53. Epilogue-Marcus
53
Epilogue-Marcus
Six Months Later
“Look at them, not bickering like two spoiled little kids for once,” Gabriel mutters, his eyes trained on the other side of the banquet hall. “There must be something in the air.”
“Love,” Noah replies on the other side of him. Gabriel keeps watching his parents half-bent with laughter, their arms around each other. His mom looks quite stunning in her wedding gown, his dad red-faced, already out of this jacket.
“Or booze,” Gabriel replies.
“Or both,” I add, slipping my hand in my left pocket. “They look quite wasted to me.”
“ Exactly my point.” Gabriel points at me. “They only get along when there’s alcohol involved.”
Knowing Gabriel’s battle with alcohol addiction, his grumpiness makes sense to me. If he had his way, there wouldn’t be a drop of liquor served at Charlotte and Tony’s wedding tonight .
Noah pats his shoulder. “They’re getting along for an important occasion; that’s the only thing that matters. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
“You’re right.” Gabriel finally looks away from his parents, glances at my face, then frowns.
“You okay?”
I nod. “Never been better.”
His eyes search my face, small creases forming on his forehead. “You seem nervous.”
My hand curls around the box in my pocket. “Nope,” I lie. “I’m good.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being nervous, dude,” Noah says. “You’re about to take a huge step.”
“A good step,” Gabriel smiles, squeezing my shoulder.
I blow out a huge breath. “Fuck. Yes, I’m nervous.”
I’ve been wanting to propose since Lauren’s attackers got life sentences behind bars a month ago, but the timing was always off. Lauren was knee-deep in preparations for the launch of a new product line, and I was busy upgrading Rosemead’s IT system. Tonight, though, we’re finally under one roof in a relaxed mode, and I can’t imagine a better time.
“It’s going to go well,” Noah assures me. “She’s going to say yes.”
A part of me knows that’s true. Over the last six months, Lauren and I have moved from taking baby steps to a full-fledged relationship, one filled with open communication, honesty, and a willingness to compromise. Plus great sex.
Even knowing that, I can’t resist a few moments of weakness when I’m insecure, wondering if the other shoe will drop, if Lauren will wake up one day and realize I don’t deserve the air she breathes. It’s scary. I often say a prayer that I never wake up from this wonderful dream.
“Your dad looks great,” Gabriel mentions, nudging my side .
I look over to my father dancing in the middle of the room with a woman his age. He looks sharp in a maroon, three-piece suit. He seems quite happy, too. Given that he responded well to treatment and has gained ten pounds, I can understand why. I’m still hopeful he’ll beat the timeline they’d set; miracles are known to happen every once in a while.
Lauren suddenly appears in my sight, back from the ladies’ room after freshening up. As always, my heart skips a beat, only this time, it’s also doing crazy little somersaults that makes it hard to breathe. It’s more than the fact that I’m about to ask her to be my wife. She looks absolutely gorgeous in that deep-blue gown.
Zyon says something beside her, and she laughs as they approach us. She slips her arm in mine. “Miss me?” she whispers in my ear.
“What do you think?” I turn to face her, smiling slyly.
“Mhm.” She pushes up on her tiptoes. “I think I’m ready to leave this joint. You?”
I brush a stray hair from her forehead, looking deep into her beautiful brown eyes. “I think I’m ready to make you my wife.”
Her grin softens as I sink down to my knee. The entire room goes silent as I pull the box from my pocket and remove the diamond ring.
“Again, I don’t want you to run,” I say. “Only this time, I’m actually asking you to marry me, Lauren. You’re my best friend—”
“I thought we were his best friends,” Noah mutters behind me.
“—my soulmate,” I go on. “The only woman who has inspired me to change. I’m still a work in progress, and I’m honored that you have been patient with me. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how grateful I am for having you in my life. So, Lauren Emily Cain, will you marry—”
“God, yes!” she grins, sticking out her hand.
“Let me finish, woman,” I grumble.
She rolls her eyes good-naturedly .
The crowd erupts with laughter when I say, “Me?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she laughs as I slip the ring on her finger. An explosion of clapping ensues, and I capture her lips for a kiss that lasts well after the applause ends.
“Now I really want to get out of here,” she mumbles against my mouth. “I’m ready to consummate this engagement.”
I groan as she sucks on my lower lip. “And I’m not wearing any panties.”
“No panty lines, huh?” I joke, running my hands over her ass. Someone screams for us to get a room and Lauren giggles.
“This isn’t about avoiding panty lines. It’s easy access,” she whispers. “I’ve been wanting to christen the backseat of your new car.”
Getting the hint, I sweep her into my arms. “Say no more, baby girl.”
THE END.