Chapter 200

Epilogue

The sounds of plates clinking together, and the low hum of chit-chat, merged into the background as I listened to Fiona describe her latest assignment. She was stuck in a geography class that she needed for distribution, and it was driving her nuts. Her professor was a mean, curmudgeonly old man, and a notoriously difficult marker.

“He gave me a C–. A C–! That was not a C worthy paper.”

Jack nodded. “I read it. It was pretty good.”

She rounded on him. “Pretty good?”

He put his hands up, a small smile on his lips. “Really pretty good?”

She huffed but turned back to me. “Your brother is a pain in the ass.”

I smiled. “You’re telling me.” They’d only been together for a few years, but they already bickered like an old married couple. Matt and I were actually married, but we didn’t even bicker like that. It was as endearing as it was exhausting.

Matt sank into his seat beside me and slid me a cup of coffee. I threw him a grateful look. Our peacekeeping duties had kept us late the night before, and we didn’t make it back to our house until well into the morning. It was a miracle I managed to make it through my morning classes without passing out.

It was getting harder to manage work and school. At least we were both graduating this year. Matt stayed back to take another minor just so we could graduate at the same time. Though a part of me suspected he just wanted to keep playing hockey. This was his last year as captain, and I knew he was sad about it.

Jack graduated last year, but he still stopped by sometimes for lunch. It was all just an excuse for him to spend more time with Fiona. We were all waiting for him to get it over with and propose. We all knew he was thinking about it. He made Matt go with him to look at rings the other week.

Seth sat on my other side, talking to his new girlfriend, Kate. They’d only been going out for a month. I knew Seth still felt guilt over what happened to Jenna, and he had a hard time moving on, but he seemed to be doing well. I hoped he knew that Jenna would want him to be happy.

I glanced around and met the curious gazes of a few freshmen sitting at the next table. They all looked away when they caught me looking, and I smiled to myself. Matt and I had become the new Nina and Enzo. The minute they moved back to work with Nina’s father, Matt and I just seemed to take their place naturally.

It was still as weird to me as it was that first day. Even though a few years had passed, I still sometimes felt like that shy, social recluse I used to be. It was odd to think that people were interested in me. It was even weirder to think that I was somewhat popular. What I’d realized was that none of it really mattered. It hadn’t then, and it didn’t now. I was just happy to have good friends, and somewhere I belonged.

“What’s that face?” Matt asked, lowering his voice so our friends didn’t hear. We filled the entire table. Made up entirely of Peacekeeper members and friends from our classes.

“I was just reminiscing,” I said, leaning into him. “It’s weird to think about how far we’ve come.”

“In what way?”

I glanced at the rings on both our fingers. “Well, we’re married, for one.”

He grinned. “I do sort of remember you wearing a white dress.”

I elbowed him lightly in the side. “I was just thinking about the person I was before we got together, and everything happened. Back when you were just Jack’s hot friend, and I was his awkward little sister.”

“You were never awkward.”

I gave him a look. “Oh, yes, I was.”

“Okay, maybe a little. You were just shy.” He leaned closed. “And you were always beautiful.”

A shiver ran down my spine as his breath tickled my neck. I leaned back and lifted an eyebrow. “Walk me to class?”

He gave me a knowing smile. “Of course.”

We stood up and waved goodbye to our friends. Jack and Fiona were engaged in another friendly argument, both smiling.

I led Matt out of the cafeteria by the hand, not stopping until we reached the empty stairwell. When I was sure we were alone, I pushed him back against the wall and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around me and deepened the kiss, his tongue running along my lips. I opened for him and sighed.

When I pulled back, my eyes caught on a poster taped to the wall beside his head and I let out a surprised laugh.

“What?” he asked, his eyebrows raised. He spun around to look at the wall. The second he saw it, he laughed too. “You really made your mark.”

The poster was for the dance troop. With everything going on, I hadn’t been able to commit to it this year. I missed it, and I missed the team, but I also knew it was for the best. I was a good dancer, but it wasn’t my calling. Leading the Peacekeepers was everything to me. Making sure the town remained safe was everything.

“They’re still using the masks,” Matt said, tracing the outline on the poster. It seemed the dance troop didn’t let go of the idea even after I left. They still wore the black lace masks for every performance.

“Brings back memories,” I answered, giving him a cheeky grin.

“Sure does, Rose.”

We both laughed. “What a weird time. I was so afraid for you to find out who I was. I truly thought you could never love me if you knew the truth.”

“I guess I proved you wrong.”

“A million times over.”

He turned to me and cupped my face in his hand. “I will admit that the mask thing was kind of sexy. Maybe we should bring it back.”

“Oh yeah? Do you want to start calling me Rose again, too?”

He shook his head. “No, you’re my Celeste.”

“You just want to see your Celeste in a sexy mask?”

The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Precisely.”

He kissed me again as he backed me against the wall. His hands ran up my sides, and I sank my fingers into his soft hair. It was heaven. We’d been married for two years now but every day still felt special. I couldn't imagine a time I wouldn’t feel grateful to have him in my arms. If he wanted to see me in a mask again, I’d happily oblige.

“I’ve got something at home I think you’ll like,” I whispered in his ear. He smiled and pressed his body against mine. I could feel the hard length of him pressing against my stomach.

“Think we should skip our afternoon classes?”

I gazed up at his flush face. His lips were swollen, and his gaze was heavy with lust. I ran my fingers through his hair again, messing it up even further. I loved seeing him like this.

“Definitely,” I said, taking his hand.

“You’re the best,” he murmured.

I grinned and wrapped my arms around him. “You know, I think I finally agree with you. I am the best.”

He laughed and kissed the top of my head. “Glad to know we’re finally on the same page. I knew you’d be the best wife ever.”

I hugged him tighter. “And you’re the best husband ever. Trust me, I won’t ever let you forget it.”

He grinned, his blue eyes shining. “Lucky me. Now let’s go try on that mask.”