Epilogue
Here Comes the Sun
E leven months later Cassie observed silently from the doorway of their bedroom as Alex stood in front of the mirror buttoning up their jacket.
The dark navy tuxedo highlighted their blue eyes; the sheer, cream-colored top with an almost indecent V-neck contrasting nicely against their beach-tanned skin tone.
The memory of Alex modeling the outfit a couple of weeks earlier flashed across Cassie’s mind.
Alex strutting out of their bedroom, a confidant smirk on their lips and bare feet.
Executing a perfect runway spin, they disappeared back into the bedroom before Cassie could unstick her tongue or her brain.
Smiling as the memory faded into her current reality, Cassie watched a little longer. Slowly, her smile morphed into a frown. Alex appeared… nervous. They shook out their arms and bounced on their toes; then popped their neck, tilting their head from side to side.
“You can do this,” Alex breathed out, bouncing a little faster an d shaking their arms a little harder. They locked their gaze on themselves in the mirror and repeated the mantra, “You CAN do this.”
“Everything okay, babe?” Cassie asked, finally stepping fully into the room, making her presence known.
Alex yelped, nearly falling as they spun around. “Jesus Christ you scared the shit out of me. H-how long have you been standing there?” they asked between gasps and wheezes.
Blushing, Cassie moved further into the room and wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck, stepping into their personal space. “Just a couple of minutes. Are you okay? You look a little nervous,” she said, leaning in to kiss their cheek.
Chuckling slightly, Alex wrapped their arms around Cassie’s waist and nuzzled into her neck. “I’m fine, beautiful. Just some awards night jitters, that’s all.”
“Are you sure? You’ve been to these awards before,” Cassie questioned, trying to pull back to look them in the eye, but Alex just snuggled in closer.
“I promise. This is my standard MO on awards night.”
“Okay. Well, the car just arrived,” Cassie whispered, hugging Alex a little tighter, hoping to chase the nerves away.
Alex pulled back, their face lighting up as they grinned. “Ready to go when you are, my love. You have an award to win.”
“I think you mean, you have an award to win.” Cassie smirked, her single raised eyebrow in full effect, ready to battle The Rock for supremacy anytime. Anyplace.
Alex’s grin grew even wider. “That’s what I said.”
“Oh my God! Just get in the car,” Cassie teasingly groaned as she tugged them out the door and to the waiting limousine.
The awards show took place in the ballroom of the world-famous Beverl y Hills Hotel.
Alex and Cassie spotted Kellan and Leah waiting at the edge of the gold carpet almost as soon as they exited the limo.
When the nominations were announced, the four of them decided it would be more fun to walk the gauntlet of photographers together, striking their best celebrity poses as they went.
It may be the Senior Creative Director’s name on the award, but they all knew it took a village.
By the time they made it into the hotel, all of them were visibly more relaxed.
They had just enough time to stop at the bar to grab some refreshments before they were ushered into the ballroom and to their corporate table.
Cassie pulled Alex’s hand to her lips for a quick kiss and then settled in for the ceremony, placing their connected hands in her lap with a smile.
Just over three hours later Alex and Cassie climbed out of the back of the limo, each clutching a gold statuette.
Holding hands, they practically skipped up the walkway to the house they now shared.
“Oh my god, babe! We did it! We both won a gold for best design,” Cassie gushed.
“I can’t believe it! Well, I can. But…wow!
I’m so glad Leah had us entered in different categories!
” With barely contained excitement, Cassie bounced on her toes, waiting for Alex to unlock their front door.
She flicked on the living room light and all but danced into their home.
“I know the perfect place to put these!” she exclaimed as she gently placed her statuette on the mantle above the fireplace. “Babe, give me yours so I…” she trailed off as she turned around, finding Alex down on one knee. She slapped her hand over her mouth to prevent a squeal from escaping.
Alex had trailed slightly behind to give them the opportunity to grab the little black box they had hidden in their jacket earlier. The excitement of the night, although not exactly planned, had worked perfec tly to keep Cassie distracted enough to not notice.
Alex could hardly believe where they were now compared to where they had been when they had moved back to Los Angeles just seventeen months ago. But now they were ready. Ready to take the next step. Ready to ask the question they thought would never leave their mouth.
