Page 139 of Root

Rush lets me down and hugs me.

He starts to head to Nikolai and our little niece.

“Rush?”

“Yeah?”

I look at him, and I take his hand and kiss it. “I love you. Forever.”

“I know.”

I smile because this life, it isn’t one I wanted. But looking around and seeing how happy everyone is, seeing how much my brother’s blossomed, how strong and confident Rush now is, I know it’s the one I needed.

The happily ever after we deserved.

THE END