Epilogue
One Year Later
Leah
“ Can we stop by my house? The other part of your gift is there.” I smile—and I’m hoping it isn’t so wide that it’s giving me away. I hope that blaring grin doesn’t scream—there is a surprise party waiting for you at my place! Your family, my family, a few friends—all ready to surprise you with a big Bailey birthday bash.
It may not be my style, but I love the Baileys and it is Cooper’s style. It’s also his birthday—not mine. So big bash it is!
“Really?” He grins—and I wonder if somehow he knows. “That’s really sweet of you. I was going to suggest going back to your place anyway.”
“Oh yeah?” I nibble on my lip. I’ve worked so hard to keep this secret from Cooper. I tell the man everything. And amazingly he seems to enjoy hearing it all. So, it was difficult not telling him this !
“Yeah. You haven’t been there since you met with Lake City High PTO, right?”
“Right.” It’s the truth. I haven’t been home since I met with the PTO committee from my old school—they ordered over one hundred dozen cinnamon rolls for their pep rally next month. I’m legit going to have to hire help just for this event! It’s amazing! “You haven’t talked to your sister?” I study his face… does it say guilty? I don’t think Coco would tell my secret on purpose—but possibly by accident.
“My sister?”
I shrug—innocent. If he doesn’t know, I’m not telling.
I bought decorations galore but couldn’t make it back to my house to decorate after the catering meeting. Nope, I wore my dinner clothes to the high school. I had to meet Coop at the restaurant, but I did arrange for Coco and Caitlyn to set up the party. See how good I am at surprises? Cooper is officially twenty-seven and mine. I love both of those things—they’re worth celebrating.
My house is nice and dark when we pull out front. Not a car in sight. I did see Dad’s old Buick half a block away, but Cooper didn’t notice it. And everyone else must have followed directions and parked out of sight.
My tummy flutters with giddiness. I am getting the Best Girlfriend award tonight! But more than that—Cooper deserves this. He is the best boyfriend. And while I thought I loved him a year ago—that was nothing compared to how I feel about him now. Somehow, he keeps getting better and I can’t help but love him more.
I slyly send Coco a text with a puppy emoji. It’s code for Cooper Bailey—named for Lucy’s sweetest dog—is here!
We step onto the walk and Cooper reaches for my hand. Warm tingles travel up through my arm and into my chest. This is what Cooper does to me. Warm and fuzzy, ninety-seven percent of the time.
We reach the front, and I wait for Cooper to open the door—this is his party, after all. He gets to be in the spotlight.
He doesn’t reach for the knob though. His warm hand cups my cheek. “I love you, Leah.”
I turn my head just an inch and press a kiss to his palm. “I love you.” I’m also anxious, so— “Ready?”
His brows lower. “Do you—” But he doesn’t finish.
“Do I?”
“You’re sure you didn’t come home after your meeting? You don’t?—”
I’m confused and his family is waiting. I nibble on my lip. “Can we go inside?”
He tilts his head, staring at me as if he’s studying me.
Wait. Maybe he does know. But then how would he know? Coco promised not to tell Alice until an hour beforehand. I’m not even sure that accidentally telling him is possible with Alice in the dark.
“Yeah, we can go in.” His lips pull up in a grin and his hand tightens around mine. “Because there is a gift waiting in here for me. Right?”
“Why would you say it like that?” I say, sighing out a tired huff. All that planning and secret keeping and someone has told him!
His brows raise. “No reason at all.” At least he’s smiling. I knew he’d love the party, but I was so hoping to surprise him.
We step inside, I reach for the light switch, the signal for everyone to yell surprise… but there’s no reason to flick on the lights. There are electric candles, dozens of them—ones I did not purchase for Cooper’s party—everywhere, giving dim sweet lighting to my living space. Rose petals sprinkle every inch of the ground. The biggest bouquet of red roses and white lilies waits for me on my coffee table, giving the room a sweet floral scent.
