Epilogue
Alice
Five months later
“You know, I used to think February was my favorite month in Florida, but I’m pretty certain it’s March now,” Ryder says to me as we climb up into the bed of his truck.
“Why? You’ve always loved the colder weather.” I smooth down the thick comforter we had tossed back here and situate the pillows and the cooler.
It’s been a long time since we’ve been back to our place here on the lake. It was always my favorite place and holds many of our memories, but since we now have our home that Ryder bought for us, we haven’t needed to.
That’s right, our home.
I didn’t even make it to mid-December before I moved in.
Like he wanted, we celebrated Thanksgiving with both our families, who were thrilled that we had finally worked through our problems. His mom did the majority of the cooking for her social media channels, and by the time we started decorating for Christmas, little by little, his house was becoming mine too.
I was sleeping over basically every night.
I helped him shop for the renovations and had started buying accessories like throw pillows, blankets, and plants.
Kelli finally pointed out the obvious. I had been worried that she would feel slighted, but she didn’t.
The day after I moved out, another one of our teammates moved in. It worked out great for all of us.
Especially Felix.
While he loves Ryder, I’m his mama, and he’s a mama’s boy. The three of us together do make me feel like a family.
“Because it’s still cold at night and in the morning, but during the day it’s warm enough for you to wear tiny shorts and skirts like this one.” He runs his hand up under the skirt and squeezes one side of my butt.
I swat him away, and he chuckles.
“Have you been here at all over the past year?” I ask as I settle into my spot. It’s a Sunday afternoon. The trees surrounding us are bright with the spring green leaves, and the azaleas are in bloom. The new dock next to the boat launch entices people to wander out on it and maybe do some fishing.
“On the day I met the real estate agent to look at the houses he’d pulled for viewing, I stopped here first. I wanted to know if this place still had that feeling that it once had and if I was doing the right thing.” He sits next to me.
“And did it?”
“Yes.” He wraps his arms around my shoulders.
“It was quiet and deserted then, just like it is now, and that was the first time I allowed myself to really think about you. We had so many good times here, made many memories, that for so long I’d blocked the part of my brain that wanted to go here.
I knew if I did, I wouldn’t be able to perform at the level I needed to, and I had to make it to the NFL.
You distract me. In the worst and best ways.
” One side of his mouth tips up. “I didn’t know what was going to happen.
I knew we’d eventually run into each other, but never in my wildest dreams did I think fate would pair us together the way it did. ”
“You said fate.” I turn a little toward him and grin. He didn’t shave this morning, there’s a dark stubble across his jaw. Yes, he started shaving in high school, but he never had facial hair like this. I don’t know what it is, but I love it, and I love to run my fingers over it.
This is probably why he didn’t shave.
“Would you call it something else?” He looks down at me, and I cup his handsome face, sliding my thumb back and forth.
“No, I wouldn’t. But you’re a guy, and guys don’t say things like fate.”
He frowns. “Are you questioning my manhood? Because I’d be more than happy to show you that it’s there.”
He reaches for my hand, and I know exactly where he wants to put it, but I snatch it away.
“Oh, I know you would.” I shove his chest, causing him to sway a little, but in turn, both of us laugh.
“Did you ever come here?” he asks tentatively.
“That first summer, I came here a lot. I would sit in my car for hours and pray that you would magically show up and find me here. I guess at some point reality kicked in, and I knew you weren’t coming. After that, I didn’t come back.”
“I know we’ve talked about this, but I really am sorry.”
“I know you are, and we’ve moved on, there’s no dwelling on the past, right?”
“Right.” He pulls me in close and hugs me. I love his hugs. He always talks about how he loves that I smell like lavender, but he always smells fresh and clean, and the heat from his body can always be felt through his shirt. It’s the best place to be.
Telling Ryder about the depression was hard.
I knew he’d try to take it on, to claim responsibility, and while yes, it was triggered by him leaving, there was no way to predict that things would turn so bad for me.
We were both eighteen, both transitioning to the next chapter of our lives, and both immature when it came to relationships.
Neither of us had been in a romantic relationship, and neither of us really knew how to communicate in a way that made us a couple and not individuals.
For seven years, we talked to each other, but we had never opened the door to talk about each other.
How we felt, concerns we had knowing we were going to be separated, really what the future held.
Now, we have zero walls, zero boundaries, and we make it a point to check in with each other daily. Nothing gets left unsaid.
I also pointed out that from the heartbreak came the Mighty Monarchs, which I love almost as much as him.
He hates that he was the catalyst, but he loves that Kelli and I have impacted so many youth in the Tampa Bay area.
Next month, we have our spring event, and almost four hundred kids have signed up.
