Epilogue—Lily
JOHANN PACHELBEL—CANON IN D
NINE MONTHS LATER (JUNE)
Isit at the piano, the notes of Pachelbel’s Canon floating from my fingers through the banquet hall filled with five hundred guests. I told Henry and Luna that Pachelbel’s Canon was WAY overused for weddings, but they insisted.
And I’d do anything for them, especially when they waited two years to get married, just so I could be here for them.
I’m technically a bridesmaid too, dressed in my lavender strapless dress. My hair is curled and falls to my mid-back. It’s not the long hair I was used to, but it’s getting there.
And Ryder is here, sitting with the audience but on the edge so he’s as close to me as he possibly could be. He’s wearing a black suit (did I expect anything different?) but his tie is the same lavender as my dress. I can’t wait to spend all evening with him.
Sitting next to Ryder is Oscar Velasquez, the owner of the gymnastics facility in Silver Lake City, and Ryder’s new boss. He’s so excited to start a new parkour program at Oscar’s gym, working with kids and teaching them the skills he learned.
While we were in London, Ryder decided he was officially done with stunt work.
So he searched for jobs he could do and found a local parkour gym that needed a new instructor.
He trained there, taught kids, and fell in love with his job.
Now that we’re back home—because Brookhaven is officially our home now—he’s making it his career.
Back at the wedding, I keep playing the piano, watching my soon-to-be sister-in-law walk down the aisle with her father. I risk sneaking a peek at Henry standing at the end of the aisle, his eyes lighting the whole banquet hall.
The entire town of Brookhaven is here, along with Luna’s family and friends.
Her sisters Ivy and Hazel are bridesmaids with me, her teenage sister Katy is a junior bridesmaid, and Madeleine is the maid of honor.
There are some celebrities and people I’d love to speak with, like Lucas Carter, who composed the music for Henry and Luna’s video game.
His wife Amy is the one whose videos taught me the calligraphy I…
well, failed at. Then there’s Thea Taylor, the famous clothing designer, and her husband Ethan.
Aram’s niece, Emma Nazarian, is here, too, with her husband, brother, and sister. I have a feeling I’m going to get a little star struck getting the chance to talk with Exceptional Emma herself.
Most importantly, my entire family is here.
Adam and Isabelle were married last month in an intimate ceremony, so they’re here together.
Agatha reconciled with the family and is here, dressed as a flapper from the Roaring Twenties.
The biggest surprise—Peter came, too. I honestly don’t think he’s been to Brookhaven since our mother passed, and it feels truly monumental.
I wish she could be here. I wish she could see me playing the piano for my brother’s wedding and know that we’re doing okay.
We each have a piece of her inside of us, and we’ll honor her memory every day we live.
Luna reaches the end of the aisle, and Henry shakes her father’s hand.
I have a memory of playing video games with Luna and her family, back before Henry knew who she was in person, and have to laugh at the memory of her older sister saying that Henry “sounded sexy.” Not that I want to think of my brother that way, but I love that I’ve been here for them from the very beginning.
The ceremony is sweet and heartfelt, but I’d expect nothing less from Henry and Luna. They share a sweet kiss, and we all cheer as they walk down the aisle. I play a variation of John Legend’s “All of Me,” and they grin at me as they pass.
After the ceremony, I head toward the bridal party to take pictures. But as everyone stands and heads out to the outdoor area for appetizers and drinks, Ryder snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me in.
“Careful!” I cry before he can give me a kiss. “I have to take pictures! Don’t mess up my makeup.”
He groans. “Fine.” He presses a kiss below my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “You played beautifully.”
“Thank you.” I shrug. “It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“It’s no Intermezzo, but it was you. That’s what I love the most. And I swear you’ve gotten even better than when we first met.”
I beam up at him. “I guess I learned something at the conservatory, after all.”
“Oh, yeah?”
I nod. “Like—”
“Lily!” Ivy, Luna’s older sister, calls out to me from the back of the hall. “We’re waiting on you to get started!”
I sigh. “I’ll finish this later.”
“You’d better,” Ryder says. He gives me one more hug, then releases me in Ivy’s direction.
We don’t get to talk for a long time. Not until after the reception begins, the speeches are done, and the happy couple is dancing their first dance. When the DJ invites everyone to the floor to join Henry and Luna in a slow dance, we finally have our chance.
“So,” I say, as soon as Ryder wraps his arms around me and I rest my hands around his neck. “I was going to tell you everything I’ve learned.”
“Ah, yes,” he says with a grin that makes me melt. “Go ahead.”
“First, I learned I’m pretty good at the piano.”
He tilts his head. “Are you serious?”
“I mean, I knew that before. But I haven’t been in an environment with other players in a long time, and it definitely reinforced that I’m pretty good at it.”
“Uh, yeah.” He shakes his head at me. “You’re so funny, Lily.”
Adam and Isabelle appear next to us. “Watch your hands,” Adam growls at Ryder.
I roll my eyes, Isabelle swats him on the shoulder, and Ryder holds up his hands in surrender. “Yes, sir,” he says, but his tone is full of mirth. Adam grunts, and Isabelle forces him to dance away from us.
I take Ryder’s hands and place them back on my hips. “I’m not done with the things I’ve learned.”
Ryder smirks. “Please continue.”
“I learned that I’m a lot braver than I thought.”
He nods, his face sobering. “Definitely true.”
When my family left London, I had a hard time adjusting to going out in the open.
Being attacked by Tristan was a traumatic experience, to be sure.
But I continued my zoom therapy sessions, and the knowledge that Tristan was locked away for assault helped a lot, too.
As I continued growing, Ryder stayed by my side, a steady support whenever I needed him.
I grimace at Ryder. “I also learned that I do not like the breakfast options in London.”
“I think every American agrees with you there.”
“And I learned that I only want to live in Southern California from now on.”
He nods, both of us having endured a long winter that…well, it sucked, especially compared to our mild winters here at home.
“But I also learned that I’m absolutely head over heels for my best friend,” I say. “And I want to be wherever he is.”
“Isn’t that convenient?” he says with a smirk. “I feel the same way.”
I reach up on my tiptoes and press a kiss to his lips. We stop swaying, and he cups my face with his hands, gently keeping me close to him.
“Get a room!” Peter’s voice to our side interrupts our kiss, and we break apart, looking over to see him dancing with Gwen.
Unfortunately (for Gwen), she looks at Peter like he holds the moon in his hands.
“Yeah, yeah,” Ryder says, waving them away. “Let us be happy.”
Peter rolls his eyes but leads Gwen to a different part of the dance floor.
“Oh, she’s in trouble,” I say to Ryder.
“You’re telling me,” he replies. “But she doesn’t listen. She’s got this idealized version of who Peter could be, and no one’s going to talk her out of it.”
I sigh. “I hope he doesn’t break her heart.”
Ryder shakes his head. “She’s got to figure that out for herself.”
I rest my head on his chest, and we start swaying again. The thump of his heart is a steadying beat, the thing that makes me feel the most safe and secure. “I love you,” I murmur, burying my head in his chest.
His arms hold me even tighter. “I love you, Lily.” He stops and holds my face in his hands. “And I always will.”
I grin up at him, so grateful for him and the way he showed me who I really am. Not a little girl who’s afraid of the world. Not a dumb teenager who doesn’t know how to make good decisions. But a woman who’s worthy of love, who can trust herself, and who deserves to live the life she designs.
A life with Ryder by my side.
Nothing could be better.
THE END