Epilogue

PARKER

ONE YEAR LATER…

S tepping off the stage with my diploma in hand, I took a deep breath. I did it. As of today, I was officially a graduate of Castleton University with my Bachelors of Architecture. Five years went by in the blink of an eye. These last two, all I wanted was to slow time down. To be able to cherish the memories we were making. The time I got to spend with her.

But that wasn’t how life worked. It came at you, a hundred miles per hour, whether you were ready or not. Just like a ball goes into the net. Sometimes, you missed. Sometimes, you got the goal.

Or, in my case, the girl. The perfect girl who I didn’t deserve, but was sure as fuck glad I had.

Heading back to my seat, I looked around the room. Somewhere in the crowd were my parents, sitting next to Audrey’s. It felt right that they were sitting together. Like we were back where we started. Except this time, we weren’t just neighbors or best friends. We were together. Calling Audrey my girlfriend—my real girlfriend—for this last year had been the biggest joy of my life.

Especially living in our apartment together off-campus. After living with other people for multiple years, there was nothing better than coming home to her every single day.

Something I couldn’t wait to do for the rest of our lives.

The ceremony ended, and we all shuffled out of the arena to greet our family and friends.

Audrey’s blonde hair shone in the sun, illuminating her like a golden halo surrounding her. She’d unzipped her gown, showing off the pink dress she wore underneath, along with the star pendant I’d given her. Her cap was decorated in pink roses, glitter, and butterflies, and it was so her. God, I loved her.

I loved every single bit of her.

How could anyone ever think she was too much? She was everything.

“Parker!” my girl exclaimed, catching sight of me.

I gave her a dopey smile. “Hey, Rosie Girl.” I opened my arms, and she flung herself into them.

Just like she’d done after every home game this year. Just like she had after the school musical last year, when things had gone from fake to real. Though they’d always been real to me.

I’d loved her since I was just a kid, and that would never change. She was my sunshine, a golden glow that brightened every day. She was every star in the sky.

Wrapping her up, I buried my nose in her hair, inhaling her sweet strawberry scent. God, she always smelled so good. She made everything better.

When we pulled apart, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she looked up at me, I kissed the tip of her nose.

“Don’t cry, baby.” I wiped away the tears with my thumb, cupping her cheeks with my hands. Holding my entire world between them. “We made it.”

She laughed. “I’m just so happy. I can’t help it.”

“I love you, Rosie Girl,” I said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

Leaning down, I rested my forehead against hers.

Audrey smiled. “I love you too, Dream Boy.”

Every time she called me that, I couldn’t help but chuckle. That we’d both liked each other all along, that neither one of us had wanted to make a move because we didn’t want to ruin the friendship, was just so us. But we’d found our way together.

She was my first, and if I had my way, my last.

Ella and her boyfriend, Cam, were standing off to the side, the latter holding a gigantic bouquet of white flowers in his arms.

I had flowers for Audrey too, though I’d left them for later, wanting to have our own special moment. I wasn’t asking her to marry me—not yet. We were still young, and we had plenty of time. But I wanted to celebrate graduating, being together, and the future we would share just the two of us.

I saw Audrey eyeing her twin, and I knew what she wanted.

“Go see your sister, baby,” I whispered in her ear. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She hummed in response, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “I know. You’re stuck with me, Parker Phillip Maxwell.”

“Like there’s anything in the world I’d rather be, Audrey Rose Ashford.”

She pressed another soft kiss to my lips before running towards her sister, shouting, “Ella!”

“Ro!” Ella grinned, moving her flowers out of the way so my girl didn’t crush them as they hugged tightly. Even though they’d been sitting together at graduation, walking one after the other, I wanted them to have this moment.

I stood back, letting them hug it out.

“Congrats, man,” Cam said, coming to stand behind me as the two shared their own conversation. Like they were in their own world.

“You too,” I nodded. “Ready for the real world?”

His eyes didn’t leave Ella’s as he said, “Yeah. I can’t wait.”

“New York’s going to be great,” I answered, meaning every word. I’d never imagined myself living in the city, but I’d landed an incredible opportunity working with one of the architecture firms there, and Audrey was going to pursue her own dream: Broadway.

The two of them were moving to the city as well. Ella had gotten an internship working with a costume designer, while Cam was working for a prestigious law firm in the city.

For the twins, I knew this was like a dream come true. They were close—even closer now, after this last year.

Maybe it was the fact that they were both in a serious relationship, and neither one of them had to hide their feelings anymore. We’d gone on more double dates than I could count, and now I considered Cam to be one of my best friends, too. Audrey would always be number one, however.