I hum out nothing intelligible. I’m perplexed. I didn’t buy these things. I peer around the room, but I can’t find any of Cooper’s family or mine. Where’s the big— surprise!
“I’m… confused.” Slowly I spin, taking in the space, breathing in the roses and warmth.
“Leah Bradford—” Cooper says, and I whirl to face him.
He is on one knee. One. He’s kneeling in front of me, peering up at me. He’s— proposing ?
My breath hitches and I look around the room once more. My eyes fill with unshed tears as my mind tries to make sense of what’s actually happening here.
“I have loved you since?—”
But Cooper’s speech is interrupted by a small, clear, very Alice whisper, “When do we get to yell surprise?”
Cooper pauses, his eyes glancing from one side of the room to the other.
“Shh,” says another voice.
“But,” that Alice voice says again.
“Just let him finish,” whispers a man—I’d bet all my money on Jude.
“Did she answer?” And that would be my mother.
“What is happening here?” Cooper says—still on that beautiful knee.
I take his hand and pull him to his feet.
“I think he’s done,” Alice whispers.
“Is my family here?” Cooper asks, looking to me for the answer.
My heart thumps in my chest as I peer about the magical space Cooper’s created once more. So sweet, so private, so perfect. Well, except for his family and mine waiting somewhere beyond this room. “Uh, yes, they are.” I grit my teeth and force a grin up at him. “Surprise!” I say, shooting for a joyful tone—never should I ever attempt acting.
“Hey,” Alice moans. “I wanted to say that.”
A heap of Bailey’s file from the hall and into my living room. Mom and Dad follow, along with Mitch, Andrea, Barney, and Arnold.
“SURPRISE!” Alice bellows, jumping into the air.
Cooper blinks and drags his gaze back to me.
“Happy birthday,” I say. “It’s a surprise party.”
Seventeen pairs of blinking eyes stare back at us.
“The place was already decorated when I got here,” Coco says, looking from me to Cooper. “So, we just left it.” She beams. That sneaky sister. She left the house decorated, but she didn’t bother leaving herself or taking anyone with her.
I turn my gaze back to Cooper.
“I came while you were in your meeting,” Cooper says.
“What was her answer?” Arnold’s combover is standing up and he’s looking at Cooper’s brothers for confirmation.
“I’m not sure,” Miles says.
“I haven’t heard one yet.” My mother sighs, hands on her hips.
“Technically, he never asked the question,” Lucy says.
Our mothers are beaming. Arnold is giddy. Every Bailey brother eye is on us.
And my heart is ready to jump right out of its chest.
“Well, I guess I better ask then—huh?” Cooper says—happily giving the crowd a show.
I tug on the front of Cooper’s shirt, dragging him one foot closer to me. “In front of all these people?” I whisper, and growl, and tug that man right into my bubble, threatening him with my eyes.
“I didn’t invite them. I was going for a spotlight-free proposal.”
A delirious laugh bubbles from my lips. I peer back at our family and friends, all waiting for my answer.
“Go on, Coop!” Andrea yells.
“Yeah, get on with it, man. There’s cake to eat,” Alice says.
“Leah,” Cooper says, eyes on me. “I only want one thing for my birthday.”
I press my lips together and attempt to ignore the crowd watching my every move. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
My fist tightens around my handful of Cooper’s shirt and my breath hitches.
“Marry me?” he says.
With one glance at our family and friends, I turn back to Cooper. I keep my eyes on his, warm and steely blue. They speak a million words he isn’t saying—in front of all these people. “Yes,” I whisper. “I can do that.”
A small Bailey-Bradford explosion erupts in my living room as our family and friends cheer with my answer.
I yank on Cooper’s shirt, pulling his lips to mine, and wonder for a moment how everything I once thought wrong in the world could be made so right.
Cooper Bailey, that’s how. He’s so much better than all those fans thought. And he’s all mine.