Page 449 of Knox Academy Omnibus
Monty has also helped restructure the way the school works, so that it isn’t just where wealthy kids who mess up go – nooffence to any of them, but they get enough privilege in life being wealthy – now Knox Academy is solely for kids whoreallyneed a second chance.
Kalen taps Monty on the shoulder. “Can I cut in?”
“You sure can,” he replies, stepping back and allowing Kalen to take his place. Kalen is smirking, and I instantly know that he’s up to something. He moves us across the floor so that we’re close to Maggie and Frost.
“Hey, Mum, you look good.”
“So do you, son.”
Maggie looks at me and we silently have a conversation. She also knows that her son is up to something. He always is.
“Frost,” Kalen nods. “Is it too soon to start calling you Daddy?” He cackles at his own question.
“Kalen—”
“What? It’s so obvious that they’re together.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I chastise him. “Maggie will tell you when she is ready.”
“Fine,” he concedes. “But when she does, I’m calling him Daddy Frost.”
Maggie shakes her head at her son and Frost actually smiles. He looks really happy. And he definitely deserves to be. We all do.
I dance with all of my men, and even Baxter. The food is divine, the speeches are perfect, and just before midnight we all head out to the gardens to watch the finale of the night: a spectacular fireworks display provided courtesy of Camilla and Dirk. Allegedly, they’re discussing business together in the south of Italy, but I suspect they may be holidaying, having become friends these past few years. It’s weird, but I don’t question it.
Outside Sawyer takes his place behind me, cradling me back into his chest and wrapping his arms around me to keep mewarm. It’s a fairly mild summer night but I do still like to bitch about the weather at every opportunity I get.
Slate and Kalen stand on either side of me, their arms touching mine. Onyx stands the other side of his twin, but when he catches me shivering he wordlessly removes his suit jacket and tosses it my way. He’s so attentive to my needs, always watching protectively to make sure I don’t want for anything.
Beside me, Kalen bounces up and down with excitement.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I love fireworks.”
“Me too,” I reply just as the first one goes off with a whistle. A shower of golden sparks rains down over us, the tips tinged with purple. “Those ones are my favourite.”
“I like the ones that bang.” Of course he does. That’s Kalen all over. All noise and show.
“I like the howlers and the screamers,” Onyx adds with a smirk.
“I’m just glad we managed to talk Kalen out of his wedding gift idea,” Slate states. I groan.
“Oh god, what was it?”
“He wanted to release a hundred white doves,” Sawyer tells me.
“Well that doesn’t sound so bad. It’s sort of romantic.”
“At midnight.”
“Oh.”
“To the backdrop of the fireworks.”
“Oh in that case I’mreallyglad you talked him out of that.“
“Yeah. I didn’t think Elsie would appreciate the grand finale to her big,very perfect, day being her guests covered in a waterfall of dove shit.”
