Page 77 of Stranded

I laugh. “You go first,” I tell him.

He beams at me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Even if I’m kind of an idiot sometimes… I’ve been so pleased, so proud, to call you my betrothed boyfriend these past few months.”

My cheeks flush as my breathing quickens.

“I think you know what I want. At least, I hope so, by now.” Alph laughs, and I realize his hand is actually trembling slightly on my back. “Ronan… will you be my boyfriend?”

“Oh, Alph.” I cup his cheek in my hand. “I already am. And you know what? I think I have been all along.”

Alph beams as wide as the sun, and then he kisses me.

It feels like an eternity before we pull apart to the sound of wolf-whistling and cheers from my classmates.

Then, Gabby claps her hands once. “Andnowwe party!”

“Your turn,” Alph says at last, and I blink at him. “You had a question.”

“Oh, right.” I giggle, bouncing at his side as he rolls along the suitcases. “How’d you find them?”

Alph raises his eyebrow. “It’s obvious. I looked for the accountants.”

I laugh, and then I stand on tiptoe to kiss Alph, and—at long last—I feel it.

All is well.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

ALPH

I’m still prettysure I shouldn’t be allowed in Nanaimo’s sleekest lounge dressed like this… but thanks to Professor Meyer, we’re in the VIP area for the afterparty.

After hearing about all of Ronan’s classmates for so long, I’m happy to meet them. Better still, I get to hear him talking in his own language to people who get it—even if I don’t understand a word of what they’re saying.

He really is going places.

And he deserves it.

Derek, Breanna, and Shane, on the other hand? I don’t think anyone’s going to miss them. And what with Ronan getting the work placement of his dreams, I think his last semester will be the best of all.

I want to let Ronan bask in the glow for as long as possible, but I know all too well when the ferry leaves for the last trip of the day to Sunrise Island.

“Hey,” Ronan greets me, looping his arm around mine and giggling as he sips his glass of champagne. “What’s the worried face?”

I clear my throat sheepishly as he grins up at me. There’s no point in pretending he hasn’t busted me.

“Thinking about the last ferry timing. I mean, I could ask someone to help us out. It’s just…”

They’ve already done a huge favour for me today… but I want that to keep that a surprise for now.

Ronan shakes his head before I can even think up an excuse. “No,” he tells me simply and stretches up to kiss my cheek. “I want to go. I’ve done everything I needed to do. I’m ready.”

I smile at him. “Yeah?” I ask, biting off my apology about living on an island before it can even start. “You’re not feeling like such a night owl these days?”

Ronan giggles. “I’m going to need a lot more sleep, if I’m going to go places. Besides, my boyfriend works shifts. I want to share some of those early mornings with him.”

All I can do is grin stupidly at him until he laughs and pecks my lips, and then I follow along in his wake, hugging and shaking hands until we’ve said goodbye to the whole room.

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