30. Epilogue Julia
“ I can’t believe it’s been a year,” Mia said, handing me another pink balloon. I looked around Gray’s at the staff our company had acquired in the last year. We were still a small, but a mighty five, and I couldn’t have ever guessed our business would have grown so much.
Especially because I moved away from the city and found a home in Heart’s Creek. But the amazing thing about our company was that we could pick up clients everywhere. We could travel to other cities for openings and still make our way back to the small town we loved.
If I'd have stayed in Buffalo, I might not have thought bigger than what I was doing because I was surrounded by city life. I was truly getting a chance to spread my wings and I loved it.
I couldn’t imagine it any other way.
“Yeah, me either, but I’m more than happy with how things turned out,” I said as Nick walked through the entryway from the kitchen. My smile grew as his eyes found mine, and I hung up another balloon.
“My God, your face looks dopey,” Mia said, and I climbed down the ladder.
“Please, it isn’t anything compared to how you look when David comes around.” They just started dating, and Mia assured me that he wasn’t anything but sweet last year when he took her home. Even if she wanted him not to be. I always rolled my eyes when I said it, but I was grateful she’d found someone to be herself around.
Mia pointed her finger under my nose. “You cannot see your face. You have no idea how it compares to mine.”
I laughed. “Doesn’t that mean the same thing for you?”
“No, I always make sure I can see myself somehow.”
“That is a wild and weird statement to make.” I tugged on her finger and walked over to Nick, leaving her with the ladder and balloons.
The smile on his face probably did rival mine because he did look dopey. As I thought about what Mia said, my smile grew.
“What do you think?” I said, waving my hand around the space. “Valentine’s and a one-year anniversary all in one.”
“For more than just the restaurant,” he said and took my hand.
He pulled me toward his office, and although I hurried after him, I said, “This is not the time for an adult ‘situation’.”
Nick laughed. “That is the only thing we do in my office.”
“I don’t remember the last time we were in there and it didn’t lead to something,” I said. He gave my fingers a squeeze, and we reached the office door. We walked through, and there was a vase of daisies sitting on his desk. I looked at him and perked a brow.
“It’s just for a thank you,” he said, sitting on the edge of his desk. He pulled me toward himself, and I went willingly, nestling between his legs and leaning into him. We’d talked about moving our relationship in a new direction and we’d recently moved in together. I still had my apartment above my office, and we were talking about renting it out, but I still needed to clean it up and I had a little nostalgia from it because it was part of my starting over.
“So, I know we’re moving at a snail's pace slow.” I scoffed because we weren’t, but he put his hand up before I could argue. “This isn’t a formal proposal, because we can’t have all of our celebrations all in one day. I want to make sure we can celebrate us throughout the year. But I want to marry you, Ms. Julia Day.”
He cupped my jaw, and I leaned into it feeling my cheeks blush and the dopey smile slap onto my face again. “Soon,” he said. “Do you think you’d want to marry an old man like me?”
“I’m going to have to figure out a way to punish you for saying things like that about yourself,” I said, shaking my head.
“Is that a yes?”
I eyed him. “Is this because your ex-wife just got married? Because sometimes it might feel like you have to keep up with them?—”
Nick pulled me down into a kiss and ate the rest of my words. His tongue caressed mine, and I relaxed into it. My fingers gripped onto his shoulders and my body perked up, getting ready to fall into our normal routine of sex in his office.
Then I remembered all the people who were in the building. I pulled away with a gasp. “We can’t do that right now.” Even if I wanted to.
“You need to get your head on straight. I was just kissing you. And no, this isn’t because Kendra got married.”
She’d married the owner of the bar across the street, and Nick finally realized there was enough business for everyone. He stopped fretting about who was doing better and started enjoying his success.
It was a nice cherry on the topping of Gray’s constantly growing business.
I thought about how far we’d come—the struggles I’d faced, the hurdles I’d jumped, and how amazing Nick had been through it all. Warmth slid up my throat to my cheeks as he kissed me again, spearing his hand through my hair. It was a warm, luscious kiss that lingered, the kind you can’t pull away from but that you know is meant to communicate affection, not arousal.
I opened my eyes and looked into his and saw the sapphire affection he had. It didn’t matter that we were miles apart in age or that he lived an entire lifetime before he met me. Nick and I were good together. We challenged each other and helped each other chase dreams. I wanted that. I’d always wanted that. And this non-proposal was his way of saying he wanted it too—with me.
“Yes, then, I would want to get married to you,” I said, and a smile spread across my cheeks that drew one from his lips.
“That’s all I wanted to hear.” Nick’s hand slid down over the curve of my ass and he grunted. “Mmm, Mrs. Julia Grayson… It has a nice ring to it.” The stubble of his lips scratched against mine, and I grinned.
“Or Mr. Nicholas Day… I’m just saying.” I pinched his arm, and he winced playfully as I backed away and snagged his hand. We had people to tend to.
“You’re one of those women who’s going to have a best man instead of a maid of honor, aren’t you?” The sparkle of mischief was never far from his eye. I loved how playful he was with me.
“Maybe… maybe I’ll ask David since you hate him so much.” I winked and turned, only to feel a light smack to my rump. The snickering between us carried us out into the dining room where the final decorations were being hung.
One year later and I was the happiest I’d ever been. Jared hadn’t ruined me. He had taught me who I was. And now I was thriving. I could happily say I was thankful life happened the way it had. Or else I may never have met Nick.