Page 36 of Keeper of Hearts
I moan out loud, peeling my eyes open to watch the way he trembles above me, his eyes burning with emotion, his cheeks flushed with pleasure. He's more beautiful than he's ever been.
When he can move, he collapses partially on top of me, rolling us so he isn't crushing me beneath him. His heart hammers against my chest as he wraps himself around me, clinging like he never wants to let me go.
"I love you," he whispers over and over, kissing everywhere he can reach. His hands shake as he runs them across me, like he's trying to remind himself that this is real—that I'm really here. "I love you so damn much, butterfly."
"You know the best thing that ever happened to me?" I ask in response.
He runs his hand along the scar over my heart. "This is."
"Okay, second best thing," I amend, because he's right. The heart I was gifted is the best thing that has ever happened to me. But the man in my arms? The one who does everything in his power to keep it safe? He's a close second.
"What?"
"Accidentally tripping myself in front of you on my first day at school," I whisper. "I thought I'd die of embarrassment. Instead, I found the most important part of my heart, the one that made me feel alive in a way the one beating in my chest never could."
"Jesus," he breathes, pressing his lips to mine in a fervent kiss. "I love you."
I smile up at him, confident and sure. "I know."
Epilogue One
Troian
"You have to open it," Gage says, thrusting the letter from Stanford in my direction. He's walked red carpets, acted in a movie, and sat down for interviews with people who don't even feel real to me, but I think he's more nervous right now than he's ever been. It's a little adorable, though I don't tell him that.
He'll just growl at me that men aren't adorable.
He is though.
It's been two months since he stood in front of the entire cafeteria and told me that he's madly in love with me. They've been the best two months of my entire high school career.
Victoria leaves me alone now…at least for the most part. Instead of calling me Gage's stalker, she now complains that public displays of affection are gross.
I just laugh when she says it. When Gage hears her, he kisses me. It's landed us both in detention a million times, but I don't even care. It's worth it. Not because it annoys Victoria, but because I love his kisses. They always leave me a little weak in the knees.
Our classmates no longer make fun of me. Some have even apologized for treating me like crap for so long. I accepted their apologies, but I haven't gone out of my way to be friends with them.
I don't want to surround myself with people who blow where the winds of popularity take them, following along instead of forming their own opinions and standing up for who and what they believe. I prefer people like Corey, who had my back even when no one else did. Heck, I even prefer Victoria's friends. They may have been awful to me, and we'll never be friends, but at least they're loyal to her. I can respect that.
"Seriously, butterfly," Gage says. "You have to open it."
"Nope," I say, holding my hands up and taking a step back. "You have to open it yourself."
"You're so mean to me."
I roll my eyes when he pouts. He's so worried he didn't get in. I'm not worried, though. Iknowhe got in. I saw the Letter of Continued Interest he wrote. It was probably the most heartfelt, genuine letter they got all year. And even if he didn't manage to get off the waitlist, he was accepted to UC in Berkeley, which is only a short drive from Stanford.
Even if it weren't, I know we'll be okay.
How could we not when he loves me as well as he does? I feel like every day is a fairytale since he told me he loved me. I don't know why I never let myself see it before. I guess I was just afraid.
I'm not anymore, though. He won't let me be afraid.
He sighs dramatically and then slowly rips open the envelope. I don't think he takes a single breath until the letter is in his hands. His blue eyes scan across the page, his expression giving away nothing.
"I have bad news, butterfly," he says a moment later.
My heart sinks. He wanted this so bad.
