Epilogue
Two Years Later
“Would you like another drink?” Lawson asks softly against my ear.
I can’t tell if my cheeks burn from the heat of the fire we’re standing in front of or the way his arms tighten around me, pulling my back into his chest. It’s been two years, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to our public displays of affection in front of my family.
Looking around the snow-covered yard, I see that not one single person is paying attention to us.
My mom and aunts are huddled on the far side of the fire, sipping their cocktails and talking about Aunt Kendall and Uncle Mark’s most recent trip to Greece.
Dad and my uncles are standing next to them, talking about football.
Liam is currently glaring at Rose and River, who are cuddled up on a bench beneath a large blanket, sipping from the same cup of hot chocolate.
No one cares about our age difference or the leaked sex tape anymore. Everyone cohabitates peacefully, fully accepting that Lawson and I are together and in it for the long haul.
“Sure. Thanks, babe.” I give him a quick peck and hand over my champagne glass.
As he disappears inside my parents’ house, I join Liam on his bench. “Stare any harder, and you’ll set River on fire.”
My brother huffs a laugh, and a smirk replaces his scowl. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.”
I look across the fire to see Rose playing with the necklace Liam gave her for her sixteenth birthday. She never takes it off. Her pretty blue eyes glance in our direction, her cheeks flushing a rosy hue before she turns her attention back to River.
“How is work?” Liam plucks the same pink and cream hair tie he’s worn on his wrist for the last two years. It’s wearing out, fraying at the edges, and I file the information away since I plan to finish my Christmas shopping this week.
“It’s going really well, actually,” I say excitedly.
“We’re about to open a third building, and we think it’s really making a difference, you know?
Other businesses have started to join in, and some are interested in collaborating.
Morgan Enterprises is genuinely making a dent in the unhoused population. ”
“That is so like you,” Liam utters. “Cleaning up the city one hobo at a time.”
“Liam!” I smack his chest. “Not nice, dude.” He laughs as I settle back against the bench. “How is New York? Meet anyone special yet? ”
His cheeks turn pink, a shade I’ve never seen on his face before, and it piques my curiosity. “There is someone!”
“No, there isn’t!” he exclaims, eyes darting to Rose again. “I mean, there’s someone , but not… if that makes sense.”
Knowing how private my brother is, I zip and lock my lips and pretend to throw away the key. “I’m here if you ever want to talk. You know that, right?”
“I know.” He stands, and I turn to see Lawson approaching us.
My champagne glass appears in front of my face, only a quarter of the way full and looking like pure orange juice instead of a mimosa.
“Is this your way of telling me I’m done drinking for the night?
I thought it was strange you asked.” I tip my glass back before I notice something sparkling at the bottom.
Everything grows quiet as I freeze, orange juice flowing into my mouth. With each gulp, a shiny diamond ring is revealed. There’s a thumping behind my rib cage as tears line my eyes, and I turn to look at Lawson, only to see him kneeling in the snow behind me.
Now , everyone’s eyes are on us.
“Lucy Bradee, I knew from the moment I met you that you were special.” His eyes dart to my parents, who share an amused look. “And while our beginning might have been a massive mess, I promise you our life together won’t be. I will remain as devoted to you as I always have been.”
Lawson stands, taking my glass from me to tip the ring into his palm.
He sticks it between his lips, sucking the sticky juice from it before grabbing my hand.
“I promise to fulfill every fantasy, dream, and wish you ever have, and all I ask in return is that you take my last name and that we get started on making those babies you want so much because I’m already old and gray and don’t want to be stuck in a wheelchair when our kids graduate. ”
“Yes!” I cry, jumping into his arms. “Yes! Yes! A thousand times, yes!”
Cheers and cries of congratulations fill the air as Lawson slips the rose gold ring on my finger, and the pear-shaped diamond in the center glitters brightly as it catches the light from the fire.
He kisses me before sliding his lips to my ear. “There’s an inscription on the inside.”
I pull it back off my finger. Squinting, I tilt it toward the light, and my breath catches in my throat as my chest swells with love.
Through every storm.
“I love you,” Lawson vows against my lips as I slip the ring back on and throw my arms around his neck. “Through every single storm, I promise to love you.”
“I love you, too. And I promise to be your rainbow. Always.”
“She was the purest substance to ever enter my veins.”