Virtual Attraction [COMPLETE]

39| Epilogue

PSA: Ahhhh!! I can't believe this is the end of the book.

EPILOGUE

My mother had broken it off with Mr. Philipps, but had decided to keep the baby. Once little Marissa was born, my mother became a different person.

She got a job working at Carl's Grocery Store. It didn't pay much, but it was enough to put food on the table. And best of all, she no longer relied on the support of rich, married men.

For the first time in my life, I was proud of her.

Ryder and I continued to communicate through Fable throughout his semester at Oxford.

Whenever I asked him whether he'd met any girls who compared to me, his only answer was, That's not possible.

I smiled.

Near the end of his semester at Oxford, Ryder had messaged me on Fable to say that he wouldn't be able to come home for Christmas. He was swamped with exams and was planning on visiting the ski alpines with a bunch of friends from Oxford.

I'd been sad, but was also looking forward to spending Christmas with Victoria, my mother and baby Marissa.

Victoria and I had become even closer. For the longest time, I would only let her come around to my apartment when my mother was out. But slowly, I let my guard down. Eventually, she was over at my apartment all the time.

After I got home the day school was let out for Christmas break, the doorbell rang. I was expecting it to be Victoria, but when I swung open the apartment door, Ryder was standing there.

I squealed and jumped into his arms.

"How is this possible?" I asked, planting kisses on his chiseled jaw. "You said you couldn't come home for Christmas break."

He smirked. "I have my ways." Then he kissed me and we stood like that in the doorway, for what seemed like hours.

I could've stayed there all day.

"But what about going skiing?" I asked, eyes serious. "You had this big thing planned with all your friends."

"I can always go skiing," he said, smirking. "I'm tired of having regrets when it comes to you."

"Regrets?"

"Letting you go the first time we kissed," he said. "That's my biggest regret."

I threw my arms around him and hugged him. We made our way into the apartment and plopped down onto the loveseat.

"So, BlackLight_00," I started.

"Yes, FireAndBlaze?" His gaze dropped down to my lips.

"What are you going to regret not doing tonight?"

"This," he said, engulfing my lips with his.