Last chapter but don't be sad fam, I am writing BOOK THREE FOR COLESSA, YAY. 

Chapter Thirty-Two: Cole Is As Insatiable As My Craving For Refined Sugar 

The Bad Boy's Heart

Epilogue

Two Months Later

An unpopular opinion if I'd ever heard one is that things happen for a reason. Whenever someone like me for example would use that cliched phrase, they'd get booed and told to stop sitting on their butts and do something about whatever's causing them to use the sorry excuse for a saying in the first place. The naysayers, I suppose believe that things don't just happen for a reason and if you accept that without doing anything about it then you're the one at fault, not destiny. If the thing that's happened is a setback in any way, you're not just supposed to accept the cards you've been dealt, you're supposed to fight back. If what's happened is positive, then you do not attribute it to some mystical power, you believe you deserve the good that comes your way.

Things happen for a reason and I side with the believers and the non-believers. If times are tough, if I've gone through an experience that is challenging and threatens to break my resolve, my answer to it won't be to say that the universe has it out for me or that I'm the sacrificial goat for the greater good. No, you bet I'll fight. And when the good comes my way, I'll be the first to say that I've worked hard to achieve whatever it is that I get. So, some may call me a non-believer.

But some things in life do happen for a reason, a reason you may not know or figure out at the time. Things like a devilish dark haired, blue eyed boy in kindergarten taking one look at you and deciding that you were his. His to tease, his to anger, his to make laugh, his to love, his to protect.

His.

And I can't fathom what I did to deserve someone like Cole Grayson Stone. For a girl who has spent so much time wishing the people in her life could just love her back, the way she loves them it's absolutely mind boggling that I have a man in my life whose devotion to me threatens to constantly split my heart right open, just because of how powerful it is. We're young, nineteen soon to turn twenty and people will tell us that there's more to life than finding the great love of your life in high school. Most people who don't know us are sceptical, they don't think we'll make it past college because rarely do high school relationships survive the next four years. In college you grow up, you figure out who you want to be for the rest of your life. Four years of freedom, of experiencing life in a completely different way, a series of firsts you've never had before.

It's supposed to change a person, it's supposed to change who you are and what you want from life. The person you see yourself being with at age eighteen, graduating high school with might not be the same person whose hand you want to hold when you're getting your degree and are ready to step out in the real world. The thought is mildly terrifying, one can never know when that epiphanic moment occurs when you realise that your priorities have changed, that you have changed. I could spend the next three years holding my breath, waiting for Cole to realise that I'm not the person he sees himself with anymore.

Or I can trust, I can trust that the boy who walked into my life two year ago is now the man who has slain dragons for me. He's changed me forever, for the better and everyday he makes me love him a little bit more. Everyday he does something that truly makes me believe that things happen for a reason, people come into your life for a reason and that maybe, soulmates exist after all. Because when you find that one person, the one you think about everyday when you're not with them, who makes your heart soar with happiness when they're around, who make everything in life better, easier because you know you've got at least one person who'll be happy when you are, sad when you are, offer you a shoulder to cry on, arm to offer you love and comfort on the days you need it.

And as I mentally tick the boxes in my head, reminding myself how lucky I am that I've found my person, I realise with some pride that after all this time, I've managed to become that person for Cole as well.

***

"Ten pizzas? No, that's not enough! Do you see the number of 'growing boys' in the room? I'd leave it to Lan to at least demolish seven of them."

"That still leaves three for the rest. I'm sure they'll manage." I roll my eyes and continue placing my order but Cami is adamant we need enough food to feed a small country. Why? Because I'm currently playing hostess to half a dozen men all of whom apparently need more than three thousand calories to get through the day.

"She's right, I just saw Travis demolish the turkey sub you had in your fridge as well as the backup of your backup ice-cream stash and I think he's still looking for more food. So tap, tap, tap the buttons little birdie. We're going to need a lot more pizza and pretty much all the sides they have to offer." Beth rounds the corner to the kitchen island and peers over my shoulder making sure her boyfriend doesn't without nourishment. Hard to believe since it looks like he's emptied my fridge.

Our fridge, Cole's not going to be happy when he gets out of the shower since half of the ice-cream is his.

"Would you go out there and remind them that we still have the dinner at Cole's parents house tonight?"

"Yeah, I don't think they're actually planning on moving from the living room anytime soon. There's a game on TV and the promise of free pizza in the future. They're pretty much dead to us."

