EPILOGUE
BIANCA
Two Years Later
“Babe, you’re gonna be late,” I whisper, and he groans, but makes no move to disconnect his lips from mine. Laughing, I push him back as he makes another noise in protest.
“You know they could mail me the diploma,” he says, trying to pull me back into his arms, and I laugh in faux exasperation. “Fine,” he drawls out. I hold out his cap as we walk out of the elevator, seeing everyone waiting for us, as usual, in the lobby.
“How is it that we’re the ones waiting for you when it’s your graduation day?” Ana looks at him, crossing her arms, and Liam blushes, as he knows why. Mom looks at me knowingly and I blush at her scrutiny, making her giggle.
William clears his throat. “Alright, you two, we’ll see you there. Liam, you better not be late.”
We both nod, heading to Liam’s car in the parking garage down the street from the busy hotel.
“You know, I could’ve driven.” He slides into the passenger seat of the car and I close my door.
“Not on your day, babe. Today, you will be spoiled,” I say, adjusting the mirrors, causing him to smile at me. I wink, a nervous cough leaving him. Backing out of the spot, we make our way to Mella Colta’s campus, thankfully only a ten-minute drive from the hotel.
“Liam Jax Parker!” His name is called and he walks to the stage.
The entire Parker clan stands, and we absolutely make him thoroughly embarrassed.
He takes his diploma, waves shyly at us, and sends a wink in my direction.
As he goes to his seat, my legs bounce up and down, and I can’t wait for the ceremony to be over.
A half an hour later, I spot Liam talking to Chase, and I creep up on them.
“Congratulations, babe!” I say as I wrap my arms around him, making him turn in place.
“Thanks, Freckles,” he murmurs.
“Nice to see you, Harrison,” Chase says while Liam glares at him due to the nickname.
I slap Liam on his chest playfully, turning to then smile at Chase.
When I started at MCU, he became one of my closest friends.
During my first semester, Liam had told him that we would be moving in together, and in true Chase fashion, he was able to get a fully furnished place that accepts pets at a great price.
We all hung out whenever we could, and Jamie was able to fly over a couple times as well.
As much as Liam wants to roll his eyes and doesn’t want to admit it, I know he has a little soft spot for Chase.
He has truly been a great friend to both of us.
I’m surprised to hear that he’s thinking about coming back for graduate school for finance. Afterward, his family comes to take him away, and we wave goodbye as Ana calls us over.
“Alright, crazy kids, are we ready to go home?” Interlacing my fingers with Liam’s, we nod happily, and I can’t wait to go get Sam. I also can’t wait for what I planned for Liam tonight. Giddiness comes over both of us, and in the parking garage, I turn to look at him. He smiles.
“You graduated!” I screech, and he lets out a rich chuckle as he lifts me against him, my legs wrapping around his waist. “I’m so proud of you, you know that?” Color flushes his cheeks. I rub a hand against his face, feeling the slight stubble over his jaw.
“You need to stop looking at me like that,” he says, and his eyes darken slightly.
“Like what?” I taunt, and he closes his eyes, mumbling something along the lines of, “You’ll be the death of me, Freckles.” I let out a giggle, leaning my forehead against his as he takes a deep breath. “We’re gonna be late getting back home.”
He doesn’t listen and instead places me on the top of his trunk. “We can be a little late.” The words flutter against my lips, and without missing a beat, he slams his mouth on mine.
“That drive is atrocious,” Liam mumbles, a yawn escaping him, causing me to giggle as he grabs Sam’s leash.
“I was the one driving. Besides, don’t remind me, I have a bit more left of driving that route.”
He looks at me. “You suggesting the scenic route did not make it better.”
I roll my eyes. “Come on, it was definitely worth it,” I add as his face morphs into a deadpan look. Grabbing my bag from the trunk, we make our way into his house.
“You make it all worth it, baby,” he says, moving to open the front door of his parents’ house, and my heart stutters at that. Blushing, he chuckles at me, turning the key, seeing all the lights off. He looks back at me, confused, as we walk farther inside.
