EPILOGUE
DAKOTA
“I can’t believe we just graduated!” I beamed across the lawn and Solace charged towards me, jumping in my arms.
Unable to contain our excitement, we jumped and cheered, sharing ear to ear smiles.
She broke the hug. “From making mud pies together to graduating?” She faked disbelief and I chuckled.
“Look at us!” I shrieked, taking both her hands in mine and we jumped in excitement.
“There they are!” Daisy screamed over the crowd and I watched her and Asher hurry towards us.
They engulfed us in a group hug, and tears swelled in my eyes.
“Congratulations!” Daisy beamed, hugging us individually and so did Asher. “Oh, don’t cry!” she cooed, taking my face in her hands and I chuckled sadly.
Asher slipped a firm arm around Solace’s lower back and pulled her up against his chest before slamming his mouth against hers.
With wide, unbelieving eyes, Daisy and I both cast each other a glance before watching him melt into her arms, their kiss consuming one another.
Asher and Solace’s friends-with-benefits soon turned into an exclusive relationship and I couldn’t be happier for her. She deserved it. They deserved each other.
“Meow,” Celeste purred, approaching us with her dark eyes glued to Asher and Solace. Daisy and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “What do you say, Daffodil?” she stretched a devious, yet entirely serious, grin across her lips. “Me and you next,” she sealed her words with a wink.
My mouth gaped open but before I could utter a single word, my mom and Solace’s aunt made the most noise as they hurried towards us, showering us with congratulatory kisses and compliments.
My mom and I got so lost in conversation that we hadn’t realized the group had split up. She was so proud of me that even in tears she was yelling at me to get the pose right every time she snapped a picture of me.
“Okay, that’s enough,” I chuckled, walking towards her to lower the camera.
“I’m sorry,” she smiled through tears and I gently wiped them away. “I can’t believe you’re all grown up. My baby is a graduate,” she chuckled, sniffing a little and I was feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
Nobody was prouder of me than she was. She suffered through life and was adamant about giving me the best life possible and she did. She gave me the life she couldn’t have.
“Your turn,” I pulled my cap off, slipping it on her head.
Her tears dried in confusion, and I shrugged off my gown before throwing it around her shoulders.
“No, Dakota—”
“You deserve it as much as I do,” I reassured her, taking the camera and she sadly smiled.
She stood in front of the backdrop, showing her beautifully contagious smile, and I couldn’t help the tears brimming in my eyes. She ensured all my dreams would come true, and now I would gladly do the same. I had forever to repay her.
A hand rested on my lower back and I looked up to see Kaden beside me. “Congratulations,” he smiled, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Thank you,” I straightened my shoulders, keeping composure.
“Go,” he nodded towards my mother and I handed him the camera. He captured a few pictures of the two of us until my mother slipped her arm around his, talking his ear off.
With my excitement still bubbling inside of me, I glanced around and found Solace conversing with Chase, Logan and Daisy.
When Solace’s eyes found me, she curled her finger, singling me closer.
I looked back to see my mom and Kaden still talking, so I hurried over and hooked my arm with Solace’s.
“Ah, my favorite latecomer,” Logan mused.
“I still graduated, didn’t I?” I playfully shot back.
“Congratulations, Dakota,” he shook my hand and I fought back a grin. Our hands lingered until Daisy giggled beside me.
I dropped Logan’s hand and Chase shook my hand too. “Congratulations, Miss King.”
“Thank you, Professor Madden,” I batted my eyelashes up at him.
“You guys coming to the graduation party or…” Solace trailed off, taking me aback.
“Oh yeah!” Daisy nearly jumped in excitement. “Technically you’re no longer our Professors,” she winked at them. Daisy was adorable, and sometimes I wondered how she still ended up at the kind of parties we went to.
“We appreciate the offer, but we’d have to decline,” Logan gave his head a slight shake.
“There you are!” Daisy’s mom smiled before apologizing and dragging her away to the rest of her family.
“Oh, come on,” Solace deadpanned. She glanced around then leaned in to whisper, “You both know you wanna lurk in the shadows and watch Dakota’s every move.”
“Solace!” I playfully nudged her.
“We don’t lurk…” Kaden pinned her with a look, stopping beside Logan.
“Oh, no, you definitely lurk,” she broke out in a laugh and I fought back a smile.
“Wait, you guys are giving me permission to go to the graduation party, right?” I hesitantly asked.
Chase gave me a single nod. “Of course.”
Solace and I silently shrieked, holding each other’s hands.
“And she has permission to consume alcohol?” Solace tried her luck and I put on my best pleading face.
