Prom Queen by Alexa Riley

Epilogue

Apollo

Four years later…

“Knock, knock,” my dad says as he enters the small room. “Are you doing okay?” He smiles as he comes to stand in front of me and helps me with my bowtie.

“I’m just ready to see her.” I flex my hands a little at my sides, and I’m not sure why I’m nervous.

“She feels the exact same way.”

“You saw her already?” Hope springs in my chest.

“I just left her room, and she would very much like to see you before the ceremony.” He places his hands on my shoulders. “I think it would go a long way to calm her down.”

“But she was so insistent I didn’t see her dress.” Part of me wants to run out of here, and the rest of me wonders if she’ll regret not waiting a few more moments.

“If you want, you can stand outside her door. Maybe that will be enough for her.”

“Okay.” I nod, already in motion.

“I’ll go check on Anna,” he says as he makes his way over to where she’s standing.

Celeste is on the other side of the estate, getting ready in the room that’s usually reserved for afternoon tea. The space was big enough to hold all of the people pampering her today and close enough to the outside terrace where we’re having the ceremony. I've been shoved into the wine room so I wasn’t tempted to go after her.

With a light knock on the door, I place my ear against it. “Celeste?” I hear the click of her heels rush to the door, and I grab the knob before she pulls the door open. “Beautiful, I’m right here, and I know how much you wanted this dress to be a surprise.”

“Apollo, I just need to see your face, and then I’ll be okay.” I feel her press against the door.

Closing my eyes tightly, I groan. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I think I’m just scared of all of those people staring at me.”

“So my idea of a Vegas weekend is sounding like it was the better option?”

“You’re an ass,” she says, but I can hear the smile in her voice.

“Come on, you know they’ll all be looking at me anyway,” I tease, and I can practically hear her rolling her eyes.

“You would think that.” She lets out a long sigh, and my heart aches to hold her.

Even all these years later, I can’t stand to be separated. We graduated college two months ago, and she agreed to marry me the second we were finished. She also agreed to stop taking her birth control then too. My plan is for a honeymoon baby, because there’s nothing more I’m ready for than to become a father and start a family. I’m sure some people think we’re still rushing into this, but I’ve known from the moment we met that she was it for me. Why delay the inevitable when we can spend the rest of our lives living our dream?

“Want me to come in?” I ask softly.

“No.” She pauses. “Yes.”

“How about I keep my eyes closed?” I offer.

“Okay, I think that will work.”

When I let go of the doorknob, I close my eyes and then I feel it open in front of me. She takes my hand and pulls me forward, and then I hear the door close behind us.

“You look so handsome.” I hear the crack in her voice, and I’m worried she’s going to start crying.

“Celeste.” I reach out, not knowing where she’s at, but she comes straight into my arms. I can feel the silk of her dress as my hands rub down her back, and there’s some kind of beading and lace too. Her shoulders are bare, and I lean down, kissing one of them. She relaxes against me and takes a deep breath.

“I love you so much, Apollo,” she says against my chest. “I’ve waited for this day for so long, I don’t know why I’m so emotional.”

“Because this is it,” I say, kissing her bare shoulder again. “And I can’t fucking wait to marry you.”

“You always know the right thing to say to me.” I feel her lean back as she looks at me. “Open your eyes.”

“Celeste,” I warn.

“I’m serious, Apollo. The dress is just a dress. This is our wedding day, and I need to look into your eyes.”

“Okay,” I agree and then open them.

I’m stunned speechless at the sight of her. My beautiful girl looks like something out of a magazine. It’s still Celeste, but something about her is different. She’s glowing from head to toe, and seeing her in the white dress looking up at me like she’s the luckiest girl in the world literally brings me to my knees. I lower myself to the floor as my hands go to her waist.

“My god.” I swallow hard and shake my head. “How did I ever get so damn lucky?”

“Apollo.” Her eyes water, and she begins to fan her face. “Shit, I can’t mess this crap up.”

That makes me laugh as I pull her to me and hug her closer. Like this, my face is even with her breasts, and I bury my face in them. The material of her dress is fine and delicate, and it feels good against my cheek.

“Marry me,” I beg, and now she’s the one laughing.

“I’m pretty sure that’s why we’re here.”

“I know, but I just need to make sure this is real.” I look up at her and see that her tears have receded, and there’s not a hair out of place. “You’re really mine for always, right?”

“For always,” she agrees and leans down, placing a kiss on my lips.

“Good, let’s get this show on the road so I can fuck you in that dress.”

She playfully slaps my shoulder, but I see the blush in her cheeks. “Fine, but only because I’m hungry, and I’m ready for cake.”

Standing up, I lean down and give her another quick kiss. “The sooner we make this official, the sooner we are off on our honeymoon.”

“Come on, you’re really going to make me wait to find out?” She pouts and bats her lashes at me.

“As soon as you say I do.” I wink at her, and she narrows her eyes as I walk toward the door. “By the way…” I wait and she turns to face me. “That dress is fucking hot.”

She smiles brightly and does a little twirl as I shake my head and leave the room. In just a few short hours we’ll be on a plane to Greece and then boarding a yacht to island hop once we get there. I plan on having my wife under me while we sail through the crystal blue waters and make a baby along the way. I place my hand on my chest and close my eyes.

I’m truly the happiest man alive.