Page 132 of Always Knew It Was You

“Good thing I’m not going anywhere,” I grin. “How was the sabbatical?”

“Dull,” she says. “Which is kind of the point.”

I chuckle, and at that point Carly stirs and her eyes flutter open.

Carly takes one look at my mother and screams too loud and long.

When she catches herself, I say, “Carly, meet my mom.”

She gapes for a full minute as though waiting for the punchline that isn’t coming.

“It’s nice to meet you, Carly,” my mother says. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Sorry!” Mortification takes over her expression as she stares at her. “I didn’t mean to scream like that.”

“It’s okay.” My mother smiles wanly. “I get that reaction a lot.”

Once my mother leaves the room and we get dressed, we go down for a nice breakfast, during which my mother asks Carly a hundred and one questions, my father dotes on her, and my grandfather quietly apologizes to both of us. It’s our first family meal in a while and it’s quite pleasant and not as awkward as I thought it would be.

But that’s nothing compared to the welcome we get back in Laketown that afternoon.

It isn’t just Declan, Emma, and Amelia who show up at the airport for our arrival. It’s Grandpa Crane, Poppy and Tate Moon, Mrs. Peach, and Yule. Heck, even my nudist buddies show up, clothed this time.

As we greet them all, I realize Declan was right. This town has truly trapped me, giving me all the things I could never find in New York or Paris, or any of the other cities I’ve flown to. It gave me Carly. And I’m glad I get to be with my family and raise my child in a town like this.

I stare at Carly loving her eyes, the way they glow. And with her, I find my way home, to a place full of endless adventure.

EPILOGUE

CARLY

It’s my second time at a grand masquerade ball but I have a feeling it won’t be my last.

Once again, it’s being held at the Pink Hotel ballroom, which is basically packed to the brim with a line outside of people hoping they get let in. It’s the grand opening of the Pink Hotel and paparazzi are camped beside a literal red carpet rolling through the front doors that are guarded by suited-up security. And inside the room holds even more glitz and glamor.

More than just regular aristocrats, this time the place is filled with an interesting combination of people, from actual celebrities, drawn to the spectacle of the Pink Pearl to bluebloods like Micah’s grandfather and parents, and just regular old Laketowners. It’s an interesting mix of people that shouldn’t work but somehow it does.

Declan says his rebrand is about maintaining the rustic charm while still giving the Pink Hotel some prestige. It’s a difficult thing to do and something Micah lets his father and Declan know he has no interest in helping them facilitate. He’s too busy on a list of new projects including a new Yacht Club he’s building.

Micah succeeded in selling his shares to someone he knew from his fancy boarding school, who he called “kind of a weird guy.” To which Declan responded, “If he’s weird, then he’ll fit right in in Laketown.”

I can see the new owner, Toby, standing at the front of the room alone, glowering at everyone. Or at least I think he’s glowering. He might just be focusing though. Micah tells me that the man is hard to read, but his eyes are fixed on the room as though trying to scorch everything to the earth at once. He’s quite tall, even more so than Declan, and handsome despite his expression. His pitch-black hair sets off nicely against his bronze skin, and matches black eyes that are disconcerting to look into for too long.

His back is straight, broad shoulders sitting back like Micah’s posture lessons taught me to do. He oozes good breeding but in a different way than Micah does. While Micah gives off more laid back, spoiled rich-boy vibes, this man has the aura of command that Declan has, but also something else. Something I can’t put my finger on, but is undeniably… odd.

I watch him for a few more seconds, noticing his eyes linger on Tate who’s arguing with her mother about something. His gaze rests there for a few seconds, before he looks away, frowning and muttering something to himself.

Yeah, definitely an oddball.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” I jerk around and stare at a large man who approaches me cautiously.

“Oh yes. Thank you, Mercer.” It’s hard to get used to the feeling of being followed around by bodyguards. I now have two of them with me at all times. Now I understand how Emma feels. A lot of the time, they try their best to blend into the background and once in a while, you may even forget that they’re there. But then something happens and they’ll jump out to protect you and you’ll realize they were right there.

Although they haven’t done much jumping lately, since the pearl saga seems to be coming to a close.

I glance aside at where Nate and Hal are speaking. Nate got released on bail with an ankle monitor, thanks to his cooperation and Declan’s efforts. He’s not free of all the charges yet, but at least he gets to stay home while getting ready for the trial.

Hal, on the other hand, is a new hero in town. Despite the scandal that rocked Laketown, with his father in jail and branded a murderer, Hal’s reputation seems to have survived the fallout. Everyone heard how he took a bullet for me–mostly because he won’t stop talking about it–and now he gets all sorts of perks.

---