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The university president issued an official apology to the student body.

Legal counsel has confirmed that civil suits are coming.

Meanwhile, the parties at the heart of the original controversy declined to comment—but sources say the original “scandal” involved consensual relationships between adults, none of whom violated university grading or supervisory boundaries.

I skim the last section filled with a few comments from students and faculty about Squires’ behavior, but I can’t hold it in any longer.

A laugh bursts out of me, so full and loud that it takes up all of the air in my lungs, leaving me gasping. Tears burn my eyes.

“God. This is perfect.” I swear I’m cackling like some old hag—like Squires herself. But I’m delighted that Karma was so swiftly served.

Braxton kisses the side of my head and murmurs, “You know what they say. What goes around, comes around.”

I grin back at him. “Damn straight, it does.”

Cedric slides his hot hand up the side of my thigh. “You know, this gives me an idea.”

He leans in closer to whisper in my ear, breath hot enough to make me shiver against him.

“What do you say we break out those camera glasses for a little celebration? I’ve rather missed them.”

37

EPILOGUE

Orion

Being on set with Sofia is magical. She’s Izzy’s shadow, her number-one, and her set manager. She gets to be the big boss she’s so good at being. Izzy often boasts about how she doesn’t have to worry about the minutiae like she usually does on a project because Sofia accounts for everything.

She’s so damn good at what she does.

I get to work with them both all day since many of our tasks overlap. Somehow, she got me a job—one that I’m so much better suited for than teaching in a traditional setting—even though they’ve both repeated several times that my film editor position is based on my skills.

And I suppose it is.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that what you know is never quite as important as who you know. From my connection to Dickie Hernandez to gain the favor of Sofia, to the woman herself’s approval.

I have to admit that was the better and more hard-won prize. Getting to keep Sofia. To be by her side every day. To let the responsibilities of another lifetime fall away.

This is pretty good, too, though. I finally get to be creative again.

It’s nice.

We’re on set. Izzy has left for a coffee break after giving her input, and Soph has been bent over the controls, shifting angles to better fit our overall goal. She sees so many things that I don’t.

I lean over the back of her seat to watch the screen as we make adjustments. I can feel her smile in the way her cheek presses against mine. My hand slides down to coast over her swollen and pregnant belly. I hardly think about it anymore, unable to stop myself from caressing our baby.

Turning, I press a soft kiss behind her ear as she bites back a giggle.

These are my favorite moments. The ones I aim to slow down and soak in every single day.