"Cami, would you say your boyfriend would still be more interested in eating as opposed to, I don't know other more physical activities if you were to entice him?" I suggest casually. The boys need to get move on. What started out as helping Cole and I move into a new apartment off campus has turned into the boys deciding it would do them good to play some basketball in the apartment building's court and they've come back a sweaty mess, demanding food. But to their credit, they've already brought up most of the boxes whilst the girls and I start working on the paint.

My friends are great, they'll do just about anything if you feed them enough.

"I'm not taking my top off if that's what you're suggesting. We might be a little on the wild side but Lan and I haven't started experimenting with being exhibitionists yet."

They really are a match made in kinky hell. I've never seen two people better suited for each other and with the way things have progressed with them, the fact that they're in a serious relationship after a month of dating, I'm not surprised that Lan's basically living in Cami's apartment down the hall from us.

"Tessa, I really think you should reconsider the colour you're going to paint the spare room." Megan walks in with the shade card clutched in her hand, biting her lip, Sarah following her lead. My former roommate and Megan get along really well, and I'm glad that Megan's taken it upon herself to make sure Sarah feels welcome in the group. Cami has had a chance to bond with my friends in the drama filled month she spent with me and she's firmly a part of our group now but I know Sarah's been a little overwhelmed with the group of us. Before going for summer break, we'd discussed moving off campus and Sarah's found herself two really nice girls to move in with and hers is the next building in our row of student residences. She's over quite a lot and in the time that my friends have been visiting, she's formed a great bond with Megan. More importantly, having broken up with her boyfriend from back home, I've seen Sarah and Jameson in deep conversation several times and if I do say so myself, that could be a very interesting development.

"I'd say go for Snow and not the Ivory, I'm getting bad vibes from it."

"How do you get bad vibes from a shade of white?" I shake my head and the pizza conundrum continues. After mentally calculating how much money I'll actually have left for the groceries after this, I bite the bullet and order fifteen pies. It's still not the twenty that Cami's been requesting but I'll be damned if I spend that much money on pizza when they won't even let me order extra mushrooms on all of them.

"The second bedroom is for guests right? You want it to be warm and inviting, homely. Ivory screams hospital waiting room with a side of, I don't really want you here whereas snow reminds you of marshmallows in hot chocolate. Plus it'll go really well with the duvet we got yesterday. So which one is it?"

She holds up two identical paint swatches and at this point, I'd be more than okay with going for a lovely shade of tangerine. "Go for Snow, it sounds lovely."

"Yay," She claps her hands, her inner interior decorating taking over. She beckons her apprentice, oh my bad, Sarah to follow her as they start prepping the room.

She's taking this way too seriously but I appreciate it. If I'm going to have this place transformed by someone else, than I'm glad it's a person who makes lists about the kind of lists she wants to make.

Cami, Beth and I watch the duo walk away and I shut my laptop down after placing the order. Leaning on my elbows against the counter, I realise that this is the first moment I've had all day to take a breather. It's been pretty hectic because even with the high rent, the place definitely needed some love and care and Cole and I are more than happy to put that into it. We're also extremely lucky to have friends who'll help us. Since Lan, Seth and Jameson go to school quite nearby, it's been easy for them to come in everyday and help out where they can, especially with moving and assembling furniture. Beth and Travis have come up, so have Megan and Alex and we're all going back home today as a sort of farewell for all of us, since we'll be heading back to different parts of the country once again. I try not to dwell on it for too long, the summer has just shown that our friendship can survive anything and it's as strong as ever.

"Worrying about dinner with the parents?"

Beth knows me a little too well and ever since she's found out all about the Cassandra debacle and subsequently about Cole's knee she's done her best to give me the tough love and advice I can actually use. I know she feels guilty that she went off the grid after her fall out with Travis. I'd tried to reach her several time, so had Megan and of course my brother. But during her time in Boston, she had wanted to be on her own and to figure out whether she could continue seeing Travis after witnessing a side of him, she said she didn't know existed. But nearly two months after she upped and left, I found Beth outside my bedroom door, knocking like a maniac and telling me to get my lazy ass out of bed and I knew in my heart that she had healed. To my surprise, it'd been Travis who'd driven to get her after getting a call. I'm not sure how much he grovelled and what exactly he's said to her but I see them now as stronger, happier and maybe even more open to a gross public display of affection than ever before, it's sickly and I couldn't be happier for them.

