Page 131 of Ruling Scar
Mom insisted he get Nat’s surname since she birthed him, so Sablin got regulated to a second middle name. Right behind Nat’s best friend, and the guy who saved her younger sister, Roman.
“I was there too,” Elijah quipped while we waited at the hospital.
“Tell me about it,” Adeline said from beside him.
Turns out Roma and Peter are friends. They’ve swapped comic books since they were kids. Which means that all this time while we made fun of Peter for being a dork so was Roma.
“Who knew,” Adeline said as we waited for news on Nat.
“I could’ve told you,” Max said, holding Sailor, who’s officially entered her toddler era. “My twin brother’s always been a nerd.”
Ads rolled her eyes. “You were reading Dostoyevsky at the age of twelve.”
Russet placed a kiss on his cheek. Every time she smiles at him, it’s clear how much she loves him. Though, she did look up and say, “I’ve already told him he’s not invited to book club.”
I text them a photo of Fujimori’s jukebox.
Lennie: Happy New Year’s! I love you to the moon and back even when you drive me crazy.
Adeline: Please you’re lucky to have us.
Lennie: I know.
Nat: And we love you too!
She sends another photo of her and Milo. My heart melts.
Someone clears their throat. Elijah’s at my shoulder.
He holds out a hand. “May I have this dance?”
Abe pulled the tables and chairs out of the way as best he could. An impromptu dance party’s taken over.
I pocket my phone, gladly taking his hand. To think, just a while ago if he eyed me like the way he is now, I’d be a hyperventilating wallflower. Now I don’t want to get away.
We sway together. “You know, Elijah. . .”
He twirls me around, pulling me tight to his chest. “Yes, my love?”
I almost gasp, my chin tilting up to awe at him. “Did you just use a pet name?”
About damn time.
His beautiful grin lights up his face. “What were you going to say?”
Warmth spreads in my chest as I catalog everything I love about this moment. Dancing with Elijah. The twinkling lights. Ren and Isolde’s laughter. The music from the jukebox.
“I love you.”
He pulls me in for a kiss, but the sappy bastard pauses, his lips hovering before mine. “For now and forever, Leonora love.”
Epilogue Two
ELIJAH
Five Years Later
I’d like to say my son trusts me well enough to take care of his little sister, but there’s a thoughtful expression on his face.
