Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Micah
9 months later
I’m standing at the kitchen island typing on my laptop when Aidan comes up behind me, slinking his arms around my waist. He hugs me against him and nuzzles the side of my neck.
I close my eyes and shiver.
He kisses my cheek. “How’s writing going?”
I smile. “Really well. I’ve almost hit my word count for the day.”
“Good girl.” He pats my ass, and I giggle.
He presses a kiss to the back of my neck that makes my eyelids flutter. He runs his tongue along the side of my neck before kissing me again. Heat puddles between my legs, and I moan.
“You’re distracting me,” I murmur.
“Can’t help it,” he says, his mouth on my skin. “You look really fucking hot wearing nothing but my T-shirt.”
He palms my ass, and I squeal. I spin around, and for the next few minutes we make out in Aidan’s kitchen.
Our kitchen, actually. Three months ago Aidan asked me to move in with him, and I, of course, said yes.
We haven’t even been together for a year, but moving in felt right. Everything with Aidan has felt so right. Even when we worked together and couldn’t stand each other, our chemistry felt right.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard. He rests his forehead against mine.
“How’s your writing coming along?” I ask.
He leans back and flashes that sexy-as-sin half smile. “Good. I’ll hit my word-count goal later tonight.”
“I still can’t believe we’re writing a book together.”
Aidan and I have been writing and posting regularly on Scribble Share. We’ve been a hit with readers. All of our posts are consistently the most popular on the site. A few months ago, a literary agent reached out to us and pitched the idea of the two of us writing a full-length book. We, of course, said yes, and right now we’re in the middle of writing it—a super steamy dual-POV mafia romance.
I’ve also been writing novellas on my own, which Aidan encouraged me to self-publish. A few months ago, I finally released my first one, then a couple more after that. To my shock, they took off. I’m not breaking any records, but I’ve been able to start earning enough money as an author to support myself.
Aidan leans over and taps my laptop keyboard. A second later he grins.
“What is it?”
“Have you seen your ranking on Amazon recently?” he asks.
“No. I haven’t had the guts to look since I posted my last novella a few weeks ago. I’m nervous.”
He smiles at me. “You should.”
I twist around and focus on the screen. A second later, my eyes go wide. I let out a giddy laugh. “No way…”
Aidan kisses my cheek. “You broke top fifty in the entire Kindle ebook store. And your book is outranking Ashton’s.”
I can’t stop staring at the screen. I’m grinning so wide, my cheeks hurt.
I take a screenshot. “I need to commemorate this.”
Aidan winks at me. “Absolutely. You’ve got more reviews than him too. And a better overall book rating.”
I laugh as he high-fives me.
“Is it petty for me to feel this good about beating him?”
Aidan beams at me. “Not at all.”
I kiss him and turn back to my computer.
He clears his throat. “Hey, have you read my latest post on Scribble Share?”
“Not yet,” I say as I type.
“Do you mind taking a look at it? There’s a part in there I’m not sure about, and I’d like to get your thoughts on it.”
“Sure. Just a sec.” I finish typing, save the document, then grab my phone from the counter and pull up the app. I tap on Aidan’s latest post and start reading.
I’m smiling the whole time. It’s the latest installment from his Rome-and-Jia story aka Romeo and Juliet retelling with a happily-ever-after. It’s still my favorite series that he writes on Scribble Share.
Rome grabbed Jia’s hand, stopping her as they walked.
“Jia. I need to ask you something.”
Before she could say anything, Rome dropped to one knee. Jia covered her mouth with her hand as she gasped while watching Rome pull out the most gorgeous diamond ring.
Tears glistened in his eyes as he gazed up at her. “I know our families are enemies. But I love you. I love you, Jia, with all my heart. I know a life together won’t be easy. People will be after us constantly. But I promise to keep you safe. I promise to fight for you. I promise to guard your heart with my life. I can’t imagine sharing my life with anyone else. Will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down Jia’s face as she nodded and cried yes.
Rome let out a happy, crazed laugh. He slipped the ring onto her finger and hopped to his feet. She hugged him so tight, it made his heart ache. He could feel just how much she loved him.
She leaned up to kiss him. After they broke apart, she looked up and flashed him the most beautiful smile.
“You and me forever,” she whispered.
He smiled at her. “I can’t wait.”
I’m beaming as I finish reading it. I start to turn around to look at Aidan. “That was amazing…”
I trail off when I see him on one knee in front of me, holding a black velvet box with a stunning diamond ring in it.
I gasp. “Aidan…”
He lets out a shaky breath as he smiles at me. “I’m so in love with you, Micah. I know we haven’t been together long, but being with you feels right. You make happier than I’ve ever been. I’m the luckiest guy in the world to be with you. And if you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you make me.”
His voice trembles as he speaks. Emotion blooms in my chest. Tears fall down my cheeks.
Aidan’s crystal-blue eyes shine with tears. “Will you marry me?”
I’m nodding before he even finishes asking. “Yes!”
He hops up and hugs me, and we kiss.
He steps back and slides the ring onto my finger. I gaze down at it, mesmerized by how the princess-cut diamond sparkles in the light.
I slide my arms around his neck and kiss him. “You already make me the happiest, you know.”
Emotion flashes in his eyes as he smiles at me.
“I can’t believe you set up my proposal with fanfic.” I smile.
Aidan chuckles. “Nerdy as hell, right?”
I cup my hands around his face and kiss him again. “So nerdy and so sweet and so perfect. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
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