Stripped
Page 24
“Let it be said, ladies, that when you’re with Mayhem City, we give everyone their happy ending.”
21
Love You Like a Love Song
ROBYN
One Month Later
I put most of my things in storage. On the last day of school, I didn’t look back. I don’t know what’s to become of Lukas, but I hope he gets what’s coming to him. I had more things to take care of in New York than I expected. I found a subletter: Sebastian’s sister Daya needed a place closer to work.
Fallon and I spent days making up and making love. We wished the boys farewell. I created an Instagram account to keep track of their everyday shenanigans. But so far, they’re having fun, breaking hearts, and preparing for their shows on the Vegas strip.
Fallon left for Boston first. That part of our plan never changed. He needed to be there for his family. And he needed to be there to find us a place.
A few days after Lily’s wedding I came home to an acceptance letter from a creative writing program at Pine Manor College just outside of Boston. It was the only creative writing program I had applied to, and the only one I got into.
My dad says it’s a sign that I’m on the right track, no matter the plan, no matter what I had set out to do in the first place.
When I’m packed, I say good-bye to my city and promise that I’ll return. Then, I get on the train to South Station where a certain man is waiting for me.
FALLON
I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but quitting the group wasn’t one of them. Letting the world get in between Robyn and me, that was a mistake. One I’ll never make again.
My pop is doing better. I think what he really missed was shouting at me from one floor up. I found a place for Robyn and me in the North End. Somewhere she can look at the water from her office and where I can figure out my next step. I’ll never be tired of our lives turning, our places changing. It keeps me on my toes. At the end of it, I know that I want her to be there. I want her to be the first person I see when I wake and the last person I see when I sleep.
Mary Lee helps me get the apartment ready for when Robyn shows up, and Pop pulls me aside after we’re done clearing up the trash.
“Here you go, Zacky,” he tells me. His stiff, arthritis-ridden hand presses something cold against my hand. “When you find the right girl, you keep her, you hear? You keep her and you do right by both of you.”
I look at the ring on my palm. It’s a pale gold with an emerald surrounded by diamonds. Simple, but stunning, and one of a kind. It was my mother’s.
ROBYN
South Station is confusing, but eventually I find Fallon. He’s waiting for me amid a sea of people, but I see him. I can always find him, no matter how many people are in the room.
If my backpack wasn’t heavy, I’d run to him. Instead, he runs to me. I unhook my arms from the straps and let them fall. He picks me up and spins me in the air, and I laugh and cry because I didn’t realize it was possible to miss someone like this.
After I kiss him long enough to make onlookers uncomfortable, I pull away and look around. “So, this is Boston. I brought my Mets cap.”
He takes my backpack from me and shoulders it. “Don’t start. We’ll have none of that.”
He threads his fingers through mine and takes me for a walk through Boston Common. It’s lush and green, and the sun is setting, the water alight with a starburst of colors. We walk across a little bridge right over the water. I nestle myself into his arms, strong and loving and safe.
“Do you have a verdict yet?” he asks me, setting my pack down while we enjoy the warm summer breeze.
“I only just got here,” I say, “but I know that I’m going to love it as long as I’m with you. And as long as you feed me lobster rolls.”
I keep walking but he tugs on my sleeve. When I turn around, he’s down on one knee. I cup my hand on my mouth.
“Robyn Flores, when we met, we were both a little bit broken. I think something in the universe was driving us together. Working to get us to that moment.”
“To when I stole your laundry?”
“The very same moment. And I was wrong. I think that when we’re together, our broken pieces do fit.” He takes my hand. The ring is brilliant and green, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I say, breathless as I get down on my knees to meet him and he slides the ring into place.
We reach for each other at the same time, and kiss until the sun has long finished setting.
Acknowledgments
A huge thank-you goes out to my agent, Adrienne Rosado, and my editor, Norma Perez-Hernandez. You both believed in these characters. I owe you a trip to Vegas. Thank you to the Kensington team and everyone who had a part in creating this series.
To the wonderful romance community and those who try to give a HEA to all. Special thanks to Channing Tatum and the greatest modern fairytale ever told—Magic Mike XXL.
Finally, to the readers. I hope you all find your Happily Ever Afters.
Zoey Castile was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. She started writing in her teens and pursued that love in her studies at Hunter College and the University of Montana. For nearly a decade she worked as a bartender, hostess, and manager in New York City’s nightlife. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ZoeyCastile. You can also email her at ZoeyCastile@gmail.com.