Although right now, I'm kind of annoyed by just how well Beth knows me.

"Don't worry Tessa, if the step-monster tries to attack you I'm sure I can take her. But her husband is the sheriff, I might need to be a little sneaky. I should go research." Cami pats my shoulder and heads out. I'm not sure if she's being serious or if she's trying to subtly let Beth and me talk alone.

"You don't think she'll actually hit Cassandra do you? I don't see that going well for her."

"I...I'm not sure but we'll try to keep her away from the Stones in any case."

Beth agrees, "Great idea and while we're on the topic, how are things at home now? I thought they'd be kissing the ground you walk on since you persuaded Cole to go for physical therapy."

I sigh, it's been a tough couple of months. Since Cole decided that he doesn't want to play either in college or professionally, he's been more accepting of actually having his knee examined by a doctor and going for therapy. I nearly cried when we were told that he wouldn't need surgery to repair the damage he'd already done and while he still plays for fun whenever the guys are around, with me constantly reminding him to be careful about putting too much pressure on his knee, I know that he's much happier now that he can play the game for fun and not because he wants to make his dad happy.

Speaking of his parents, any fallout that Cole had with them is now on the mend. He's still not forgiven Cassandra for how the way she handled things with me and despite me asking him repeatedly to not be angry or offended on my behalf, he's being stubborn. But he's thankful that she pushed him into thinking about his injury and his future and perhaps it's because she did so that Cole and I were able to be completely honest with each other. I've managed to score some points with the Stones then for practically blackmailing Cole into being honest but I've also lost some points for creating a rift between the family. Things between Cassandra and me are somewhat better and I can tell she's embarrassed about how rashly she went about her agenda, she wishes she'd approached me in a more appropriate manner and I'm no longer on her hit list now that she knows that I'm not forcing Cole to stay at school that he doesn't even want to go to. The kind of hard work we put into his financial aid application, which did end up getting approved despite the fact that we missed a ton of deadline, showed Cassandra that Cole truly does want to stay at Brown.

But I don't think we'll ever go back to being close the way we used to be. I applaud her for putting Cole first but her treatment of me has also shown how little she thinks of me and I'm not even sure for how long she's thought the way she has. If this year has taught me anything at all, it's that the only people I want around me in life are the ones who're willing to reciprocate the amount of love and respect I have for them. Cassandra clearly doesn't respect me for who I am and mommy issues aside, the only reason I'm trying to get along with her is because of Cole and he knows that.

"I'm not holding out hope for a family reunion like we're the Brady Bunch but I think we can all be civilised. I've been to their house a couple of times and Cassandra's been polite enough, that's as much as I can hope for."

"I can't believe she'd turn on you like this and pin Cole's mistakes on you. You didn't know because he was really good at hiding his injury."

"But that's the problem, I should have known, I should have paid more attention and I guess in a twisted way I'll be grateful to Cassandra for the wakeup call but that's about it. She's made where our relationship stands and the only thing we have in common now is Cole."

"And you're okay with that?" Beth knows that I'd thought of Cassandra as a something resembling a mother and I don't necessarily have the best luck with those.

"I am. It may have taken me some time but I've realised that I don't need a certain person or a figure in my life in order for it to be complete. My own mom, god bless her flawed as she is actually trying to fix things between us but I'm not expecting a miracle there as well. I'm happy with my life right now Beth, really happy. I couldn't ask for more."

She hugs me, "I'm happy for you too. Not just because of this you know," she gestures towards my apartment, "but because finally, you've kicked aside all your doubts and stopped listening to that voice inside your head that made you question yourself all the damn time. I notice it you know, so does everyone else, just how confident you are and how your relationship with Cole has evolved. It's like someone took away all the fear and left behind this ball buster whose not going to let anything get between her and her man."

Feeling strangely emotional and choked up, I wrap Beth in a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you guys so much next week."

She hugs me back just as tightly, "You're not getting rid of us that easily. We made it work this year, we'll make it work forever. No matter what happens, we've always got each others' backs."

"Get in on the hug Meg!" Beth yells and I'm being tackled by the redhead weighing a hundred and ten pounds. "I was waiting for my entry to be announced."

This right here? It's all the family I need.

