Epilogue #2
Two months later…
“I think I’m getting old!” Sloane shouted to be heard over all the music and noise at The Ridge.
Beside her, Will turned and looked at her oddly. “Why?”
“I used to love going out on New Year’s Eve! Staying up late and partying was always so much fun! But I kind of wish we would have stayed home on the couch and celebrated it just the two of us!”
Grinning, he shook his head. “Maybe next year! We couldn’t miss this party! Look around…half the town is here!”
That was a fairly accurate statement. Besides all her cousins and their spouses, her parents were here, her sister and Max, Devin and MacKenzie, and so many others, it was beyond crowded in the bar. She was actually surprised because all her cousins had such small children, so she thought they’d want to be home with them.
“Hey! Happy New Year, you two!” Hailey called out as she walked over to hug them.
“Not for another fifteen minutes,” Sloane reminded her.
“I’ve been trying to get over to you for an hour! Big crowd tonight!”
“It is! I thought you’d cut out early to be home with Layla!”
“She has no idea it’s New Year’s Eve, Sloane,” she said close to her sister’s ear so they wouldn’t have to shout quite so much. “But we’ll probably leave not long after the ball drops. I don’t want to take advantage of the babysitter.”
“I think the Donovans are supporting a team of babysitters tonight,” Sloane joked. “I love that everyone came out!”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
Okay, that seemed like a bit of an exaggeration. It was just New Year’s Eve, for crying out loud.
“Ooh…are they going to do fireworks?” she asked. “I know it’s freezing cold out—something I’m still not loving—but do you know if they’re going to maybe do them at midnight?”
“Um…not sure. If they are, Max hasn’t said anything to me.”
“I don’t mean the bar; I mean the town. Does the town do fireworks?”
“Again, not sure, but we’ll find out soon enough, right?”
Will looked at the two of them. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Fireworks!” Sloane shouted. “We were wondering if the town does fireworks at midnight!”
He nodded. “They do! And if we want a good view, we need to start moving over toward the window so we can see them!”
The window?
“Why can’t we just go outside? Then we can really see them!”
“We will! Um, okay, but let’s get over to the window first so we’re closer to the door!”
He took her hand, and she took Hailey’s as they carefully wove their way across the room toward the window.
“Hey! There you are!” her mother called out. “They’re getting ready to pass out the champagne! Isn’t this exciting?”
It was New Year’s Eve in a bar, but she supposed it was exciting because the year was coming to a close and all that other nonsense. Personally, she was excited because she had a little celebration planned for when she and Will got home—champagne, chocolates, and some very sexy lingerie.
She knew how much he loved her in sexy lingerie and she wanted to start the year off right.
Over the next few minutes, her cousins all came over to join them, champagne was handed out, and before she knew it, it was one minute until the new year.
Nudging Will, she said, “Come on! Let’s get over to the door!”
Shaking his head, he motioned to it. “We’ll just follow the crowd! We’ll never get out now!”
Dammit.
Sighing, she nodded and almost jumped when the music stopped and the place went completely silent. What the…?”
In front of her, Will dropped to one knee. “Sloane Donovan, chasing you these last three years have been some of the best moments of my life. But catching you was even better. I love that you chose me to be the guy you first kissed here in Sweetbriar Ridge on that fateful day in the kissing booth. And I love the life we’re starting together, and I am looking forward to what comes next.”
Oh my goodness, what is happening?
Then she had her answer. He held up a ring to her. “I want to start off the new year in the best way possible. Will you marry me?”
“Ten seconds, everyone!” Someone yelled out.
“Ten…nine…eight…”
“Yes,” she said, nodding frantically, feeling like the countdown was adding a little pressure. “I will!”
Putting the ring on her finger, he was instantly on his feet, kissing her just as the clock hit midnight. Behind them, through the window, fireworks were going off. Part of her was disappointed to be missing them, but she was already looking forward to the fireworks they were going to make when they got home.