"Looking good, mate," I say, peering into the camera lens as I snap photos of Clifford. Sunlight shines through the floor-to-ceiling windows of BigRedCog Headquarters, the rays bouncing off Cliff's Rolex watch. "Look to the left." He adjusts his tie and changes positions. "Yeah, that's great."

"How much longer?" Cliff whines, frowning. "The Times should be here any minute."

"Just a couple more," I say as the doors to Cliff's office slam open. He grins, head snapping to the boisterous laugh of Maxine as she and Kenny strut towards us. He hops off the stool, and I shake my head, lowering the camera. "Guess we're done here."

Kennedy flashes me an apologetic look and mouths, "I tried, sorry!"

"It's fine," I wave her off. It's not Ken's fault. Distracting Maxine takes a fucking village. Love the girl like a sister but her constant "suggestions" make my job much, much harder.

"Looking sharp, baby!" Maxine gushes, winking at Cliff. She turns to Kennedy, wiggling her brows. "Doesn't my hubby look suave as fuck?"

"He sure does," Kenny smirks, eyes locked on mine as she hands me a latte. "Super handsome."

I grin, taking the coffee. "Please don't undress with your eyes while I'm working, love. It's very unprofessional."

Kennedy rolls her eyes. "Fine, I'll undress Clifford instead."

"The hell you will!" Maxine exclaims, casting Ken a playful scowl as she wraps her arms around Clifford. "Paws off, bitch."

"Get over here," I whisper, pulling Kennedy into a kiss as our newly wed friends make googly eyes at each other. When her lips brush against mine, it's like I'm kissing her for the first time. My insides flutter and my heart beats frantically. It's been five years and I'm still in awe. I pull back, stroking Ken's hair as I gaze loving down at her. "So? Any word yet?"

"Not yet," she sighs, hitching a shoulder. "But it's only been a week since I've applied, and they probably have lots of applicants with much more experience and knowledge and background—"

"Stop," I cut her off, shaking my head. "You're going to get it, okay? Yes, I'm sure there are candidates more qualified than you but I doubt there is anyone more dedicated than you, Kennedy." I chuckle at her ridiculousness. "You finished a bachelor's and a master's degree in four years, love. That's ought to count for something."

Kennedy rolls her eyes. "I guess so..."

"Is she whining again?" Maxine chirps, drawing our attention. She clicks her tongue, cocking her head at Kennedy. "Girl, will you relax? If they don't hire you, then fuck 'em, their loss. You're going to be one hell of a social worker wherever you go, okay? Don't stress."

"Fine," Kennedy mumbles as Cliff's assistant knocks on the door. She sighs. "Looks like it's showtime, Cliff."

Clifford's face pales. "Okay..."

"Hey!" Maxine aggressively grabs Cliff by the tie, tugging him down to her level. "You are a goddamn rockstar, okay? You're going to kill this interview! Nothing to worry about, baby. You got this!"

"Okay," Clifford smiles, his tense body noticeably relaxing. He glances at his assistant, sucking in a breath. "Here goes nothing."

"Go get 'em, tiger!" Maxine grins, slapping Cliff's ass as he heads out of the office. She turns to me and Ken, giving me a knowing side-eye before saying, "Hey, Kenny, I forgot my phone in your car, can you grab it for me?"

"Here—" Ken holds out her car keys. "Go for it."

Max's lips twist up. "Can you do it? I don't want to miss anything." She pouts. "It's Cliff's first interview..."

"Fine," Ken mutters with a skeptical frown. She gives me a quick peck on the cheek and whispers in my ear, "Whatever the two of you are up to, I don't like it."

When Kennedy is out of sight, Maxine lurches towards me. "Okay, so everything is set up and ready to go on the roof." She pulls out her cellphone. "Everyone's RSVP'd—"

"Even her dad?" I ask as we slowly make our way to where the reporter from The Times is prepping Clifford. "Last time I talked to him, he said it was a maybe."

"He confirmed last night," Max says, lowering her voice as we approach the interview. "Oh, and your brother's already here. He's helping the caterers right now."