***

While on the subject of surprising new friend duos, another set of people that are really getting along are Lan and Bentley. Yes, Bentley my friend slash doomed gym trainer. I'd never be one of those girls who gets excited to go to the gym every single day. My stomach still plummets whenever I think of going near a Stair-master but one positive about trying to be more healthy and forcing myself to drag my butt to the gym thrice a week is that I've found another person to add to my makeshift family, Bentley and this week as my friends have driven up and down Providence, Bentley's managed to fit right in.

Especially with Lan, huh who would've thought? Both being the fitness freaks they are have struck up a great friendship and while Cole sulked about it for a day or so, he's the one who surprised me even more. Since Cole's injury has become public knowledge, it's no surprise that people have started treating him differently. Not in a bad way, or that they pity him but I think people just don't know what to say to him. Do they say they're sorry that his football career is over? Do they tell him good riddance, like blowing a knee is a good thing because it means he doesn't have to play football anymore? There's no tactful way of approaching the topic, so imagine my surprise when Bentley simply walks in one day, here to help us move and begins helping Cole with his physical therapy. The PT has given him some simple mobility exercises he can do at home and I usually try and help him with what I can but since Bentley wants to go into sports medicine in his post graduate studies, he's a pro.

And I think Cole and him may have a bromance going on, finally. Add Lan to that group and there have been days where I've hardly seen my boyfriend. But I'm happy, because last year I'd made it nearly impossible for him to find the time to hang out with his closest friends. When he wasn't in practice or studying or gone for away games, he'd spend any remaining time with me perhaps because I needed him there while I licked my wounds. Now, having assured him that I am more than capable of taking care of myself and him for that matter, it's easier for him to have days where he can go out and have a guy's night out.

He's spent most of the morning moving the last of our things and assembling our IKEA furniture. As I walk into our bedroom; gosh I still find it strange, to think of this place as our apartment, our bedroom, our bed, I hear the shower running and I poke my head inside the bathroom. The shower stall is all fogged up and I can barely make the outline of his body but I avert my eyes because we do not need the distraction.

"Hey, what time does Cassandra want us to be there by?"

"What was that Shortcake? I can't hear you clearly."

I roll my eyes, he isn't even trying to hide what he's actually trying to do.
"I said," I yell, "what time do we need to be at your parents' house?"

He yells back, "Still can't hear you. I think you're going to have to come closer." He sounds smug and I'm pretty tempted to join him but I'm already showered and dressed for the day. I spent forty-five minutes trying to straighten my hair and there is no way I'm getting it all wet again.

"Guess I'll just wait for you to come out then!"

"What? You want me to come out? Okay."

The man has no shame as he walks out of the shower, naked as the day he was born and gives me a wicked, sexy grin that is nowhere near being apologetic for the naked ambush.

I sputter because two years on with this boy and he still manages to one up me on a constant basis.

"I'm still not getting in the shower with you," I start backing away and he follows, completely at ease with being naked with all the doors unlocked and having an entire group of people just outside our bedroom.

"Are you sure about that?"

I throw a towel at him which he reluctantly wraps around his waist because I'm sure he doesn't want to flash any of our friends any more than I do.

"I'm sure that I don't want to be late for the party that your parents are oh so kindly throwing for us. I'd like to salvage the hopes of having a decent relationship with them."

Ugh, stupid Tessa back at it again with that word vomit. As Cole's face hardens, I kick myself repeatedly for bringing up the fact that there's an obvious tension between Cassandra and me. He's been very obvious with whose side he's on and I hate that. I don't want to cause a rift between him and his family and one of my goals tonight is to fix the ongoing strain between them.

"You don't have to do anything to prove a point to them Tessie, you know that. I don't care what they think and you shouldn't either."

The Sheriff is nice enough to me, he's not the problem but I guess he's got to support his wife which is why he's made sure to avoid me as well. It hurts but I'm not dying over it and I wish Cole could see that. Anything I'm doing is for him, to mend his relationship with his family.

"I'm not trying to prove a point to anyone," I walk towards him and straight hair be damned, wrap my arms around his still wet body. "But it was very sweet of them to throw this end of summer party for us and all of our friends and it'd be nice if we were on time."

He shrugs, "She said 8pm would be okay. Jay's flight got delayed so he'll be late as well."

"Great, I'll rally the troops then." I give him a peck on the cheek and leave. He whistles as I walk out, "Have I mentioned just how much I love those shorts on you."

I roll my eyes, "Put some clothes on before Cami walks in on you naked and we've got to physically remove her."

Boyfriend or not, she's still a fangirl for him.

***

"You need anything else?"

