Epilogue One
Hayvin
One Year Later
My body hums with excitement as I enter Alek’s building.
“Morning, Ms. Dickinson.” The security guard greets me with a smile. “He’s still in his office.”
“Thanks, Matt. How’s Rachel? She’s due any day now, right?”
His grin widens at the mention of his wife and child. “Just a week left.”
“You make sure to send us a message after mom and baby are okay so we can visit,” I say. I can’t help but feel genuinely excited for him, hoping all goes well.
“Yes, ma’am.” Matt waves me through.
This year with Alek has been extraordinary. Our connection keeps growing as he makes me his priority, always caring for my happiness.
We still go to individual therapy. Months ago, we decided to add a monthly session together. At first, I didn’t think we needed it, but that first session proved me wrong. It isn’t about fixing what’s broken, it’s about making sure our foundation stays unbreakable.
We once stumbled over every conversation, but now, with couples counseling, we’re building a future where miscommunication never stands a chance.
The old fear that he might never truly see me has vanished. Alek shows me, over and over, that I am the center of his world.
Whenever I walk into his building, everyone greets me by name. Alek makes sure of it, introducing me with pride and never missing a chance to brag about me.
The first time I visited his office, I stood frozen, taking it all in. His walls were covered with articles about me and photos from events, even candid shots I’d never seen. Anyone who enters can see just how proud he is.
My favorite is the framed photo on his desk.
A selfie from one of our first dates after we started over.
Alek had planned a movie under the stars, with a bed in his truck.
I was nestled between his legs, his arm around me, when he snapped the photo.
Instead of facing the camera, he turned to me, his expression soft, overflowing with love, as if I mattered most.
If I ever questioned his love, that photo would erase every doubt. And now, his social media is filled with us, a far cry from the yellow flag I once ignored.
Our relationship isn’t the only thing thriving. Alek is, too. He has real friends now and faces difficult conversations instead of avoiding them.
David and Jerica have faded from our lives. From what I heard through Charlie and Amelia, Jerica barely speaks to her brother now. Whatever happened between him and Amelia left him even more broken, though it’s nothing compared to the pain he caused her.
I’m just grateful I don’t have to worry about either of them anymore, a weight I had been carrying finally gone.
Alek has always been attractive, but who he is now leaves me breathless. I gave my heart to this man freely.
As the elevator climbs to his floor, excitement thrums through me, mingled with nervous energy about the news I got this morning.
His team greets me with warm smiles and waves as I make my way to his secretary’s desk.
“Hey, Mia.” I dig through my bag and pull out the envelope I tucked inside before I left the house. “Three front row seats to Paradox of You for you, Jack, and the birthday girl.”
Mia squeals, rushing around the desk to wrap her arms around me. “Oh my god! You’re the freaking best. Sunny is going to love it.” She pulls away, then asks, “What do I owe you?”
“Absolutely nothing. It’s our gift to your precious girl.” I catch a flicker of sadness in her eyes as her smile falters, and worry twists in my chest. “How is she doing?”
“She has her good days and her bad days,” Mia admits. “Sometimes I think her treatment is working, sometimes I’m sure it’s making her worse.”
A shadow crosses her face, and I sense her worry runs deeper than just concern for her daughter. The tension in her eyes makes my own chest tighten with unease.
I place a comforting hand on her arm. “Are you and Jack okay?”
Mia's smile is tighter in the corners than before. “Of course we are.”
I know she’s not being honest, but she clearly doesn’t want to talk about it. I feel helpless, wishing I could do more, so I just remind her I’m here.
“If you need me for anything, you have my number. Please use it if you need to.”
Mia hugs me again, clinging tight. I hold her close, vowing to check in more often.
“Thank you for the tickets,” she says, wiping her eyes as she pulls away.
“You’re welcome.”
Alek appears in the doorway, inked arms crossed over his chest, watching me with eyes that radiate warmth and love.
After one last glance at Mia, I close the space between Alek and me with purposeful steps.
When I’m close enough, he hooks his fingers to my hips and pulls me to him. He slides his arms around me, brushing a kiss on my forehead.
This is another change in Alek. He no longer shies away from public affection. Whenever he can show the world he’s mine, he does.
“You have a huge fucking heart, you know that?” he says in a low tone.
“She’s carrying a heavy load,” I murmur, my thoughts drifting to the trouble I sense between her and Jack.
“I love you, baby girl.”
I run my hands up his chest and around his neck, rising to brush my lips over his. “I love you, too.”
Alek laces his fingers with mine and leads me into his office, asking Mia to hold all calls.
“Not that I’m complaining you’re here—I truly never will—but is everything okay? I can tell by the tension in your face that you’re worried about something,” he says, concern flickering in his voice, his arms tightening more protectively as I settle into his lap.
“Do you have time to go get fitted for a tux, either this evening or tomorrow?”
“If you need me to make time, then consider it done.”
Digging through my bag, I pull out the invitation and pass it over.
He scans it quickly. His eyes glow as he beams at me, pride and awe shining in his expression.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Hayvin. You’re being nominated again.
” He reads it over again before setting it carefully on his desk.
Then he turns to me, his eyes glossy, emotions thick in the air.
“A fucking Golden Globe for Best Original Song?”
Shortly after Alek and I found our way back to each other, a producer for a new dark romance film approached me to write music for the film.
The movie was based on Through the Darkness by bestselling author Chaya Hughes, so I knew it would be special.
I met Chaya through her best friend, Blue from Paradox of You, and being asked was a huge honor.
After working through my nerves with Alek, I said yes.
