Epilogue
I haven’t been back to Beachwood High School since I graduated twelve years ago.
Apparently Dex’s cousin Ben had asked for it nearly a decade earlier, and it caused a minor squabble between Mrs. Dexter and her brother Ted.
Finally, she convinced him the ring was meant for me.
There’s no denying it…with its yellow gold band and round center stone surrounded by an array of diamonds, you can’t look at it without seeing a bright, shining sun.
Mrs. Dexter always believed her son would give me that ring one day.
She was right .
While I took classes toward my MFA at Northwestern, Dex developed a pilot program, using the dramatic arts as a tool to help kids with anxiety.
He named it the Dramatic Hearts Academy, and last year they had a successful launch at a school on Chicago’s North Side.
Now he’s working to expand the program across the country.
Even though he hasn’t made a movie in over two years, he’s still famous as ever.
But now it’s as the face of a nationwide campaign to break the stigma of mental illness.
In addition to working with kids, he’s already booked a year out for speaking engagements.
His Ted Talk got so much online traffic, it nearly broke the Internet.
Now that I’ve graduated and we’re back in Beachwood permanently, Dex will be working with kids at our high school.
To drum up excitement for the initiative, he offered the students in his Chicago pilot program an all-expenses-paid vacation to exciting Beachwood, Ohio—in exchange for performing their show.
It’s the opening night of a three-day run, and literally everyone and their mother is here.
Including mine, of course, with Luis by her side.
Last year, after much good-humored prodding from her husband, she joined him in retirement.
It was a bumpy beginning for my former-workaholic mother, but she’s come to love it.
In addition to traveling with Luis, she enjoys swimming, gardening—and reading romance novels, of all things.
Turns out she found an old stash I’d hidden in my closet and couldn’t resist the temptation.
“Hello, my sweethearts,” she says, wrapping her arms around both me and Dex. We’re standing at the door to the auditorium greeting guests, and there’s a line of people a mile long, eyeing the Dex Oliver and waiting for their chance to meet him.
“Hey, Mom,” Dex says, winking at her.
I still can’t believe they’re this close.
Last summer, Dex and I got married in the Dexters’ backyard, like I always dreamed. With our family and friends—and a handful of A-list celebrities. My mom was positively beaming when she walked me down the aisle.
As soon as Dex and I got back together, she took it upon herself to write him a long letter of apology. And Dex, being the most empathetic and compassionate person I know, accepted it readily.
Needless to say, my mom and I get along better than ever. Between writing letters to Dex and reading romance novels, she and I have a lot more in common than I thought possible.
After she and Luis enter the auditorium to take their seats, we greet Mr. and Mrs. Dexter.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad,” I tell the best in-laws I could hope for. They’re a major part of the reason Dex and I decided to move back here. When we have kids, we want them to grow up enjoying Sunday morning pancakes at their house. And telling ghost stories around the firepit in their backyard.
“Hello, Mrs. Dexter ,” my mother-in-law says to me with a wink.
I’ve been Mrs. Dexter for a year, and I still feel giddy anytime someone calls me that. I’m so glad my husband never legally changed his name to Dex Oliver. Mrs. Oliver just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
“Long time no see, darling,” my father-in-law says to me with a laugh .
It’s funny because we live with them—just for now—while our house is being built. Our new home will be ready by the end of this summer. It’s only a ten-minute drive from the Dexters, and even closer to my mom’s, making it the perfect spot for the family gatherings I always dreamed of.
As the Dexters make their way into the auditorium, I see a familiar face smiling at me.
“Sam!” I squeal, wrapping my arms around her. “I can’t believe you’re actually here in Beachwood!”
Sam visited me and Dex in Chicago a few times, but wasn’t able to come to our wedding because her brother got married the same weekend.
When she told me she would’ve much preferred celebrating with us, I knew she wasn’t lying, given the complicated relationship she has with her family.
Apparently her mom spent the better part of the wedding weekend crying because Sam has no marriage prospects.
And her Lebanese grandmother has now taken to calling her a “spinster.”
She hugs me back, then pulls away and gives us a pointed look. “And I can’t believe you guys moved back here when I just got a teaching position at Northwestern!” She sighs. “At least Chicago’s driving distance, so I can come harass you two in your love nest.”
Dex laughs. “You’re welcome anytime. And Sunny and I will come visit you too. I love Chicago—it’s a great city.”
“It is,” Sam admits. “It just sucks that everyone I know is in New York or California. Or Beachwood ,” she adds, playfully rolling her eyes. “This Northwestern gig better be worth moving back to the Midwest for. ”
“Of course it’ll be worth it, Sam—or should I say, Dr. Sam ? I’m so proud of you for making your career dreams come true.”
“Thank you,” she says, beaming. “Speaking of dreams, how’s the romance writing going? If I remember our conversations in college—which I do in great detail—your husband is giving you some excellent material.”
I turn to see Dex half-smile. “The writing’s going well,” I redirect as my face warms. “I’ve been working on a series of books that I’m planning to self-publish next year.”
“That’s so exciting! I can’t wait to read them. Just promise you’ll put in detailed instructions on how Dex does that thing—you know—the one that made you scream so loud?—”
“Sam!” I shriek, grabbing her shoulders as Dex chuckles. “First of all, please keep your voice down before this ends up on Page Six,” I say with an eye on the crowd. “Second of all, I don’t write sex manuals—I write romance novels. And third of all…I’m literally never telling you anything again.”
