Epilogue WILLOW

Rhett is being weird and I can’t stop thinking about it. He’s acting mysterious. Maybe even a little bit …

Sneaky?

Yes, definitely sneaky.

School is winding down for the semester and winter break is almost here. Everyone who wants to go to college has turned in their applications, even Iris, who did it reluctantly but she also admitted that she wanted a back-up plan. I have a feeling if Brooks ends up going somewhere, she’ll follow him. They’re in love. Madly, passionately in love.

Just like Rhett and I are.

I’m boggled by how mysterious he’s being. What is he hiding from me? What sort of plan does he have in place? Because that’s what it feels like. He’s planning and plotting something, and I can’t figure out what. I thought it might be related to Christmas, but it’s too soon for that. Christmas isn’t for another two weeks, and besides—how much does he need to plan for a Christmas gift?

Though I do know my boyfriend is a “go big or go home” kind of guy, so maybe this shouldn’t surprise me. I need to ask Iris if she knows anything about his weird behavior.

I’m at Sunday brunch with my cousins, which is the perfect opportunity to question her. It’s a new thing that we’ve started over the last month—a way for us to connect with each other and catch up on what’s going on. Currently in attendance is me, Iris, Row and even … August. He just got out of college for the semester and agreed to coming to brunch with us only because Iris begged and pleaded.

“He loves to be begged,” Iris told me right before we entered the restaurant. “I feel sorry for the woman he ends up with. He’ll probably have her constantly on her knees.”

“Ew, Iris, why did you have to go there?” My disgust made Iris laugh. I’m sure she’s on her knees for Brooks.

I know I’m on my knees for Rhett so …

“None of you are having a drink?” August asks once the server drops off his mimosa.

“We’re all underage,” Iris reminds him.

“Right,” he drawls before taking a healthy sip. “Why am I here again?”

“To bond with your family.” Iris smacks August’s arm, earning a deathly glare. “Oh stop. You act like such a prick all the time. Aren’t you exhausted?”

“This is my personality, so no. I’m not exhausted,” August utters, his voice dripping with his disgust.

Iris rolls her eyes at me while Row starts talking.

“I have an issue.” We all go quiet when he says that. My brother is probably the most easygoing one out of all of us. He rarely has an issue with anything.

“Is it school?” I ask.

Rowan shakes his head.

“Football?” August asks, though he says the word like a curse. He’s not into football. Thinks it’s lame that his cousins and little brother plays.

“The season is over, remember?” Ooh, Row’s tone is just as jerkish as August’s. I’m proud of him. “It’s—a girl.”

Iris sits up straight, rubbing her hands together. “Tell us everything. Let me play matchmaker.”

“I don’t like her.” Row’s voice is firm. “It’s not like that. She drives me crazy. I want advice on how to get her to stop talking to me.

“How exactly does she drive you crazy?” I ask.

“Like I said, she won’t stop talking to me. We have a lot of classes together and it’s just … nonstop.” He rolls his eyes. “And she talks about stuff I don’t care about.”

“Tell her that,” August says, earning a hard stare from both me and Iris. “Or maybe not. Though that’s the easiest way to get rid of her.”

“That’s mean,” I stress. “Don’t do that.”

“She probably likes you,” Iris adds.

Row grimaces. As if the concept is foreign to him. “No way. She doesn’t like me. Not like that.”

“Then why does she keep talking to you?” Iris asks. “That’s a sign that she might be into you.”

“I think it’s a sign that she can’t stand me so she keeps up the chatter to get under my skin,” Rowan says, grabbing his menu and opening it, even though he told us only a few minutes ago what he wants to order. “This conversation is going nowhere.”

Because he’s not listening to us. If he treats this poor girl like that, no wonder she keeps talking to him. And I’d guess Iris is right—I bet this girl does like him. Poor thing. She’s dealing with someone who’s absolutely clueless.

August and Row start talking about the latest Formula 1 race and I turn to Iris, lowering my voice. “Do you know what’s going on with Rhett?”

Iris frowns. “What do you mean? Please don’t tell me there’s trouble in paradise. You guys are the only reason I believe in love.”

“Oh, that’s such crap and you know it,” I tease. “You are so in love with Brooks it’s almost pathetic.”

“I’m offended.” From the tone of her voice, I can tell she’s not offended whatsoever. “How is Rhett acting weird?”

“He seems very … secretive. Like he’s hiding something from me. Nothing bad,” I rush to say when Iris’s mouth pops open. “I’m just guessing that something is going on and I wish I knew what it was.”

“I know nothing,” Iris says, her expression solemn. “And if I did, I’d tell you.”

My cousin is right. She would totally tell me.

“I know you would.” I offer her a small smile, fighting the frustration filling me.

Guess I’ll have to figure out this mystery on my own.

***

“What are you doing tonight?” Rhett asks me during lunch on Wednesday.

“Studying for finals,” I remind him, sending him a look. “You should be too.”

He rolls his eyes. “Do the teachers pay you to say that shit to me?”

I nudge him in the ribs, leaning into him because he’s solid and warm and I can’t get enough. “No. I’m just trying to help you out and keep you on track.”

“Do my parents pay you, then? No wonder they love you so much.” He slings his arm around my shoulders and tucks me even closer into him, his mouth landing on my forehead. “I wanted to get together with you tonight.”

“I’ll be at the library after school and I don’t know how long it’s going to take.” I’ve been practically living there all week. “You should join me.”

The disappointment on his handsome face is clear. “The library, princess? Really?”

“Only a couple of more days.” I brush my mouth along his jaw, breathing in his delicious spicy scent. “And then we’re free for two whole weeks.”