“Surprise!”
I reach down, letting Sam off his leash, and he barks excitedly as if saying “surprise” too. Liam’s eyebrows raise and he drops my bag on the floor at seeing everyone there to congratulate him for his secret graduation party. He’s speechless, but then looks at me as I smirk smugly at him.
“You did this?”
I nod proudly. “Of course I did. It was the hardest thing to keep it a secret, you know.” He smiles at that while scooping me up, giving me another kiss. Everyone starts making kissing noises, causing us to pull away and laugh.
“Let’s get this party started!” Liam’s head whips around and Chase makes his way over; they share a hug. Sam runs to them both, licking Chase’s face, and my heart warms at that.
“Cupcake, this looks amazing!” Ana squeals in true Ana fashion, making me chuckle as I stand to my full height.
I glance around. “Ana, you’re the one who hung it all up.
I just had the idea.” My eyes trail over the familiar faces when I catch the back of an unfamiliar person.
I tilt my head, but then they turn around to reveal none other than the guard from the Crystal Pines front gate.
I glance toward Ana, the person in charge of my guest list, and she shrugs.
“Is that Matthew?” He locks eyes with me and sends me a shy wave, the barely perceptible smile that he shows Mom and me.
“Why’s he here?” I ask, curious more than anything.
His eyes jump from me to the side, and I look to see him staring at Mom as she talks animatedly with Jamie. My jaw drops and I look back at Ana who has a little devious smile.
“I noticed how he looked at her, and one thing led to another . . .” Ana shrugs. “Wouldn’t hurt, right?”
Looking back over, Jamie is heading my way, leaving Mom alone, but with sure steps, she won’t be in a minute by how fast he’s moving toward her. Jamie opens her arms and practically crushes me.
“Thanks for being here, girl.”
She smiles at me. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m sorry I couldn’t make his actual graduation.” I shake my head, showing her that it’s fine. A little trail of heat climbs up my spine and I catch a smirk on Jamie’s face as she lets out a sigh.
“Now, as much as I would love to actually have a full conversation with you, you better get. Even though your boy was with you, he’s already looking lost over there.
” We both giggle. “He is so in love with you, girl.” Turning around, Liam’s talking to Chase, but glancing over at me pretty frequently, and my heart flutters.
Two years so far, and he still does this to me.
“Go, Bianca,” Jamie urges, and I look back to see Chase also looking at someone—her.
“Chase likes you, Jamie,” I counter, but she rolls her eyes.
“C’mon, it’s been years and he hasn’t even looked at anyone, much less done anything else.
I would know, I see him practically every day.
” She sighs and I place a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t write him off yet.” She nods and I hug her before she pushes me playfully.
Another pair of arms wrap around me and my eyes lock onto those familiar tattoos, the tulips and Senora Bearington looking up at me.
Smiling, I turn around, and there seems to be sparkles in his eyes.
“What’s that look for, Mr. Parker?”
“Just thinking about our future,” he simply says.
My heart stops and he smiles. “I mean, I wanna marry you.” My jaw drops, and he chuckles almost nervously.
“Not at this very moment, more so for your sake than mine, because if it were up to me, I would’ve married you the day I met you.
” I look at him shocked as he gives me that little smile.
“But since we’re waiting, promise me this.
” He gulps, and I’ve yet to even utter a word.
“Promise me we’ll always talk things through, even if I do something to make you angry at me.
Promise me that we’ll never let anything break us.
That even when life gets tough, we’ll always rely on each other.
That no matter what, you’ll be here, holding my hand, like I always will yours. Promise me that we’re forever.”
My eyes water and I nod, wrapping my arms around his neck. I put our lips as close as possible, uttering the simplest, truest words: “I promise, Liam Parker. You always have been—and always will be—my forever.”
And with that, he kisses me until my brain fries, my heart melts, my mind clears, and love consumes me.
The End