Page 149 of Allegiant

My eyes sting, and my nose feels suddenly itchy. I reach up and cup his cheek, and his eyelashes flutter.

“Yes, I’m all better.”

“Good. Good.” He stares down at me with such love in his eyes that I blink back the sting of tears that are threatening to overflow.

“I fucking love you,” I grunt, my voice raspy and thick. “Don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

His lips curl up in a soft smile.

“You deserve all the good things, Samson Buckingham. All of them. But most of all my love. Your dad was wrong—you’re wonderful just as you are.”

“My mom would have loved you.”

“I would have loved her.”

I pull him down for a long kiss, one that earns jeers and whistles from my brothers. But I don’t care.

Right now, all that exists is Rowan. It’s him and me.

Forever and always.

Amen.

38

ROWAN

THREE MONTHS LATER

It’s amazing how fast things move when you have money…or your last name is Buckingham.

I’m not quite sure how they pulled it off, but Samson’s dance studio is complete.

He has his hand over my eyes as he leads me through the gardens. It’s been built on the grounds of the main Buckingham house, on the land once occupied by that tiny shed.

I asked Samson if he’d prefer we get a new place after he made it clear how much he hates his house. But the longer we discussed it, the more we realized that neither of us wanted that.

We want to live here. On the Buckingham estate. Surrounded by those who love us.

“Keep your eyes closed,” Samson warns as he leads me closer. “We’re nearly there.”

“I promise. They’re closed.”

Despite having been the one to go to Dalton, I haven’t been shown the final plans. All of the Buckinghams have been going out of their way to keep me from the building site, insisting it’ll be better as a surprise. I’m not really sure why. It was my idea, after all. But I’m learning that part of being a Buckingham sometimes means just going along for the ride.

Given that so far, it’s been the best time of my life, I’m happy to continue doing just that.

“Stand here,” Samson says. He can’t hide his excitement, and it has me smiling brighter than ever. That’s how it is every day. I’m shining with such happiness, I’m sure it’s making everyone around me blind.

I don’t care. I’ve finally accepted that I can have happiness and not lose it. Samson showed me that. He refused to let me go, even when I pushed him.

I might never feel like I fully deserve his heart, but I’ll spend the rest of my days cherishing it.

There’s the sound of a door unlocking, followed quickly by the scent of fresh paint. “Step forward. Just one step.”

I giggle as I do just that. “I don’t know why you’re being so secretive.”

“You’ll see.” Samson kisses my cheek and takes one of my hands in his. “The dream of this studio was your gift to me. Making it come true is my gift to you. Now, open your eyes.”