Epilogue
Ryker
T he stands are full of proud parents, grandparents, and faculty, here to watch their students walk the stage for their college graduation.
The front lawn is packed with hundreds of chairs for the graduating students. I sit close to the back since my name starts with S, and the only good thing about that is that Gwen’s does too, so she’s only a row in front of me. Pat’s in the same row as Gwen, with his last name being Samuelson.
She looks back at me, shooting me that drop dead gorgeous grin of hers that makes my chest squeeze. No one could have convinced me this would be my life by the end of my college career. Being the newly appointed CEO of The Steele corporation, having my brothers by my side, and being completely, head over heels in love with the most perfect woman on this planet.
The only thing that could make this day better is if our whole group was graduating today. Lainey, Ellie, Holland, and Logan still have a year to go, but I don’t think it’ll make much a difference since I know Gwen will be dragging me back here constantly to visit.
She was ecstatic for me when I told her the guys and I got our fathers to step down and hand over their titles to us. When I told her I’d have to travel to the city, she insisted we just move there together so we’d never have to be apart. I put a downpayment on a nice place in the Upper East Side the next day.
Logan and my mother were less than thrilled that I kept them in the dark about the takeover, but after the initial shock wore off, my mother was extremely thankful for what I did for her. She now has full control of The Steele Estate and will continue to get money from my father for the rest of her life. Logan told me he would have helped me with our plan, but it was better to keep him out of it. Now our father will only hate me, and not him.
The announcer’s voice catches my attention when they call Gwen’s name.
“Guinevere Lane Sharpe, Education Major.”
My little Rebel walks up the stairs to the stage, her smile widening when Dean Ashby hands her her diploma.
Screams erupt behind me, and I know it’s Lainey, Ellie, Haley, and her mother. Her father came up with some excuse not to come, but I think she expected that, so she wasn’t too upset.
Gwen laughs and waves the diploma over her head before stepping off the stage.
I feel a sense of pride knowing that she’s mine, and no one will ever have her again. No one can take her from me, and I will kill anyone who tries. I’m not losing her again.
—————————
As we stand around the big courtyard talking and laughing with our friends, I can’t help but be thankful for everything I have. My life was a shitshow before I met Gwen, and now it’s better than I could have ever imagined. And it’s all due to her.
This feisty, strong, determined, resilient woman standing next to me, looking at me like I’m her whole world.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Lainey sobs into Gwen’s shoulder. Gwen giggles. That sound has quickly become my favorite sound from her, other than her moaning my name.
“Lain, you live like thirty minutes away. And I’ll be visiting Ellington as often as I can,” she assures her.
“I know, but the house won’t be the same without you,” she whines. Ellie and Haley nod in agreement.
“Seriously, who am I going to complain to about Lainey’s shitty cooking or Ellie’s obsessive need to clean literally everything?” Haley teases. Lainey shoots her a glare.
“You said you liked my cooking,” she says, looking offended. Gwen laughs again.
“You guys will be fine. And we’ll talk every day. It’ll be like nothing changed.”
“I know it’s impossible, but don’t forget about me,” Damian chimes in, Allie Moore by his side. According to Gwen, they hit it off at the end of semester party and have been together ever since.
Lainey rolls her eyes. “I’m going to try my hardest to forget about you,” she teases before giving him a hug. I don’t get their relationship.
“Hey, Barkley. You ready to spend another year with me?” Holland winks. Lainey’s eyes narrow, shooting daggers at Holland’s head no doubt.
“I’d rather step on Legos.”
“Aw, come on, babe. Don’t be like that,” his hand flies to his chest in mock offense.
Lainey grimaces. “Don’t call me babe.”
“Would you rather me call you a bitch?” he muses, his eyes flickering with mischief. Lainey growls.
“Watch it, Monroe. I’m not afraid to knee you in the balls,” she threatens, and Holland laughs. I’m pretty positive they’re totally in love with each other and they don’t want to admit it to themselves by the way they bicker.
“You know, I’ve never been into masochism, but if you wanna try it,” Holland taunts, making Lainey shake with anger.
“Okayyy. As riveting as this little pissing contest is, we have more important things to talk about,” Mason says as he steps in between them. “We’re meeting back at the mansion, right?”
“Yeah. Teddy and Austin just got back with the kegs,” Pat tells him. Mason shoots us a shit eating grin before throwing his hands in the air.
“Let’s fucking party!” he shouts so everyone around us can hear him. Shaking my head, I lean down to kiss the top of Gwen’s head before we follow Mason to the cars.
I hop in the driver’s seat of my Escalade as Gwen climbs into the passenger side. She looks at me, her blue eyes sparkling with glee. I’ve never seen her so content.
“What?” I ask, reaching up to place my hand on the side of her hair. Her eyes search mine before replying.
“I didn’t think it was possible to be this happy,” she smiles.
I swipe my thumb over her cheek softly, thinking about how I got here and what I did to deserve this. Shifting in my seat, I face her, grabbing her hands in mine. She watches my face as I search hers.
“Gwen,” I begin, my voice shaky. “I couldn’t have imagined finding someone that I cared so deeply for, let alone finding someone that I want to spend the rest of my life with,” my heart is racing and I’ve never felt this nervous in my life.
Taking a deep breath, I reach into my pocket to pull out a small, velvet box. Gwen’s breath hitches when she sees what’s in my hand and realizes what’s happening. Her eyes well with tears as her hand covers her mouth.
I open the tiny box, revealing a stunning diamond. After we got back together, I knew I was never going to let her go again. I was positive she was it for me. So I had a family friend who owns a jewelry shop in the city make me a custom ring.
“Guinevere Lane Sharpe, my Rebel. From the moment I met you, my life changed in ways I never imagined possible. You brought this light into my world, you made me believe in love, and showed me what it truly means to care for someone,” her tears flow a bit more now, and I wipe them away with my thumb before continuing.
“Before you, I never thought I would find someone who could understand me so completely, who could challenge me, and who could piss me off so much and make me hard at the same time,” Gwen giggles. “You are the first person I've ever truly cared about, the first person who made me believe in a future filled with love and happiness. I can't imagine taking the next steps in my life without you by my side. It’s not going to be easy, we’ll have our challenges, but we’ll be stronger for them. And I promise to love you, to cherish the ground you walk on. I love you so fucking much, and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much,” I take a deep breath as Gwen chews on the tips of her fingers nervously. I pull out the ring and hold it over her shaking hand. “Gwen, will you marry me?”
“Yes, yes. Oh my god, are you sure?” she giggles through her tears, and she’s the prettiest goddamn girl I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I chuckle, placing the ring on her finger. She holds it in front of her, her face full of excitement, nervousness, and love.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my entire life. I love you, Rebel.” Her grin grows wider as she throws her arms over my shoulders.
“I love you, Hotshot,” she tells me before kissing me.
I am officially the luckiest man in the world, and I’m not going to let anything mess it up. Guinevere Sharpe, I’m never letting you go.
The End