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“Well, I had a leg up with all those Speech meets I won in high school.”

“Must have had a good coach.”

“The best.” Kamryn moved in again and stole yet another kiss from her. “Everything’s going to work out. I promise it will.”

“I trust you,” Elia answered. “When will they announce formally?”

“End of February. So we’ll need to plan to tell the Speech kids that I won’t be there next year.”

“I think they can handle it.”

“Probably.” Kamryn started back toward the classroom. “You coming?”

“Yeah. Absolutely.” Elia wouldn’t miss the rest of this year for anything. Even if it was the last few months of them co-leading. Elia would savor what they had for now, and she’d look forward to what they could have in the future.

epilogue

Six months later…

Kamryn held onto Elia’s hand tightly as they walked together into the reception hall. Cheers went up as the music played loudly. Kamryn couldn’t stop smiling. She’d honestly tried at one point and then completely given up. She’d never been so happy before.

Once they got to the center of the dance floor, she spun Elia in a circle and then held onto her waist and started to rock side to side as the music changed into something with a slower tempo. She couldn’t look away. Elia was stunning in her sleek white dress with her hair pinned up at the back of her head.

Kamryn had already tried to tangle her fingers in it, but Elia had scolded her. Leaning in, Kamryn pressed her cheek to Elia’s. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Elia’s response was exactly what Kamryn needed to hear.

This entire day had been about the two of them, and they were surrounded by friends and family. Even Miller and Maria Waddy had managed to make it there, which had been amazingto see. Kamryn kept the slow dance moving, not quite ready to sit down at the long table in the front of the room.

Kamryn didn’t hesitate at all as she leaned in for another kiss. The cheers went up again around them. She could so get used to this. Kissing Elia without fear of any repercussions was perfect. Too bad they wouldn’t get a long honeymoon, or really any honeymoon until the holiday vacation at the end of the year, but they hadn’t managed to find any date other than the end of September.

She was pretty sure they’d manage to wait.

“Can you believe that we’re finally married?” Kamryn whispered.

“Yes,” Elia responded, always the practical one. “We’ve spent the last six months planning it and arguing over the details.”

“I wouldn’t call those arguments,” Kamryn countered. Some of them could definitely be called that, but in the end, it had all worked out. They were here, they were married, the paperwork was all signed, and now they got to just enjoy their time together until they had to go back to work on Monday morning. “Just…next time let’s get married when there isn’t school in session.”

Elia cringed. “Agreed, not that there’s going to be a next time.”

“Um, vow renewals are a thing for a reason.”

Groaning, Elia shook her head. “I’d rather not think about planning another major event for the next few years.”

“Deal.” Kamryn slid her hand up higher on the small of Elia’s back, reveling in the warmth of her skin underneath the thin fabric of her dress. “But speaking of major events, I do believe people are expecting us to sit down at some point so they can give their speeches.”

“Hmm, do we have to?”

“I think we do, since we planned it and all.” Kamryn kissed Elia’s cheek before guiding her to the table. They satdown in between Greer and Abagail. Immediately people started chinking their silverware against their glasses. Elia’s cheeks were pink when Kamryn moved in to kiss her lightly. “Better get used to that, my people get riled up by it.”

“No doubt,” Elia replied.

“You two are ridiculous,” Greer said with a laugh. “We just love seeing you so happy.”

“I’m sure that’s all it is,” Kamryn said to her best friend. She’d never been so happy as to have Greer there with her. All her friends were there, Andra and Lauren included. It had taken some time for her and Lauren to start talking again in a friendly way, but they’d managed it, especially when Kamryn had made it abundantly clear that their last breakup had truly been their last.

“Of course it is!” Greer looked partially offended.