Epilogue
My hands cupped my mouth.
One whole year Crown and I had been exclusive. We officially moved in together six months ago. Every day with him made me fall deeper than the last. We talked about expanding our businesses, marriage, and children, a conversation I never thought I'd have with my best friend of so many years.
Tonight was our rehearsal dinner.
Tomorrow...
I'd be marrying the man who had been my safe place long before either one of us found the courage to admit we were in love.
I stared at it like it was staring right back at me.
Pink...
Two pink lines...
Tears of joy cascaded down my face.
The thought of Crown being a father overwhelmed me, not in a bad way. I was sure with all my heart that he would be a phenomenal father and that he would pride himself on giving our children the love, security, consistency, and guidance he never received as a child.
I was heavily on birth control, and I just wanted to be sure before I gave Crown false hope.
Hiding the pregnancy test deep beneath the trash, I washed my hands while looking at my reflection in the mirror.
A smile spread across my face.
Putting my head up and my shoulders back, I smoothed out my silk wraparound dress, hoping I hadn't been gone too long.
The ballroom was filled with soft laughter, candlelight, and the people who had loved us long before we ever figured this thing called love out ourselves. Family and friends filled the room, celebrating the night before we promised forever.
"Heyyy, Honey, you okay?"
My mom scanned her eyes over me like she was about to read me for filth before pulling me into a warm embrace.
"When are you going to tell that man you're pregnant, Solae Diamond? Girl, you glowing, and everybody can see that."
She held me by my arms and smiled like she couldn't have been prouder.
"If you don't, I will."
"Will what, Miss Sherline?" Crown asked as he made his way over, looking fine as all outdoors in his tailored suit.
My momma looked from me to Crown before slowly stepping aside.
It was just us.
The way it had always been.
"Babe..."
I reached for his hand.
"I'm pregnant."
I searched his eyes for a moment.
This grown man broke down crying.
Watching the tears fall from his eyes sent all of us into a fit of waterworks.
He wrapped me in his arms, kissed my forehead, then rested his hand against my stomach as if our baby could already feel every ounce of love pouring out of him.
"I got y'all," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I promise... I got y'all."
Never in my life had I felt the kind of love Crown woke up and showered me with every single day.
From the breakfast he made me every morning to the delicious dinners waiting for me at night, he loved me in ways I never knew I needed.
He bought me flowers every Friday, and though all of that was beautiful...
He saw me.
He heard me.
He chose me.
Every single day.
And every day, he challenged me to become a better woman, not only for him, but for myself.
Looking around the room at our families laughing together, our closest friends raising their glasses, the businesses we'd built, the life we'd created, and the little miracle growing inside of me, I finally understood what happily ever after really looked like.
It wasn't perfect.
It wasn't found in fairy tales.
It was built through friendship.
Loyalty.
Forgiveness.
Growth.
And choosing the same person every single day.
Funny how life works.
I spent years chasing the wrong men, searching for a love that always seemed just out of reach.
Only to realize...
My forever had been standing beside me the whole damn time.
Tomorrow I'd become Mrs. Solae Corlin Alexander.
Tonight, I was simply the happiest woman alive.
And for the rest of our lives...
I'd finally get to spend forever claiming my best friend.
Thank you for reading my Happily Ever After…...