Epilogue
Emerson
“Pearl Meadows!”
Cheers broke out all around me as our friends congratulated Pearl as she walked across the graduation stage. I clapped for her, ecstatic that her dream was finally coming true.
Not only was she graduating at the top of her class, but she had done it in under a year.
After we got back together, not only did she work full-time as my assistant, but she also stacked on every class that she could. Night classes. Friday classes. During the break. She never stopped.
“That’s our girl!” Cristian yelled, clapping the loudest of us all.
“Go Pearl!” Leslie screamed, much to the dismay of the toddler in her arms.
Pearl was wearing a dark blue graduation gown, her chestnut hair falling in waves underneath the cap.
I could just make out the white dress that she was wearing underneath.
She grabbed her diploma, shook the dean's hand, and then turned to us.
Everyone had their phones out and was taking pictures, including myself.
I had never been prouder of Pearl than in that moment.
It had come full circle. Pearl was in exactly the place that she should've been. Had to come a few years late, but she made it.
I waited impatiently as she exited the stage and sat down with the other graduates. A few more names were called, and then finally they congratulated their graduating class, and all of their caps were thrown into the air.
I saw her turn to us in the middle of the crowd. Our eyes caught. I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face when I saw hers.
She pushed through, almost running to me, and my arms were ready to welcome her as we collided.
“I did it!”
“You did, pretty girl. You did.” I put her down and planted a kiss on her lips, only pulling away when someone patted me on the back.
“All right, all right, enough with the PDA. Let's see the girl.”
Pearl was passed around for hugs. Jax had come to show her support, of course, but surprisingly, so did Dahlia. We’d strengthened our friendship a bit, and she loved Pearl, especially after she found out that she was the one who shot my father.
She was grateful and showed it every chance she got.
“What? It’s empty?” Dahlia asked as she opened Pearl’s diploma case.
Pearl let out a giggle. “I’ll go get it now before people start lining up!”
I stood there and watched as she ran off to the side where they were handing out the diplomas.
“Good for her,” Leslie said by my side. “And good for you, boss.”
“I'm very proud,” I said, feeling myself puff up.
Pearl got her diploma but paused before she had the chance to put it inside the case, a confused look on her face. She walked toward me slowly, still staring at the diploma.
“Oh, we can tell,” Cristian teased, clapping my back.
When Pearl reached out, she still had that puzzled look on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Recipient of the Second Chance National Scholarship provided by… Blackwell Holdings?”
Her gaze slowly met mine. Shit. There was a moment of silence from Leslie and Cristian before both of them burst out in laughter.
“You didn’t!”
“Oh my god, she did!”
Heat ran all the way up from my neck to my face. And I didn’t usually blush.
“Can you two please fuck off out of here for a minute?”
They laughed at that but went off to find the rest of the group, giving us some time alone.
Pearl looked at me for a second, almost as if she was remembering something, before she smiled.
“Is this what you meant when you said I should ask for more?”
My mind flashed back to the moment I cornered her in the cafe. When I told her to ask for more than a kiss next time. I was surprised she hadn’t put two and two together since I’d been too impatient to wait to send out the scholarship email some other day.
I had sent it from my phone the second I walked out of the coffee shop.
“This whole time?”
I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling embarrassed about it.
“When you didn't ask for more, I took it upon myself to make the decision for you.”
“And… About the auction… Was it a coincidence that you happened to be there for the very first Club Pétale auction when I just so happened to be up for grabs?
For a second, I thought she was mad at me, but then she dissolved into laughter. I let myself sink into it, an easy smile spreading across my face.
“Nothing about us is a coincidence. I just… gave fate a hand.” I pulled her to me. “I love you.”
Her arms immediately went around my waist.
“And I love you,” she said. “Thank you for always seeing me.”
I leaned down to kiss her forehead.
“Always. You’re mine, and I’m yours, remember?”
She sighed into me. “Always.”