Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Natalie
We’re not the most traditional couple out there. We live by our own rules, and that’s what I love about us. Today, we humored our loved ones and had a ceremony for them to share in the day.
Sure, we could have jetted off to Timbuktu to get the perfect social media-worthy wedding photo, walked down a long aisle at an historical church in Manhattan, or followed in my parents’ footsteps and said our I do’s at The Plaza.
Eloping would have been romantic, but every night, I go to bed next to this handsome, once-stranger, now husband is like living a fairy tale. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. So, returning to the scene of the crime on Catalina—the island, not the hotel room, though I wouldn’t have minded that if I can be frank with you—fit us best.
Standing beneath a pink Nick & Natalie neon sign, my husband caresses my face. It doesn’t matter that we’re surrounded by friends and family. He comes so close that I forget we’re not alone. I tilt my head up ready to be kissed by this incredible man. For only my ears, he whispers, “You were the best catch I ever made.”
Happiness isn’t a word that covers how I’m feeling. I smile, staring into the sunrise of his golden-brown eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
When his smile grows even wider, those dimples digging deep into his cheeks, he says, “You know what comes next?”
I want to roll my eyes, but I don’t. I embrace him even tighter, and reply, “Go ahead and say it. You know you’ve been dying to.”
“I do. I do, baby.” Slipping his arms around my waist, he says, “I do forever with you.”
“Good. I do, too.”
Under sunset skies on the edge of an Avalon cliff, we kiss, sealing our fates forever together before heading to our reception up the hill.
Inside the bar where we met, I sit on the tablecloth-covered counter and take a bite of my first In-N-Out burger. Did anyone really expect us to have our reception catered by another place? Instead of a chocolate fountain, we have a french fry tower, and a buffet table with every variety of cookie imaginable. Though my husband’s favorite is the double chocolate chunk. I’m thinking those are the cookies that led to the proposal. I’ve taken notes for my clients.
Nick stands in front of me, biting his lip nervously as though I’m performing surgery. I rest a hand on his shoulder, and say, “It’s delicious.”
Like a proud papa, he announces, “She likes it.” Everyone carries on with their celebrating, not worried with our antics.
Tugging him by the lapels of his tuxedo, I say, “Come here. Let me kiss you, dear husband.”
Our kisses are NSFW, not suitable for weddings . . . or receptions . “I can’t wait for our honeymoon.”
“A week at our bungalow, totally unplugged from the rest of the world. Only you and me, babe.” I pick up my cocktail and take a sip, the rum going down way too smoothly.
“Sounds like heaven.”
“It’s the best gift ever. I don’t know that thank you is enough. Your parents were very generous.”
Clinking his glass against mine, he says, “Don’t fall for their tricks, dear wife. Cookie wants grandkids while she’s young.”
“The plot thickens.” I giggle. Glancing over at his brother and date, I ask, “How does Andrew feel about us getting the beach house?”
Nick turns to locate him. “He gets their house. They’re downsizing. It may be bigger, but real estate on the beach in Malibu is more valuable, so they’re about even.”
“Tatum already told me not to throw the bouquet to her, so maybe I’ll toss it to Dalen.”
“It took us three times to get it right.”
“Third time’s a charm.”
As he caresses my cheek, the amusement disappears and is replaced with sincerity. “We aren’t lucky, Natalie, and charm had nothing to do with it. We’re destiny.”
I release a breath and then lean against him. “I should send The Chad a thank-you gift. If it hadn’t been such an awful date, I wouldn’t have been heading home.”
Bending down to kiss that spot just below my ear that makes me weak in the knees, he then says, “Yeah, I’m not that big of a man. Let’s just leave him in the past.”
I laugh. “Already forgotten.”
My best friend comes over with the shot hat. When she holds it up, I say, “Nope. That gets me in trouble every time.” I kiss Nick’s scruffy cheek, because he’s so damn sexy, and he’s all mine.
His arm wraps around my waist and he kisses me right back. “I’m just the kind of trouble you need.” He helps me from the bar.
“If I put that hat on, we’re going to end up making Cookie’s wish a reality.”
Twirling me out, he brings me back in, holding me tight against him. Dipping me, he asks, “Would that be so bad?”
“I still want to have two kids with you, but I’m thinking we have some fun for a few years, build the business, and grow your career. What do you say?”
“I already said it in front of the world.” I’m whipped up against him, eye to eye. “I do.” I kiss him, and when he sets me down on my feet, he adds, “We have time for a family.” Cheek to cheek, we slow dance. “I’m happy we’re returning to New York together. No more long-distance. You’re stuck with me now, Mrs. Christiansen.”
Harrison comes over and says, “The bar’s opening up to the public soon, so we have to wrap it up.”
A two-hour window to celebrate marriage to this man is not long enough. Good thing I have the rest of my life with him. Nick asks, “You ready to start that honeymoon?”
“Definitely.”
As we hug everyone goodbye and thank them for being here, I see Harrison trying to talk to Tatum and her effectively blowing him off. I’m curious what happened between them, considering how well they hit it off last time we were here. If that’s not a story in the making, I don’t know what is.
Hugging my dad, I rest my head on his shoulder. It’s not but a few seconds, but we sway together. He says, “You owe me a father-daughter dance.”
“I promise we’ll get one when I’m back in New York.” He looks good. Healthy and happy. My mother’s never been more relaxed, even talking to Cookie about astrology and the moon phases of women. I’m not sure what that means, but I love that they get along so well.
While everyone goes outside, Nick and I stand there, holding hands. He’s still Mr. Sexy, but there’s no smug found in his smile. Just pure, unadulterated joy. It looks good on him. Our guests start chanting our names. Nick kisses my bare shoulder and then offers his arm. I wrap mine around his, and we rush through the doors into bubbles being blown. The bubbles fill the air as we pop a few running toward the parking lot.
Nick stops and then laughs so hard that he holds his stomach. When he turns back to me, he says, “Is this the actual scooter we rode on?”
“It is. And now it’s all ours.”
“You’re very good. The strings of cans and just-married sign are a nice touch.”
“What can I say? I strive to bring smiles.”
He comes to me and lifts me into the air. “Mission accomplished.” Lowering me slowly, he takes advantage and kisses me from my collarbone to my lips, until my feet are firmly back on the ground. He achieves an impossible feat, considering I’m floating on cloud nine.
Taking the helmet with my new name— Mrs. Christiansen —on the back of it, he carefully places it on my head and snaps the strap under my chin before putting his on. I pull my skirt up to my thighs and slip onto the seat. When he gets on the scooter, he asks, “I thought you hated everything on two wheels?”
I wrap my arms around him, holding on for the ride of my life. “I did, but I hadn’t met you yet, and here we are now married. How are we so lucky to have found our way back to each other in a city of almost nine million people?”
“It’s not luck, baby.” Starting the engine, he revs it a few times before looking at me over his shoulder with a big grin. “I would have found you again one way or another because the truth is, I never got over you.”
The End.