Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
I don't want to surround myself with people who blow where the winds of popularity take them, following along instead of forming their own opinions and standing up for who and what they believe. I prefer people like Corey, who had my back even when no one else did. Heck, I even prefer Victoria's friends. They may have been awful to me, and we'll never be friends, but at least they're loyal to her. I can respect that.
"Seriously, butterfly," Gage says. "You have to open it."
"Nope," I say, holding my hands up and taking a step back. "You have to open it yourself."
"You're so mean to me."
I roll my eyes when he pouts. He's so worried he didn't get in. I'm not worried, though. I know he got in. I saw the Letter of Continued Interest he wrote. It was probably the most heartfelt, genuine letter they got all year. And even if he didn't manage to get off the waitlist, he was accepted to UC in Berkeley, which is only a short drive from Stanford.
Even if it weren't, I know we'll be okay.
How could we not when he loves me as well as he does? I feel like every day is a fairytale since he told me he loved me. I don't know why I never let myself see it before. I guess I was just afraid.
I'm not anymore, though. He won't let me be afraid.
He sighs dramatically and then slowly rips open the envelope. I don't think he takes a single breath until the letter is in his hands. His blue eyes scan across the page, his expression giving away nothing.
"I have bad news, butterfly," he says a moment later.
My heart sinks. He wanted this so bad.
"You're stuck with me for four more years."
"Seriously? You got in?"
His grin is all the answer I need.
I fling myself into his arms, squealing with joy.
He catches me, laughing as his acceptance letter flutters to the floor. His kiss is wild, unrestrained.
"Four more years," I whisper when he finally lets me up for air.
"No, butterfly," he says, shaking his head. "Four years isn't long enough. I want forever."
Forever. It's not nearly long enough to satisfy me, but it's a start, at least.
Epilogue Two
Gage
Twenty Years Later
"You know we don't have to do this, right?" I murmur to Troian, slipping my arms around her waist from behind.
She glances at me in the mirror, a sweet smile on her face. But I see the anxiety lurking in her gaze. She can't hide it from me. I know her far too well.
"Yes, we do," she says. "We already said we'd be there."
"So? We can blow it off." I brush my lips across her bare shoulder. "I bet Corey and his husband would skip with us and go to dinner instead."
They've become damn good friends over the years, watching out for Troian and our adopted daughters while I was in medical school and then killing myself during my residency.
She turns in my arm, staring up at me. "Are you afraid to go because you're worried someone will say something about me? You know I don't care about that, Gage. High school was a long time ago."
"I'm not afraid to go," I murmur. "I just don't give a fuck about any of those people, butterfly. Why spend the night with assholes who stopped mattering twenty years ago when I could spend it with you instead?"
Her lips curve into a grin. "Maybe I want to be seen on your arm, so they all know that I got the guy."
"There was never any doubt about you getting the guy, baby." I narrow my eyes at her. "The guy in question wasn't having anyone but you."
She laughs softly, her green eyes shining. "We're going to the reunion, Gage. End of discussion."
"Fine," I growl. "But I want you naked and on your hands and knees when it's over."
"Fine." She smirks at me, leaning forward until her lips are at my ear. "But just so you know, I'm not wearing panties tonight."
I growl, caging her in against the sink when she tries to slip out of my arms.
"What are you doing?"
"Checking to see if you're lying to me."
"Do I ever?" she asks, her expression serene.
No. She doesn't. That's what worries the fuck out of me. There's no way I'm going to make it through the whole reunion with my wife on my arm, not wearing panties. I barely make it through the damn day when she is wearing panties.
I still feel like a horny goddamn teenager every time I look at her.
I slip my hand into her pants, growling against her throat when I confirm that she is not, in fact, wearing panties.
"Gage," she moans, squirming in my arms when I press my thumb to her clit. "We're going to be late."
"Too bad." I nip her skin, flicking her clit. "You should have thought of that before you decided to go without panties tonight. You'll spend the whole night soaked in your own juices, making a bigger mess for me to clean up when we get home."