Like the protective and responsible elder brother that he his, Travis surveys our two bedroom apartment one more time. Cole and I decided to splurge on the rent because one look at it and we knew we wanted to stay here for the next three years. The fact that it's ten minutes away from campus and has free parking is a bonus but the quaint, homely feel of it with its open plan living room, dining and kitchen area and large glass windows that make the place appear twice as big as it actually is made me fall in love hard. We're slowly furnishing and decorating, bringing the place to life but so far in the week we've been here and the three weeks we've spent finding places, this place has won my heart. We could've gone for a one bedroom but I love having my friends over way too much so the little extra we're paying is okay.

"Yes, Trav, I made sure to go through the shopping list you gave me twice before I got out of Target. I think we're good."

"I went to the hardware store earlier today and you're all set for a DIY emergency if you ever have any okay? And I talked to your landlord about replacing the lock on your door because it's falling apart. Also the door to your bedroom creaks way too much, I'll grease it before going..."

"Travis, stop." I hug my brother, "We're going to be fine. It's a building full of students, no one knows what they're doing but I'm sure we'll survive."

He sighs, "Try not to eat your weight in ramen. I've downloaded two easy to follow cookbooks to your kindle. So even if Cole isn't here to cook, you should try making a meal or two during the week."

"Yes, mom, anything else?"

"Yeah, the laundry service here is crap. I overheard some girls talking about how the place had misplaced their Calvin Kleins, you're better off going to the laundromat down the road, it's cheaper as well."

I bite back a smile, his anxiety melts my heart. I know that he thinks staying in a dorm is safer but if he knew half of the things I'd heard about myself or the things that had been said to me he'd be thanking the housing gods that Cole and I got this apartment.

"Would you quit trying to make her nervous? She's not the one freaking out, you are mother hen. She'll be fine." Beth hugs Travis around the waist and rests her head on his shoulder, winking at me. "You've stocked the pantry with enough canned goods that she'll survive the Hunger Games six times over and I'm pretty sure the landlord peed his pants a little when you paid him that personal visit."

"You did what?" I shriek, "Please don't tell me you threatened him! Do you know how hard it is to get approved for off-campus housing? If he kicks us out now, we're going to be homeless and it'll all be your fault. The man already doesn't seem to like us because Cami said something about his hair reminding her of Billy Ray Cyrus's mullet.

Probably not the best way to go if you want to make a good impression, so yes we're already on thin ice with him and if Travis has gone in with his big brother macho nonsense then Cole and I might as well pack our bags.

"Whose going to be homeless Shortcake?" The man in question walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. God, he smells so good and I unashamedly inhale a lungful of his freshly showered sent. I'd like to create a Nobel Prize for whoever created the Irish Spring scent.

"Apparently we are. Travis might have paid a visit to our landlord and threatened him with bodily harm."

"I did not, I just told the guy he needed to be more careful about security. Do you see the kind of creeps hanging around outside? You're not paying that much rent to have people dealing drugs right outside your door."

I roll my eyes, "It's a college town, what do you expect. Don't tell me it's the same at Berkley." I remind them of their own school.

"Oh, it's worse. I'm pretty sure our neighbour's running a meth lab from his apartment but we don't question him because he lets us babysit his greyhound on the weekends and I love the little guy too much to get his owner arrested.

Travis sighs, it seems like a painful topic.

I turn slightly in Cole's arms, "Do you have a place to stay in case we're kicked out?"

He grins, "No he won't, not unless he wants the officials looking into the drug problem. We've already had that discussion."

I look from to my brother, both of whom have seemingly blackmailed the man in charge of keeping a roof over my head, "Why do I even try." Between the two of them, my security is tighter than Fort Knox.

***

"Megan and Alex have already driven out with Sarah. Beth and Travis are taking Lan and Cami and Seth and Jameson said they'll give Bentley a ride so that's everyone done."

I'm walking around, neurotically making sure the doors are locked and the lights are off. We'll be spending the night at my house before coming back with the last of my things tomorrow.

Tomorrow is also the last day before everyone has to go back to school and I'm desperate to hang on to the remnants of this summer. But I'm excited for the year to come and how I'll probably handle things ten times better as a sophomore.

"Great, never thought we'd be alone. Remind me to never let you finish the second bedroom or you'll always have someone stay over." Cole pulls me into his arms and backs me against the kitchen counter. After the things he did to me on this very counter the first night we slept here, I don't think I'll look at it the same way.

