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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Cassius

All I hear are hushed whispers behind the stage curtain.

My brow furrows, and I slide off my headphones, walking toward the edge of the stage. I reach out and part the curtain, wondering what the fuck is going on, and I let out a full belly laugh when I see what’s on the other side.

It’s the entire XO crew—Rhys, Knox, Elton, Butch, Max—and even Everest is here. They’re all dressed up in matching tuxes, all holding bouquets of yellow roses. Half of them look happy as hell to be here, while the other half look like they’d rather be buried in quicksand.

“What the fuck?” I ask through a disbelieving chuckle, gesturing at them all. “What’s going on?”

“I’m not fucking doing it,” Knox snaps, looking pointedly at Elton.

Elton, still keeping his dazzling smile, elbows his husband. “Yes, you are.”

“If he isn’t, then I’m not,” Rhys grumbles, then groans when Everest gives him the biggest puppy-dog eyes on the planet.

Butch rolls his eyes, squeezing his bouquet so tightly that a rose snaps in half. “Fuck me.”

I take a step back, actually worried now. “Um, nobody has to do anything?”

“Okay!” Max says excitedly, hopping on his feet. “One, two, three, go!”

Then, in unison, and completely off key…

They fucking sing .

I can’t make out the words, because they’re all singing over each other horribly. Well, except Butch. He actually has a very nice voice, but it’s getting drowned out by the way Max screeches the lyrics. It goes on far too long and— Jesus Christ, Elton’s dancing. Elton’s dancing .

As they reach what I assume is the end of their song, they part to reveal Skylar dressed identically to them, holding a big poster that says, Will You Be The Beat To My Melody And Go To Prom With Me?

“Sunshine,” I breathe, feeling a little dizzy as Skylar takes a knee in front of me. “Is this a?—”

“Promposal?” he finishes with a cheeky grin. “Yes, I’m prom-posing.”

I shake my head. I know that the prom we’re throwing for the shelter is in a few days, and that we’re all attending, but we were going to be working it. I’m a bit shocked and out of it, so I say the only thing I can think of. “Why?”

Skylar doesn’t even bristle. He knows I don’t mean it in a bad way. Smiling, he holds up the poster so I can see it better. “Because we didn’t get the prom we deserved. Because we grew up in a shit situation that didn’t let us be ourselves. Because Gwen was a fucking trainwreck that tried to ruin our lives, and I want to replace that with a good memory.”

My eyes widen at the mention of our foster mom’s name. Since we left, I can’t recall one time that Skylar has brought her up. But he’s been going to therapy for a few weeks now, and I know they’ve been trying to work through his lingering trauma, so I’m proud of him for being able to say her name and not go to the dark place.

“I’m claiming you, Cassy,” he blurts out when I stay silent. “I want to be your boyfriend. You were helping me build the perfect one, and I was a dumbass for not seeing that you were right there in front of me. I’m sorry it took so long to realize that you were the one for me. I’m sorry you had to sit there and watch me go through all those assholes.”

I gulp, trying hard not to let the tears burning my eyes fall. “Skylar?—”

“I don’t regret them, though,” he clarifies, his own eyes misting. “Because without them, I wouldn’t have ended up here. Everything we’ve been through has led to this moment when I choose you . Will you find it in your heart to say yes and be my boyfriend? Will we throw away this ridiculous notebook? Will we do this…life…together?”

It’s everything I’ve ever wanted to hear. In my wildest dreams, did I think that Skylar would choose me? I hoped and I prayed and I wished. I didn’t just do all of that, Skylar grew too. I’ve seen it and talking about Gwen is a prime example. He’s grown and he’s decided that he wants to grow with me.

He chose me.

He doesn’t even have to ask, because the answer will always be yes.

I hop off the stage with a flourish, rushing toward Skylar and taking him into my arms as I knock the sign out of his hands. I sweep him off his feet—literally—and claim him the way he’s claimed me.

“Yes,” I breathe out against his lips, unable to stop the love-struck grin on my face. “Yes, sunshine. I’ll be your boyfriend. I’ll be by your side. Forever.”

“And always,” he whispers, dropping his forehead on mine.

“ Finally ,” Elton groans. He drops his bouquet and holds his hand out at Knox. “You owe me fifty bucks, babe.”

I narrow my eyes at them. “You were taking bets?”

“In our defense, we all said you’d end up together,” Butch states as he pulls out his wallet. “I just thought it would take longer.”

Rhys rolls his eyes. “You couldn’t have figured this out a week ago, Skylar?”

Skylar doesn’t seem as offended as I am. He simply throws his head back with a laugh. “I love our family.”

And as I look at this crowd of idiots giving Elton money, I scoff. “Me too, sunshine.”

With a giggle and a wet kiss to my cheek, surrounded by the family we found, my dreams come true.

Forever and always.