Epilogue - Summer
Two Years Later
I take a deep breath, hands shaking as I hand Noah my graduation cap. "I need you to tell me that everything is going to be fine and that I'm not going to throw up while walking across the stage."
He chuckles and nestles the hat on top of my curls, carefully moving the tassel to the correct side. "Everything is going to be fine. You look beautiful, and you worked hard for this. You're going to walk across that stage, shake too many hands, and you're not going to trip once."
I swallow hard, hands fluttering at my sides as I try to calm down.
"I might projectile vomit all over them.
I'm going to be standing in the middle of the stage, and then I'm going to look out at everyone, and then I'm going to throw up.
And then when I start my first year at the firm, everyone is going to look at me and be like, 'Hey, that's the girl that threw up on everyone,' and then my life will be over. "
Noah chuckles and grabs the gown, helping me into it. He drapes sashes and cords around my neck with ease. "It'd have to be a pretty powerful vomit to coat everyone in the stadium. I don't think you're going to manage that."
"Is that supposed to be helpful?" I snort before taking a deep breath and squeezing my eyes shut.
His thumb brushes against my cheek, his lips ghosting over mine even though my eyes are still closed. "It wasn't. Not really. You worked hard for this. You deserve it, and I know you're terrified about walking across the stage, but you're going to do great."
I open my eyes and nod, letting out a slow breath. "You're right. I did work hard for this for far too long, and now that it's done, I don't know what to do with myself."
"You already passed the bar exam, and you have a job lined up. I'm so fucking proud of you, love." Noah pulls me into him, careful not to tousle my hair too much, thankfully.
I step back, putting my hands on my hips and eyeing him. "Who are you, and what have you done with Noah? Noah never says sappy shit like that."
"Well, you're about to walk into that room and join the rest of your graduating class, so it's not like I can tell you I want to bend you over the reception desk and fuck you until you get out of your own head."
People shoot us dirty looks as they walk past, but some people bend their heads close together, giggling and whispering.
My cheeks feel like they're on fire as I shake my head, glancing at the door that leads to the stage that's been set up in the stadium.
"I have to go, and you're going to need to behave. No fighting with my family. This is the first time all of you will be around each other since we left New York, and I need to know that everything is going to be fine and that I'm not going to have to worry about it all."
Noah takes my chin between his fingers, pulling my face to his for a kiss. "Nothing is going to happen. We're all adults, and we can get along."
"And most of the children are going to be there too. I mean, I know you see your sisters and Ezra a lot, and the kids that come with them, but Aiden and Royce are going to be there, and I'm pretty sure Sean still hates you. And then there's Skyla, and Ellie has the new babies, and—"
Noah's lips meet mine again. "And you're worrying too much. I love you, and I'm not going to do anything that's going to upset your family. Not a chance. Even if I still don't like Aiden, we both want the best for you."
"How many times do I have—"
"To tell you that you and Aiden don't get to talk about what's best for me?" he mocks, his voice raising to a higher pitch before he starts laughing.
I laugh with him, leaning into him for a moment, my arms wrapping around his waist. "I love you too, and if you cause problems for me, I won't hesitate to put you six feet under."
His lips brush against my ear. "I love it when you talk dirty to me."
My cheeks are on fire as I take a step back from him. "I have to go now, and you need to keep it in your pants."
"Impossible when it comes to you."
I start walking away from him.
He grabs my hand, pulling me back. "I love you."
I rise up on my toes, kissing him until I feel like I'm losing myself. "I love you too. Now, I really have to go."
He grins and shoots me a wink before turning and following the people filtering into the stadium. I let out a deep breath, heading in the direction of the rest of the students.
\\\*
"Summer Lynde." The dean smiles and stands to the side as I make my way across the stage.
Noah's cheers are the loudest, making me feel like I'm walking through fire as I take my diploma and turn to face the crowd.
I search for him and find him sitting beside Skyla and Joshua. It's unexpected, but at least they're all getting along.
My cheeks ache from smiling as the cheers get louder.
I walk to the other end of the stage, and as I stride down the stairs, all I can think about is going home and getting to spend time with my family.
