The Classmate, page 5
“1, 2, 3 … Smile!”
I’m still laughing at the way the impromptu photographer listens as Viktor gives him “tips” on how to take group photos when I feel Theo’s hand on my shoulder. I wheel around, but the smile freezes on my face when I find him going down on one knee, opening a small black velvet box with a diamond ring inside.
My hand flies to my chest, and I grip the front of my toga.
“Tess, the next part of your life is about to begin. And I want to be there. I want to be there every single day, in every single moment. Will you let me? Will you marry me and we can start a new life together?”
My heart swells with overwhelming happiness, and tears stream down my cheeks. I wipe them with the back of my hand, fully aware that I’m messing up my makeup. But I don’t care. At this moment, I don’t care about anyone else. All I care about is Theo.
“Yes, Theo. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“I love you, kitten.”
“I love you too, Theo. So much.”
He slides the ring into my finger and pulls me in for a hug. With my cheek leaning on his hard chest, I see Bernie patting Deb’s shoulder while she presses a white handkerchief to her eyes. Viktor sports a wide grin and raises two thumbs up.
The realization hits me in full force. I did not just find Theo, the love of my life, but I also found a family. One I can call my own.
EPILOGUE
TESS
“Kitten, are you gonna be pissed off if I leave you for five minutes so I can join that?” Theo stops massaging my back and nuzzles the crook between my neck and shoulder.
It’s been two years since our simple, intimate wedding. We held it at home and only had around 10 guests. Viktor was our photographer, and Bernie and Deb insisted on paying for the caterer. She also gifted me her wedding gown and gave me permission to alter it as I saw fit.
It was beautiful and magical. After the wedding, I stayed at the bar, still doing the paperwork, while I went through several career options. It was there that I found my true passion.
Theo and I were on one of our movie dates when I had a lightbulb moment. What if we organized weekly events at the bar, like trivia nights or random costume parties? It had to be something patrons could participate in.
We brought it up to Viktor, got his go signal, and went to work.
I had never organized events before. It was the first time, but I enjoyed it so much I was already thinking of what the next one should be.
Fast forward to two years and I was the bar’s creative director … well, kind of.
Today, however, I’m just another guest. Theo has managed to put together a surprise baby shower, and we’re watching Viktor charm Deb’s friends.
“No. You go ahead and enjoy,” I tell Theo.
“You sure?”
I laugh and nod. “I know you’re dying to join so go. Just don’t take it seriously. It’s just a game.”
Theo casts me one panty-dropping smile before he jogs to the mini stage and lines up with the other men. With his wrinkled forehead and intense gaze, I’m pretty sure Theo’s about to show everyone his competitive streak.
He grabs the scarf in front of him and ties it around his head, lowering it to his eyes. Then, he straightens his spine and shoulders.
“You should tell your husband this is just a blindfold diaper challenge, not the Olympics.” Viktor slumps on the seat beside me and crosses his arms.
“I did!”
We sit in silence and watch as Theo masterfully changes the diaper on the doll in less than a minute and raises his fists in the air.
Viktor and I both laugh.
“You know, I never got to thank you.” Viktor turns to me and smiles.
“For what?”
“For making him happy.”
Maybe it’s the hormones, but my eyes burn with tears, emotion crashing over me. “He makes me happy too.”
Viktor laughs softly and shakes his head. “Goddamn, I still remember the time he was so desperate for you to notice him that he actually came to me for advice. Me.”
My head swivels in his direction. “Really?”
“Yup. Imagine my surprise when he sat in my office, wanting to know the best way to ask a girl out.” He guffaws, eyes crinkling at the corners. “That was more surprising than if an alien landed on my lap.”
“Why’s that?”
“Theo and I were already close at the time, but he never confided in me. He’s closed off as fuck. He could bleed in front of me and be like, ‘I’m fine.’”
His spot-on imitation of Theo makes me smile because it’s true. Theo has already explained why he does that, and even though it’s all in the past, it still breaks my heart.
“Then, there was the matter of him growing out his hair for you.”
“Wait, what?” I’m still looking at Viktor, but I can spot Theo bringing a glass of juice and heading in our direction.
“He found one of your hair ties or something. He wanted to wear it, so he grew his hair out. If that’s not crazy obsessive, I don’t know what is.”
My gaze lands on Theo as he stops to chat with another one of Deb’s friends. He’s still wearing his man bun, but when we’re at home, he lets it loose, the strands reaching his shoulders.
Yup. Theo’s sinfully sexy, not to mention the fact that he’s smart, caring, sweet, and goes out of his way to make sure I’m cared for, loved, and protected.
And he’s mine. All mine.
What did I do to deserve him?
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
THEO
After years of running Vik’s, Viktor got bored of his bar and sold it to me. I was more than happy to buy it because Tess and I had been planning to pitch expansion ideas to him. When I told Tess about it, she couldn’t contain her excitement.
It hadn’t been easy and took a lot of work, but we did it. We renovated and expanded the building, revamped the menu, redecorated the interiors, and changed the name to Tate’s.
We hired more people, which meant Tess and I could spend more time together and with our two kids. We usually worked from home and traveled every other week.
“Holy shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have sold you the bar,” Viktor muses, running a shocked gaze up and down the three-story building.
We’re leaning against my truck and staring at the newly finished structure. The ground floor is purely a restaurant. The second floor is the bar, and the third floor is mostly used as the storage area and office space.
“Then you wouldn’t be able to travel the world.”
He tsks. “Ah, shit. That’s true.”
Then, I feel him smack my back lightly. “Damn, Theo. I’m so proud of you, brother.”
I snort at him. “You wanna take out the tissues so we can start a crying session?”
Viktor laughs out loud, shoulders shaking. “Fuck you. I mean it.”
