Epilogue One
Maria
The roar of the stadium engulfs me, a vibrant sea of cheers and chants reverberating through the crisp evening air. I’ve grown to truly love this place and appreciate the beauty of football.
Sitting here on the field at the fifty-yard line, I glance around, taking in the overwhelming energy of the crowd. It’s surreal to be here a full year after Mason and I found our way back to each other. Life’s been a whirlwind of love, laughter, ups, downs, and success ever since. I have no regrets. I’m with the man I love.
A familiar song blares through the stadium speakers, and I see the entire team, all ninety players, start to move to the field in unison. What in the world is going on? You normally don’t see the entire team on the field unless the game’s beginning or ending.
As the music picks up tempo, the team begin moving together in unison, a choreographed dance that has the entire stadium on their feet cheering. I can’t help but laugh as I clap my hands in delight at this unexpected show.
Mason squeezes my hand, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Enjoying yourself?” he asks, leaning close so I can hear above the roar of the crowd.
“This is crazy. Yes!” I tell him.
Mason squeezes my fingers again before letting go. Then as the song reaches its climax, he suddenly rushes to the field, joining his old team with a fluid grace that takes my breath away. He knows the dance, his body in perfect sync with the music and players.
The crowd cheers even more as I stand by watching, utterly mesmerized. Damn, I love this man. I love him more each day we spend together. It only gets better and better as time passes.
Suddenly the entire team forms a circle around Mason, clapping and encouraging him as he performs a solo routine that’s both playful and impressive. Tears spring to my eyes as I realize what’s happening. The crowd is chanting Mason’s name, their voices merging into a powerful rhythm that’s shaking the stadium. Love and pride fill me.
The music starts to fade, and Mason makes his way back to me, the team behind. He drops to one knee in front of me, and the team all drops behind him as the crowd goes silent. I find my breath lodged in my throat as I stare at the man I love who’s beaming at me.
“Maria, it’s been a whirlwind romance between us from the moment I approached you in that bar over a year ago,” he begins. I chuckle though tears are steadily falling down my cheeks. “Every single day we’ve been together has been a blessing. We have love, hope, laughter, and more. We challenge each other, seek perfection, and live in bliss. I wasn’t looking for you, but I’m not such a fool to ever let go of something so right. You’ve made me a better man and I don’t want to imagine my life without you. Please, do me the honor of being my wife. Marry me and make me the happiest man alive.”
“Yes.” There’s no hesitation, nothing to think about. “I love you, Mason. I can’t wait to be your wife.”
The team jumps to their feet and cheers, and the crowd goes wild as Mason slips a stunning diamond on my finger before lifting me into the air and twirling me around. Nikki, my mother, my brothers, his mom, Miles, and all of our friends rush forward, and Mason and I are enveloped in a group hug.
“Finally!” Nikki exclaims.
“You’re a wise man,” Miles says.
“I’m so happy,” Emily says as she hugs me, her belly starting to show with hers and Miles’s first child.
This is perfect. It’s right, and it feels like I might burst from happiness. The game must go on, though, and soon, we’re all pushed backward to celebrate as the team gets back into the game.
It’s the best game I’ve ever watched, though I couldn’t tell you who won or lost. I just know that at the end of the day I’m the winner because I have Mason. My publishing house is thriving, and my romantic life is perfect. This will be one more day in a day of many for me to cherish.
Dreams really do come true. Happily ever afters really do happen. I might be an editor, but it’s because I live with a story in my heart. I believe in romance, and because of this my life will always be a story come to life.