I raise a brow. "Freddie's... helping?"

"He's doing it for, and I quote, the lovely Kennedy," Max smirks. "Think he's got a little crush on your girl."

I roll my eyes. "He's fifteen and she's a total babe, I can't blame him."

"True." Max throws a light elbow into my side. "So... You going to ask today?"

"No," I say, clearing my throat, the diamond in my pocket suddenly heavier than a minute ago. "It's her graduation party. I'll wait until the weekend or something."

Max sighs. "Dude, you've been postponing it for weeks. Just ask her."

"I will... soon," I whisper as the reporter starts the interview. Saved by the media. I catch Maxine proudly smiling at Clifford as he winces from the studio lights. "He looks nervous."

"No," Max gushes, unlocking her phone at taking photos. "He looks perfect." She conceals a giggle. "He's even wearing the socks... look."

I glance down at Clifford's bouncing foot, mentally face-palming. "That's your face on his socks."

"It's my new business idea," she whispers. "Sock it, bitches. It's going to be huge."

"What happened to the candles?" I ask, not at all shocked by yet another ludicrous business venture.

Max cringes. "Nothing."

"She set the kitchen on fire." Kennedy's soft voice calls from behind us. She crosses her arms, glaring at the phone in Maxine's hand. "Huh."

"Found it," Max says with a sheepish smile. "Sorry!" Before Ken can say a word, Maxine shushes her, pointing at Clifford and the reporter. "No more talking!"

"Dick head," Kennedy whispers, purses her lips as she sidles up next to me.

"So, Clifford," the reporter says, checking her notes. "In the last year, you've gone from a little Silicon Valley startup with a couple of apps to a multimillion-dollar corporation..."

"Yeah," Cliff chuckles nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "It uh— it definitely all happened very fast." He glances at Maxine who gives him a reassuring nod. "I've been blessed to work with an amazing team of programmers and designers." He motions around the modern office. "I didn't do it alone."

"Still... it's very impressive," the reporter hums. "When you were at MIT, did you ever envision that one of your assignments would end up being installed on over fifty million cellphones across the country?"

"No, definitely not," Clifford laughs. "Truthfully, I'm still in shock. I really didn't think Court of Quests would ever be played by anyone outside my program but here we are..."

The reporter smiles, moving on to the next question. He's doing rather well, I think. "Is Court of Quests the first app you've ever coded?"

"Actually no," Clifford muses. "The first app I launched was back in high school."

"Oh, really?" The reporter perks up. "What was it?"

I feel Kennedy stiffen beside me, and I catch on quickly. No fucking way. We turn our heads towards Maxine who's wincing. Clifford's eyes widen when he glances towards us.

"Nothing worth mentioning," he stammers, adjusting his tie. "Next question, please."

"Let's go," Kennedy whispers harshly under her breath, yanking Maxine by the elbow and dragging her to the coffee lounge. I follow closely behind, shaking my head. Someone's in for a world of pain. Kennedy stops abruptly, crossing her arms as she glares at Max. "Talk."

Max blinks, acting aloof. "What?"

"Seriously?" Kennedy narrows her eyes. "Maxine..."

"What?" Maxine drags out, guilt written all over her face.

"Cliff ran Hilton Hears?!" Kennedy exclaims. "You knew?"

Maxine expels a defeated grumble. "Okay, yes but I didn't know until like two years ago, and by then, I figured enough time went by that it didn't matter, right?"

"Two years?!" Kennedy slams her hands against her thighs. "Max! That app almost ruined my life!"

"Ruined your life? Please! That app was a blessing!" Maxine huffs, taking a step towards Kenny. I blink at the two puffed-up girls. Yikes. "If the app didn't exist then you and Ollie would've never gotten together! It was a blessing!"

"A blessing?!" Kennedy's voice rises. "Was it a blessing when..."

"Ladies," I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Perhaps there are more important things happening today, and this little tiff could wait until, I don't know—" I glower at Maxine. "Tomorrow?"

"She started it," Max states in a sour tone, turning away from Kenny.

