Ever After: Lost Boys of Neverly Prep: Academy Romance
Page 16
Because he did that when he was arrested.
One last attempt to ruin my life the way I ruined his.
It failed because I have people on my side and together we are strong. The wire I wore recorded everything. Peter implicated himself in everything, including Wendi’s imprisonment.
It took a week before she was well enough to travel, but Bill stayed with her through all of it and he brought her home. The feds arrested the doctor who was following Peter’s orders. He was charged with false imprisonment and in exchange for a lighter sentence, turned on Peter and told them everything.
Trey turned himself in an admitted what he did. I hate that he tried to hurt Riot, but he was just another victim of Peter’s manipulation. Meri believes in him and I hope he doesn’t let her down. In my experience, people rarely change, but I guess time will tell. A year in prison might actually do him some good.
All the charges against me were dropped and part of the deal was that my juvenile records would be sealed once and for all.
Finally, after everything that’s happened, I am free.
I walk across stage and accept my diploma from Principal Camden.
“Congratulations,” he says and shakes my hand.
I still can’t believe I graduated. I probably have Wendi to thank for that. When she wants something nothing will stop her. The teachers probably let me take finals just so she’d stop yelling at them.
I find her sitting next to Bill. Her smile is huge and she throws her hand in the air and waves when she sees me. Bill, he can’t take his eyes off her. They make the cutest couple. It gives me hope that love can survive all odds.
I turn and my gaze zeroes in on where the boys all sit together. Luc is with them again and I think they might have finally turned a corner. I guess they have to now that they’re going to be brothers in the true sense of the word. Well, as soon as Wendi’s divorce from Peter is final.
I see X put his fingers in his mouth and a whistle splits the air. God, UoSC isn’t ready for those four. I laugh and shake my head, my heart bursting at the seams.
If someone had told me all those months ago, when my future seemed so hopeless, that I’d have not one but three loves of my life, that my sister would be living the life she always dreamed about, and that I’d be happy in a way I never dared hope, I’d have told them they were fucking delusional.
When then next name is called, I move down the steps. A few rows back I catch sight of Belle and when she sees me she waves.
My heart swells at seeing her there and I blow her a kiss. She pretends to duck, the brat. I smile at Bria and Tom, so thankful that they brought Belle today. I rest easy knowing that if I ever need to find my sister, the tiny chip in her necklace will guide me to wherever she is. She'll never be lost to me again.
Belle is amazing and has so much joy and love to give. At least I did something right. She made me a bracelet for graduation today. Bria took her to one of those jewelry stores where you can pick the beads you want added.
I glance down.
Happily Ever After sits spelled out on my wrist.
She has no idea how true those words really are.
The End
Luc Hook needs to get away for the summer, to clear his head after the girl he was into fell for his three best friends, before they all start college together in the fall.
When he saves a girl from drowning, he never expected to see a tail. Okay, maybe it’s synthetic and maybe it’s attached to the most beautiful and infuriating red head he’s ever met, but he isn’t in the market for love anytime soon.
Too bad the universe has other plans for these polar opposites who just may be perfect for each other.
Coming October 2019
Acknowledgements
This book was by far the hardest of the three to write. When I first started telling Ever and the Lost Boy’s story, I never expected it to resonate with so many people.
With the excitement comes a lot of expectation. A LOT. I wanted to do this series justice, to tell the best story I could and the pressure to do so was brutal. But in the end, I was so happy how it came full circle, and they defeated Peter by working together.
So readers, I want to thank you for loving Ever and Riot and X and Baz as much as I did. I hope I made you happy and mad and sad and then happy again.
Thank you to Chelly Peeler of Ink It Out Editing. She hung on with me as I threw random chapters at her and begged her to make them pretty. I think I owe her some body armor now.
Thank you to my husband who had to deal with an extra stressed wife during this book and my boys who were always up for a brainstorming session on the way home from school.
And again, a big thank you to my readers.
I’ll keep doing this as long as you keep wanting more!
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More books by L.E. Bross
Lost Boys of Neverly Prep
Ever Lost
Ever Found
Ever After
Second Chance series: Contemporary romance
Right Where You Are
Whatever It Takes
Contemporary romance stand alone:
The Do Over
Fractured World/PNR series
Dawn’s Wicked Light
When Dusk Falls - TBD
Stroke of Midnight - TBD