“Hi, Audrey,” Cam said, sticking out his hand toward my girlfriend.

She just rolled her eyes, pulling him into a hug instead. “We’re practically family now, Cameron. And in our family, we hug.”

He laughed, and after they pulled apart, the Ashford parents came over, taking photos of the two girls in their pink and blue dresses, their caps decorated with flowers, sequins, and glitter. Ella’s featured a silver sparkly high heel, which was fitting with what I knew of how she and Cam met.

“Let’s get one with your boyfriends,” Audrey’s mom shouted. My parents were standing side by side with Audrey’s, their phones also out to snap pictures.

I pulled Audrey into my side, wrapping an arm around her hip, as Cam did the same for Ella. We took pictures of the four of us, and both couples individually.

My girl beamed, turning her head up to look at me. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I tilted my head.

“For finding me.” She closed her eyes, sighing happily. “For making all my dreams come true.”

I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You were always my dream, Audrey Rose.”

We took our photos, and the rest of Cam’s friends joined us with their girlfriends. James and Adam’s girls weren’t graduating this year, but we piled in for a photo of the ten of us all the same.

It was crazy to think that two years ago, when I’d stepped foot onto this campus, I hadn’t had a single friend. And then I’d run into Audrey at that Halloween party, and everything had changed. Now, I had friends on the lacrosse team who were more like brothers. Ones I was sad to say goodbye to. They’d been loyal, steadfast guys—ones you could trust out on the field.

And Cam’s friends had become mine, too, thanks to Audrey pulling me into their group. The last year, we’d hung out more than I could count at one of our apartments, laughing long into the night. It filled a part of me that had been broken. The guy who left Rhode Island, coming to Castleton for a new start, was gone. In his place was a better Parker. One who knew what it was like to love. To be loved, truly, for who you were. To have friends you could count on.

After another thirty minutes of chatting, I was growing impatient for my surprise.

“What do you say we get out of here, sunshine?” I asked, leaning down to whisper the words in Audrey’s ear.

She was breathless as she answered, “Yes, please.”

I grinned. “Good. Because I want to get my girl alone so I can show her how proud I am of her.”

Audrey blushed. “Parker?—”

“You know you love it.” I winked, placing my hand on her lower back.

Quickly saying goodbye to her family and mine, I guided her to the parking lot, not taking my hand off her. Part of me just wanted that connection—to have her warmth—because it grounded me, steadied me and reminded me that this was real and not just a dream.

Because for so long, I’d dreamed of this. Having Audrey as mine. And I wasn’t going to fumble this opportunity. Not now—not ever. I opened my passenger side door for her, helping her in before shutting it.

“Where are we going?” Audrey asked as I settled into the car. Reaching over, I grabbed her seatbelt and buckled her in. Just like I had from our very first fake date. Now it was just tradition. She still blushed, her cheeks going that adorable shade of pink I loved so much.

“It’s a surprise,” I answered, not wanting her to know what I had up my sleeve yet.

“You know I don’t need any surprises,” Audrey answered, looking over at me and studying my face.

I still hadn’t turned the ignition on, so I turned to face her. “I know. But I want to, Rosie Girl. Okay?”

She leaned over and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Okay.”

I slid my hand onto her thigh, squeezing it lightly.

As we drove, Audrey stared out the window. “It’s surreal, right? That it’s all over. I can’t believe we’re moving in two weeks,” she said with a sigh. “Where did the time go?”

“It’s bittersweet,” I agreed. “I’ll miss this place. But mostly sweet—because I still get you.”

“You’re ridiculous.” She blushed. “Are we still going to the party later?”

I nodded. Cam’s friends had planned a graduation party—one last hurrah. “Yeah. I just wanted some time alone with you first.” Picking up her hand, I kissed her knuckles.

“Mmm. I can’t complain about that.”

Between her parents and mine being in town the last few days, we hadn’t had much time to ourselves. We were all going out to brunch tomorrow to celebrate, so I didn’t feel too bad about ditching them today.

“Didn’t think so.”

She laughed as I pulled into the parking lot in front of the apartment building where we’d lived for the last year. It was a quick drive to campus, which had been convenient for getting to class.

Pulling a silk blindfold out from my door, I turned to Audrey. “No peeking.”

“Okay, what are you up to?” She asked, but let me tie the soft fabric over her eyes, blocking out her sight.

“Told you,” I said against her ear. “It’s a surprise.” With one hand on her back, I guided her to our apartment door, quickly unlocking it and stepping inside. “Wait here,” I said, leaving her right inside the front door to finish the last few details, turning on the lights and grabbing the things I’d stashed out of the fridge.