"Doesn't matter who started it, Max." Kennedy rolls her eyes. "You should've told me as soon as you found out."

"I wanted to but..." Max grumbles off.

"But what?" Kenny asks.

"But..."

"What?"

"I didn't want you to hate, Clifford, okay?" Max whispers softly. "He didn't know us back then and he needed the money from the ads and..."

Kennedy sighs, closing her eyes. This is good. She's powering down. "I wouldn't have hated him."

Max cranes her neck. "Really?"

"Yeah," Kennedy mutters, shrugging. I smile at her. Good girl. "I mean, I probably would've kicked him in the balls or something but... but he makes you happy." She tilts her head. "How could I hate him?"

Maxine's face scrunches up like she's fighting the words. "I'm sorry, 'kay?" She looks at me. "But seriously... it all worked out, right?"

"Yeah..." Kennedy's posture relaxes as she smiles at me. God, that smile... it's like the warmth of a million suns. The center of my universe. My source of life. "I guess it did."

"I'm going to head back there," Maxine says, casting me an unreadable look. I blink at her, and she nods down to my pocket. "Take your time."

Time.

It seems to be slipping away. In a blink of an eye, five years have passed. Five years of adventures, five years of laughter, five years of love.

Five years of her love. An uncomplicated love. Simple. Easy. Effortless. Being loved by Kennedy is like driving down a freshly paved road. Her laughter is the wind. Her touch is the crisp ocean air. And her kiss? It's the direction I always want to drive.

"Can you believe that?" Kennedy asks as Maxine leaves the coffee lounge. She leans against the counter, tapping her nails against the drawers. "I should've known. It all makes so much sense now."

"So much sense," I whisper, admiring the woman who believed in me when no one else did. She stayed with me. She chose me. She chooses me every goddamn day. And I chose her. Always. "Kenny..." I take a step closer to her, my hands trembling. "I—"

She frowns. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I say, patting my pocket. "It's just— um..."

"If this is about the surprise party happening on the roof, I already know about it," she says, giving me a proud look. "I'm not stupid, Ollie."

"Wait? What?" I blink, thrown off. "You know? How?"

"Seriously?" she laughs. "Do you think you're James Bond or something?" She wraps her arms around my neck. "Baby, you're not that good."

"Oh," I hum, chewing on my lip as I look down at her.

Just do it. Ask her. Say it.

"Don't worry though," she says, stroking my cheek. "I'll act surprised, I promise!"

"Speaking of promises..." I trail off, my heart hammering as I place my hand over hers. "I—"

"Are you okay?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say, swallowing a lump of nerves away. Breathe. "I'm better than okay. I'm—"

"Ollie?"

"Christ, they make it look so simple on TV," I whisper to myself. What is happening to me right now? "Listen, Kennedy... I—"

Kennedy closes her eyes, a sweet giggle leaving her lips.

"What's so funny?" I ask.

"God, you're cute," she says. "This is a little painful to watch but cute."

I frown. "What?"

Her eyes open— a doorway of endless love.

"Yes," she says. "I will."

"You will what?" I ask, confused.

She tilts her head. "Marry you."

I blink, my brain in a fog. "Did I ask?"

"Oh my God," she laughs, lifting herself on her tiptoes. "Yes, Oliver, you asked." Her lips brush against mine as she whispers, "And I said yes."

"Oh," I breathe out as she kisses me gently. "Okay."

Her grip tightens around my neck. "This the part you give me a ring, baby." Speechless, I fumble in my pocket for the diamond ring. Kennedy holds up her left hand. "You sure?"

"Absolutely," I whisper, sliding our future onto her finger. She smiles, gazing down at the stone. "Did I really ask?"

"You've asked me every day, Oliver," she replies. "And every day I've said yes."

The end.

____________________

FINALLY AN EPILOGUE! Gah, sorry it took so long but YAY!

Thank you all so much for reading about my little beans! I hope you enjoyed the story

FINAL THOUGHTS?

Also, Faux Real will be published in March 2022, and I will be doing a giveaway of the paperback version so follow me on IG (@ ellewiswrites) so you don't miss the opportunity ^.^