The Carters | ✓

Epilogue - Family

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Cody's POV

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"Hey, Cody," A voice next to me speaks quietly, drawing my attention away from my physics professor. Ricky smiles at me, her brown eyes hopeful. "Do you know what the hell she's going on about?"

I stifle a laugh shaking my head. She's hopeless. "You really need to start paying attention, Ric. Your natural intelligence isn't going to get you As forever."

"It's hard, okay! I never needed to study, so now I don't know how to!" She complains, slumping down into her seat.

"We can have a study session this weekend at my place if you want. Before the test on Monday." I offer, glancing at the watch on my wrist. Class is almost over.

I look back up at Ricky to see her eyes widening. "There's a test on Monday?"

"And that will be all for today's lecture." I tune back into my professor as she ends the lesson. "Don't forget to go over sections three and four in your textbooks before Monday's test. Make sure you know the correct formulae and you have the theories at the ready. Have a nice weekend everyone!"

I start packing up my things and I hear Ricky groan. "I'm definitely going to need help. Does Saturday morning work for you?"

I nod, slinging my bag onto my shoulder. "That's fine. My friend Gia will be popping by to drop off her cat for me to look after while she goes away, but other than that I'm free."

"So there'll be animals? I'm sold." We both laugh as we head out of the lecture hall and outside. The day is nice and warm and I have to hold a hand up to the sun as my eyes adjust to the bright light.

"I'll text you later!" I tell her as she starts walking off to her next lecture while I head to the carpark. She gives me a wave before walking away. I am so glad to be done for today.

My steps falter slightly when I see a familiar car parked in a near parking space. What pleases me more is the tall and muscled man with a tool belt around his waist leaning against the hood of said car. I walk over to him, my smile growing on my face as I approach.

"Well this is a nice surprise." I say when I'm within earshot.

Mason grins, pulling me straight into him by my waist when I'm close enough and kissing me deeply. I easily reciprocate, my hands falling to his broad shoulders. When we pull away, he smiles at me softly. "I missed you today. Finished today's job early, so I thought I'd pop in and pick you up so you didn't have to bus."

"Thank you. How was work?" I ask, taking a step back as he leans off the car.

"Good. It's so fúcking hot today though, working outside was a nightmare." He tells me as we both walk around to either side of his car and get in.

I place my bag on the floor in front of me in the passenger seat as I reply. "You better not be sunburnt. I don't want to deal with your whiny áss if your skin starts peeling."

He puts his keys into the ignition and the car rumbles to a start, cold air blasting from the air conditioner almost immediately. He turns to me with a pout. "But you're so good at looking after me."

I shake my head, gently pushing his face away when he leans in for a kiss. I force myself not to smile. "Because it's my job to."

I feel his hand on the back of my neck and before I can blink, he's forced my head closer to him, turning me so that I'm facing him. His grey eyes stare at my lips as he tuts, slightly shaking his head. "You should know by now not to run away from me, nerd. You'd think you'd learn after six years."