I punched him in the gut and he shrugged sheepishly.
“College is about experimenting,” Hayden said, then coughed. “You know, if you’re not in a committed relationship.”
Ms. Rivers, the vice principal, walked up the stage stairs and stood in front of the microphone. My life had come a long way in the last year but one thing remained the same…
“Welcome back, last year’s princes and princess,” she called, waving us on the stage. Amber pushed my back and Oliver took my hand.
Even if I felt like it at times, I wasn’t alone. Even if my brain tried to fight me, I had these guys at my back. There was one thing for certain, we were The Allendale Five. Forever.
Epilogue
Summer
“Are you sure about this?” Anderson asked. We sat in his car while the others waited in the dusty parking lot.
“Hanging out with the four of you shirtless all afternoon? How could that be a bad idea?”
“Reeves…”
Uh oh, when he used my last name, it meant he was fed up. “Yes, I’m sure about this, but if you have a problem I respect that. I know this is hard for you, too.”
He leaned his head back in the seat, his long hair flopping in his eyes. I brushed it away, letting my hand linger on his cheek. “There are bad memories out there, Heaven.”
“My therapist says we should make new memories. Better ones.”
He nodded and took a deep breath. After a moment he grabbed my hand, kissing my fingers. “Okay, let’s go.”
The sun was hot when I got out of the car; the air salty and humid. I heard the rumble of waves and yeah, it caught me off guard. I paused and four sets of eyes watched me carefully.
“I’m fine.”
They nodded and continued their watch.
I loved them for it.
They were loaded down for the day, beach bags, coolers, blankets, and umbrellas. I wanted to make a day of it. Fun. Silly. Everything the last time we were here wasn’t.
I kicked off my shoes and felt the sand burning into my flesh. It felt good. Alive and pushing past every ounce of anxiety I had started to run, leaving the boys behind for the edge of the world. What was almost my grave.
I peeled off my sundress and took the first tentative step—the water was still cold but July cold, not winter cold, and it was very different. Titling my head up, I felt the sun heat my nose.
Footsteps sounded behind me and a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist. I leaned back into the solid chest with my eyes closed. “Thank you for saving my life,” I said, feeling his heartbeat against my back. Shadows crossed and more footsteps came and soon we were a circle at the edge of the sea.
“You’re the strongest of us all, Heaven Reeves.”
I blinked, taking them all in. My friends. My lovers. My protectors. My saviors.
With a grin on my face I broke free, pushing past them for the water. They stilled, afraid, but that’s why we were here. To fight our fears. To cleanse our souls. To make new memories.
I curved my finger, drawing them to me.
I wanted them to be in every last one of mine.
The End
(Except keep reading for one extra little scene. Rated R+)
Once Upon A Time…