I try to bat away his wandering hands which are now taking liberties with the dress I'm wearing. It's off the shoulder and exposes a good amount of skin, all of which is currently being caressed by my boyfriend. I lose the fight and my eyes close as he pulls me in for a kiss.

I'm aware that we should leave and that the hour and a half journey will be longer because of Friday night traffic but Cole's got some serious voodoo magic in his hands. Right now, I couldn't care less about impressing the Stones with my impeccable timing.

In a flash, he turns me around so that he's now pressed against my back, placing hot kisses down my neck and across my exposed back. The sleeves offer little protection and he pulls them down, the top of the dress pooling around my waist. His arms go around my and reach for my breasts, his face buried in my neck, inhaling.

"I can't believe I have you all to myself, that this place is our home. You know how hot that is? To walk through the door and realise we've made love on every visible surface. That I've claimed you in all the ways there are."

I shudder in his arms, speechless. Playing house with Cole Stone is incomparable to any other feeling in the world and I feed off of his energy, going crazy with both love and the insane urge to own every part of him too. This place is ours to create new memories, ours to build and ours to finally escape any lingering demons of the past.

And I'm all for that. Reaching behind me, I tug on what remains of the zipper and step out of my dress as it pools at my feet. I hear Cole's breath hitch and as I turn around and help him lift his shirt over his head, then unbutton his jeans, our bodies seeking closeness and skin to skin contact, I forget about time and people and places.

"I love you Tessa O'Connell, with everything I am." He lifts me up and places me on the edge of the counter. I wrap my legs around his waist as he unfastens my bra. He grabs the foil packet from his jeans.

"I'll always love you, so much Cole."

Because this right here is home and it's where we belong. We've fought so hard, worked our way up to this moment, beating all the odds and battling our own selves to get this far and we deserve to savour each and every moment together.

Things happens for a reason but you can also make things happen if you believe and fight for it with everything you've got.

***

We're late for the party and as we walk hand in hand into the Stone's backyard it feels like everyone can tell the reason why we're late. Beth certainly can with the devilish way she's grinning and me and probably Cami as well, who's giving me two thumbs up and as well as a not so subtle thrust of her hips.

I hide my face in Cole's shoulder, "They know, they all know."

He laughs and wraps an arm around me, kissing the top of my head, "I couldn't care less. My girlfriend is crazy hot. If I want to make love to her all day then it's no ones fucking business."

"Nice choice of words now shut it. Nana Stone's already looking far too intensely at my stomach."

It's still flat, I promise! I think it's just bloated from all the pizza.

"Speaking of her," He walks us towards his grandmother's direction who seems to be chatting away with one of my dad's golf buddies, the lovely Mr. Wright who seems positively smitten by her.

Yay, you go Nana Stone.

"How long have you known that she's helping out with my tuition?"

Once Cole was approved for financial aid, we'd still needed to figure out way to cover the remaining costs. He's got some money saved up from working the summers and during the weekends at school year but his parents wouldn't let him touch any of it. In addition to the amount he agreed to let them pay, he was told that he'd received a large some of money that's considerably fattened up his bank account from an anonymous source. The money came from Nana Stone and it's taken Cole a while to get the Sheriff to confess who the source is. I admit, I got a little emotional myself when Cole found out.

"She may have mentioned it to me once or twice, back when she told me to tell her whenever we were short on cash."

He heads towards her and surprises her with a hug, "Hey Nana, you're looking especially lovely this evening." She waves him off but I can see the beginning of a teasing war between the two and Mr. Wright is going to get caught in the crossfires.

"Tessa, honey come closer and let me have a good look at you."

She smells of roses and a faint powdery scent that I've come to associate with her. Nana Stone is the one member of Cole's family that I'll always have a deep bond with and it's been there since I was a little girl. Hugging her is like going back to your childhood home and to walk into your kitchen to freshly baked cookies and a glass of milk. It's comfort and love at its best.

"How are you Nana? Got into any trouble lately?"

She winks, her bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief, "You'll have to start worrying about me when I'm not causing hell. What about this one? He giving you any grief?" She smacks the back of Cole's head lightly, "I still haven't forgiven you for that little stunt you pulled with your knee. God knows I've had enough of stubborn Stone men in my life with your grandfather. Don't you dare do that again."

