40. Epilogue
Epilogue
Arianna
I couldn’t believe senior year was coming to an end. Bradley had come back to Crestwood around Christmas, but he didn’t come back to school. According to Charlotte, he’d gotten his GED and was taking some business classes online while working to figure out how to run his father’s company.
He’d had his hands so full that there had been no time for him to bother any of the Givenchy family.
Maybe Sandro wasn’t wrong and this actually wasn’t a terrible outcome. Not that I’d ever tell him that.
“Arianna Givenchy.”
I smiled as my name was called and I walked across the stage to claim my diploma.
There was a loud cheer from the crowd and when I turned that way, I saw my family.
All of the Givenchy’s were on their feet cheering, as were Sandro and Valentina.
My mother was here, but standing and cheering was beneath her.
Leyla and Potter were called next, and as soon as we were back to our seats, Leyla pulled out her phone to snap some selfies. Before long, the ceremony was over and our family was filing onto the football field to congratulate us.
Tucker took me into a big hug, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I’m so proud of you, Vita Mia.”
Sandro was next, pulling me into his arms. “Congrats, Ari.”
Grandma Givenchy made her way over and placed an arm on Sandro’s shoulder. “You and your wife are coming over for the celebration, right?”
Valentina smiled and placed a hand on her baby bump. “Of course. I’ve heard all about these famous homemade rolls and the little one is dying to try them.”
After everyone was satisfied with how many pictures were taken, which was a million considering there were three Givenchy’s graduating, we headed over to the Givenchy estate to party.
Well, not party party. But we ate good food and had a blast hanging out.
“So, Ari, how’s your venture coming?” Sandro was so busy lately that we hadn’t really had time to talk, just exchanging texts here and there.
I smiled thinking about the new business that the Givenchy’s all readily agreed on and immediately got to work setting up. “Velvet and Vine opens in two months. We’re kicking it off with a back to school brunch. Figured we’d give the moms somewhere to celebrate the kids going back to school.”
Valentina smiled. “I love that idea. I think it’s awesome that you’re doing this. Growing up the way we did, we didn’t get to see women really play a role in any of the businesses or do anything other than be arm candy and a baby factory, so seeing you do something else is refreshing.”
Even though I knew she’d come to terms with her position in society, and her place at my brother's side, I still didn’t think she was satisfied. I hoped that maybe when the baby was born in a couple of months, she’d feel content.
Leyla plopped into the seat beside me and rested her head on my shoulder. “I can’t believe this is our last night together.”
She was leaving in the morning to start a new journey at NYU.
While no one came out and said it, I think they wanted her out of Crestwood before Bradley found his footing in his new job.
Zephyr sold the opportunity as a chance for her to spread her wings, and my bestie didn’t waste a second before jumping on board the opportunity.
I laid my head over on hers, knowing this was going to suck. Majorly. How I would survive in this world without my BBF was beyond me.
“It’s not forever, just for a little bit. You’ll be back on holidays and I’ll come visit you there, too, after things die down with the launch.”
She sighed. “I know. I just feel like I’m going to miss so much.” Her hand lightly swiped along my side, not bringing anyone’s attention to the motion, but I knew what she meant.
I found out two weeks ago that I was expecting.
As much as I hadn’t thought I was ready to be a mom, I guess the universe had a different idea.
We hadn’t told anyone yet but Leyla. There was no way I could have kept it a secret from her, even if I’d wanted to, but I didn’t want anyone else to know until we were out of the first trimester.
At the time I got pregnant, I’d been on the pill, but when I came down with the flu and didn’t get out of bed for a couple of days, I’d forgotten to take it. I went right back to it, catching up on the doses when I felt better, so part of me worried that I’d end up having a miscarriage.
While I knew I’d have the entire Givenchy clan supporting me if that happened, I didn’t want that. I didn’t want their pity, so I’d begged Tuck to keep it a secret until we knew we were in the clear.
But I had to admit, I loved this baby so much already. Leyla did too and I knew that even from New York, she was going to be a great aunt.
“You’re going to gain so much more than you’ll lose. You’ll have free rein in Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can go to shows on Broadway, to the zoo, eat New York pizza and gelato. Damn, maybe I should go to NYU too.”