Chase’s chest rose and fell with a deep breath, and Logan crossed his arms over his chest.
“A responsible amount,” he emphasized and once again, Solace and I were jumping for joy.
* * *
I groaned, my head feeling like it’d split into two as I wrapped my blanket around my shoulders. I understand now why the guys emphasized a ‘responsible’ amount of alcohol.
Regardless, I still had the best night ever last night.
After getting cleaned up in the bathroom, I dragged my tired legs downstairs. The house was quiet. And empty.
On a mission to find them, I entered the foyer and heard voices outside. Logan’s laughter filled my ears and I smiled, opening the front door.
Both Logan and Kaden were seated on chairs, so I walked over and plopped down on Kaden’s lap. “Morning,” I yawned and he kissed the top of my head. I lifted my knees to my chest, curling into a ball on his lap and Logan chuckled.
“Morning, Dakota,” he and Kaden both said.
“Have fun last night?” Logan leaned back further, lifting his hips and I glared at him.
“Yes, thank you,” I answered even though he was clearly messing with me.
My eyes found Chase who stood beside a pink Dodge Challenger and a Black G-Wagon.
“Oh my God,” I blurted out and my blanket dropped from my shoulders as I bolted upright. Both cars had a huge red bow on it.
All eyes were on me, but mine shifted between my two dream cars.
“I swear if you’ve gifted my dream cars to someone else this relationship is over,” I blurted out in all seriousness.
“Happy graduation,” Kaden smirked, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Am I dreaming? Hallucinating?” I asked, glancing between the three of them. “What has the alcohol done?” my hands flew to my head and Chase chuckled, approaching me.
He kissed my forehead and handed me both keys. “Not the alcohol, but your graduation gifts.”
“Gifts. Plural,” I murmured in utter disbelief but still frozen. “There’s two… am I seeing double?”
“You couldn’t decide and neither could we,” Kaden gave his shoulder a casual shrug.
My car had been making funny sounds as of recently, and I had hoped the guys wouldn’t notice. But, what did I expect from the men who knew me like the back of their hands.
Usually, at the slightest inconvenience, I’d call my dad and like the fairy godmother, he would wave his magical wallet and the problem would be fixed. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case anymore. And, I had absolutely no knowledge about cars whatsoever, so, I simply hoped for the best. This was…
“Seriously?” I whispered, and when Chase nodded, I shifted my attention to Logan. He nodded in confirmation as well and so did Kaden.
I squealed, rushing towards both cars as I examined them and they were gorgeous. I couldn’t contain my excitement until I eventually ran back to the guys, hugging and kissing them.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I beamed with a final kiss to each of their cheeks.
“There’s more,” Logan got up and approached me with a white envelope.
“More?” I breathed in confusion.
I took the envelope from him and pulled out a white page. My eyes scanned down the writing, until I realised what this was. “We’re going on vacation!” my stomach dropped. “But…” I trailed off, remembering that our relationship wasn’t necessarily—
“There’s more,” Logan interrupted my thoughts.
My eyes skimmed lower until I smiled. A private resort. On an island. Of course.
I shrieked, practically jumping for joy and ran back to my cars. “Oh, I’ll see you later,” I whispered to both vehicles before sprinting to the front door. “I have to call Solace!” I bolted for the stairs.
* * *
I had been modeling up and down this private jet for what felt like hours, showing the guys the outfits I packed.
I didn’t need them shutting down every piece of clothing I picked up, so I took matters into my own hands.
I rested my hands on my hips, and Kaden slightly tilted his head to the right, taking in my appearance.
A devious grin danced on his lips. “Turn around,” he motioned his finger in a circle and slowly, I did. “Now, bend over.”
My stomach flipped and I fought a smile as I leaned forward, placing both hands on the armrest of the seat in front of me.
The three of them were seated on the sofa behind me, and when I glanced over my shoulder, Kaden had his bottom lip curled between his teeth. Logan, on the other hand, slightly tilted his head to the right, his tongue coming out to wet his bottom lip.
“You’re not focusing,” I deadpanned.
A faint sound slipped from Chase’s throat as he lifted his hips, shifting lower. “We are.”
I sighed, turning around with my arms crossed over my chest. “I’ve been prancing around like a male peacock since this jet took off.”
“A male peacock has nothing on you,” Logan gave his head a slight shake and I grabbed the previous skirt I had on, launching it at him.
He easily caught it, chuckling as he lowered it to the couch.
“Baby, we’re focused,” Kaden reassured me, but the desire gleaming in his eyes said otherwise.
“You’re focused on my ass!” I dropped my arms with frustration.