I make my way back to my seat, listening as the rest of the names are called, more people walking across the stage.
The last person walks to their seat, and we all stand, moving the tassel from one side to the other. Words I barely register are said, and then we're throwing our caps in the air, celebrating what I can only hope will be my last day of school.
As I'm stooping to pick up my cap, glossy dress shoes appear in front of me.
I grab my cap and straighten up, and the moment I do, I'm in Noah's arms, and he's spinning me around before setting me on the ground.
I grin up at him. "You're not supposed to be down here."
"I sure as fuck wasn't going to wait for you to come find me." He reaches into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, pulling out a flask. "And I thought you could use a little prepping before we all go back to the house."
Laughing, I twist off the top of the flask, taking a long swig of what tastes like vanilla whiskey.
Noah grins and takes the flask back, taking a sip of his own.
He reaches for my hand, lacing my fingers with his. "I think we're ready now. Time to go walk into the den of hungry lions and hope I come out on the other side."
"They're not that bad."
Noah smirks over his shoulder, giving me a playful eye roll. "You weren't the one sitting beside Skyla. That woman is scary, and I'm pretty sure she's already planning ways to piss off everyone. She said, and I quote, 'Aiden is being a little bitch,' which doesn't sound good."
I snort and shake my head, following him out to the car. "Look, it's not going to be pretty. With Zoe pregnant again and him dealing with some shit going on in New York, things aren't going to be good."
We stop at the car, and Noah turns to me, raking his fingers through his short beard. "I'm glad I left all of that behind."
"I'm glad too. I like the life we've been building here, and I don't want to give it up for anything."
He turns and pins me between his body and the car, his erection already pressing against me. "We could take a little time to ourselves before we go back to the shitshow that's going to be waiting for us."
Laughing, I put my hands on his chest and push him back a step. "Come on, if we spend too much time fucking around, they're going to come find us, and the last thing we need is for any siblings to find you balls deep in me."
Noah gives me a boyish smile. "Fine, but once I have you alone, all bets are off."
Aiden flips the burgers while children dash around, racing each other to the playground Noah built last summer when the family started visiting us.
I sidle over to him, sipping from my cider. "You know, I didn't know if all of you were going to come out here for this."
Aiden flips more of the burgers, closing the lid as Gia chases Bianca and Dominic through the yard to the blanket where Zoe is feeding Taylor. "Why wouldn't we? I spent too much time away from you in the last couple of years, and putting up with Noah isn't that bad."
"Being away from all the bullshit really has mellowed him out." I sip the cider again, dodging Bianca as she takes a sharp turn and goes flying to the swing set where Noah is sitting with Ellie's son, Brandon, in his lap.
Aiden hums to himself, setting the spatula to the side. "I didn't think any of this was ever going to feel normal, and there's still something not quite right about being here with him, but I can see how happy he makes you."
"You're not going to go and get all feely on me now, are you?" I tease, handing him my cider.
Aiden rolls his eyes, smiling over the rim of the bottle. "You're ridiculous. You know that, don't you? But I am proud of you and all that you've accomplished."
"Ugh." I try to walk away from him, but he grabs me, hauling me into his side.
"But if he ever looks at you wrong..."
"You're not going to start shit, are you? The last time you and Noah were together, you almost started fighting."
Aiden stiffens, glancing over at Noah with a look that can only be described as hateful. "I'm not going to. Not until he gives me a reason to."
Jade strides over, Ezra trailing behind her. "Don't you dare start shit today, Aid. Summer worked hard with that accelerated program, and she graduated, and you're not going to ruin that for her with some pissing match."
Noah's hand appears on my waist, Brandon in his other arm. "Who's going to be in a pissing match?"
Ellie scowls and storms over. "The two of you aren't going to be teaching him to swear and act like a feral animal."
Sean barks out a laugh as he takes over the grill. "She says, like his first word wasn't 'fuck.'"
I start laughing, enjoying the moments I get to spend with my family under the summer sun.
It's not often that we're all together these days, and I know as we get older, the days we do are going to be even fewer.
But right now, we're together.
There's no pressure. Nobody wants to kill us.
We get to live happy and free, like there's nothing else that's going to get in our way.