I squeezed him tighter. “Maybe someday, when you’re ready, you can figure out a way to restore her memory. Willorunia says anything is possible with magic.”
“I don’t know…” Cassian stepped back, resting his hand on my arm. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for that. It hurts to knowshe quietly resented me while I thought we were best friends. I feel so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” I said, kissing his forehead. “She was a convincing liar, and of course you didn’t suspect her, because you never would have done that to her if the roles were reversed.”
“No, I wouldn’t…”
“You don’t have to keep her in your life, Cassian. The person you thought she was doesn’t exist,” I said.
“But she’s family.”
“My parents are my family, but I haven’t spoken to them in years,” I said.
“That’s different.”
“Is it?”
Cassian looked me in the eyes, frowning. “They’re not your family.” He lifted his hand to my face, brushing my cheek with his thumb. “I’m your family now.”
My smile snuck up on me. “And I’m yours.”
Cassian admired me before pulling me into a kiss. “I wouldn’t trade you for anything or anyone. I love you, Sterling.”
“I love you too, Cassian.”
Time passed, and Cassian and I learned to love the profession together. Becoming as hospitable as Cassian was an adjustment, but focusing on the warmth I felt when Cassian cared for me helped me pass on that care to other people. His love made me a better employee, but it also made me a better partner.
As selfish as it was, I was grateful to Jasmine. Without her, I never would have found a lifetime of love at Fibbersnap Inn.
End
Epilogue
One Year Later
CASSIAN
“Idid it!”
The glass jar spun from the motion of being teleported across my desk. It was silly to believe I could have done this without Gertrude’s guidance before, but I had finally teleported the empty jar across the desk and back without shattering it.
The office door creaked open, and Sterling stuck his head through. “You all right in here?”
“Look!” I pointed at the glass jar and stepped back so he could see.
“You did it!” Sterling swung the door open and stepped into the office, grinning at me. It was a much better reward than an unbroken jar. “I knew you could.”
An ugly laugh slipped out of me, and I folded my arms behind my back and shrugged my shoulders to get some of this giddy tension out of me. After a year of living together, he still flustered me daily. “How’s it going out there? Any problems?”
“Mr. Mimster lost his key again, but I told him we’d find it,” Sterling said.
“He didn’t pay extra, did he?” I asked.
“He tried.”
I beamed at him. “Thanks for taking care of him.”
We had moved back to the donation box system since it was still as profitable and it aligned more with our values. We both wanted to always have a room open in case someone had nowhere else to go. Our regulars often paid more than the flat rate we had charged before, so it evened out.