Once the director shared their vision, the song came to life almost effortlessly.
In just four days, Toxic Temptation will be up for Best Original Song. It still feels unreal.
I run my fingers through his hair, calming myself. “A crew will come by the house on Friday to get us ready. Just make sure your tux is ready.”
“I won’t let you down.”
My fingers trace from his hair to his face. “I never doubted you, handsome. Are you ready to take this step with me? Together, this time?”
During one of our honest conversations, Alek confessed to being in the audience during each award show I attended. My brain wasn’t deceiving me when I won Songwriter of the Year. It did send off a fresh round of triggers for me, but Alek was so damn patient as we worked through it together.
“I’m always going to be by your side,” Alek informs me.
I stay on his lap just talking with him until Mia knocks on his door to let him know his two o’clock appointment is waiting for him in the conference room.
After I climb from his lap, he rolls his sleeves back down and gives me a sweet, heated kiss. “I’ll see you at home in a few hours.”
Hearing those words still fills me with warmth. Six months ago, Alek sold his apartment and moved in with me. Sharing a home again is everything I ever wished for.
With Alek, life is anything but predictable, and I can’t wait to see where our story leads next.
***
Four Days Later
“And the award for Best Original Song goes to…Hayvin Dickinson for Toxic Temptation from Through The Darkness,” the host announces.
The crowd erupts as I rise, but the fierce, overwhelming joy radiating from the man beside me swallows every other sound, as if my world narrows to the thunder of his love.
His breath sends a shiver down my spine as he leans in close. “So goddamn proud of you, baby girl. I love you.” His kiss burns into my temple. “Now go get that award.”
Everleigh squeezes me in a fierce hug, her pride bubbling over in excited words. As I edge toward the aisle, Titan and his fiancée shower me with warm embraces and cheek kisses.
With every congratulation offered as I cross the aisle, gratitude swells into an aching fullness within me. Each step melts away my fear and lets fierce strength and radiant pride bloom inside my chest.
When the host places that golden trophy in my shaking hands, I can only stare, spellbound and trembling. I beam at the crowd, my heart racing as I scan desperately for the one face I need. Panic claws at my ribs when he’s nowhere in sight, but I force it back behind a wavering smile.
Not now.
Clearing my throat, I find courage in the trust that shines brightly on my friends.
“I’m going to keep this short because you all know by now how much I hate public speeches.
I’d rather shove needles under my nails, if I’m honest.” Quiet laughter sifts through the crowd.
“I’d like to thank Mitchell Landson and Marika Frost for commissioning me to work with them on Through The Darkness.
I’d also like to give a huge thanks to Chaya Hughes because without her talent for weaving words together, then Toxic Temptation wouldn’t have been possible.
” I smile at Chaya and her date. “You have one hell of a talent.” She mouths her thanks and I look back out over the rest of the crowd.
“To those who nominated Toxic Temptation and to those who voted—thank you. As always, to my family,” I say, nodding towards Everleigh, Titan, and his fiancée, Holland.
Where the hell is Alek?
I wipe my sweating palms on the podium, terrified the award might slip from my shaking grasp. The audience senses my nerves, their eyes vivid with shared anxiety, urging me on.
“I seem to have lost someone in the crowd, but I’d like to thank him too. Alek encouraged me to set aside my fears and embrace this opportunity.”
Faces soften as gazes move past me for a second before returning. Everleigh smiles, Titan winks, and Holland mouths for me to turn around. Charlie and Keaton smile softly as I try to figure out what the hell is going on.
A tremor races through me, my fingers drumming a frantic, unsteady rhythm against the podium as energy crackles wildly in my veins.
Clutching my dress to stop it from snagging on my heels, I force myself to turn. A gasp, raw and sharp, bursts through the microphone as tears smudge my vision. There he is—the man who once stole my heart, kneeling, shining love and vulnerability for all to see.
At a public event.
That's being televised.
The man who once fled from love now kneels before me, holding up a dazzling diamond ring and a four-word question shimmering in his eyes.
“Hayvin Marie Dickinson,” his voice rings out, amplified by the microphone strapped to his tux. “I don’t mean to steal your spotlight, but I figured it’d be hard to doubt my sincerity this way.”
He’s right. After all the times he kept our love in the shadows, his public vulnerability now leaves no room for doubt.
I give a watery smile, encouraging him to continue.
“You have fulfilled my life in ways I could have never imagined. You’ve helped me grow and encouraged me in all the ways that mattered to be the best version of myself I could be.
I don’t deserve you, but I’m going to fight like hell every day proving to you that there’s not another soul on this planet who loves you more than I do. ”
“Excuse me? I object to that,” Everleigh barks out, causing the room to laugh.
Alek laughs and shakes his head. “Except for her,” he amends. “Will you marry me, Hayvin? Will you spend your life creating the perfect melodies with me?”
I freeze, my heart unraveling and twisting with love, excitement, raw happiness, and a thin, stubborn thread of fear.
Fear of the future—of the unknown with him.
Then I see the same fear on Alek’s face, and I know this is where our journey leads next.
My heels echo across the stage as I cross quickly to him, closing the distance between us. Sinking to my knees beside him, I lift my left hand up for the ring.
“Yes,” I choke out, tears falling down my face. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Alek.”
“I love you. So fucking much,” he whispers, removing the ring and sliding it onto my finger.
He lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the ring.
“I love you more than you could ever know,” I reply.
“Is forever too long?”
Amid the crowd’s jubilant cheers, I draw his face close to mine.
“Forever isn’t long enough,” I whisper against his lips.