. I feel like we just got our parents to look us in the eye during our monthly dinners.”
Sawyer grabs her keys as I toss my water in her pink–yes, pink–trash can. “And you think he cares about that?”
I think it over.
Of course he doesn’t.
I mean, don’t get me wrong. He is respectful when our parents are in proximity, but the dirty things we’ve done behind their backs, in their house, in public restrooms at restaurants…
A huff of air leaves me. “Probably not.”
Sawyer laughs, and I join in.
The drive to graduation is less than a minute, and as soon as she parks the car, we both grab our caps to adjust them in the mirror.
My blonde hair has grown in the last year, so long luscious waves flow over my shoulders to rest against my maroon gown.
The diamond earrings my dad and Sofia gifted me with at dinner on Friday gleam through the strands, putting a smile on my face.
They gave Cross something less glamorous but surprisingly sentimental: a tactical knife.
I thought it was a joke, given that Cross had put me in danger–something my father likes to remind him of–but it was actually a job offer to work at the business with him.
The knife once belonged to my father when he was a field agent. He obviously retired it, and he now sits behind a big fancy desk to run the entire company, but he’s kept it safe all these years. He and Sofia had it engraved with the words: Earned, not given.
Which was my dad’s way of saying thank you, for saving his daughter’s life.
However, Cross hasn’t accepted the job offer yet.
“There are the guys.” Sawyer nods to a large group of lacrosse players.
I spot Cross right away, his dark hair neatly styled underneath his cap with his eyes directly on me.
His lip lifts with a hot smirk, and I roll my eyes playfully.
Tyler catcalls Sawyer and me, and Cross elbows him in the stomach. A year older and they’re still the same.
Cross’s hands find their way to my waist, the silky material of my gown snagging against his fingers. He pulls me in for a kiss, squeezing my sides gently.
He pulls back and hovers his mouth over mine. “I’ve missed you.”
“You saw me yesterday,” I say.
A growl leaves him. “But I didn’t sleep next to you. I don’t like it.”
I give him another quick kiss. “Me either.”
Tyler sighs. “You two make me sick.”
Sawyer snorts. “You’re just jealous.”
“Fuck yeah, I am. Wanna be my girlfriend?"
Her cheeks flush, and I do a double-take. Tyler’s eyebrow hitches, also surprised that she didn’t immediately say no.
She nibbles on her lip for a second, hesitantly shifting her gaze around. But then, she laughs. “Ha! Got you.”
Tyler narrows his gaze. “Rude.”
“Come on.” I place my hand in Cross’s and lead us to our spots in line. “Let’s go graduate so we can celebrate after.”
“Ohhhh.” Tyler claps his hands eagerly. “And celebrate we will.”
“Dad! Sofia!” I tug Cross by the hand toward our parents.
“Babe, wait.” Cross tries to stop.
“Why?” I say, glancing backward at him. “You know they want the typical graduation day photo of us.” I laugh, and Cross shifts his gaze elsewhere.
My brows crease, and I spin toward him. “Is something wrong?” I drop my shoulders and lean in close. “You’re not accepting the job, are you?”
Which is perfectly fine.
It’s his decision—something my father and his mother reiterated several times.
Cross would be an amazing fit for the company, given his natural protective streak and honed ability to fight, but if that’s not what he wants, then that’s okay too.
“This isn’t about the job,” he says.
“Then, what is it…” My words fade as I watch Cross dig into the pocket of his gown.
He isn’t.
Is he?
I stand in shock, my eyelashes fluttering in disbelief, when he drops down to one knee, right there in the middle of graduation chaos.
“Scarlett Wallace…” He swallows, his throat bobbing up and down. “The first thing I thought when I laid eyes on you, standing next to your father on the altar, was that I’d be stuck with you forever.”
Someone laughs from nearby, and I think it’s Tyler.
“You were a part of my life whether I wanted you to be or not…” Cross opens the ring box, revealing a similar but larger diamond than the ones in my ears. “But God, am I glad you are.”
I bite down on my bottom lip to keep it from wobbling.
“I couldn’t imagine my life without you, and I never want to.” He peers up at me. “Will you–”
“Yes,” I say, nodding quickly. “I’ll marry you.”
Cross lowers his voice, “Who’s to say I’m asking you to marry me, Scar?”
I raise a brow, and he smirks.
“Will you marry me, Scarlett? Maybe change that last name so it isn’t the same as my mother’s?”
A laugh bursts out of me, and I nod again. Cross leaps off his knee and wraps me up into his arms–my favorite place to be. With a shaky hand, he slips the ring onto my finger and kisses me so feverishly I forget that we’re surrounded by our friends and family until my father clears his throat.
We break away just far enough for a tiny bit of air to slip in between us.
“Congratulations, sweetheart,” my father murmurs.
“Wait. I’m not done,” Cross announces.
Everyone turns toward him, and he stands tall, seeming prouder than usual.
Sofia touches his arm. “What is it, honey?”
Cross looks directly at my father. “I do want to accept your job offer but only under one condition.”
I look at my dad, his brow line heavy. “Go on.”
“I want to pay you back for my junior year, when you stepped in and paid my tuition. You can take a percentage out of my pay.”
My father is hesitant. He begins to shake his head, but Cross steps forward. “This is non-negotiable."
A few seconds of silence pass, all of us on pins and needles.
But eventually, my dad sticks his hand out. They shake on it, and Sofia and I smile at each other.
“Okay! Time to celebrate!” Tyler shouts. “Party at Cross’s–” He looks at my dad. “I mean, Sawyer’s!”
“Hey!” she interjects. “What?”
“Go.” My dad flicks his chin toward our friends. “Have fun. Celebrate. Both graduation and engagement.”
I squeeze Cross’s hand, and he squeezes back.
“Thanks, Dad.” I smile at him and Sofia. “I love you.”
He grins. “I love you too, kiddo.”
And with that, Cross says goodbye to his mother, picks me up into his arms, and we’re rushing off to celebrate our future.
THE END
Thank you so much for joining us on our journey through Shadow Valley U!