Sam looks to Dex and shakes her head. “She always says that.”
I turn to my husband, who is thoroughly amused. “Normally, I don’t kiss and tell. But I was really hung up on you in college and ended up giving Sam way too many details about our relationship which, unfortunately, she refuses to forget.”
“All I’m saying is, the more details in your books the better. I’ll buy several copies and hand them out as a public service to every guy I slept with who couldn’t find my?—”
“Sam! There’s a child right behind you!” I say, bringing my palm to my face. The kid and her dad are facing away from us, but still.
She winces. “Yikes! I didn’t realize. Well, I’m going to take a seat inside before Sunny’s face turns any redder,” she says, kissing my cheek.
I smile as she waves goodbye to us.
“She’s hilarious,” Dex says to me. “Great comedic timing.”
I shake my head, laughing as the child and father who’d been standing behind Sam turn in our direction. “Sunny D!” the father exclaims when he sees us.
It’s Evan Chen. My stomach flips, wondering if he overheard our conversation with Sam. I’d be mortified.
“Sunny D! Sunny D!” four-year-old Avery repeats, tugging at her dad’s hand.
She’s so much bigger than when we saw her in Beachwood over the holidays, I can hardly believe my eyes.
She looks exactly like a mini version of Mia—and hearing her call Dex and me by our high school nickname floods me with overwhelming joy.
Back then, we were joined at the hip as friends. Now we’re joined in marriage.
After we all hug, Evan turns to look back at the front door again. “Mia should be here any second,” he says with a furrowed brow.
Right on cue, his wife comes barreling into the school at high speed, with two-year-old James barely keeping up. She’s got an enormous diaper bag slung over her shoulder, and she’s carrying something weighty in the crook of her right arm, which I can’t make out until she reaches us.
“Hold this!” she says, handing me a swaddled baby girl. She bends down, lifts two-year-old James onto her hip, and exchanges an exasperated laugh with Evan, whose arm is being pulled in every direction by their eldest daughter .
“You must be Maeve,” I say to the sleeping baby in my arms. I rock her back and forth as Mia wipes jam off a giggling James’s face.
Dex leans toward me to whisper in my ear. “That’s a good look for you,” he says.
My cheeks heat up as I smile at him.
“We’re so sorry!” Mia says breathlessly. “The babysitter canceled, my parents picked up the cold Avery had last week, and Evan’s are in Hong Kong.” She sighs deeply and blows a strand of hair off her face. “Are we even allowed to bring kids to this thing?”
“Of course. We’re very kid-friendly,” my husband reassures them.
“Great! Evan will take ’em outside if they’re too noisy. We’ll see you guys after the show!” Mia says with an eager grin as she puts James down on the floor and takes Maeve from me.
“Bye, Aunt Sunny!” Avery sings as she frees herself from her dad’s grip and darts into the auditorium. Mia runs after her with Maeve and James, while Evan hangs back.
“Be right there, honey!” he calls after his wife. Then he leans toward Dex. “By the way…I couldn’t help but overhear.” He looks around before he continues, his voice nearly a whisper. “What is this thing you do that has Sunny screaming so loud?”
“I’ll explain later,” Dex tells him as I hide behind my hands.
Through parted fingers, I watch the two men fist-bump.
When everyone’s seated, Dex walks onstage to raucous applause and gives a brief introduction about tonight’s performance. Then, as the lights dim, he comes back to sit with me, our family and friends, in the front row.
The show is incredible. Even better than the Chicago performances, because the kids are more comfortable in front of an audience now. When it’s over, Dex goes back onstage to thank everyone for coming, then tells them more about The Dramatic Hearts Academy.
While my husband is speaking, I wait for him in the wings. My mind flashes back to eighteen-year-old Sunny, who stood heartbroken at the bottom of the stairs behind me, after witnessing Jenna Andersen kiss him.
It’s funny how much has changed since then.
I used to see Jenna as an ideal I could never live up to.
The Homecoming Queen. The Head Cheerleader.
The Most Popular Girl in School. Now I know that I don’t need to be anyone but my perfectly imperfect self.
I also realize that, like my husband, Jenna’s just as human as I am.
After I confessed to Dex that she was the reason I didn’t give him my love letter in high school, he told me that he ran into her in LA.
That she was as heartbroken over her ex as Dex was over me.
That they commiserated about the lost loves of their lives, and became involved again, but decided to remain friends.
I know Jenna believes she isn’t capable of loving anyone the way she loved her ex, but I hope she’s wrong. I hope she gets her happy ending, just like I did.
If I could, I’d go back in time and give eighteen-year-old Sunny a hug, then wipe away her tears. I’d tell her not to worry, because all her dreams come true—eventually.
But life isn’t that easy. We can never predict what’s around the next corner.
If we could, would we take it all for granted?
All I know is that standing here, after every tear I’ve shed, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Soon, I’ll be a published author. I’m married to the love of my life. And I’m about to tell him we’re going to be parents.
Everything I went through led me to this moment. And it was worth it.
I watch as my husband walks offstage. When he meets my gaze, he smiles.
Then he kisses me.