When we finally break apart, breathless, his forehead rests against mine. Neither of us moves.
“Fuck,” he whispers. “That was some kiss, milady.”
I don’t respond. I can’t. My eyes are still shut, like opening them might shatter this moment.
“Hayley,” he murmurs, softer now, coaxing.
“Yes, Tyler?”
“Eyes open.”
Epilogue
6 Months Later
Hayley
Apparently, if you kiss a man in a maze, flash half the castle, and survive three days of emotional warfare, they let you back in for free.
Or maybe Tyler just paid and let me pretend it was fate.
He’s nice like that.
Annoyingly romantic when no one’s watching.
No rings. No moving vans. No epic proposal under the rose arch (yet…not that I’d admit to thinking about it).
For now, it’s just us.
And for once, that feels like enough.
We’re walking the long path past the maze, hand in hand, when I glance sideways at him.
“All right. Spill it.”
He frowns. “What?”
“The duck story. The one that made you abandon me in the maze. I’ve waited six months and you’ve dodged it every time.”
Tyler groans. “Do we really have to do this here?”
“Tyler.” I stop walking and give him the look.
He sighs. “Fine. But you have to promise not to laugh.”
“Nope.”
He shakes his head, already regretting this. “I was walking one of the bridesmaids to the maze. She’d somehow got separated from the group and was carrying a plate of vol-au-vents like she was preparing for a siege.”
I snort. “As one does.”
“We were halfway across the lawn when this duck, I swear to God, possessed,fixateson her dress. Or the snacks. Or both. It starts charging at us like a feathery missile.”
I clap a hand over my mouth.
“So obviously, being a gentleman, I pull her out of the way, straight into a hedge. We fall. I’m apologising, brushing leaves off her, and apparently she thinks that’s an invitation to snog me.”
I’m wheezing now. “Oh no.”
