Epilogue
Skylar
A year later
“You’re celebrating a year together, that is a huge achievement,” Claire says as I finish curling my hair. I smile as I think about the past year with Adrian.
My brother and Holden have finally accepted him, and I am so happy about that. Alex had said it wouldn’t last longer than three months with Adrian. Not only has it lasted but we are both stronger together.
“What about you and Holden, anything happening between the two of you? It’s been a long time.” I watch as Claire’s shoulders slump, and I hate that she seems so dejected by the question. Holden hasn’t stopped coming around to see her. It is really sweet but Claire seems happier to keep him at arm’s length. She isn’t convinced that he actually wants anything from her, which for some reason, I do find really sad.
“Nothing is going on with Holden and I. He’s always around but I wouldn’t see anything else in it.” She shrugs, and I see how sad she looks.
“He likes you, Claire.”
“I’m happy the way I am. I don’t need a man or anything.”
I laugh at this.
She wants love and romance, I can see it in her eyes, and I know all about it.
Someone knocks on our door, and I just know it’s Adrian. Opening it up, I throw myself into his arms and kiss him.
He grabs me, holding me tightly, and I moan as his hand goes to my ass, pulling me up into his arms.
“Fuck, baby, I miss you so much.”
“It has only been a couple of hours.” He hangs out around our dorm as long as possible. I’m moving in with him at the end of the semester but I don’t want to tell Claire because I know it will upset her. For now, Adrian seems more than happy to hang out with me.
“Happy anniversary, baby,” he says.
I chuckle. “Our first one. I wonder if you’ll still remember when it’s our fifth, tenth, or even longer.”
“I’ll remember for the rest of our lives, Skylar. You’re mine, and we belong with each other. Forever, and for always.”
Pressing my lips against his, I know that I have finally found the one, and I am never going to let him go.
Holden
Claire stands in the corner, holding a drink she probably won’t even taste, and my nerves are completely fucking shot. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, and my heart is pounding. For the past year I have been making as many excuses as possible to go over to her dorm, and it has all been a waste, but I’ve always stayed back and not gone there with her.
Even if I wanted to.
But I don’t want to wait, don’t want to see if she’ll show signs of wanting me as much as I want her. With school, work, and me heavy in the underground fighting circuit, I’ve held my emotions in check.
Not anymore.
With a drink in hand, I head on over.
“Hey,” I say, and cringe at how fucking lame I must look and sound.
“Hey,” she says, smiling. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” I’m just feeling like a total asshole right now because I don’t have a clue what to say. “Who would have thought they would make it?” I point toward Skylar and Adrian, who haven’t let each other go from the moment they got to the party. Everyone is fucking happy, and when I look at Claire, I know why.
I can’t have her. She doesn’t seem to get that I want her, and each time I go to see her, she talks about Skylar or other shit.
Taking a drink of my beer, I’m determined to ask her out. This is it. This is my moment. “So, Claire …”
The End