We’re together for the majority of the holiday break. I’m going with him to spend a few days at his parents’ house before heading home for Christmas. On the twenty-seventh he’ll join my family and we’re all headed to Aspen for New Year’s. It’s the first time we’re going out of town to celebrate that particular holiday and I’m really looking forward to it—especially ringing in the new year with Rhett.

“It’s dragging on forever,” he groans.

“You sound like Iris,” I tease.

“We’re more alike than you realize,” he says.

I lean back to stare into his eyes. They’re greener today. They seem to always be greener when he looks at me. “Maybe that’s why I like you so much.”

“I am nothing like Iris,” he gripes. But his satisfied smile makes my heart race.

A couple of boys stop by our table to offer their congratulations to Rhett and Brooks, which they both accept graciously. They won the state championship game at the beginning of December and the fact that they’re still being praised for it says a lot. So many people worship the football team—even Iris’s dad. He held a special rally for them and everything, giving Rhett the first ever Lancaster Prep MVP award. How sweet is that?

The rest of the day goes by in a blur. Our schedule is changed thanks to finals and we only have one class after lunch. I take my final and we’re let out early so I rush to the library, not even bothering to go by my room to drop anything off. I have my laptop with me and there’s a meeting scheduled with my advanced calc group at three-thirty so we can go over the study sheets our teacher gave us to prepare for the final tomorrow.

Ugh, math. My least favorite subject and one of the last finals I have to take. I’m not looking forward to it.

I spend the rest of the afternoon in the library, first with my calc group, and then on my own, finishing up a project that’s due tomorrow for American Government. Rhett never shows up. Neither does Iris.

I’m kind of irritated. I’ve told them numerous times that this semester is important because colleges will look at our grades closely, but they both blow me off. Rhett because he’s got a stellar football season that’s most likely going to get him in wherever he wants, and Iris because she’s Iris and doesn’t care.

By the time I’m trudging my way back to my dorm suite, I’m even a little angry. The weather doesn’t help. The wind is blowing and it’s downright bone-chilling. After those early storms that dumped a bunch of snow, we haven’t had any since, but one is definitely coming tonight. I can feel it.

I enter the building to see Iris lingering there, pacing the floor while tapping away on her phone. The moment she hears the door clang shut, she lifts her head, smiling at me. “There you are.

“I told you I was going to the library.” I start to walk past her and she falls into step beside me.

“What, are you mad?” She sounds amused.

“No.” I blow out a harsh breath, hating how tired I suddenly feel. “I’m just over this semester.”

“I’ve been over it since about two weeks in,” she jokes.

She’s not wrong. I remember her complaining about it.

“What are you up to now?” she asks me.

“Going to my room, taking a shower and collapsing into bed.”

“Sounds like an exciting night.” She smiles, waving at me as she stops at her door. “See ya later.”

“Bye.” I head for my door and hit the key code, opening the door to find …

Rhett standing in the middle of my room, looking nervous.

I let the door shut behind me, blinking at him. “What are you doing here?”

His smile is … nervous? “I wanted to surprise you.”

All my earlier frustration at him not showing up at the library evaporates. “Well, you did. I’m glad you’re here.”

I gave him the key code to get into my room a while ago, not that he shows up unannounced or goes into my room when I’m not there. In fact, he’s never done this sort of thing before.

“I have something for you.” He shoves his hands in his sweats’ pockets. He’s changed out of his school uniform and is wearing a gray Lancaster Prep hoodie with matching sweatpants. “An early Christmas gift.”

“You do?” Maybe I was right. That’s why he’s been acting so mysterious lately. “What is it?”

“You don’t see it?”

I glance around the room, searching for a wrapped box or gift bag, but there’s nothing like that anywhere. “No.”

“Keep looking.” He sounds amused.

I do as he asks, slowly turning in a circle in the middle of my room when I spot it. Hanging on the wall and centered in between two windows.

A large canvas covered in a variety of multi-colored kisses.

Shocked, I turn to look at him, noting the sheepish expression on his face. “Where did you get this?”

“I made it.” He shrugs.

“You made it?” I approach the canvas, surprised and impressed by how many kisses there are on the canvas. All the different colors of lipstick. Wait a minute …

“Did you kiss the canvas?” My gaze goes to his again and his cheeks are ruddy.

“You were sad that you couldn’t bring that art piece here so I thought I’d make you your own Million Kisses.”

“You bought a bunch of lipsticks to do this?” Rhett actually wore lipstick to create this replica?

“I bought a few. Borrowed a bunch from Iris. She helped me out. Pretty sure she got incriminating photos of me too with lipstick on.” He winces. “It wasn’t easy making this. I got lipstick on my nose. Some of that shit stays on for pretty long too. I think Iris gave me those on purpose. She wanted me to look like—”

He doesn’t get the next words out because I tackle him and kiss him at the same time, wrapping my arms around his neck and putting my all into the kiss before I end it.

“I can’t believe you did this for me.” I smile at him, touching the side of his face. “I absolutely love it.”

“You do?” He sounds relieved. “I figured you’d think I was an idiot for going to so much trouble.”

“I think you’re the best ever for going to so much trouble. It’s the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me.” I withdraw from his embrace and take his hand, leading him over to the canvas so we can both stare at it for a while. “It’s amazing.”

“I tried to copy it as close as possible.” He shifts so he’s standing behind me, his arms circling around my waist. “I’m glad you love it.”

“I definitely love it. It’s beautiful.” A sigh leaves me and I lean my head against the solid wall of his chest, pleased when I feel his arms tighten around me.

“I love you, Will.”

I turn in his arms and kiss him again. “I love you too.”

“You still promise to give me all of your kisses, princess?” he murmurs against my lips.

“All of them.” I kiss him again. “Every single one.”