“Okay,” I announced a few moments later, coming around to take the blindfold off. I’d left my cap and gown on the counter, ditching my suit coat but staying in my dress pants, button-up shirt, and tie.

It was pink. Because I had to match my girl. I grinned as she looked around.

“What’s this?” Audrey asked, her eyes growing wide as I took her cap and gown from her as well, handing her a bouquet of pink roses.

Just like I’d given her on our first date.

“Parker…” She let out a small gasp.

I’d strung fairy lights from the ceiling this morning after Audrey had left our apartment and scattered pink rose petals in a path toward the pink blanket set up in the middle of the living room. There was an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne in it, a plate of strawberries, and those little cotton candy bombs that made your drink sparkly and sweet.

Something I knew Audrey would love.

“It’s our last night here,” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on the top of her head. “I wanted it to be special. One last memory.”

She hummed into my hold, letting me sway her in my arms. “This is too much.” She buried her nose into the roses, inhaling deeply. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Rosie.” I kissed the top of her head. “Now come on.” I tugged her towards the blanket, sitting down and pulling her between my legs. Grabbing the bottle of champagne, I quickly popped the cork and then filled two glasses before grabbing the cotton candy bombs.

She laughed as I dropped them in, and the champagne swirled with pink glitter. They were also strawberry-flavored.

“Okay, I’m obsessed. Where did you even get the idea to do this?” Audrey asked, staring into the glass.

I smirked. “I know you, Audrey. You’re my best friend, but more importantly, you’re the love of my life. How could I do anything other than show you just how much I love you?”

She laughed, and the sound was music to my ears. “Parker…”

“Alright, I admit. I overheard some girls talking about it while I was waiting for you to get out of class the other day,” I sheepishly said. “I thought you’d like it.”

She swirled the liquid in the glass, watching it move. “I do.”

“To us,” I said, holding up my glass. “To our future.”

“To us,” Audrey agreed, clinking it together.

Humming, I took a sip of the concoction. It tasted the way Audrey always smelled, so fucking sweet and so damn perfect. And mine. All mine.

I was filled with such a sense of rightness. Like of all the places in the world, this, right here, was where we were supposed to be.

Together.

We both finished our drinks, and my girl snuggled up against my chest, taking a sip and running her tongue over her lips. “How could I have ever doubted that we could be more than friends?”

“I don’t know. I guess it was a good thing I was an idiot and asked you to fake date me, huh?”

“Imagine, one day, when we tell our kids this story.”

“Our kids, huh?”

Audrey blushed. “Yeah. Eventually.” We hadn’t talked about our future

Leaning down, I rasped against her ear, “I like the sound of that.”

“I told you, you’re stuck with me, Parker Maxwell.”

“Maybe you’re the one stuck with me , Audrey Rose.”

One day, I’d ask her to be mine. To marry me. But not yet. That wasn’t what tonight was about. Tonight was about us. Taking another step towards our future together.

She hummed, taking a long drink of her sparkling pink drink. “Once Upon a Time, there was a boy and a girl. And they were very best friends.”

“Once Upon a Fake Date,” I corrected. “And the boy loved the girl very much, but he was afraid to tell her. He didn’t want to ruin their friendship because he liked having her sunshine in his life. Liked all of her pink and the glitter she left behind.”

Audrey giggled. “Well, the girl loved the boy, too. She’d been doodling his name in her notebook since she was little. Hoping to marry him one day. But then he moved away. And she didn’t see him for nine years.”

I didn’t need a summary of the rest. I remembered every vivid detail since running into her at that Halloween party I’d been dragged to. Her pink witch costume. The song she’d been humming when I found her outside. How everything had fallen back into place like we’d never spent any time apart.

“I like the beginning of our story, Rosie Girl. But I think the rest is going to be my favorite part.” I leaned down, kissing her softly, tasting the strawberry champagne on her lips. The cotton candy was sweet, sugar particles clinging to her lips. Pulling away, I ran my tongue over her bottom lip. “Mmm. Delicious.”

She blinked up at me, lust clear in her eyes. Pressing a kiss to her neck, I slipped the strap of her pink dress off her shoulder.

“Yes?” I asked her, waiting until she nodded before slipping off the other strap and kissing her bare skin. “God, I fucking love you. So sweet. So perfect for me.”

We were cheesy and ridiculous, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

But this wasn’t happily ever after—not yet. We were just getting started.

For the rest of our lives, this was exactly where I wanted to be. Right next to her.

Right next to the love of my life.