Epilogue
LACEY - SEVEN MONTHS LATER
“ I thought I’d find you in here,” Jace says from the door of my reading room. He slightly pushes the door open and leans against the frame.
“I can’t put it down,” I say, holding up my e-reader. “There’s just something about a second-chance romance, you know?”
“Definitely one of my favorites,” he chuckles. “But, I think we both know how it ends. Care to join me on the roof? I brought champagne.” He holds up a bottle that I didn’t notice until now and wiggles his eyebrows at me.
“Only you could make me stop reading,” I laugh. I put my book down, grab the blanket, and walk over to meet him at the door. With his free hand, he pulls me in for a long kiss. His hand weaves into my hair and my core instantly begins to buzz.
“You sure you want to go out on the roof?” I tease.
“Come on, pixie,” he says, pulling away and taking my hand to lead me down the hall. He sets down the bottle of champagne on the floor under the windowsill and pushes it open.
We both climb onto the roof and are met by a chill in the air. It’s early March and the sun has already set. He sits behind me and pulls me back into his chest. I help him unfold the blanket, and we wrap it around the both of us.
I nuzzle into him. This has become our ritual over the past seven months. At least once a week we come out here to talk. Just him, me, and the stars. It’s by far my favorite day of the week.
“Where’s Domino?” I ask.
“I put her in the crate, so she didn’t get into the trash again,” he says.
“You think she’ll be okay locked up?” I pout.
“I think she’ll be fine,” he assures me.
“I don’t know how you’ll ever outdo buying me a puppy for my birthday.” I smile, thinking about the little black-and-white border collie puppy downstairs. He lays a kiss on top of my head. “Oh, I texted Colt earlier. We’re all set to head to Austin in a few weeks to see him play. I know it probably didn’t take much, but thanks again for convincing Mom and Dad to come with us. I think it’ll be good for all of us to do something together.”
“It was easy. Your mom loves me.”
“Does she?” I laugh. “Not too long ago she was sure you’d break my heart. How did you get her to love you?”
“Well, love might be a strong word.” He laughs. “She definitely really likes me. Is Colt excited about the season?”
“He sounds like it. I think he’s nervous about getting drafted, but I think it’ll happen.”
“I’m glad.”
I look over my shoulder. “You good? You aren’t very chatty tonight.”
“I’m fine, just thinking.”
“About what?” I feel him move from behind me, so we are seated next to one another.
“I want to see you when I say this,” he says.
“Say what?” His hands find mine, and for the first time, I realize he looks nervous. “You okay, J?”
He takes my hands in his. “Lacey, it took me ten years to tell you how I felt. And then for ten years, I had to figure out how to do life without you in it. Those were some of the hardest years of my life, but one thing remained true despite our distance. I never stopped loving you. I’ve loved you every day since I was eight years old.”
My heart begins to race and for a split second I wonder if he’s about to do what I think he’s about to do, but there’s no way, right? No way I wouldn’t know.
“And then ten months ago, fate intervened and brought you back to me and I’ve never been happier. You’re my best friend and my soulmate.”
“Jace? What’s happening?” Tears begin to stream down my face and he wipes them away.
“Don’t cry, pixie. I promise it’s good.” He reaches back and pulls a small velvet box from his pocket. He opens it and reveals a stunning emerald-cut diamond ring. On either side of the stone sits a smaller emerald stone. It’s all set in white gold. I recognize it immediately.
“Jace, is that your?—”
“Yeah, it’s Mom’s.” His eyes are glossy. More tears begin to fall and I try to wipe them away. “The day I brought you to this house, I stopped by my dad’s. I told him then that I wanted to marry you and he didn’t hesitate when I asked him for it. He told me my mom had always wanted it to be you and he knew we would have her blessing.” He chokes back a cry. Swallowing hard he continues. “Lacey Danielle Sims, I promise to love you for the rest of my days. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, oh my god, yes.” He takes out the ring and slides it on my left ring finger. Tears cover both of our faces. Our mouths meet in a passionate kiss, and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me in tight.
“I love you,” he says.
“I love you so fucking much, Jace Jackson.”
He places another chaste kiss on my lips and stands, moving toward the open window. He reaches inside and pulls up the bottle of champagne. He pops the top, spraying a stream of champagne into the air. We spend the next hour sipping champagne straight from the bottle, stargazing, and getting lost in sweet kisses.
He checks his watch and places a kiss on my forehead. “Come with me, I have one more surprise.”
We carefully make our way back into the house, and he pulls me down the hall. When we get to the top of the stairs, I hear hushed voices coming from below.
“You didn’t.”
“I did.” He smirks. We hurry down the stairs and when we round the corner we are met with all of our closest friends and family.
“Congratulations,” they shout. Poppy, Gray, Wren, and Chloe tackle me in a huge hug.
I can’t make out what any one of them are saying over their shrieks. They finally let me go leaving Poppy standing there. Tears fill her eyes.
“I’m so happy for y’all,” she says, wrapping me in another hug. Over her shoulder, I watch as the guys all congratulate my fiancé.
Poppy releases me. “Logan, take a picture of us,” she says, throwing him her phone. We both put out our hands in front of us, showing off the diamonds that now adorn both of our left hands. “We’re going to have so much fun planning our weddings together,” she gushes. “There’s no one else I’d rather do it with.” She squeezes my hand.