"Yes, Nana," He grins sheepishly and after hearing a few stories about how Nana recently flooded her senior resident facility, I leave the two to catch up and come up with a plan for world domination on their own. Poor Mr. Wright, he's falling for a whirlwind.

I see that all of my friends have made it and the party really seems to have come to life. I spot my dad and his girlfriend Danielle by the Bar-B-Q as he helps the Sheriff grill some burgers and go say hi to them. After having announced his retirement from politics, my dad's now more involved with the properties and businesses he's invested in and I think leaving his job is the best decision he's ever taken. Once the hype around his election run died down, the spotlight around our family's gone as well and anything that'd been printed by the press is long forgotten. I'm thankful that he's made the decision, not because of what it means for Travis or me but because he's much happier for it. He's decided to buy a condo the next town over and he'll be moving soon but he's decided not to sell his house. When I'd asked him about it, he said he wanted to leave it for either me or Travis if we ever wanted to settle down in this town. Travis has already refused and I've been mulling over the idea. Maybe in five years time...but that's a thought for the future.

"Tessa, you remember Stephanie right?"

Yes, Cole's date for the ill fated gala Stephanie. As I'm pulled away from my dad, Jay looks happier than ever introducing me to his new girlfriend. She's a nice girl and as much as I'd resented her at the time for being thought of as better for Cole than me, I like her for Jason. He and I are in a great place now, especially since he's told me that Cole threatened to leak two photo albums full of Jay playing with Barbie dolls as a child on to the internet if he ever found him less than ten feet away from me. I chewed out Cole for that one, since really the idea that Jay might have any feelings for me in juvenile. But I'll die before admitting that I did find it hot. Regardless, I'm happy for him and I know that he and Cole are back to being in a good place.

"Will I need to get in line to spend some time with my girlfriend?"

Cole finds me as I try and catch my breath after making my rounds for the evening. I'm trying to be a lot more sociable now, as opposed to standing in a corner holding Cole's hand. Have I successfully manoeuvred the act of being an adult? I'm definitely working on it.

"No, but you could try a little harder to meet all the people who've shown up for a party your parents threw for you."

He shrugs, "I don't know half of them, the other half are the assholes we went to high school with and the rest are people I see everyday. I don't see the point."

"You see me everyday, will that thrill fade as well? Jeez, thanks for making me feel special."

I turn on my heels to walk away but Cole catches me and dips me at the waist, bending down to kiss me breathless. I register the sound of someone letting out a wolf whistle, probably Lan which is followed by the sound of applause. Cole and I break away to the sound of everyone cheering for us and I hide my face in his chest.

"They so totally know why we were late." My hands clutch fistfuls of Cole's shirt. He simply laughs, the bastard.

***

"I can't believe how empty this room looks." My bedroom looks a little different since I've taken a lot of the things to our apartment back in Providence.

I'm exhausted yet deliciously sated. The party was a success, a memorable last hurrah for quite the eventful summer. Cole and I snuck away early though since Cole is as insatiable as my craving for refined sugar.

Cole's wrapped around my back, his arm pulling me against his chest, his legs tangled with mine. "I'm glad you kept the bedspread here. It reminds me of when you were trying so hard to resist me." His chest vibrates from his laughter.

"You never let me resist Cole, I couldn't have done that if I'd fortified myself with steel walls and you would've still managed to Hulk your way in."

"True," He nods seriously, "you couldn't have kept me away even if you'd tried, which we both know you didn't."

"Yes, I loved you so much when you were dumping dyed water all over me or when you hijacked my family or when I realised you had more fangirls than all of the One Direction members combined. That really sealed the deal for me baby."

He laughs, "Please, I think I've got at least a couple hundred thousand more than those pretty boys." I elbow him, "If I see one more girl trying to get suspiciously close to your package, your dad might have to pull some serious strings to get me out of jail for manslaughter."

"Speaking of, I saw Cassandra talking to you tonight. Anything I should be worried about?"

His hands slips under my pyjama top as he caresses my bare skin, "She apologised, again." I'm pretty surprised by it actually, "She said she was being overprotective and that it was unfair on me to have been put on the spot like that. She...uh...she said she wants to try going back to how things were before with us."

"It's up to you, whatever you want Tessie."

"We're not going to see each other often but I'd like to try. Life's too short to be mad at the people who care about you."

"It is too short isn't it? When you're sure about something, you should just go for it right?" What's the point in waiting?"

He sounds oddly cryptic, like he's saying this more to himself than he is to me. "Yeah, absolutely. Why wait for something you truly want when have the opportunity to go for it that very moment."

