Mermaid For You: A Man of the Month Club Novella: Small town work place romance (Magnolia Point)

Epilogue

Three months later…

Since June eighteenth,Ava and I have moved in together in one of the family’s estates right off the resort. I’ve fully embraced my role as the heir of Hayes Resorts. Ava still buys my drink every now and then.

Rosemary is now taking an interest in the family legacy too. I believe she’s always had an interest, but the family hasn’t always taken her seriously, me included. Someone who’s taking an interest in my baby sister is Alexi.

Every time I slowly try warming up to Alexi, he does something to piss me off. I don’t understand why I despise him so, but I recruited him to help with the Christmas season. Mostly to make Ava happy. Plus, he did live in a Christmas town all his life.

The doorbell rings and I jump up to go answer. “Rosemary!”

“I’m here!”

I wrap my arms around her and swing her around. “I need your help. This event we’re planning—I want to start a new tradition here. Like how we go big for Fishing Day. But for the winter months.”

“And you want to go big?”

“Special. I’m not good with this stuff.”

“You’re more clever than you realize. But no worries. I’ll take care of everything. You can count on me.”

Ava enters the room, and my heart soars at the sight of her. “Hello, angelfish.”

I love that she’s moved past the whole nickname thing—not for me, but for her. That idiot plays no part in her life whatsoever, and he ‘ll never show his face at another one of our resorts.

“Hello, sulli-fin.”

We’re still working on my nickname. But she can call me any name she wants as long as it means I’m hers.

“It’s Tuesday. Ready for lunch?”

“More than ready. I’ve thought of nothing else.”

We tell Rosemary bye, and I’m a ball of nerves as we walk toward the food truck. Cora hands us our usual order, but this time they’re fully wrapped instead of the tacos being ready to eat.

“I thought we’d do this picnic style.” I nudge Ava.

“Okay…”

I take her hand and lead her down the long wooden pier where I have a little row boat waiting. Inside the boat I already have a blanket and bottle of wine. Ava looks longingly at her wrapped taco as I row us toward a secluded area that I’ve already decorated with twinkling lights hanging throughout all the trees along the coast. Once we’re in position, I tell Ava, “I think this is a nice place for a picnic.”

Ava looks around before her bright eyes land on me. “Yeah, I’d think so. Did you do this? Why?”

“It’s Tuesday. I figured we should have a romantic lunch.”

“I would kiss you now, but I can’t wait any longer. My taco is going to get soggy.”

“I like when your taco is wet.”

“Ew. No. We’ve talked about this. No taco pussy jokes on Tuesdays.”

I fight back a smile as she carefully unwraps her precious taco. She pauses to stare at the paper where I’d written her a note.

Let’s Taco About The Future

Sitting on top of her taco, is a diamond ring. Slowly, as to not rock the boat, I ease forward and get on one knee. This is more difficult than I’d anticipated as the boat isn’t that big and very wobbly.

“I love you, Ava. I know this is soon. We can have a long engagement, but as I’ve said before, we’re made for one another. I know it. Would you be willing to spend every Tuesday, and every day with me for the rest of our lives?”

Ava whimpers. “You’re proposing with a taco?”

“I am.” I answer nervously. Did I screw this up?

“It couldn’t be more perfect!”

“Really? I thought about getting a calm or seashell… ”

“How cliché since I dress up as a mermaid! No, this is perfect. You combined the two things I love most. You and tacos!”

“Will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

Ava rushes forward to me to wrap her arms around my neck. The boat sways and before either one of us can stop it, we plunge into the water. We break the surface spewing and laughing. Her lips find mine but the kiss is short lived.

She pulls back and screams. “My taco! The ring!”

The ring!

Thankfully the ring isn’t lost, which is more than I can say for the taco. Half the meat is gone and the paper is meshed against the shell that’s falling apart. The ring is wedged between what little meat and lettuce is left.

I pull the ring from the taco and rinse it in the water. Then I gently slide it onto Ava’s ring finger. I’ve never been more sure of my future as I am in this moment.

The End

For now… find out about the proposal and what happens with Rosemary and Alexi in Pining For You.