The Tarpons are again letting us use their facility, and more of the players and members of my team have volunteered to help. I’m over the moon and incredibly proud.
“Did you pack us something good? I’m starving,” he asks.
“You know I did.” I pull away from him and crawl over to the cooler, which is placed near our feet.
“Stay in that position much longer, and we’re not going to be eating anytime soon.”
“Oh my God, do you ever think about anything else?” I glance over my shoulder at him. His eyes definitely don’t meet mine.
“Well, I wasn’t thinking about it until you stuck your ass up in the air.”
I wiggle my hips, and he groans.
“Focus. I got me grape Gatorade and you Reese’s Cups.”
“This is why you’re my favorite girl,” he tells me, moving to get more situated.
“Ha! I’m your only girl.” Popping the lid, I rifle through the goodies that I brought and pull out a sandwich. “But I also got you a Pub sub because I know you need calories.”
I turn to give it to him, but he’s not getting situated to eat.
He’s shifted to one knee. He’s on one knee, and he’s holding out a square black ring box.
Unable to stop myself, I drop the sandwich and gasp.
I look at him, I look at the closed box, I look at him, and then my eyes well with tears. His do the same.
“I told you months ago that I would have married you that day, and I would have. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to you.
” He gives me a shy smile. “Every day since then, in my mind I’ve asked you to marry me.
Every day since then, I’ve also asked myself, how much longer do we have to wait?
I know what I want. I’m pretty sure I know what you want.
So I’ve decided no more waiting. I love you.
I want to be your husband, and I desperately want you to be my wife.
You’re not just my favorite girl, you’re my forever girl. Will you marry me?”
Nothing could have surprised me more today. The earth could split in two, and this would still win.
“Ryder,” I whisper, scooting closer. I can put my hands on him, feeling breathless. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”
His voice is rough. “I’m glad.”
Closing the remaining distance, I fall into his arms and openly cry, tucked up against his chest. He wraps me up tight and buries his face in my hair. Yes, I’m wearing lavender just for him, and I feel him breathe me in.
Pulling me back, he wraps his hands around my face and kisses me.
“I love you,” I tell him through salty tears.
“Al, I never want to be apart from you. Never again.” He releases me and picks up the box.
“When did you do this?” I kneel in front of him.
Pink dusts his cheeks.
“Uh-oh, you definitely have to tell me now.”
He opens the box, and there is the most beautiful solitaire diamond, set with a baguette on each side, and outside those is a tiny amethyst stone. My breath catches. He pulls the ring out, and I lift my hand.
“I started looking after Christmas. When you know you know, and I knew.” He slides the ring onto my finger and then bends over to kiss my hand. “I promise I will be the best husband to you.”
More tears fall. “And I promise I will be the best wife.”
Settling back to where he was sitting, he pulls me over his lap to straddle him. He’s smiling because he’s happy, and my heart flutters with joy.
“I often wondered if you were to propose to me, where would you do it, and I can’t think of a more perfect place than this one.”
“It really was an easy decision. No other place means as much to me as this one.”
“Me neither.” I feel like my heart is going to burst. I’m going to be Mrs. Alice Monroe.
“So when do you want to do this?” he asks eagerly.
I laugh and lean forward to kiss him. His hands slide under my skirt, settle on my butt, and he pulls me forward. He’s got me right where he wants me, and I’m not mad about it at all. I love knowing that it doesn’t take much for me to turn him on.
“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it,” I tell him, which is a complete lie.
He pulls back and looks at me curiously. “Really? You haven’t thought about it at all?”
“Well, I mean, if we happen to find ourselves at that little church around the corner from our house in mid-June, I hear they have availability before you head off for your week at minicamp.”
“You hear they have availability?” He looks at me skeptically.
I shrug, trying to remain all innocent. The thing is, I do want to marry him.
When I stopped in to inquire about wedding services, it was originally for next summer after his second year with the Tarpons.
I want it to be during the offseason so he can enjoy the festivities too.
I wasn’t thinking he would propose this soon, but the church happened to mention they still had openings this summer.
“Yep.” This time, I can’t help but smile. He makes me deliriously happy.
He smiles, too. “You are something else.”
Dipping his fingers into my hair, he seals his lips to mine and gives me the most loving and passionate kiss. He’s especially good at this. Every time, he causes butterflies to flap their wings and makes me breathless.
Eventually, his lips drag across my cheek to my neck, over my shoulder and down my arm where he picks up my hand.
He studies the ring on my finger and tenderly kisses just above it.
If I wasn’t already sitting, I would be swooning.
And then his gorgeous brown eyes find mine.
They’re determined. They’re elated. They’re satisfied.
“This summer sounds perfect.”