I turn around so that I can see him and even though the lights are off and the moonlight's the only thing illuminating his face, I see the determination on Cole's face. He reaches towards the dresser on his side of the bed, opens the drawer that I've officially given to him and grabs something out of it. Now fully awake, I sit upright and try and calm my heart that's thrashing wildly in my chest.

"Turn around Tessie?"

"What?" My voice is breathy, anxious but in a wonderful way.

"Please, just turn around."

I move so that I'm resting on my knees on the bed, with my back towards Cole. The mattress dips under his weight as he moves closer. One hand sweeps my hair off my neck, I help him out by pulling it into a quick pony tail.

And then something cool settles against my chest and I gasp. Because around my neck is delicate silver chain and resting in the middle of my chest is a ring. Through the darkness, I see the princess cut diamond sparkling at me as it catches the light.

A diamond ring.

"Cole," I can't breathe, I've lost the ability to speak. I can't even move because the shock has rendered me immobile. His arms come around me and I realise I'm half shaking, half crying.

"The ring is yours, it always has been. Nana reminded me today to give it you whenever I feel the time is right. But I've always been sure, always been ready for this moment and for us. I promised your dad that I'd wait at least until we're twenty-one before taking this step but I want you to know that this ring isn't mine, it's yours to keep and whenever you feel the time is right, I'll put it on your finger."

I whirl around and launch myself at him, his mouth unrelenting under mine. Every ounce of love that I feel for him, I pour into that one kiss and as I push his shoulders back to rest on the bed, I touch the ring resting near my heart.

"Every day I fall for you a little bit harder," I tell him as I kiss every visible plane of his face. "Every single day with you is better than the one before. You're strong, your heart is bigger and more forgiving than anyone I've ever met, you love me in a way I've never been loved before." My hand rests on his heart as I kiss down his chest, loving the way it rapidly rises and falls beneath my touch, "You're my hero, the love of life, a caveman down to your very bones." He laughs at that one, "And if I've ever been sure of anything in my life it's that I belong with you."

I straddle him and cup his face in my hands, "I'm a sure thing Cole Stone, you're stuck with me for the rest of your life and this," I touch the ring that simultaneously feels like it weighs a ton and has me floating on air, I'm that giddy, "is everything I could ever ask for. So I promise you, even if we have to wait two more years, when you want to ask me that question, whenever you think we're ready for it, do it and my answer will always be yes."

The night slowly turned into day, the light of dawn surrounding us as we celebrated another first for us and as Cole drew out every little bit of pleasure from my body, I don't even pinch myself because this is my reality and I'm no longer afraid or holding on to it for dear life because this year I've learned and I've lived. I've grown up and so has Cole.

We live freer, we love harder and most importantly, we trust each other enough to know that if there's one certainty in our lives, it's that the kind of love we've been lucky enough to find, it's the kind that's so strong, so powerful that it survives apocalypses. 

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Hey guys!

I won't cry if you don't cry, promise.

Ending a book is always a bittersweet experience. You want to be happy that you've managed to complete a book but at the same time it's sad because it's the end of such a long and personal journey. These characters mean the world to me and I know you all have so much love for them as well. I've spent a lot of time with them and saying goodbye, even if it's temporary is strange. I won't be writing about them in college again, when we come back, it'll be them trying to navigate life as adults and that's just as exciting to me.

I'll spare you all an emotional farewell speech because like I keep reminding myself, this is not the end! Regardless, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking around even when I wouldn't update for months on end. I hope that you'll always remember July as the month where you were bombarded with TBBH updates. I would never left this book incomplete but I'm so happy that I'm able to finish it for you guys! 

I'll still be around, forever stalking the internet so please feel free to reach me here or on Twitter (@BlairHoldenx) or on instagram (@JessGirl93).I'll be taking a very, very short break from Wattpad but don't worry, there are plenty more uploads in your future! 

Book Recommendation: After you've read Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (obvs) I'd say check out Moonshot by Alessandra Torre! Follow me on Goodreads for lots of new recommendations, just send a request to Blair Holden on there. 

Lastly, I will be putting up two bonus scenes (when I find the time) for Lan and Cami, as well as Travis and Beth, in their POV's so look out for that.

This is going to be such a long update, dang.

BYE GUYS. I will miss you while I'm gone but I'll be back very, very soon <3

Lots of love,

Blair