She chuckled and pulled me closer. “I’m sure Tuck would love that.”
“What would I love?” Tucker took the seat on the other side of me after pressing a kiss to my cheek.
Leyla sat up and the smile on her face said she was wanting to stir up some shit. “I’m stealing your wife and taking her with me to New York. I mean, my apartment is a two bedroom, so there’s plenty of room.”
He rolled his eyes. “The second room is for Lewis and you know that.”
There had been quite the fight when she realized her security would be living with her, but after hours of negotiation, it was agreed that while he would live in the apartment with her, he wouldn’t follow her every move as long as there was tracking on her phone that she didn’t shut off, she wasn’t to leave the Vitale and Accardi territory, and she checked in at predetermined times.
Those times would change from time to time to keep people from noticing the schedule and if she didn’t comply, that freedom would be revoked. But with as much as Leyla craved freedom, I felt sure she wasn’t going to risk it.
Plus, though I didn't think she knew, Sandro had put the word out amongst the family and in the Accardi family that she was under his protection. There would pretty much be eyes on her at all times.
I spent the rest of the night with my ride or die, enjoying our last night together and when it was time to go, I had to hold back the tears that stung in my eyes.
Damn, I was getting soft. Either that or the pregnancy hormones were getting to me.
We’d blame it on the hormones.
Tucker held me on the car ride home, not saying a word because we both knew there was nothing we could say. Leyla being in New York was going to change the dynamic of the entire family and even though she might have gotten on his nerves, he was going to miss her just as fiercely as I was.
Pulling into the gates, he broke the silence. “You tired?”
I shrugged. “A little.”
As he helped me out of the car, I could see the grin that crossed his face. He knew what I needed, and soon, I was hoisted up in his arms and he was running towards the bedroom with me. A laugh tumbled from my lips as he kicked the door shut behind him.
“I know just what you need, baby.” Tucker sat me down, taking his time unzipping my dress, pulling off my bra, and then my panties, before spinning me back around and drinking me in. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world, Ari.”
When he said it, I believed it. Tucker never once gave me reason to believe otherwise.
His lips descended on mine, showing me through his kiss as much as through his words. A gasp escaped me as he lightly swiped his thumbs across my nipples. They were so super sensitive, more than they ever had been before, which was the first sign I’d noticed of being pregnant.
At first, they’d almost hurt, but now, I could get off by nipple stimulation alone.
Not that my husband was going to try that tonight. Tonight, we needed that deep connection as much as we needed the release and distraction.
Ever so gently, he laid me back on the bed, covering my body in his kisses before he pulled back to undress himself.
He smirked when he caught me staring. “You like what you see?”
I bit my bottom lip, a move I knew drove him crazy. “I love what I see.”
Soon, his body was covering mine as he pushed inside of me slowly, dragging out our pleasure as our eyes conveyed more than words ever could.
My nipples weren’t the only overly sensitive area. My clit was now bigger, and every time Tucker thrust into me, his pelvic bone hit that sensitive bundle and pleasure shot through me. “Oh, God.”
The only sound in the room was our labored breathing, as well as a few curses we couldn’t help but let tumble free from our lips, as our bodies rocked together. Sex with Tucker had always been good, but with the flood of new hormones, it was otherworldly.
Within minutes, I was sitting at the edge of the cliff, ready to fall into bliss, but it was just out of reach.
Tucker must have been able to see that on my face.
He leaned down, flicking my nipples with his tongue, causing shocks of pleasure to course to my pussy.
That was all it took for me to fall over that blissful edge.
His lips crashed into mine as he swallowed my screams of pleasure, thrusting through the waves before his hips sped up, then stuttered as he fell over that edge too.
The way his release warmed me inside triggered another orgasm, one I hadn’t seen coming, and by the time it was over, I was boneless and completely ready for sleep.
Being the true gentleman he was, Tuck got up and headed into the bathroom, bringing back a warm rag to clean me up before tucking me in bed as we curled up together.
Even if my bestie was leaving for New York tomorrow, as I fell asleep in the arms of the man I loved, I knew the next year was going to be amazing.