We make our way over to where Rory is standing just in time. He pulls me in for a hug and drops a kiss on the top of my head. My mom's words settle more over me, and she’s so right. These are the things I love most of all. These moments when we’re all together.
It’s not long after the race starts that Dad and I are shouting as we jump up and down and cheer on Apollo. When his boat crosses the finish line first, the three of us are the loudest.
“Never seen a chick so into rowing before,” someone says from beside me. I turn my head to see a man standing there with shaggy blond hair about my age but maybe older. I don’t think I’ve seen him around, but I’m still fairly new here.
“I get excited. What can I say?” I notice the Vanderguard logo across his chest, which is the school we’re competing against today. “We won, after all.” I can’t help but smirk. I’ve never been competitive with a sport until Apollo. But who doesn’t want their man to win?
“That you did.” He holds his hand out. “Mitch.”
“Celeste.” I take it, wanting to be polite, but then he holds it a bit too long. I feel his thumb trying to stroke my skin, and this is the reason Apollo would rather have me respond that my name is Taken. I jerk my hand back to tell him just that, but before I can he’s leaning closer.
“How about we go celebrate your team's win, Celeste?”
“How about you don't?” Apollo says, popping out of freaking nowhere. He drapes his arm around my shoulders, and I’m surprised because I thought I wouldn’t see him for at least another hour or so. Mitch is bold. His smile turns into a cocky one, but Apollo is at least a foot taller than him and clearly built.
“I think you have people waiting on you,” Mitch says dismissively to Apollo, nodding over toward where his teammates are all celebrating their first win.
“Don’t.” I wrap my arms around Apollo’s midsection and glare at Mitch. “He does have someone waiting on him: me.” I rest my head on Apollo’s chest.
“So fuck off, dumbass” Apollo adds before turning his focus on to me, dismissing the cocky asshole. “I can’t leave you alone for more than a couple seconds.” He smiles as he leans down and presses his mouth to mine.
“You ran over here because you saw someone talking to me?” I run my hands up his chest as I shake my head. I can’t say I’m mad about his jealousy, though. I enjoy the fact that anyone looking knows Apollo is mine.
“I ran over here to kiss my girl.” He presses his mouth against mine again. This time the kiss is deeper, and I moan into his mouth. “Maybe I wanted to remind everyone you’re mine,” he admits when we break apart.
“We all know there is only one person I’ll be celebrating with.” In this and in everything else life brings us. Always together. Wherever that might be.
Epilogue
Apollo
Four years later…
“Knock, knock,” my dad says as he enters the small room. “Are you doing okay?” He smiles as he comes to stand in front of me and helps me with my bowtie.
“I’m just ready to see her.” I flex my hands a little at my sides, and I’m not sure why I’m nervous.
“She feels the exact same way.”
“You saw her already?” Hope springs in my chest.
“I just left her room, and she would very much like to see you before the ceremony.” He places his hands on my shoulders. “I think it would go a long way to calm her down.”
“But she was so insistent I didn’t see her dress.” Part of me wants to run out of here, and the rest of me wonders if she’ll regret not waiting a few more moments.
“If you want, you can stand outside her door. Maybe that will be enough for her.”
“Okay.” I nod, already in motion.
“I’ll go check on Anna,” he says as he makes his way over to where she’s standing.
Celeste is on the other side of the estate, getting ready in the room that’s usually reserved for afternoon tea. The space was big enough to hold all of the people pampering her today and close enough to the outside terrace where we’re having the ceremony. I've been shoved into the wine room so I wasn’t tempted to go after her.
With a light knock on the door, I place my ear against it. “Celeste?” I hear the click of her heels rush to the door, and I grab the knob before she pulls the door open. “Beautiful, I’m right here, and I know how much you wanted this dress to be a surprise.”
“Apollo, I just need to see your face, and then I’ll be okay.” I feel her press against the door.