Epilogue

Della breathed in warm, Californian air from the top of the Pixar Pal-A-Round. They’d spent two days exploring Disneyland and had crossed into Disney California Adventure Park to see what it had to offer. She wasn’t a huge fan of heights, but a Ferris wheel she could handle.

Tucker had suggested they get in one of the red cars, which were fixed and didn’t roll around on their own track like the others, and, judging by the screams coming from the other gondolas, she was grateful they had. She’d been shook, rattled, and rolled enough this past couple of days. It was nice to just sit and enjoy the soaring view, the sunshine, the breeze in her hair, and the company of the man sitting beside her.

“I can’t believe I’m here,” she said, snuggling her head onto Tucker’s shoulder.

He laughed. “You’ve been saying that for two days.”

Della laughed, too. “I know, but…I have to keep pinching myself.” Owing to their jobs, it had taken them five months to finally get away. But they had moved in together, and that had been more wonderful than Della could ever have hoped for. She lifted her head. “Thank you for this,” she murmured quietly and kissed his mouth softly. Pulling away, she touched his lips with her fingers. “I can’t believe I get to do that whenever I want.”

“I know. It’s awesome, isn’t it?” he teased, kissing her fingertips.

Sighing at how damn happy she was, Della lay her head back on his shoulder and took in their bird’s-eye view of both theme parks as their gondola stopped at the very top while the passengers below were offloaded and new ones were loaded.

“Are you going to open that thing?”

Della glanced down at the unopened envelope addressed to her in her lap. She’d brought it with her to Anaheim because she’d been too chicken to open it when it had arrived two minutes before they’d set out for Denver to make their afternoon flight. She kept pulling it out to open it, then losing her nerve. Now wasn’t any different. She knew what was in it, knew the importance of the contents.

Had she been admitted to study nursing, or had she missed out?

“I don’t know,” she admitted.

“Bok bok bok.”

Della laughed at Tucker’s chicken noises before sitting back and turning to face him. “What if I didn’t make the cut?”

“You’ve made it.”

She rolled her eyes. Tucker wasn’t biased at all. “Let’s just imagine for a moment that I haven’t.”

“Fine.” He huffed out an exaggerated sigh. “If you miss out, you can apply again in six months. Or you can apply somewhere else. But it’s not a no.”

“How do you know?”

He shrugged with that cocky look of his. “I have faith in you.”

Della stared down at the envelope. Maybe it was better if it was a no. She’d have to spend quite a bit of time in Denver, and the thought of going even a day without seeing Tucker wasn’t one she welcomed. She could, and she would, but she’d miss him every moment.

“You want me to open it?”

Della glanced up, surprised and relieved at the offer. At least Tucker would soften the blow if it was a no. She bit her lip. “Would you?”

It was his turn to roll his eyes. “Of course,” he said with a smile as he swooped it up.

He started tearing into the envelope, and Della squeezed her eyes shut, holding up her hands to slow him down a little. “Okay now, just wait for me to take a couple of deep breaths before you tell me, okay. I have to be mentally prepared for this, and I don’t want to—”

“Accepted.”

Della’s heart skipped a beat. “Tuck!” She opened her eyes to see the official notification in black and white in front of her face. “You were supposed to lead into that,” she chided but with absolutely no irritation as she grabbed the paper and stared at it hard, her heart tap-dancing in her chest.

“Congratulations. I knew you could do it.”

She looked up at him to find a grin as big as Disneyland on his face. “Accepted,” she whispered.

“Yeah.” He kissed her brief and hard. “Accepted.”

Della launched into his arms, hugging him tight, stupid tears stinging the backs of her eyes. She’d have never dared dream of such happiness not that many years ago. “My life just keeps getting better and better.” She pulled away. “Thank you.”

He pushed her bangs off her face. “I didn’t do anything. It was all you. It’s your turn to shine, Della.”

“Oh, really.” Della laughed. “And what are you going to do while I’m bling-blinging?”

“I’m going to love you all the way through it.”

Della’s heart grew as big as the Ferris wheel in her chest. “I like that plan,” she whispered and kissed him in a manner not quite suitable for such a kid-friendly venue.

She liked it very much.

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