Epilogue
Coleman
One month later
I’ve closed on seven figure houses, fired one agent, hired two more, and learned how to do a proper fishtail braid thanks to a ten-year-old with glitter in her veins.
But none of that compares to standing in front of six men who look like they’re one wrong answer away from putting me in the ground.
Remi’s dad, front and center, arms folded across his chest.
Her brothers flanking him like some kind of security detail. Langston, who’s somehow weaseled his way into this circle of protectors, stands beside them, clearly enjoying the moment.
I clear my throat and roll my shoulders back. “I want to ask Remi to marry me.”
Silence.
It stretches long enough that I start questioning every life decision I’ve ever made.
Then her dad lifts a brow. “You sure you’re ready for all that comes with her?”
“Absolutely.”
“She’s loud. She’s stubborn. She cries at commercials and argues like she’s got a damn law degree.”
“I know.”
“And she loves hard. Fierce. With her whole damn heart. You break it…” His voice drops, gravel and fire. “I won’t need to finish that sentence.”
“I won’t.”
Another pause. Then he steps forward and claps a hand on my shoulder. “Good. Now go get your girl.”
The proposal isn’t over the top.
It’s not grand or showy.
It’s perfect.
Remi thinks we’re just doing a family photoshoot down at the lakeshore park—the same place we had our second date.
The girls are in soft dresses, holding wildflower bouquets.
I told her I just wanted a few nice pictures of all of us together.
What I didn’t tell her was that I had already arranged every detail.
She’s barefoot in the grass when she turns around.
And sees them.
Payton and Paige are standing at the edge of the little dock, holding signs that read:
“Say yes…”
“…to forever with us.”
Remi covers her mouth with one hand.
I step forward, heart pounding in my throat, and go down on one knee in front of her.
“Remi,” I say, voice rougher than I expected. “You walked into my house like a damn storm. You knocked down every wall I had, healed every crack I didn’t know was still bleeding. You loved my girls like they were yours—until they were.”
Tears spill down her cheeks.
“You made us a family,” I whisper. “Now let me make it official. Will you marry me?”
She drops to her knees before I can even finish the sentence, grabbing my face with both hands. “Yes,” she breathes. “Yes. Yes.”
Paige shrieks. Payton smiles so hard it looks like her face might break.
The four of us collapse into one another in the grass. A messy, tangled, teary group of limbs and laughter.
Family.
No matter what.
And this time… it’s forever.