Cassie’s eyes grew comically wider as Alex opened the ring box revealing a beautifully simple, elegant ring with a single round diamond set in platinum.
Taking a deep breath, Alex began, their voice laced with emotion.
“Cassie, the last year and a half has been the hardest… craziest… most amazing time of my life. I just wanted to forget my ex, lick my wounds. Move home—make my mom happy. Find my place at the LA office. I wasn’t looking for a relationship.
In fact, I’d decided to give up on love altogether.
And then you hit me in the head with your hockey stick. ”
“Oh my God! I totally did NOT high-stick you!” Cassie yelled back, her voice rising at least an octave.
Alex just smirked, a knowing twinkle in their eyes. “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, beautiful.” Winking, they asked, “Okay to continue?”
Afraid to cause any more delays, Cassie nodded furiously, her hand once again clamped over her mouth.
“I felt as if the universe was pushing us together. Telling me you were the one. Every decision I made; everything that I did…it led me right back to you. No matter what I tried.” Pausing, Alex shook their head slightly, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay.
“I knew you hated me and I was afraid it wasn’t worth the inevitable pain.
I’m stubborn and I’m pigheaded. I can be my own worst enemy.
My mind told me to fight against it, but my heart wouldn’t listen.
I knew you co uld do so much better than me. ”
Their tears started to flow. “W-when you kissed me… I-I couldn’t understand how someone like you could be remotely interested in someone like me.
” Alex swallowed, closing their eyes briefly before locking their gaze on Cassie.
Breathily, they added, “and I have no idea what I did to get so lucky. But here you are…still in my life. Refusing to go away.”
Cassie stepped forward slowly, legs trembling and tears streaming down her face.
Before she could take her third step, Alex continued, “You’ve shown me what I was missing.
Showed me what the world could be, what my life could be with you in it.
I love you with my whole heart; with my entire being.
I want to share everything with you. The good.
The bad. The just okay. Everything.” Alex smiled, their eyes lighting up with a hint of nervousness.
They straightened their back impossibly more and held the ring a little higher; their voice coming out stronger.
Clearer. “Cassie Jenkins, will you marry me?”
“Ye-es,” Cassie sobbed out, nodding her head and swiping at her eyes. She lunged forward the last couple of steps, falling into Alex’s strong arms and burying her face in their neck. She gave up trying to control her tears, one word on her lips. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
They sat together, rocking gently, hugging tightly until the tears slowed. Alex removed the ring from the box and sat back against their leg. Achingly slowly they slid the ring onto Cassie’s finger, raising her hand to place a tender kiss.
Alex gently rubbed the tear tracks from Cassie’s cheeks. “I love you.”
Too overwhelmed to reply verbally, Cassie grasped Alex’s head, pulling them into a searing kiss. She hoped the kiss conveyed the message she wanted to send. The message she needed Alex to understand. T hat she loved them beyond words.
Before she could contemplate this much further, Alex stood, breaking the kiss. Scooping Cassie up bridal style, Alex carried her into their bedroom, gently lowering her down to the center of the bed.
Pressing a kiss to Cassie’s forehead, Alex stood, removing their jacket, followed by the cream-colored top.
A huge smile on their lips, they dropped both behind them.
They hadn’t worn a bra causing Cassie to inhale sharply as she zeroed in on Alex’s perfectly pert breasts.
Finally, she drew her gaze up to Alex’s stunningly blue eyes, now nearly black with desire.
Cassie couldn’t stop the moan that escaped as Alex continued to undress.
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as they unbuttoned and unzipped their pants and kicked off their shoes simultaneously.
She felt her cheeks flame as they pulled their black boxer shorts down along with their pants, before stepping out of them to drop them on the growing pile behind where they stood.
“See anything of interest, baby?”
“You and that fucking smirk,” Cassie growled causing Alex to chuckle.
“Well, tonight is a special occasion,” Alex continued, “the first time making love to my fiancée seems like a smirk-worthy event.”
“Is it now?” Cassie reached across her chest, under her arm, and pulled down the zipper on her dress. Shimmying out of the top part, she pushed it down past her hips. Alex’s eyes tracking the movement.