It's Always Been You

Epilogue

Ariana swung her keys around on her forefinger. "Construction finished in early June. Luckily, my classroom is on the first floor."

"Does the new building have windows?" Cristina asked.

Ariana readjusted her hold on the cellphone. "They do actually."

Cristina cheered. "Great, you need a little more sunshine in your life."

Ariana reached the newly constructed building that now housed the social studies, foreign language, newspaper, and yearbook classes. "What do you mean? We live in Arizona. I get enough sunshine."

Cristina scoffed over the line. "Anyway, Marco is out with Santiago and Daniela. He's letting him pick out his birthday gift this year. Ariana, my baby is about to start first grade, how am I supposed to handle this?"

"I don't know," Ariana grumbled. "Ask mom."

Cristina sighed. "Make sure you and your lover arrive at the party on time."

Ariana's face flushed. "Don't call him that."

Cristina laughed. "You two are so cute. Alright, Ari, I gotta go. I have to start the birthday cake."

"See you later." She hung up the phone and pushed open the doors to the new building. She stepped across the smooth concrete floors and kept an eye out for her room number.

She found it and immediately pulled the door open. "Geh!"

Ben slowly lifted his eyes from the book he was reading. "Hey."

She stepped inside and let the door shut behind her. "Hey, yourself. How did you get my room number?"

"I asked Mrs. Rodriguez," he leaned back in the rolling chair. "She's a big fan of us, you know."

She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help feeling slightly embarrassed. Apparently, Mrs. Rodriguez and the other secretaries, were not only keeping tabs on Ariana and Ben's relationship milestones, but they were also betting on when they'll get married, the likelihood of them having children, and how cute they'd be. She's walked in on them talking about it a few times.

Ben spread his arms out over the table. "You got a kidney table for a desk."

Ariana nodded. "That will take getting used to"

Ben stood up and joined her in the middle of the room.

"Well, what do you think?" She gestured to the classroom.

"It's nice and spacious."

She rested a hand on his chest. "Are you going to miss me?"

"You're right here." He slid his hand over hers.

She chuckled. "I meant are you going to miss having me across the hall?"

He leaned down and placed a kiss on the junction between her neck and jawline. "I know what you meant." He placed his hands on her hips, pulling her flush against him. "And yes, I'm going to miss you."

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "There's a few hours until Santiago's birthday party. Let's go to your place."

He hummed against her neck. " Why not yours?"

"And run into my parents? I moved in with them remember? No, thanks."

He kissed her again. "What do you have in mind?"

"Watch a movie and cuddle. Or, cuddle, while you read to me."

He straightened up and looked into her eyes. "I like the sound of that."