EPILOGUE 3 YEARS LATER
ALEX
I drop my keys on the counter and greet the orange cat anxiously winding his way around my ankles and meowing insistently.
“Settle down, tiger. I’ll feed you, let me take of my shoes first!” He meows indignantly again. “Relax, Genie. Your food is coming, you absolute tank.”
I get Genie settled with his food and immediately move into action. Tonight is the night. The guys should be here any minute to help me set up the back yard, and I should be hearing from Katie soon. I’ve got about 2 hours to make this all happen, and I want it to be perfect.
I pull out my phone and call the Thai place we had our first date, placing our order. There’s a knock at the door, and I swing it open.
“Alex! Tonight is the night!” Mina’s mom exclaims as she practically skips inside. “Are you excited? Nervous? Have you thought about what you’re going to say?”
I laugh and give her a hug. “Hey, so glad you could come. Yeah, I’m pretty nervous. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long, long time.”
“I’m so thrilled for you both. I always knew this was meant to be.”
“Oh, did you?” I can’t help but tease, my eyebrow raising as I lightly nudge her.
“Of course,” she blusters, brushing off my gentle ribbing. “Call it mother’s intuition.” She gestures around the spacious living room. “Plus, look at the life you two are building together. You’re the supervisor of your whole department now, Mina is thriving in her attending position… you are living the dream.”
“We really are. I never imagined I’d have a life like this, and here I am!”
“That’s just a testament to what a good woman can bring to your life.”
“Alright, alright,” I groan playfully. “Yes, your daughter is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’ve got the flowers?”
“Yeah, they’re in my trunk. Figured you’re a big strong man; you can help me bring them inside.”
“Of course. Let’s grab ‘em.”
“Is the yard set up already? I can’t wait to see it.”
“No, the guys should be here any minute to help me set it all up.”
“Perfect! I’ll delegate and direct.”
“Of course you will,” I chuckle. Let’s grab those flowers before they die of heatstroke in the car.”
A few hours later, the yard looks perfect. The food is waiting on the dining room table, Mina’s parents are safely sequestered away in the guest room, and I’m pacing nervously through the house. My phone chirps: another update from Katie. She’s been really good about keeping me posted on how the day has been progressing.
I smile and pocket my phone, knowing better than to respond so I don’t blow the whole plan. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. All my wishes have come true so far, but tonight, I’m reaching for the big one.
MINA
The music pumps from the car stereo as Katie and I sing along at full blast. Today has been amazing. It’s not often Katie and I have days off together anymore, and this girls pamper day was so needed. I feel like a whole new woman.
Katie turns down the music and glances over at me as she turns down my street. “Alex is a lucky dude. You look hot, babes.”
“Oh, you think?” I reply, tossing my freshly blown out hair and wiggling my perfectly manicured nails. “Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s an uninterrupted girls spa day with her bestie!”
Katie laughs. “Girl, you’re born with it, don’t lie. The hair, nails and makeup just give that extra va-va-voom that makes the boys go crazy.”
“Well, I only care about making one guy crazy,” I grin.
“And you definitely do!” Katie leans over and nudges me. “Drive him crazy, that is. But hey, look at this life! Look at this beautiful house. And one day, maybe beautiful babies?”
“Ha, maybe. We’re both very career-focused right now. I love what we have. Genie is a handful; I can’t imagine adding a baby right now. But maybe someday.”
We pull into my driveway and Katie leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Love you, bitch! See you at work!”
“Love you! See ya,” I wave as I leave the car and head to my front door. I walk in, and the smell makes my stomach rumble.
“Hey baby! I’m home! Whatever that food is, it smells amazing so I hope you saved me some!”
Alex appears from the kitchen with two glasses of wine. “Of course, babe. Dinner is served.”
I follow him into the dining room and gasp. There’s an array of delicious food on the table, surrounding a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. “Oh shit! Did I forget an anniversary? Is it a holiday?” I can’t help but panic slightly.
“No! No, not at all,” Alex is quick to reassure me. “I just wanted to do something nice for my favorite girl.”
“Oh good,” I sigh. “You scared me!”
He pulls my chair out for me. “Eat up! I’ve got something cool to show you after dinner.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, thought you’d like it. Remind me after dinner so I don’t forget.”
“Can you give me a hint?”
“No, sorry. It’s funnier if you go in blind.”
“Fair enough.” I take a bite of my food and my taste buds light up with familiarity. “Hey wait, is this…?”
“Yeah! I was kind of craving it today and we haven’t eaten there in forever, so I thought it would be a nice treat.”
“Well, you thought right! It’s delicious.”
We eat and chat until I feel like I can’t eat anymore. I stand to clear the table, but Alex stops me. “We’ll get that in a minute. I wanna show you the thing first.”
“Oh yeah, go for it!” I’m expecting him to pull out his phone to show me a video, but he beckons me toward the back yard. We step outside onto the dark patio.
“Hey, can you flip on the lights?” He asks as he heads out into the yard.
“Sure,” I reply, reaching behind me to flip on the switch. The little porch light flips on, but so do a thousand twinkle lights, hanging delicately from the trees in the yard. Soft music plays, though I can’t pinpoint the source. I gasp in delight, taking it all in.
“Oh my god, baby! It’s beautiful! What’s all this?”
I step out onto the grass and realize that there are rose petals strewn all over the lawn. He’s waiting for me under the largest tree, the lights swaying gently in the breeze above him.
“What’s going on?”
Alex takes both of my hands in his. “What’s going on is that I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you. I needed to know you, to hold you, to be near you. And I was lucky enough that the universe granted my wish. Every day with you is a blessing, an absolute miracle. I would die for you, a thousand times over… but I’d rather live, if it means you will be by my side.”
He drops to one knee and continues, “you make my life immeasurably better by being in it. You are the sunshine on my darkest days, the rain in my drought, the warmth of a fire on a cold night. You are my forever, my eternal love, and I would be the happiest man if you’ll do me the honor of promising me a forever after with you.”
Tears sting my eyes and I don’t hold them back as he pulls out a ring that sparkles like fire in the soft swaying lights. “Mina, will you marry me?”
I nod several times before choking out, “yes! Yes of course!”
He stands and slips the ring on my finger, then holds up my hand triumphantly, shouting to the sky, “she said yes!”
Our patio door slides open and my parents rush out, blowing party horns. I can’t help but laugh at the sight of them hustling across the flower-covered lawn to embrace us.
“Oh my gosh, look at you guys!”
“We’re so happy for you!” mother yells, tears streaming down her face. She pinches my cheek before pulling me into a crushing embrace. “Look at you, my little Mina. All grown up!”
“Congratulations, my princess,” my father says huskily, fighting back his own tears. “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.” He turns to Alex and shakes his hand, adding, “and I’m looking forward to officially having you in our family.”
“Wait a minute.” It finally occurs to me that my parents are standing in our backyard. “Were you guys hiding in the house the whole ti—"
“Congratulations!”
The voice behind me makes me squeal and almost leap out of my skin. It’s Katie, jumping out from behind one of the trees on the edge of the yard, camera in hand.
“Oh my god, what are you doing?”
“Um, being the very best friend ever, and getting sneaky photos of your proposal, obviously!” She’s grinning from ear to ear as she comes over and wraps me in a huge hug. “All that pampering today paid off! You look like a damn supermodel.”
“You were in on this?”
“Of course! Had to keep you occupied today so Alex could put all this together!” She gestures around the yard emphatically. “And might I say, it all came together perfectly.”
“He did a great job,” I agree, leaning against him. “He always does.”
Alex plants a kiss on the top of my head and grins down at me.
“So, you ready to plan a wedding?”