We broke apart minutes, hours, who-knew-how-long later.
But Dare was smiling.
"I guess this means we're together now for real."
"Yeah," I said with a laugh. "I guess so."
"I better get back to the office," he said but made no move to go.
"Yeah, you totally should."
We ended up kissing again for a good ten minutes, but still no one came looking. I figured that was Dad's way of making up for the fake-friend thing. As far as apologies go, it was a pretty good one.
"I really do need to leave." Dare laughed as he pulled away a second time.
"Okay, go," I said and placed one last kiss on his lips. "I'll see you later."
"You will," he said. "I love you, flower."
My eyes twinkled as I said, "And I love you, Mr. Darcy."
Epilogue
"Oh my gosh, Viola! I think your dog ate my bow!"
I rushed into the room faster than a blink.
"What?" I cried.
"Oh wait," my cousin Scarlett said a second later, lifting the long wooden stick into the air. "Never mind. It's right here."
I breathed a sigh of relief and reached over to pet Hermione.
"Thanks for the near heart attack, Scarlett."
"Sorry." She pointed her bow at the dog. "She was sitting near my violin with this smile on her face like she might've done something bad. When I couldn't find my bow, I got nervous."
I rolled my eyes. "That's just Hermione. She's a very happy girl."
The dog barked, gazing up at me with adoring eyes, and I scratched her behind the ears. Turned out the nice young couple who'd adopted her? Yeah, that was my parents. Mom had gone to the doctor a few days before to have her allergies tested, and as it turned out she wasn't allergic to dogs after all.
It was a lucky thing, too.
My parents seemed to love her just as much as I did.
"Hermione," Dad called from the hall. "Come here, girl! I've got a treat for you!"
She was out of there like a shot, and the next thing I heard was, "Yes, yes, I love you, too. Oh, you give the best kisses. Love you."
Aurora (cousin #2) smiled. "Sounds like he may love her more than you."
"Maybe even more than Aunt Sally," Freya (cousin #3) put in.
I shrugged. "Not possible. But I think he did fall the hardest."
"Uncle Becks, the animal lover," she mused. "Who knew?"
Not me, I thought. When I came home the day that they'd adopted her, the first thing I saw was my mom petting Hermione, who was curled up beside her as she read a book. That was when I realized what they'd done. They'd asked Paris not to tell me, so it would be a surprise. Hermione had jumped down and came to me while I'd cried, thanking my mom again and again for bringing my girl home. Dad arrived a couple hours later, his arms laden with a dog bed, bowls, toys, the works. He dropped it all to hug Hermione and give her tummy rubs. She was as spoiled as a dog could be. But she deserved it all.
"Are you guys all tuned up?" Scarlett asked. "It's almost time for us to go out there."
"Yep," Aurora said. "My violin's always ready."
"Yeah, because you practice constantly," Freya said.
"Just because you're naturally gifted, doesn't mean we all are, Frey."
The redhead grinned at that.
"Are you guys almost ready?" Lotte (cousin #4) stuck her head in. "I gave you a five-minute warning ten minutes ago. The 'rents are getting a little antsy out here."
"Yeah, we'll be there in a second," Scarlett said.
"Oh, and there's this really hot guy sitting in the front row."
We all looked at each other…then ran for the door. It would've been hilarious to anyone who saw us trying to get through that door at the same time, and my cousins and I were laughing as we finally got through. But the laughter dried up as we poked our heads around the corner.
"Wow," I gulped. "That's a lot of people."
"Duh, we have a big extended family," Scarlett said. "Don't worry. They'll love us."
"Yeah, they have to because we're blood," Freya put in.
Aurora gasped. "Oh my God, Lotte, you were right. Who is that guy?"
"Don't know," Lotte said. "But I hope we're not related because I am currently having impure thoughts."
"Me, too," Aurora said.
"Yep," Freya said, "count me in on that as well."
"What are you talking about?" I said, but as I asked the question I caught sight of him. Though we'd thought we were hidden, just spying on the crowd, he had already spotted us.
"He's looking this way," Scarlett hissed. "Stay cool. Don't make any sudden movements."
Freya gave her a look. "What, are we about to be attacked by a bear? It's just a cute guy."
"A very cute guy," Aurora added.
"A tall, dark, and gorgeous guy who obviously plays sports with that rocking body," Lotte said.
Scarlett sighed. "And I bet he's good at them, too."
Dare tossed me a wink, and the girls swooned.
"Wow." Freya fanned herself. "He's hot."
"Oh, I so hope we're not related," Lotte said again.
I laughed, couldn't help it.
"We're not," I said. "That's my boyfriend Dare."
"That's your boyfriend?" Scarlett said, and I nodded. "Well done, Viola. What a hottie."
"He's more than that," I said and gave him a smile. "But thanks. I could introduce you guys if you want."
Aurora shook her head fervently. "No thanks. Hot guys freak me out, and I'm nervous enough as it is."
As Dare stood and started to walk over, they all jumped
