Chapter 91: Chapter 90

Jessica.

"Okay," I chuckle, and he winks at me, going back to rinse the plates. We finish in the kitchen, and after cleaning up, we go back to our room where we take a shower together. Actually, we do more than just shower together since Devon can't keep his hands to himself before settling to sleep, completely exhausted.

Months go by, and we quickly settle into our new normal life, with Devon continuing work and Emma preparing for all of her exams. Sophie has already finished with her final semester examinations and is just waiting to hand in her project, and she'll finally be a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. After that, she'll be back here. I can't wait to have all of my sisters in the same place. I've missed it too much.

Finally, the awaited exams come and go, and after the tense period passes, Sophie finally comes back to San Francisco, visiting us after almost four years of being apart. Emma and I go pick her up from the airport, and we use the moment to explore the city with her, talking about the new phase of our lives and the next steps we want to take. Emma hopes to study neuroscience at Harvard University, and Sophie wants to launch her fashion business soon after building her brand. I listen to their dreams and aspirations, happy for them but also despondent because I can't share in their dreams since I dropped out of high school before I had the chance to graduate.

That night, despite my best efforts to hide the way I'm feeling, Devon catches up on it and asks questions.

"What's wrong?" He murmurs, pressing kisses on my shoulders. I let out a sigh, pressing my lips together.

"Nothing," I mutter, but he doesn't look convinced. After a few more silent moments, I decide to tell him everything. "My sisters and I were discussing their plans for the future, and I realized that I didn't quite have one. It hurt a little," I rush out, minimizing the way I really felt.

He pauses for a while before turning me to face him as he sits up. "You want to go back to school?" He asks, his voice gentle. I nod, letting out a shuddering breath. Sitting up as well, I fiddle with my fingers as I reply to him.

"Yes, but I feel like it's too late for me, you know?"

"No, don't think like that," he says, cupping my cheeks as he lifts my face to look at him. "Of course, you can go back. It's not too late. It can never be. It's time you started living for yourself, Jessica."

"But... What about you?" I ask, worried.

"I'll be fine. I'm here to support you, remember? Do what you want to do. Whenever you're ready, just let me know. I'll make preparations, and you can get started right away."

I tear up, my lips trembling as I stare at him. "Thank you, so much," I say, throwing myself at him in a hug, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Anything for you," he mutters as he pats my back rhythmically. I hold onto him, burrowing myself deeper into him. I'm so glad to have met someone as supportive as him. Wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Emma's results come out, and as expected, she has astounding grades. To our surprise, she reveals she's going to be valedictorian and can't wait to start applying to her dream universities. Excited for her, I decide to throw a little surprise party for her at the beach, inviting a few of her friends and setting up for it. When Emma finds out, she's ecstatic and won't stop hugging me.

"Thank you!" She yells, her grip tight on me as she hugs me. "You're the best sister ever!"

"It can't get better than that," I mutter, patting her back. We pull away, and she grins at me, tears clouding her eyes. "Come on, go have some fun. You deserve it," I tell her, and she nods before running off to meet her friends. Sophie is also around, and the latter won't stop snacking on everything while holding a bottle of beer. Devon joins us at the beach after he's done with work, dressed in casual clothing that looks amazing on him, his glasses on. I give him a kiss, my heart swelling with emotions for this man.

"That's some party you have here," he mutters, resting his forehead on mine. "Anything I have to do?"

"Nothing, just enjoy yourself," I answer, and he grins.

"Okay then, enjoy myself I will," he replies before going to congratulate Emma, a gift in his hands. I bring out the cake, and after sharing it, the real celebration begins. I look around, seeing how happy everyone is. Overwhelmed with emotions, tears fill my eyes, and I quickly find a quiet spot, overlooking the entire place as I try to collect myself. Sophie joins me much later, passing me a bottle of beer. I take a swig from it, feeling the alcohol burn down my throat before returning the bottle to her. Emma joins as well, a cup of fruit juice in her hands, a grin on her face.

They lay their heads on my shoulders, staring at the star-studded sky and the bright moon shining down on us. "We did it, didn't we?" Emma asks, and I grin, tears spilling from my eyes.

"Damn right, we did," I say, sniffing, my voice wobbly with tears. In that moment, I catch Devon's gaze, and he blows me a kiss which I reciprocate, smiling at him. His eyes are fixed on me, his expression filled with love and warmth. He's a part of this now, a part of my life that's filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities. I'll always love him for the rest of my life, I know this with every fiber of my being.

"What would it feel like to give up?" A voice asks in my head, and I smile, staring at the line where the sky meets the sea, my heart pounding with life.

I guess we'll never know.

THE END.

NOTE: Special chapters and side stories coming right up! Stay tuned!