Domino runs by us, wagging her tail, and jumping up on me for attention. I bend down to scratch the top of her head. The crowd parts, revealing my parents and Jace’s dad.
We make our way over to them, and my mom surprises me by pulling me in for a hug. “Congratulations, sweetheart,” she says, pulling away quickly and smoothing out her dress.
“I know you don’t need our blessing, but it was an easy yes,” my dad says, putting out his hand to shake Jace’s.
“Colt wishes he could be here, but with the season starting he couldn’t make it,” Jace explains. “I told him we’d call him tomorrow.”
“He already knows?” I ask.
“I had to get his blessing too.” Jace smiles and my heart swells.
How did I get this lucky?
“Well, let us see the ring,” my mom chimes. I put out my hand, and for a second, I think I see tears well in her eyes before she blinks them away entirely.
“Annie would be so happy you have it,” she says, nodding her head. “It’s beautiful.”
“She sure would,” Jace’s dad adds, wrapping both of us up in a big group hug. “I’m so happy he finally popped the question. I’ve been on him for months,” he jokes.
Poppy passes out champagne and we all take a flute full of bubbly liquid.
“To the past, present, and future,” I say, raising my glass. Jace taps his against mine and then pulls me in for a kiss.
JACE
“I really don’t know what I was thinking, inviting everyone over before we had a chance to really celebrate,” I say, shutting off the downstairs lights.
“I’m glad they were here,” Lacey says, looking at her ring as we make our way upstairs to our room. Domino trails behind us. “Have I told you tonight how happy I am?”
“I’m happy, too, pixie.”
She moves over to our dresser and begins taking off her clothes. I watch as she undresses. She’s absolutely stunning. She gets down to her lace bra and panties and turns around. “Should I keep them on or are you going to come help me take them off?” Her lips move into a sexy grin.
I stride across our bedroom and meet her where she stands, only wearing my boxers. “Off,” I say. “I want to make love to you tonight, and the only thing I want you wearing is that ring on your finger.”
She steps forward and we collide into an emotional kiss. My hands rake down her body, unhooking her bra and tugging down her underwear. She meets my pace and pulls at my boxers. We both frantically kick off our undergarments. I back her towards our bed and lay her down on the mattress.
“Look at you, baby. You’re so fucking beautiful.” She gasps at my praise and I move my hands down over her breasts, pausing to play with her nipples. She lets out another little breath when I pinch gently.
My mouth traces her body moving down toward her center. She stops me, pulling me back to her mouth. “Let me,” she begs. She sits up and I move to my back. Sitting with her knees tucked under her, she moves down my body kissing and licking. She runs her hand down my shaft in one fluid motion. I let out a groan. She bends over licking a bead of salty liquid from the tip. Taking the head into her mouth she moves slowly down my length until I hit the back of her throat.
“Fuck,” I let out, watching her as she takes me again and again. “Such a good fucking fiancée sucking my cock.” She hums against me and the vibrations threaten to take me over the edge. Her mouth travels up my shaft and she sucks hard on the head, making a popping sound as she raises her head to find my gaze.
“Come here,” I say, moving her so she’s straddling me and facing away. “Scoot back, baby, and let me taste you.”
She does as she’s told and moves her body so that my lips find her center. I take my tongue up the middle of her slit and she grinds back into me. Falling forward she takes my cock back into her mouth.
We work each other in unison. My hands find her hips pulling her down onto me. My finger gently plays with her asshole the way I know she likes. Her movements start to become frantic as she continues to work my cock in her hands and mouth. Her whole body tenses above me as she finds her release and I lap up every drop she gives me.
She moves down my body spinning around.
“Do you know how good you taste? You’re so fucking sweet,” I say.
Leaning forward she takes my mouth in hers. She lets out a moan and her hips jolt against my bare cock. With one hand she reaches down and lines me up with her center. She lifts her hips, and in one motion she pushes down and takes all of me.
I rock my hips into her. Our mouths still tangled together. I tug at her hair and she lets out another moan. Our hands explore each other. Every movement is full of so much passion and love.
I flip her around so she’s now on all fours. My hands rake down her spine and over her hips. I drive into her from behind, causing her pussy to clench around me. She lets out a loud moan and my hands find her hair. I tug gently. She muffles a scream into the pillow.
“I want to hear you. Don’t quiet yourself for me. I like it when you’re loud.” She screams again, this time letting me hear how much she likes taking my cock. “You like it when I fuck you from behind, don’t you?”
“So much,” she moans. She pushes her hips backward, taking me deeper. My hand makes contact with her ass in a playful slap.
“Fuck… yes…” she screams, pushing back into me as I thrust forward. My fingers find her asshole and I begin to play with her again, sliding one finger inside. I drive my cock into her hard and she screams my name. She matches my pace—the view of her ass and the feel of being bare inside her taking me closer.
Her pussy tightens around my dick. “Come with me, J,” she begs. We both find our release. She collapses underneath me, breathing heavy. “Such a good boy,” she snickers.
She rolls out from under me. “I can’t believe we get to do that for the rest of our lives,” she says.
“Me either.”
We get cleaned up and climb back into our bed. I pull her close and cover us with a thick blanket.
“Hey, J?”
“Yeah, pixie?”
“You remember when we were at the lake last July and we saw that shooting star?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“Well, this is what I wished for. I wished for you, Jace Jackson, and I’m so happy it came true.”