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For as long as I’ve known her, Ellise’s trajectory was rigid and predetermined. She would audition for a seat in a prestigious orchestral institution like the New York Philharmonic, follow the traditional classical ladder, and never stray off course. But tonight, everything opened up for her when she jumped off the page of the Nocturne score with me.

“And what about the orchestras?" I ask.

God, I hope she doesn’t give up music for good.

“I still love it,” she admits, looking up at me with those clear blue eyes. “I still want to perform, but I want to play because I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, not because I’m terrified of failing, or because I think that it’s expected of me. I just want to take my time and figure it out. I think I’ll reconsider later in the year.”

I smile as a deep pride settles into my chest. I smile, raising her hand to my mouth to press a kiss to her knuckles.

“Sounds like a brilliant plan,” I tell her. “And so we’re clear… you’re not getting rid of me.”

Ellise arches an eyebrow, a teasing spark in her eyes.

“Oh, really?”

“Really,” I confirm. “While you’re figuring it out, I won’t be staying in Manhattan while you go off to Mystic. I’ll be with you.” I reach out and play with chestnut waves. “I know that I’m going to actively pursue composition full-time. I’m done hiding behind piano solos I didn’t write.”

“Julian, that sounds—you’d move there?”

“I’ll move as close to Mystic as I need to,” I tell her, looking straight into her eyes. “I’m right there with you, Bow-Peep. Until we figure out what comes next… together.”

Ellise throws her arms around my neck, pulling me down into a deep, lingering kiss right there in the middle of Stave, completely unbothered by our friends around us.

“Jesus, get a room, the pair of you,” Josh shouts across the table.

“Ah, shut it, man.” I laugh back at him against Ellise’s lips, not letting her go.

Theo and Maddie go right back to discussing the whole world of musical theatre. Marco finally convinces Josh to get a round of tequila shots, and the night carries on around us in a blur of loud laughter.

Ellise’s fingers stay firmly laced in mine as she turns her head slightly, resting her cheek against my chest, watching our friends with a soft, peaceful smile.

“You know,” she murmurs, her thumb tracing the back of my hand, “I’d never have guessed four months ago, that we’d all be here now. I thought you were the most insufferable, arrogant mistake of my entire life, and that I didn’t have time for a distraction. Especially when it was you.”

“And now?” I ask softly, looking down at her.

“Now… you’re my favourite mistake, Thorne.”

I bring her hand to my lips, letting my eyes drop to hers. The noise around us fades away.

The Nocturne is behind us, the silence finally broken, and whatever we're doing next, we’re doing it together.

EPILOGUE

JULIAN

Graduation came and went in a blur of black gowns and expensive champagne. I hoped I would not be photographed, but I apparently was more than I had realised, because Penny has framed at least four of them around the shop.

Ellise and I both walked across the stage of the auditorium with our Master of Music degrees firmly in our hands—officially done with the restraints of Belrose.

Alistair actually showed up. He sat near the back looking immaculate as always, shook hands with more people than I can count, and afterward found me to say congratulations.

The months following the showcase were pretty amazing.

Ellise and I kept working together—composing and performing occasionally.

The Music and Literature nights at the shop became monthly events that meant the red inked spreadsheets were no more. Penny and Ellise were thrilled.

The first edition Wuthering Heights is in a glass case behind the counter. It’s been there since after the event in January when I delivered it without telling Ellise. Penny was absolutely gobsmacked, and when Ellise finally returned home a few weeks later her reaction was something I wasn’t prepared for. She told me I can’t give valuable things like that away, then she went quiet, and then she bawled her eyes out. It belongs here. The moment I saw her face in the library at the estate, I knew it belonged to her.