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Epilogue
High School Graduation
"Step into the lion's den, Genny. Reece won't care," Talon Forrester, my partner-in-crime and best friend, beckons me with a mischievous grin. I follow him, tiptoeing into the forbidden realm of the pool house in the back of his parent’s large estate in the Hamptons, home turf of one of his notorious older brothers. 'Won't care' my ass. Reece Forrester is like a hawk who would stalk a small, unsuspecting rabbit, and we're about to waltz into his lair—a sleek, modern space, elegantly furnished and filled with the trappings of wealth. But hey, what's life without a little thrill, right?
Talon, with his devil-may-care attitude, has been my rock since day one in this upscale, elite town of old money and privilege. As the new girl, a person of color, adopted into one of these affluent families, I stood out like a sore thumb with skin a shade too dark for their liking. When I stepped into that school, it was Talon who stood by me. In a world where money whispers the secrets of power, Talon's voice roared with the spirit of a Forrester. He took me under his protective wing and shielded me from their sneers and insults, and our bond grew into an unbreakable friendship. With Talon by my side, I navigated the treacherous waters of high society and high school, with his unwavering support and brash defiance.
Fast forward four years, and here we are, high school graduates with the world at our feet. I'm all set to conquer the world of journalism and mass communications, aiming for the stars as a groundbreaking reporter. And Talon? He's got one of three golden tickets to the Forrester empire, but let's be real, he's just ticking boxes. He could do anything he wanted.
While I'm plotting my path to journalistic stardom (or any gig that'll have me), Talon's dragging me through his brother's personal space. His hand's on my back, grounding me back to reality. "Earth to Genny, you spacing out on me?" he chuckles, twirling around the room like he owns the place.
Meanwhile, I'm on Reece-watch, half-expecting him to storm in any minute, raining on our parade. Last I checked, he was still in the main house at Talon’s grad party, totally smitten with a stunning Indian woman at the bar. Reece is drop-dead hot. No doubt he and that woman are hooking up tonight.Lucky bitch.But he’s too old for me, anyway. Like I’d have a chance. Wait, he's 25, right? Talon mentioned that. A seven-year gap isn't that scandalous, is it?
"Genny, snap out of it, will you? Come have a drink. Reece's liquor cabinet is like Aladdin's cave!" Talon's voice pulls me back from my little fantasy.
Looks like it's time to dive into the deep end. After all, what's a little adventure without a dash of the forbidden?
As Talon rummages through an array of bottles - some dark, some clear, all tempting - I can't help but think of my folks' fire-and-brimstone approach to alcohol. 'Drink and you're on a one-way trip to hell,' they'd preach. Clearly, they haven't met Talon Forrester, the high priest of partying.
He catches my wide-eyed look. "C'mon, Gen, one drink won't damn you for eternity," he says, half-joking, half-serious.
"Chill, Tal, okay?" I brush my hair back, still shocked I'm even here. My parents, usually tighter than Fort Knox, let their guard down, thanks to Mrs. Forrester's 'wholesome party' spiel. Little did they know...
Talon, eyeing me, offers a truce. "How about wine? Something less hellish?" He holds up a bottle of blush wine, reading the label like it's a foreign text.
"Tal, are we sure about this?" I ask, anything but.
"Genesis, it's graduation night. We're going wild and crashing here," he declares, with a confidence I wish I had. "Reece is probably off charming that lady from the bar. We've got the place to ourselves."
"Forwhat, exactly?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
He laughs, a sound that's both comforting and mischievous. "Relax, Genny. I'm not plotting to raidyourcabinets.” He looks me up and down. “You're safe with me."
His words should relax me, but they stir something else. Sure, Talon's a good-looking guy; he could have any girl he wants. But his brother, Reece...now, that's a different story—a story I wouldn't mind being part of, despite being a green, 18-year-old with desires bigger than my sexual experience.
Lost in thought, I'm jolted back to reality by Talon's finger-snapping. "Earth to Gen, stop overthinking! It will give you worry lines, or whatever it is my mother says. ‘You're too pretty for that,’" he says, mimicking his mother.
I give his shoulder a playful shove.
"Ow! What did I say?" he winces, genuinely puzzled.
I roll my eyes. "The 'pretty girls can't think' stereotype? Really, Tal?"
He backpedals. "I didn't mean it like that—"
"Yeah, you did. What if I start with the macho guy stereotypes for you," I counter, mimicking an accent for effect. “Hey, girl, how you doing—?”
Talon shakes his head, amused yet cautious. "Fair point. Let's not go there."
"Already there, and back," I say, accepting the glass he hands me. "To surviving high school and whatever comes next," I toast, a smile playing on my lips.
"Cheers to that, Gen," Talon replies, clinking his glass against mine.
And just like that, we toast to the end of one chapter and the uncertain thrill of the next. Maybe, just maybe, this night will open more doors than I thought - and not just the ones to the Forrester empire.
* * *
Talon and I lost ourselves in a sea of laughter and booze-fueled banter, oblivious to the ticking clock. It was only when the door creaked open, waking me, that I realized how late it had gotten. There, like a shadow, stood Reece Forrester, Talon's enigmatic older brother.