After a few quiet beats, I nod. “I know. Thank you.”
“Aww, look at you too, having a sweet moment, a long overdue heart-to-heart.” Tess slides her arms around my waist.
“I know, right? It’s your husband who hates deep conversations.”
“He’s not like that to me, though.”
I pull her to me and kiss her forehead. “You’re always the exception, kitten.”
Viktor makes a gagging sound, but we ignore him. “I’m outta here. It’s getting disgusting with this whole PDA thing.”
He leaves us alone, and Tess shimmies her body closer to mine. I run my thumb along her jaw and kiss her softly. “Are the kids with Mom and Dad?”
“Yup. They’re leaving early in the morning.”
Mom and Dad are taking them on a nine-day road trip, stopping by a couple of theme parks along the way. They’re all excited, especially since Viktor has promised to join them.
And me? I’m excited to have my wife all to myself.
“Aren’t you gonna get bored when it’s just the two of us?” Tess teases.
“Hmm. I don’t know. I guess we’re gonna have to do something fun.”
“And wild? And naughty? And—”
I shut her up with a wild kiss that has her clutching the front of my shirt. “Kitten, I’m gonna take care of you so good you can feel me for days.”
Her eyes go unfocused, and she chews her bottom lip. “I expect you to make good on your promise.”
Tess shudders when I lower my head and suck the sensitive spot on her neck. “Tess, kitten. You know I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
The End.
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ALSO BY LENA LITTLE
Yes, Daddy Series
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Book 2: Bossy Daddy
Book 3: Paying Daddy’s Debt
Book 4: Daddy’s Halloween
Book 5: Daddy’s Italian Friend
Book 6: Russian Teacher
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Book 19: The Goalie’s Girl
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Book 36: My Italian Stepbrother
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Book 42: My Russian Roommate
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Book 45: Paying Daddy’s Debt Collector
Book 46: Sheriff Daddy
Book 47: Olympic Obsession
Book 48: Russian Daddy
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A Possessive Man Series
Book 1: Jealous
Book 2: Possessive
Book 3: Stalker
Book 4: Discipline
Book 5: Obsession
Book 6: Control
Book 7: Motorcycle Man
Book 8: Possessive Puppy
Book 9: Possessive Mechanic
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Book 11: Nanny For The Italian Mafia
Book 12: The Italian
Book 13: Butcher of Belfast
Book 14: Addiction
Book 15: Psycho Professor
Book 16: Principal Obsession
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Book 18: Possessive Pitcher
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Book 20: Possessive Veterinarian
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Book 22: Possessive Publisher
Book 23: Doctor’s Orders
Book 24: Landlord’s Obsession
Book 25: Possessive Greek Chef
Book 26: Psycho Therapist
Book 27: Texting the Boss
Book 28: My Italian Roommate
Book 29: Possessive CEO
Book 30: Stalker Stepbrother
Book 31: Possessive Doctor
Book 32: Boss’ Obsession
Book 33: Hot CEO
Book 34: My Brother’s Possessive Friend
Book 35: Possessive Boss’ Christmas
Book 36: Hot Firefighter
Dad’s Best Friend
Book 1: Dad’s Policeman Friend
Book 2: Dad’s Italian Mafia Friend
Book 3: Dad’s Blacksmith Friend
Book 4: Thanksgiving With Dad’s Best Friend
Book 5: Dad’s Doctor Friend
Book 6: Christmas Eve With Dad’s Best Friend
Book 7: Dad’s Jealous Friend
Book 8: Dad’s Russian Friend
Book 9: Dad’s Navy SEAL Friend
Book 10: Dad’s Cop Friend
Book 11: Halloween With Dad’s Ex-Best Friend
Book 12: Baby For Dad’s Best Friend
Book 13: Dad’s Mafia Secret
Book 14: Dad’s Possessive Friend
Book 15: Dad’s Cop Buddy
Book 16: Dad’s Lawyer Best Friend
Her Bad Boy
Book 1: Opposites Attract
Jealous Psycho
Book 1: Jealous Cop
Book 2: Jealous Fighter
Book 3: Jealous Firefighter
Book 4: Jealous Protector
Book 5: Jealous Boss
Book 6: Jealous Lawyer
Book 7: Jealous Italian
Book 8: Jealous Detective
Book 9: Jealous Savage
Book 10: Jealous Serial Killer
Book 11: Jealous Stepbrother
Book 12: Jealous Bodyguard
Claimed
Book 1: Claimed
Book 2: Her Protector
Book 3: Protective Cop
Book 4: Security
Book 5: Protective Artist
Book 6: Hot Cop
Book 7: Claimed By My Stalker
Book 8: Claimed By The Convict
Book 9: Claimed By The Devil
Book 10: Claimed By My Stepbrother
Book 11: Claimed By The Hitchhiker
Her Mafia Man
Book 1: Baby For The Mafia
Book 2: Paying Dad’s Italian Debt
A MMF Ménage Romance
Book 1: Her Two Doctors
My Boyfriend’s Dad
Book 1: My Boyfriend’s Bossy Daddy
Book 2: My Boyfriend’s Doctor Daddy
Book 3: My Boyfriend’s Billionaire Daddy
Book 4: My Boyfriend’s Hitman Daddy
Book 5: My Boyfriend’s Big Daddy
Book 6: My Boyfriend’s Grumpy Daddy
Book 7: My Boyfriend’s Professor Daddy
Conklin County Daddies
Book 1: Bounty Hunter’s Obsession
Book 2: Possessive Rancher
Book 3: My Brother’s Locksmith Friend
Steamy Shorts
Book 1: Possessive Stepbrother
Book 2: The Librarian
Book 3: The Mechanic
Book 4: The Classmate
Game On
Book 1: Protective Player
Book 2: Possessive Player
Little, Lena, The Classmate
